The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-03-14

Sermon BY
CHARLES T.
RUSSELL,
Pastor Brooklyn
Tabernacle.
-gst 90.
--'rEf


Gle. New York. preached here twice
today to splendid audiences One Of
his discourscs was entitled. ''Thc Over
throw OF satan's Empire" We report
the other one from the text above
quoted. Pastor Russell said:-
AS Christians in the light of this
wonderful Twentieth Century we stand
ut the parting of the ways and must
decide for right or for wrong. for
truth or for fnlsehood. III respect to
our religious convictions. Without
questioning the sincerity Of our fore
fathers, we all object TO their theology.
1t Is In vain that ministers and
Bible class teachers longer deny the
facts of the case. Nor will Intelligent
and honest people agree that it Is
right that through their crccds they
should profess one thing. and In their
lives and general conversation they
should ignore or absolutely deny the
teachings OF those creeds. Yet this Is
tile position OF practically all the think.
Ing people Of .Christendom. Their con-
sciences will not stand for this much
longer. II they refrain from telling
the Truth and taking their stand for
1t, they Will not only scar their cnu-
sciences Il Timothy Nv. q and CORE
spondinsiy separate themselves from
Gods favor. but additionally their
course will sooner or fntcr bring upon
them the disnpproval aud contempt of
nil honest people. For although the
masses are not yet aroused ON the sub
ject. they are rapidly getting awake.
Do you wish me to illustrate what
I mean? Do you wish lie. TO show In
what respect all denominations are
ASHAMED OF their creeds and anxious
to hide the fact that they ever pro-
fessed them or were anxious 10 give
them some new Interpretation more
consistent with the broader thought
and more generous sentiment common
10 civilized man III this Twentieth
Century? will do 1t.
Our Methodist friends nrc ashamed
OF that feature OF tllclr creed which de.
cares that the Almighty is now doing
everything that Divine Wisdom and
Power can accomplish ON behalf Ut
our poor race TO bring all TO IL full
knowledge of Christ and to opporlu-
nifty of faith and obedience. They real.
izc that there Is. II weakness In this
argument. And when they protest
that God must work through means.
and hence that the Responsibility lies
at the door Of Christian believers TO
carry the Gospel to tile hcuthen, they
realize TINT this Is an Illogical argu-
ment too. For why should our Great
Creator send to eternal torment mil
lions of his creatures. because Of mn
insutiicfency Of zeal ON The part OF
some Of their more enlightened .fcl.
low-crcatures: Acknowledging lie
Inconsistency of such Il theory our
good Methodist brethren tell us that
they hope That God has some other
way Of saving the Ignorant OF hcattcn
lands and. perhaps, of civilized lands.
We appreciate the loving heart
which prompts this answer and we
agree that 1t Is true-thnt God has
another way for these. But when we
way Is, some of these dear friends III.
quire. Is 1t Methodfsm? Did John
Wesley preach 1t? Our answer Is. No,
Brother Wesley did not preach 1t and
did not know OF 1t. Not because 1t Is
new. but because 1t Is so very old and
was lost sight Of during the dark
| ages" for fifteen centuries before
Brother Wesley was born. lie wns
feeling after 1t, ycarning for 1t, hun
sering and thirstlng for IT, but the
due time" for 1t to be made known
10 Coils people had not yet come In
Brother Wesley's day. He preached
the eternal torture of all mankind, en-
ccpt the sanctificd believers In Jesus
the Savior. But In his preaching of
the love of God lie was used OF the
Almighty 10 wondrously prepare the
message OF the Bible now due TO be
seen and understood. Wesley's Cos
pei Of the love of God has mcllowel
tile heart of Christcnlom. which once
was frisid under the cold teachings
of REORGANIZATION. Predcstinntton. etc.
of the Westminster Confession of
Fnitll-oncc the basis of nearly u1
Protestant Communions.
II we ard our Methodist brethren
could maintain the same degree of
spiritual warmth that Wesley and their
forcfntlers enjoyed VIC might do with
out further instruction.. But we cum
not do this! None can stand still!
Christians today are losing their holt
ness. their lr.ctiticntlon-their zeal for
God Is glyin. plnce to zeal for n sect.
The light OF the Ali!lennial morning
which for Il century has been gradual
ly breaking upon tile world. sttT.ulnt-
ing thought III every direction. makes
1t necessary for our Methodist broth.
rem, MS well as for MS nil, to awaken
to the wonderful privileges of our dny
for Bible study: TO ascertain the real
teachings of Gods Word. which. In The
dark past we ull seemingly misunacr.
stood and misrepreScntcd. Already the
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