Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-08-27
ALMOST PERSUADED.


II appears 60 us that Pastor Russell
Of the Brooklyn tabernacle has almost
persuaded himself ~ the hope Of the
uncounted dead who never heard the
Gospel. to hear IT in the spirit world.
lie takes. OF course, the well known
orthodox view that the whole world of
mankind through heredity. through in
herlted Weaknesses. through parucipa-
ton in the sentence that came upon
Father Adam Justly. are all judicial
~ dead I'm trespasses and in sins-not
one Of the race is worthy Of eternal
life upon the only terms and condi-
lions which God can offer-namely per-
lection and obedience to the Divine
standards.
As for the few who actually hear,
and the still smaller number who
actually obey, the Gospel in this life:
those whom the Savior recognized as
having passed from death unto llfc,'
he concludes that this change was only
a legal one; that actually, according
to the flesh. they were still imperfect.
fallen, dying; but that by Divine ar
rdngoment their new minds, their new
Wills. were accepted of God In Christ
and their flesh ignored as dead. and
they were beRotten by God OF the Holy
Shirt as new creatures and became
sons OF God IA sons. they were free
from all the previous condemnation
that came upon them as members OF
Adams race-freed through the impu-
tation Of the merit Of the Redeemer's
sacrifice applied on their behalf. Thus
tney attained the liberty Of the sons
Of God-freedom from sin and con-
domnation.'
This important statement IS follow
ed by one still more significant to the
effect that a similar procedure has
been in progress throughout all this
gospel age from Pentecost until now
amongst the world Of mankind judicial
IA dead. 1t has reached a considerable
number. but not many great however
not many wise not many rich.not many
noble. not many learned, chiefly the
poor OF this world and the mean things
the lgnoble things q. Cor, 26-2S)
Az TO those who die without even
So much as hearing the doctrines Of
Christ. the pastor Is silent; yet he
comes very near to the statement. or,
at least, the discovery OF the truth
about them when he can use such an
argument as the following.
I'VE are coming to appreciate more
than ever the value Of the great Re
deemcr and of the great sacrifice for
sin which he accomplished at Calvary.
We are coming 10 see the truth of what
we considered poetic license when we
sang,
There's a Wilderness In Gods mercy
Like the Wilderness OF the sea.
We are seeing more clearly as the
DAYS 20 by the meaning Of the Scrip
ture which declares that eventually
the Redeemer shall sec ~ the travail
Of his soul and he satisfied We per-
ceIve now that the little handful OF
Saints walking in the Masters foot
steps from Pentecost TO His second
advent and sharing In the First
Resurrection is not the end Of Divine
love for our race. but merely It's be-
ginning-'A first fruit unto God Of His
creatures CIames g., Isl. We are now
seeing that according 10 the Divine
purpose the calling and election OF the
church 20 the spirit nature, To the di-
vine nature. must be completed before
the second step i'm tho great Divine
plan ~ salvation begins-the recovery
~ the world from sin and death con-
dltiops TO human perfection and par
ndi7e restored
The pastor then goes on "a argue
thlt Adam ala not die a spiritual
death because he was not n spirit
being only natural death, and OF
this natural death all must partakc.
since. like Adam, AL have sinncd and
come short ~ the glory OF God" He
shows that, according to the Bible.
there Is no natural death"--it Is not
natural for man to die II Is according
n the Bible arrangement and mans
nature that he should Twelve eternal
| ~. as do the angels II obedient to the
| Divine commands. Death. therefore. is
/ tho unnatural thing: do We think"
| ne asks. "of angels as dying. and OF
| heaven as filled with cemeteries? Have
| they doctors and undertakers there?
Surely mott Yet II would be just as
proper to speak Of natural death
amongst the angels as in respect to
men,
| Now. IL there is no death. II man VIII
live forever. the main question is,
What shall be mans condition, status.
and occupation after he departs from
this life? The Pastor admits that the
Divine promise is that eventually every
eye shall sec and every ear shall be
unstopped, and then the knowledge OF