The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-02-21

earth that desiit beside Thee. Then
indeed we shall flnd Him, when our
hearts pant for Him. as the hart pant
eth after the water-broolls."
Difficulties In the Way, Says Pastor
Russell.
The words of the Wall Street Jour
nal respecting the need Of the old-time
religion are along proper lines. The
Bishop sees clearly what l also have
so frequently pointed out, namely,
that the so-called New Theology, High
er Criticism and Evolution theory have
so undermined faith that 1t would be
folly to look for return of the pious
earnestness Of the past. which was
built upon living faith, even though
1t was not the pure faith "once deliv-
cred unto the saints" Jude 81.
We do not admit that none today
are pious; that none are what st. Paul
styled ''sanctifed In Christ Jesus
Il Corinthians |. p. We claim that
there are as honest, as upright. as
loyal children Of God today as ever
lived in the world. But they are few.
The vast majority. under the false
teaching mentioned by the Bishop,
have utterly lost the faith once de-
livered to the saints" The great ma
jority of professed Christians are drift
ing. Long ago they gave up the creeds
OF the "dark ages" and. believing that
the Bible taught the same things as
the creeds. It also is being abandoned
as too absurd for present-day intelli-
gence. Higher Criticism tanother name
for infidelity and opposition to the b.
ble,. Evolution. Christian Science,
Theosophy and Atheism have swallow
ed up the majority of the intellectuals
Of the Churches. and the mediocre
masses are rapidly following them into
the outer darkness of unbelief and
godlessness.
1t is impossible for an honest man
who has lost his faith in God. and in
the Bible as the Word of God, to take
real heart-interest in prayer-meet-
ings. in Bible study and in attempted
holy living. He finds nothing substan-
tial for his faith to rest upon. He
scorns to be hypocrite Hence the
old-time religious life is not to be gen.
orally expected.
Modern Revivals Unsatisfactory.
Modern revival methods (slangy talk,
clownish actions and a pretense that
rising to ones feet in public assem-
bly, means Christian reformation and
spirit-begetting) is too foolish for think
ing people Of the class represented by
the Editor of the Wall Street Journal.
It is not for MS to say that absolutely
nothing is accomplished. and that all
fall away who. under excitement,
stand up to be prayed for. or to indi-
cate that they prefer TO spend eternity
In bliss rather than In torture. We
do. however, mean to say that such
persons are bewildered. IL no worse,
and year after. we fear, are as bad
or worse than the year before. This is
because they are not really converted
because they have no real foundation
for faith given them, and have no
faith to put upon such a foundation.
They are not even what st. Paul styles
"Babes in Christ" q Corinthians iii. ~.
for only the spirit-begotten belong to
that class.
What Is Really Needed.
The revival really needed should not
be looked for nor expected amongst
worldly people. They have nothing of
Christianity to revive. 1t should begin
with Christians who have not yet lost
all their faith in God and in the Bible.
These should become awakened to the
fact that spirituality and faith are at
a low ebb. Their prayers should as
cend to God, and their Bibles should be
studied as never before. They should
make use Of present-day helps in their
Bible study and become fervent and
revivified Of spirit through a better un-
derstanding of the Scriptures. They
must see that the Bible was not prop
erly represented in the creeds of the
past: that it is in direct opposition to
many Of the doctrines of the past
which have justly become repulsive to
Intelligent minds.
When once they get the proper focus
Oh COOS WORD, one passage illuminat.
ing another. their faith In God and In
the Bible will become a living one, a
moving one, and. with this spirit. faith
and works will come-C Christian zeal
fervency Of spirit In the service of the
Lord. With these in turn will come
activities in helping one another. ac.
tivities in family worship. in Bible
classes, In prayer and testimony meet
ings. etc. Then. as the Master said
they will let their light shine and the
worldly will see and be influenced by
these living epistles. known and read
Of all III Corinthians iii. q.
Most Important Points.
1t is useless for any to attempt tc
believe, or to attempt to teach others
that God Is great. and just. and low
ing. while at the same time teaching
that He prepared. before the founda
tion of the world. an immense torture
chamber in which thousands of mil
lions would be forced to spend eter
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