The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-01-12
Gods Covenant of
the Law
By PASTOR RUSSELL
Of Brooklyn Tsbernseis

TTXT-Thc Lord whom ye seek. shall
suddenly come TO his temple, even the
Messenger Of the covenant, whom ye de-
light in. said Jehovah OF Hosts; but who
may abide by the day of his coming2-
Malachi III, Is.
Six thousand years ago in Eden our
Maker, in Justly sentencing his dis
obedient children to death. intimated
that ultimately the seed of the woman
would bruise the serpent's head. This
hidden promise was the first intima-
ton Of the divine mercy which our
gracious Creator purposed in himself
from before the foundation of the
world Ever noble, kind and gracious,
our Creator restrained his mercy for
the good Of his creatures-that they
might learn TO appreciate the exceed
ing sinfulness of sin. For the good Of
the angels also. and that they might
fully know of his justice, as well as
OF his wisdom and power, God insist
ed upon dealing with his creatures
from the standpoint of exact justice.
They had sinned and thereby had for
feited all claim upon the eternal life
which he had given them conditional
ly.
Eternal torment, as we have already
seen, did not in any sense or degree
enter into the divine intention. His
sentence upon man, plainly stated.
was. Dying thou shalt die" not, Liv-
ing thou shalt live In torment. The
soul that sinneth II shall die" Gene
sis II. IL; Ezekiel xviii, ~. God in
tended to exemplify In his dealings
with our race a principle of divine
government to be made operative
erywhere-ultimately among all his
creatures on the spirit plane, as well
as upon the earthly.
Igraers experiences of tribulation
and bondage in Egypt were probably
necessary to prepare them for Gods
great proposition-tbat they should
keep the law and as a reward have
| life everlasting. As it is written, He
that doeth things shall live by them"
Leviticus xviii, 81. Israel greatly re-
joiced in this manifestation of divine
preference for them more than for all
others of humanity. The law covenant
was mediated. The sacrifice of bulls
and of goats made a typical atone
ment for them for a year, so that they
might enter into the covenant rela-
tionship with God. But when they at
tempted to keep the law they were
disappointed. They failed. The law
OF God being the full measure of
perfect mans ability. and the Jews,
like other men. being imperfect, found
that they had undertaken an impossi-
bility.
Not a Jew kept the law perfectly.
Not a Jew, therefore, gained eternal
life during the first year. But God,
foreknowing this, had made prepare
ton for repetition of the atonement
day every year. so that the people
might continue striving to attain eter-
nal life. Year after year, century
after century. they failed, and dis
| enlargement took the place of hope.
Gcd was teaching them a great lesson
respecting the need of better sacri-
fees than those of bulls and of goats.
and also teaching them that there is
no other means of justification In his
sight. They got blessings under the
covenant-educationa blessings, but
not the blessings hoped for, not life
eternal Hence they were not in
position 10 become, as they had hoped.
! a national Messiah. a national seed of
Abraham. for the blessing Of all the
nations.
The flrst-begOtten OF the Father, as
his glorious agent in the great work
OF creation. had the honor granted
him of becoming the great messenger
of the covenant, the great prophet.
priest and king of Israel. the great
Michael Of Daniel xii, /. But there
were tests connected with his attain
ment Of this high position % BY
faith he must lay aside his heavenly
glory, IN obedience TO the Fathers
will To become "A man-not a sinful
man. but perfect man-holy. harm
less, undefled, separate from sinners.
90 Thus prepared to become the Re
deemer II was his privilege TO make
full conservation OF his earthly inter.
est and the Fathers pleasure to beget
him Of the holy spirit al Jordan to the
| spirit nature on the highest plane.
For three and a half years his sacri-
/ Ace burned upon the altar II was
indeed better than the sacrifice of
bulls and goats. for It was CORE.
spending price for Adam: an eye for
an eye, a tooth for IA TOOTH a mans
| life for a mans life. (S) When Jesus
had thus SCIENTIFICALLY parted with his
earthly life he experienced "a resurrec-
| ton change from human nature TO
spiritual, like what he was originally,
only higher and more glorious. Thus
he was at once both sacrifice and
the spirit begotten priest who offered
that sacrifice.
Then why did he not at once begin
his great work as prophet, priest,
| king and new covenant mediator for
Israel and through Israel for the
world, II was because there YVES TO
be moro than one sacrifice in the
divine plan ON the day of atonement.
When this bride class shall have
completed her sacrifice In and under
Al - h.