The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-08

l~-1HICAGO, Jan. 2.-.Pastor Rus
IWA sell Of Brooklyn Tabernacle,
III New York, preached here
IN twice today to large audi
ences The Auditorium of
world wide celebrity for its
size and excellent acoustics, afforded
the immense audience a superior OPP
portunity to hear Pastor Russens dis
course in the afternoon. We report
his evening discourse based on the
foregoing texts. He said:
the opening of a new ledger. 1t is a
favorable time for determining what
should be disposed of in the profit and
loss account and for putting into eff
feet resolutions governing the new
year. The fact that thousands of res
olutions will be made at this season
onlv to be broken later under the i'm
pact of temptation. should not discour-
age us from making such resolutions
ourselves and advising the course of
others The man or woman who
makes no resolutions or vows makes
little progress in character building.
Poor, fallen human nature needs all
the bands and braces and supports
which well directed viii can give 1t.
We are not advocating hasty and some
times unreasonable, vows and reso1u-
tons and pledges thoughtlessly taken.
What we do advocate is thoughtful,
rational sitting down and counting the
cost, and then and there resolving with
the full strength of the character.
with the full determination of the
mind to pursue the way which DELHI
crate Judgment tells one is the prop
err course.
A Christian Vow or Resolve.
A Christian. like other men, can be
benefited by the resolves to himself,
which should be sacredly kept, in pro-
portion as he respects himself and
would be respected. These resolu-
lions may apply to sundry affairs of
life-his home, his business, his per-
sonal habits, etc. But when the Chris
tan comes to consider his highest in
terests he at once recognizes that they
are those bv which he is related to
his Creator and his Savior. At the
very beginning of his Christian ex-
perience, after he has longed for
Righteousness and turned from sin; af-
ter his eyes had seen Jesus as his Re-
deemer; after his ear of faith had
heard that he was reconciled to God
through the death of his Son and had
forgiveness of sin through faith in his
blood-then came to him the most i'm
portant moment of his life. For God,
through his word, invited him to make
full conservation of himself (includ-
ing every earthly interest and affair."
to the Lord and his service.
The proposition, in the language of
the Savior, was that he should take
UP his cross and follow Christ; and
that as a reward he should have in
the present life tribulation from with
out, but the peace Of the Lord with
in, and in the future life experience
a share in the first resurrection.
That change to glory, honor, immor-
tally, the divine nature. means joint
heirship with his Redeemer In his
great office and work as the mediator
between God and the world during the
millennial age The terms are clearly
stated-self denial, cross bearing, SER
vice for Christ, faithfulness unto
death. The rewards also, as clearly
stated are crowns of life and mem
bership in the Royal Priesthood,
seat with the Lord in his throne an
opportunity of being one of the judges
for helping and uplifting mankind
during the millennial.
While stating the conditions clearly
and distinctly. through his word, the
Lord did not urge cosecration, but
said rather that each should sit down
first and count the cost. And having
counted the cost, whoever chose TO
accept the prop osition did so by max
ing a vow unto the Lord-a consecra-
ton vow of full submission-the full
surrender Of the will. This was to
the intent that thereafter not only
the conduct of life, but the words OF
heart should be acceptable to the
Lord. This comprehensive vow is
symbolized baptism, which, rightly I'M
derstood, as explained by ST. Paui, is
a baptism into membership in the
Body of Christ the Church, and this
by baptism or immersion into Christ S
death.
Only such as make this vow are &C
copied at all as members OF the Cnrlst,
and anointed with the holy spirit. II
is respecting this vow that St PAU
urges in the words of our text, i
beseech you, (justified) brethren, by
the mercies of God that ye present
your bodies living sacrifices, holy,
acceptable to God, and your reason
able SERVICE" Our contract with the
Lord is entered into, made secure, by
the vow of conservation. and the re-
mainder of life is merely a testing OF
the consecrated one. to determine TO
what degree he really meant the vow;
to what degree he uses his every en-
deavor to be dead to the world, dead
to self, dead to all earthly things ano
alive toward God and the interests OF
the Millennial Kingdom to which he
has consecrated himself as a mem
ber'' of the Body of the Mediator OF
81: Galatians iii, 29).
Let no one lightly undertake a vow
unto the Lord. 1t carries with 1t
weighty responsibilities. 1t would De
take the vow without first understand
/ ing the matter and entering fully in
! to the spirit of the resolution he
makes. Once made and accepted by
the Lord through the importation Of
the holy spirit, it cannot be annulled,
| But why should we wish to annul
the vow? Why should anyone who puts
his hand to the plow look back? To
use the apostles illustration, why
should the SOW that was washed re-
turn to waIlowing in the nire? Why
should we, after having renowned the
world and received the begetting OF
the holy spirit. and after having
tasted of the good word of God anC
the precious taste and appreciation OF
these and return in craving to the
beggarly elements of the world? Sure
/ " there are no good reasons for 81