The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-01-11

or INV wOrthlupSs of each to nave rtpr-
nal life. But why should this fact
make any difference to the world IN
the present llfpI Why did not GUd
wait until the Milpnnial Age aud give
them all u surprlsel Why did he sepd
them the message OF his love aud II
revelation OF this knowledge of his
future dealiDgsI Did be not know
what the past eighteen centuries nus
proven. namely. that few OF mankind
would have the hearing ear" ana
that fewer still. after hearing, would
no love righteousness and ~ hate In.
iquity. as To sacrifice the Interests OF
the present life by espousing the Cos
pei message. repentng of sin. aud
seeking to live sanity life. In op
position to all unrlghteOusnessI
Yes. we answer II IL written.
KNOWN unto God are all his works
from the beginning of the world" lActs
XIV. lSI. God surely knew that the
message of his grace would generally
fall upon ears that were dull OF hear.
ing That we might know this he
caused II to be written III the prophp-
cies In advance. that few would have
the hearing ear for his message of love
and mercy. Why. then. did he send
the message? We answer that there
were two reasons for his 80 doing.
tl' He intended that u witness should
be given 80 that those c0mprehruding
would have an incentive to q retornlu-
tiUn of life. He wished all to know
that their responsibility in life would
be prOportlOnate to their knowledge OF
this fact of redemption. This princi-
pie is stated In the Scriptures by our
Lord. He declares that he who knew
not aud was disobpdient would je pun
ished with fewer stripes aud Il lighter
punishment for his trlusgreSSiUnS.
while those who knew better aud sin
ned with delibNration would be pun
ished with many stripes-in that Mil
lennia day.
y, Another reason for the promulga-
tion of this good tidings of the Milpn-
NAL Day Of the Lords Judgment is
that God wishes to use this message
| as Il primary lesson to do Il primary
| work Of instruction for II special ci,lSS
Of "elrct" characters, whom he Is seek
| ing In the present time before the iu-
auguratiOn Of the MedatOrial King
| Bride of Christ" his "mpmberS."
Thls class is specially called out of the
world now, In advance of the Millpn-
mum, that they may eventually he
! Gods Royal Priesthood. or prieStly
| kings, In association with their Re
deemer. These. according to the Scrip
lures. are to be associate Judges of the
world with Christ. st. Paul asks
"Know We not that the saints shall
judge The world?" Il Corinthians vi. ~
We do know II. thank God. And we
know that they will be thoroughly
competent for that work. Their expe-
rieDces In the present life. In battling
against the world and the flesh ana
the devil and coming Off conquerors
through the assistance of the great
High Priest. will make them compe-
tent judges OF the world: competent
priests to assist and to bless the world (:
competent under-priests to govern the
world from the Spirit plane.
Building Up Yourselves"
To this special class | particularly
address myself. am glad to warn ali
men everywhere to repent, and glad
also to give them the good reason why
they should repent-to tell them of
Gods appointed time. the Mlllennial
Epoch. IN which all shall have full
opportunity Of gaining eternal life
through Christ. AIN glad to assure
them thar every endeavOr for rignt-
eOuSneSs put forth now will bring
large returns Of character development
and better position then. | warn them
tha! every wilful trunsgresSion, all
wilful ignorance. will react upon them
to their disadvantage and make for
shame and lasting contempt on their
part, under the glorious sunlight of
that Milennial day. it will search out
and expose to all humanity their weak
nesses. their sins, to the extent that
these have been accepted or approved
or have not been resisted.
Hut as | said before. | trust that
amongst the ten million readers reached
by my sermons every week there are
some who are of the sanity class,
called, chosen aud taithfnI'-some of
this jewel class, whose Judgment or
trial Is In progress now. trust that
these are striving with might and
main to make their calling and elec-
tion sure through faith in the Redeem-
erS sacrifice and obedience 10 his Law
of the Spirit of life-the Law OF Love.
Now Is our Judgment day, our day OF
testing or trial. We will not stand or
fall AZ congregations and denominu-
t0us or lodges or societies. Our test
ing is an individual one and nothing
short of loyalty Of heart to the Lord,
to his Truth and to the brethren, will
make US as the Lords jewels. "heirs
of God, and joint-heirs with Christ
our Lord; II so he that we suffer with
h!m, that we may he also gloritied To-
gether" Romans viii. III. such have
| nv special sympathy, my special en-