The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-08-25
PEOPLES PULPIT.
Most Comforting
Words,
Words Of Life
Comfort one another with these
words" Il Thessalonians iv, l6).

"Be ye reconciled to God"-and thus
attain the only eternal life which he
promised.
But, on the other hand, note the
kindly description of our God which
the Apostle furnishes, BLESSED be
God, even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies,
the God of all comfort; who com
forteth us in all of our tribulation.
that we may be able to comfort them
that are in any tribulation, by the
comfort with which we ourselves are
comforted of God. For as the suffer
ings of Christ abound in us, so our
comfort also aboundeth by Christ
And whether we be afflicted, it is for
your comfort and salvation or
whether we be comforted, it is for
your comfort and salvation, = = know.
ing that as ye are partakers of the
sufferings, so shall We be also of the
comfort" III Corinthians !, 30.
What wonderful statement respect
ing the Divine intentions for the COM
fort of the world and the comfort of
the Church, all proceeding from "the
God of all comfort" Nothing written
in any sacred books of any people at
any time reveals such a God as the
God of the Bible-a God infinite in
Justice, Wisdom, Power and Love. 1t
is he that is working all things ac-
cording to the counsel of his own good
WILL" for the ultimate comfort and
salvation of as many of his creatures
as will accept his favors. after being
brought to q knowledge of the Truth
respecting them. The Church is now
comforted during this Gospel Age
Saved to the highest plane Of the
heavenly nature) and during the COM
ing Age the world is to be comforted
and saved to the human nature-as
many as will. For the world this
means the glorious opportunity of the
mediatorial reign of Christ which will
constitute their time Of restitution, up
lifting, resurrection to all that was lost
in Adam and redeemed by the precious
blood of Christ (Acts iii. 1921.
SOHlIOTt-Nltn ncSe WOFQS.
In order to appreciate the meaning
Of our text we must consider the
words of the Apostle preceding it, be-
ginning with the 18th verse. He de-
clares, 81 would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren. concerning them
which are asleep, that We sorrow not.
even as others which have no hope"
All Christian people agree that the
word sleep here refers to those who
died. They are not asleep in heaven,
of course. for there all is wakefulness
and intelligence and joy. They are
not asleep in Purgatory, of course, for,
according to our Catholic friends, sleep
there would be an impossibility. They
are not asleep in an orthodox hell, for,
according to the description given by
Professionals. none could sleep there,
Where, then. are those who are
asleep? st. Paul says that we should
not be ignorant concerning them.
Have we not been ignorant in the past
-foolishly ignorant? We have ignored
the Apostles words entirely. We have
refused to believe that any are asleep
and claim that all are awake, alive-a
few in heaven. the many in Purgatory
or eternal torture.
But st. Paul was right The entire
Bible teaches that all who die fall
asleep. Thus we learn of st. Stephen.
the first Christian martyr, that he fell
asleep (stoned to DEATH We read of
the good and bad, kings and peasants,
falling asleep in death. We read that
King David slept with his fathers
some of them good, some of them bad.
We read that Abraham slept with his
fathers-some of them heather. The
Bible tells us where they sleep and that
they will all beawakened from the sleep
Of death in due time-in the resurrec-
ton, during Messiah's reign of thou
sand years. The Prophet declares that
MANY that sleep in the dust of the
earth shall awake, some to life ever
lasting and some to shame and lasting
contempt Daniel xii, p.
Those who VIII be awakened from
the sleep of death unto resurrection of
llle W III DS tuS A@Ojy. TIC
sanity, who will be associated with
Messiah in the Kingdom work for the
blessing and uplifting of the non-elect.
Those who will be awakened from the
sleep of death to shame and age-last-
ing contempt will be the non-elect
world. Their shame will be in proper
ton as they have enjoyed light, knowl-
edge and opportunity and have failed
rightly to appreciate and use these.
They will have contempt from their
fellows, in proportion as their short
comings of the present time will be
shown up. Many highly esteemed
amongst men will be awakened to that
shame and age-asting contempt. But
their case will not be hopeless one.
Much of their weakness and derelic-
ton were the result of Adams trans
gression and the sinful conditions
which have resulted. including unfa-
vorable environment. God has pro-
vided in Christ redemption for all from
the sins and weaknesses resulting
from Adams disobedience and thus
the entire race of Adam is guaranteed
an individual trial under favorable
conditions-for life everlasting or
death everlasting,
All who will render obedience to the