The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-08-16
PEOPLES PULPIT.
The Vengeance
Of Eternal ire
Even as Sodom and Gomorah
and the cities about them . are set
forth for an example, suffering the
vengeance Of eternal FIRE" GUIDE y.


"Dying thou shalt die" Neither obey
nor anyone else, therefore, could be
placed upon trial for future life ever
lasting or death everlasting. until re-
leased from the original sentence of
death under which all were born. And
no release from that death sentence
was granted to anybody until the Re
deemer came and died. 1.-The Just for
the unjust that, "as by man came
death, by n man also might come the
resurrection of the dead"
Only those. therefore, who have been
born since Jesus day could be released
from the original penalty, or could be
placed on trial for life or death eter
nal. Only the Church. therefore. ac-
cepts this proposition. TO this agrees
the words of the Apostle, IF ICE sin
wilfully after that toe have come to
knowledge Of the Truth, there remain
eth no more sacrifice for sin (such hav-
ing enjoyed and misused their share
Of the original sacrifce)--nothing but
fearful looking forward to of judg-
ment (sentenceJ and fiery indignation,
which will devour the adversaries of
God-in the Second Death 0Iebrews X
26). The SOdOmites, therefore. did not
enjoy any chance of eternal life They
knew not "the only name given under
heaven or amongst men whereby we
must be saved" Not only so. but the
majority of mankind since Jesus day
have never heard the Gospel in the
true sense of the word hearing They
have never understood, never appre-
ciated, 1t fully, rightly.
More TolerabIe For Sodomites.
1t may astonlsh some TO know that
Jesus, speaking of the Judgment or
trial Of the world during the coming
age, during his Mediatorial Kingdom
declared that that trial would be less
severe upon the Sodomites than upon
some of those people to whom he
preached, who would also have n
share In the opportunities Of that
great epoch--an opportunity, with the
Sodomltes, of reconciliation to God
and the attainment of eternal life
His words were, Woe unto you Cho-
raZzln and Bethsaida, for IL the mighty
works which have been done in you
had been done in Sodom and Gomor-
rah, they would have repented long
ago In sackcloth and ashes. Therefore
say unto you, 1t shall be more toll
erable for Tyre and Sidon in the day
Of Judgment 1.-THE worlds trial time,
the Millennium than for you (Mat-
ask upon this subject? What higher
authority could be invoked than the
Great Judge himself?
1t will not do to say that Jesus did
not refer to the same licentious Sod
omites mentioned by st. Jude In our
meant some Sodomltes living In his
day, because there were none. The
Master distinctly tells us that "the
same day that Lot went out of Sodom
1t ralned down fire and birthstone from
heaven aud destroyed them all" duke
xvii, POI. When our Lord declares
that ut shall be more tolerable fol
Sodom in the day Of Judgment than
for Capcrnaum" and the other cities
In which he preached, he implies that
1t will still be tolerable for those peo
pie who heard him and who rejected
his message.
"Thus II Is Written"
This Gospel Age which began with
our Lords sulferIngs and trying eXpe
riences. and which has continued those
experiences with his followers, has fol
It's object the preparation. the qualiii
cation of those who will be the Judges
of the world in the coming Age. They
must all be developed in the fruits ant
graces of the Holy Spirit-"meekness
patience, brotherly kindness. love,
else that Will not be tit to be the
Judges of mankind by and by. 1t Is
required that all become copies of the
Redecmer. Gods dear Son. st. Pau
tells us this saying, Know ye not
that the saints shalt Judge the world 2
and that God has foreordained that al
of these judges must be copies OF his
Son? (Romans viii, 20; | Corinthians
vi, y
Come bnck with me to the Old Testa
ment Scriptures ana note how the Di
vine Spirit dictated this matter of the
future trial Of the Sodomites to one OF
the prophets and caused 1t to be writ
tau for our instruction Alas! as Jesus
said. we have been "slow of heart Il
believe all that the prophets hav,
spoken" duke xiv, 25l. Through
Ezekiel the Prophet, the Lord explains
, that when the restitution time shal
come ut the Second Advent OF ou
Lord In the glory of his Kingdom, thei
/ the Divine blessing win come upoi
, Israel now cast off. Nor will the bless
Ing Of Messlah's Kingdom come upoI
Israel only. II will extend to all tn
, families OF the earth. Through tn
Prophet the Lord specially emphasizes
TO Israel her two sister nations, Sodon
and Snmurln, The Lord pointed ,ou
, that In the day OF their pride and pros
! perity they disdained these sister ma