The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-01-14
PEOPLES

4. L. russell or Brooklyn Tabernacle
New York, preached twice here today
to large and very attentive audiences
We report one of his discourses from
the above text, as follows
The word 'icinked" in our text is
used in q figurative sense to signify
that God took no notice Of, paid no
attention to, that long period of time
from the flood to the First Advent of
our Redeemer. During those twenty
five hundred years the world of man
kind lay in ignorance and weakness
and vice, but, as our text declares,
God took no notice of it as a whole.
He gave his attention entirely to the
little nation of Israel, the descendants
Of Abraham, with whom he made a
special Law Covenant. Israel entered
upon great schooling period; first
in a condition Of peonage in Egypt;
and later, under the command of
Moses. passing from Egypt to Canaan,
with wandering of forty years in
the wilderness; still later under judges,
and tten under kings, etc. God did
not wink at sin amongst the Israelites,
whom he adopted as his peculiar peo-
ed by Moses. We read that every dis
obedience received a lust recompense
Of reward" Hebrews ii, .. Stripes,
punishments, captivities. under Divine
supervision and predicted through the
prophets, was the portion Of the cho-
sen people of the Lord. Obedience on
their part brought blessing and dis
obedience and idolatry brought chas-
tiSements-God winked at nothing as
respects his chosen people.
AT first glance this is perpleXing.
Not understanding the Divine Plan we
would be inclined to expect that the
favored nation would be excused more
than others-that it would be the peo-
pie whose imperfections would be
winked at. But not so; Israel was
chosen for purpose. And in order to
prepare them for their mission and to
fit them to fill it, the Lord chastened
and scourged them for their sins, and
than others out Of degradation. AS a
result, when our Lord came into the
world to be mans Redeemer, Israel,
under the chastising, scourging, in
structing experiences Of many centu-
ries, was by far the most advanced
nation in the world along religious
lines.
Thus 1t was that when the Redeem
er presented himself, some, ga rem
nant," were "1sraelites indeed and
ready to receive him-ive hundred
during his earthly ministry and sew
eral thousand more at the following
Pentecostal season. 1t is but reason
able to suppose that no other nation in
the world would have furnished any
such numbers ready Of heart for Mes
siah. and cOnsecrated fully to him.
Note, for instance, that st. Paurs
preaching to the Athenians on Mars
Hill apparently touched not a single
heart nor head.
Tho Justice Sf tho Wink.
The Almighty informs us that JUS
dealings. He cannot be less than just,
although through Christ he has pro-
vided to be more than just-that is,
loving and merciful. There must have
been a justice in this winking men-
toned by the Apostle. What was it?
The Apostle explains that owing to
death sentence that was upon the
world in general, and no provision hav-.
ing yet been made for a redemption
from that death penalty and a resur-
rection deliverance, it would have been
illogical for God to give laws to the
world of mankind commanding repent
ance, etc. Why? Because they were
already condemned to death, the eX-
IRENE penalty of the Divine Law. No
more could be done to them than de-
stroy them, however badly they lived.
And nothing that they could do would
make them deserving Of eternal life.
So long as that death sentence rested
upon them and no prospect was Of
fered even of release from it, God let
them alone, and justly enough wink
ed" at their imperfection and did not
lay it specially to their charge.
With the Jew it was different. God
instructed that nation through the
Law and the prophets and the chasten-
ings for their wrong doings, and thus
prepared in them a little flock'' of
'Israelites indeed" ready for spiritual
things. Additionally he wished to use
them and their experiences as types
or lessons for Spiritual Israel yet fu-
ture. These types. under the guidance
Of the holy Spirit through the New
Testament, have constituted very help
full lessons to the Church Of this Cos
pei Age-Spiritual Israel-"For the
Law Covenant was shadow Of good
things coming after it,"
But before having this dealing with
Israel, God made Covenant with
them, promising them life-eternal if
they would obey. They gladly ac-
cepted the proposition and strove to
live righteously, strove to keep the
Law. They did not gain eternal life
under the Law, because they could
not keep it; not that the Law WIS de-
fective, but that they, like all other
members Of Adams fallen race, were
imperfect. God knew Of their weak
ness and allowed them to be disap-
pointed in the outcome Of their Gov