The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-06-23
Sermon by
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.

here, using the above text. He also
gave a public address under the aus
pieces of the association. He had crowd
ed houses and earnest attention. On
the above text he said in part:
address you, dear friends, as Chris
tians, students of Gods Word, and not
as sectarians. Although the world is
full of denominations, each claiming to
be the Church of Christ, we all admit
that there is but the one Church of
the 6rstborns whose names are writ
ten in heaven" QIebrews xii, 3D. This
conviction is being borne in upon us
more and more as the days go by, and
as the eyes of our understanding open
more widely to the teachings of Gods
Word. We realize increasingly that
our division means our shame in the
eyes of the world, and that our Creedal
contradictions imply that we are not all
led in all things by the Holy Spirit, the
teachings of which cannot be Yea and
Nay upon the same subject 1t is this
sentiment which is taking hold of the
ministry Of all denominations and max
ing them anxious for an outward show
of Unity in Chukch Federation, which
will shortly be effected. The Christian
public, however. and especially Bible
students, are not deeply sympathetic
with the Federation idea. They real
lie that Mt most it would be a gloss Of
deception so far as doctrinal oneness
is concerned; and that otherwise it is
but business or worldly combination
Bible Students are more and more
coming to prefer the Lords way-the
Scriptural way. They are coming to
realize that what Gods people need is
not more organization but less organi-
cation. not more explicit creeds but
the one standard of fellowship which
the Bible sets up. They are learning
that this simple creed is:-a turning
from sin and acceptance of the Lord
Jesus as the Redeemer from sin and
death and the full conservation of the
believer, mind and body, to know and
to do the Lords will to the best of his
ability, under the Lords Providential
guidance. We all see that this simple
bond of fellowship is the only one laid
down in Gods Word. and that whatso-
ever is more than this is injurious
bondage to men and to systems, We
all see that "the Church of the Living
God whose names are written in heav-
en- is composed exclusively Of such as
conform to the terms of this simple
creed-that these alone will constitute
1.-The Body of Christ which is the
Church"-"the Bride, the Lambs wife,"
whom he will accept and unite to him
self in the end of this age. We all see
that this class alone is referred to in
the Scripture as 1.-The elect" who are
TO be associated with the Savior in his
glorious Spiritual Kingdom. which. in
visible to men. is shortly to be estab-
lished in power and great glory for the
blessing of natural Israel and through
her for the blessing of all the families
of the earth-lirin0 and dead.
"Workmen Not Ashamed"
Let US consider the latter part of our
text first: The Apostles suggestion is
that Timothy and all the ministers of
the Gospel of Christ are professedly
toOrknen, labOring under the guidance
of Gods Word. In the larger sense
every Christian is a minister of the
Gospel, or, as st. Peter declares of all
the consecrated. I'VE are Royal
Priesthood, Holy People, Peculiar
Treasure" In the end of the age will
come reckoning time, showing of
results. Every mans work that he
hath wrought shall be made manifest"
q Corinthians iii, 49,.
Our text urges that Timothy, and
every faithful servant of God should
be so loyal to God and his message
that in the great time of examination
In the end CT this age preparatory to
the introduction of the Kingdom the
showing shall be one Of which we need
not be ashamed, Let us, then, as Chris
tan Bible Students Of all denomina
tons gathered here today, ask our
selves respecting our own work in the
world. and how it must appear TO God,
to ourselves, and to our fellowmen-
yea, how it must shortly be made
manifest to all!
Let us call the roll. Baptist breth-
rem, What have you to show as work
men who need not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the Word Of Truth
Methodist brethren, what say you?
Presbyterians. next. Congregational
lists. Lutherans, Catholics-all!
The answer of one is practically the
answer of all; I'VE haye-so many hun
dred Churches. They cost-so many
millions of dollars. Their steeples are
so high. Their cost of maintenance
is-so much. The number of ministers
is-so many. The Church collections
amount to so much. The amount col
lected for foreign missions $50 much.
The amount expended on fine choirs
and elegant organs is-so much. The
aggregated debts of all our churches is
so much The unpaid interest on
many of these debts is-so much. The
time and energy expended in fairs,
bazaars. etc. to help pay the expendi-
lures is-so much. The number of
Church membership is-so many The
number in Sunday Schools is - so
MANY"