Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-09-30

that vast concourse OF intelligent peo-
pie. As | looked ut them ! asked my
self the question am now asking you.
How is Il that such crowds attend
your services. even in this suItry. sum-
mer weather. when the summer re-
sorts and seashore pleasures would
call them elsewhere. and while many
Of our leading and able ministers, sup
ported by talented choirs. have small
attendance-twenty. forty. fifty or so?
What is your explanation
| replied. MY brother. believe we
are witnessing fultilmeni OF the
Scripture which says: There shall be
a famine in the land. Not famine
for bread. nor n famine for water. but
a famine for the hearing of the Word
Of the Lord (Amos viii. II. The pub
lie are getting their eyes too widely
opened TO ever again respect the God
whom Brother Calvin pictured-a God.
All-Wise aud All-Powerful. but thor
oughly unloving. who forcordained and
predestinated sanity handful to
glory. and the insanity thousands OF
millions TO an eternity of torture. We
once believed those things. but the
new morning OF Gods grace in Christ
Jesus Is gradually scattering the dark
ness.
Neither can we longer believe with
Brother Wesley that our God Is good
and loving and would like to save ev-
r,ybody If lie could. but was unwise
arA 10 M
in power TO direct the matter now.
The people are hungering for some
thing better-for something consistent
and rational and In accordance with
the Bible declaration, that Divine jus
tice. Wisdom. Love and Power are CO.
ordinate that God Is Love and is as
lust and wise and powerful MS He Is
loving. The people need 10 be shown
n theology which will accord with this
| Divine character and with the Divine
statement that known unto the Lord
are all His works from the beginning
of the world and again: My Word
that goeth forth out of My mouth shall
not return unto Me void. but shall ac-
complsh that which | please saith
the Lord. and shall prosper in the
thing whercio ! sent IT, "
Bible Doctrine Of Election
Christian people need To believe the
Bible doctrine OF Election. but must
see It in a different light from that
which Brother Calvin threw upon the
subject. They must see election from
the Bible standpoint-the election OF a
sanity Church. little flock" "a roy
al priesthood. holy people" TO be the
Bride OF Christ. and His ioint-heirs.
They must see that this elect" Church
with the Redeemer Is Gods appoint
ed channel for the blessing OF the non
elect world. They need to lie shown
clearly that the sanity few. gathered
first from the Jews. but subsequently
completed by additions OF those OF
sanity character Of all nations. are
with Christ to become the great Seed
OF Abraham. the great Messiah. Abra-
hams spiritual Seed. like the stars
of heaven" II must then be shown
why this spiritual Seed has been call
ed" elected" selected from amongst
manlsind-that II Is for the very pur
pose of blessing the non.elect. the
masses of Adams race. in harmony
with Gods promise TO Abraham-"ln
thy Seed shall all the families of the
earth be blessed"
ST. Paul refers to this spiritual Seed.
saying. And to thy Seed. which is
Christ" and III We be Christ's. then
are We Abraham's Seed and heirs
according to the promise" Galatians
iii. lG. 2M. All these are Heirs Of the
great promise that has not yet been
fulfilled The fulflment waits until
the completion of foreordained num-
Der, an elect "little flock" Of the saint
" few. Then these. changed by the
power of the First Resurrection. from
human nature TO divine nature III Pc
ter 1. A.. will constitute the glorious
Kingdom of Messiah The Kingdom
blessings will 20 first to Abraham's
natural seed. and through them to all
nations.
Gods character Is so great. so grand.
that. II seen by men. IL would be rev.
erenced Gods Plan Of Salvation is so
Niltts W uNh ruAis
derstood and comprchcnded. II proves
more fascinat ting than any novel.
The world has been kept away from
God and from the Bible by the machi-
nations OF the Adversary. lie has had
much TO do with the formation of our
creed idols. Seeing men breaking away
from error. In the Reformation time.
and cropping after the Truth Satan pre-
sented himself las an angel OF light"
and misguided our fathers into the for
nation OF their various creeds. This
Is corroborated by 81. Paul's words.
''Thc god of this world hath blinded
the minds of them that believe not.
lest the glorious light or the goodness
of God. as II shines In the face OF Jesus
Christ our Lord. should shine into
their hearts" al Corinthians ". ~.