The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-08-29

people he says. "1ave patience. breth'
rem, for the coming of the Lord draw;
eth nigh" The Lord speaks OF this
Day of Recompense' as time OF
trouble"-of the overthrow of oppres-
sion. the uplifting of the poor and
those that have no helper Ps. Xxi, l2'.
"The Desire of All Nations Shall
Come"
Those who are entirely satisfied with
present conditions are the compare
lively few who have special advan-
tages. The masses are discontented--
some of them properly so, and Others
of them more discontented than is rea'
sonable. All but the very poorest and
worst situated are better off today
than were their grandfathers-yet less
contented The spirit of discomfort
selfshness and a failure to note and to
enjoy the great blessings which God
has provided so bountifully, as well as
wonderfully, in our day, prevails.
Nevertheless, some have reason for
discomfort; and some. looking into the
future. are fearing worse conditions.
as the monopolies have gained flrmer
grip upon all the necessities of life.
Surely their forebodings are not
without grounds. Unless something
shall occur to lift matters out of their
present rut. human intelligence sees.
at q not far distant day. new serf-
dom. with masters directing all the
forces of the world. and with the COM
mon people at their mercy, glad TO
have q sufficiency Of work and of
wage for life's necessities.
Long ago the speaker harbored the
theory taught him in his creed, that
mankind is totally depraved; but sure
ly none are totally depraved except the
idiotic. The speaker believed that
there Is an element favorable to right
eousness in every member of our race,
and that sin is largely the result of
unfavorable environments; and that
the majority of mankind would be
glad. indeed, If some Divine interposi-
ton were to lift them and their affairs
out Of present conditions and put them
upon plane of absolute righteousness,
| justice, equity. This, the speaker be-
lieves, Is the desire Of a large element
in every nation, predominating class.
Such a reign of righteousness. justice,
equity in the world, will speedily re-
suit, he said, from the establishment
Of Messiah's Kingdom. for which we
pray. "Thy Kingdom come; Thy will
be done on earth as 1t is In heaven"
Most explicitly do the Scriptures de-
clare this, saying The desire Of all
nations shall come (Haggai Ii, n.
This declaration is in conjunction with
the foretelling Of the establishment of
Messiah's Kingdom. The reign of
righteousness which 1t will inaugurate
will be the ideal of the masses Of
mankind. although quite probably the
overthrow of Trusts and Combines
will, for a time, not be viewed sympa-
thetically by the rich, the wise. the
preferred, the favored class, under
present conditions. AS it required time
for the slave holders of the past to
become reconciled to the loss of their
slaves and to see the righteousness
of their being freed. so it will be with
those who at present are closely iden-
tilted with great institutions which
are bringing mankind into slavery,
Our Lord sized up the situation. say
Ing, Blessed are you who weep and
mourn. for you shall be comforted.
Woe unto those who are full, for they
shall have distress luke vi, 2l, 25,.
The reign of justice and righteous
ness will ultimately appeal to all in
heart harmony with Jehovah. and all
who fail to thus come into heart har-
mony with Him will be accounted as
unworthy OF His gift Of everlasting
life; for HE who loves not his brother
whom he hath seen, how could he love
God whom he hath not SEEM"
The thousand years of Messiah's
reign, during which His Bride, the
Elect Church, will be associated with
Him, will be quite sufficient for the
equalization Of all of life's affairs for
the entire race. I'm His day shall the
righteous flourish" and not the mere
ly strong. In His Day evil doers and
not well doers will be crushed 1t is
written of His Kingdom that 1t "shal
lift up the poor out of the dunghill
and shall bring down the mighty from
their seats"
The DiscipIines According to Previou.
Character Development.
The whole world of mankind will
then be transferred into the hands o.
Messiah, who win take them Just a.
they are. They will be In various con
ditlons. Some will be more depraved
D others less depraved; some will b,
! more scared In their consciences ant
: some less; and these deficiencies o.
character will depend upon the way IL
y which each one accepted or rejected
y light and opportunity in the presen
q time. Those who kneiD not His vii
= and did II not will receive few stripes
i those who kneio His pill and did il no
n will receive many stripes. because o
= previous hardening of character Ev
r erybody will be required, eventually
/ to come up to the full standard of Di
q vine requirements. Those more de
Q PRAYED will have greater difficulty an,
g those less depraved will have less DIFF
J. flculty and receive fewer stripes, II
a