The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-08-23

PEOPLES PULPIT.
Most Comforting
Words,
Words Of Life
Comfort one another with these
words" Il Thessalonians iv, l6).

ment we persuade men everywhere,
"Be ye reconciled to God"-and thus
attain the only eternal life which he
promised
But, on the other hand. note the
kindly description of our God which
the Apostle furnishes, blessed be
God. even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ. the Father of mercies,
the God of all comfort; who com.
forteth us in all of our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort them
that are In any tribulation. by the
comfort with which we ourselves are
comforted of God. For as the suffer
ings of Christ abound In us. so our
comfort also aboundeth by Christ.
And whether we be afflicted. 1t is for
your comfort and salvation or
whether we be comforted. II Is for
your comfortand salvation. y" know
ing that as ye are partakers of the
sufferings, so shall ye be also of the
comfort III Corinthians |. 80.
What wonderful statement respect
ing the Divine intentions for the COM
fort of the world and the comfort of
the Church. all proceeding from "the
God Of all comfort" Nothing written
in any sacred books of any people at
any time reveals such a God as the
God of the Bible-a God Infinite in
Justice. Wisdom, Power and Love. 1t
is he that Is working all things ac-
cording to the counsel of his own good
will" for the ultimate comfort and
salvation of as many of his creatures
as will accept his fayors. after being
brought to a knowledge of the Truth
respecting them. Tie Church is now
comforted during this Gospel Age
(saved to the highest plane of the
heavenly nature, and during the com
ing Age the world Is to be comfofted
and saved to the human nature-as
many as will. For the world this
means the glorious opportunity Of the
medatorial reign of Christ which will
constitute their time of restitution, up
lifting. resurrection to all that was lost
In Adam and redeemed by the precious
blood Of Christ (Acts Ill. 1921.
"Comfort-With These Words"
In order 10 appreciate the meaning
of our text we must consider the
words of the Apostle preceding 1t, be-
ginning with the 18th verse. He de-
clares, II would not have you to be
| ignorant. brethren. concerning them
which are asleep. that ye sorrow not,
even as others which have no hope"
All Christian people agree that the
word sleep here refers TO those who
died. They are not asleep in heaven,
or course, for there all is wakefulness
and intelligence and JOY. They are
not asleep In Purgatory. of course. for,
according to Our Catholic friends, sleep
there would be an impossibility. They
are not asleep In an orthodox hell, for
according to the description given by
Protestants, none could sleep there
Where, then, are those who are
asleep? ST. Paul says that we should
not be Ignorant concerning them
Have we not been ignorant In the past
! -foollshly ignorant? We have ignored
the Apostles words entirely. We have
refused TO believe that any are asleep
and claim that ali are awake. alive-a
few In heaven. the many In Purgatory
or eternal torture
But ST. Paul was right, The entire
Bible teaches that all who die fall
asleep Thus we learn of St Stephen
the first Christian martyr that he "fel
asleep (stoned to Death. We read OF
the good and bad, kings and peasants
falling asleep In death, We read thai
King David slept with his fathers
some of them good. some OF them bad
We read that Abraham slept with his
fathers-sOme of them heather. Tit
Bible tells us whore they sleep and tina
they will all beNwnkened from the sleel
of death In due tue--in the resurrec
tion. during MeSSiuh's reign OF II thou
sand years. The Prophet declares tha
MANY that sleep In the dust OF tn,
earth shall awake. some TO life ever
lasting and some to shame and lasting
contempt Daniel xii, p
Those wEo WIN be awakened from
the sleep of death unto resurrection o
life viii be the blessed and holy, tn,
sanity. who will be associated will
Messiah in the Kingdom work for tn
. blessing and uplifting OF the non.elecl
Those who viii be awakened from tn
sleep OF death TO shame and age-last
lng contempt viii be the non .elec
world, Their shame will be in propor
I tlon as they have enjoyed light, know
, edge and opportunity and have taile
. rightly TO appreciate and use thesC
= They will have contempt from thel
= fellows. In proportion as their shor
, comings Of the present time viii b
. shown up Many highly esteeme
amongst men will be awakened to tha
shame and age lasting contempt, Bu
ihcir case will not be hopeless on,
Much or their weakness and dereli,
y tion were the result of Adams tranl
gression and the sinful condition
y which have resulted, including unfi
Ln,