The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-08-22


torture.
The same principle operates In the
minds Of people born in civilized lands
There Is fear, dread respecting the
future, dread which takes hold also
upon things of the present life. This
fear toward God, the Scriptures de-
clare. Is wrong saying, "Their fear
toward Me is taught by the precepts
of men" lisa. 29:l3J These prccepts
Of men are represented In our various
creeds, all Of which claim to be the
Word Of the Lord. but all Of which are
the product Of fearful. human minds.
Gods Word does not uphold a single
creed Of Christendom. nor does sin
gle creed Of Christendom uphold Gods
Word. They all contain certain ele-
ments Of Truth, around which great
masses Of error have gathered How
ever, IL only such as conscientiously
believe every feature of their creeds
should remain with them, and If all
others were to step out. honestly and
/ fearlessly. the creeds would be found
to have very few worshipers. They
are fetishes Of idol worship. surely dis
pleasing TO the Lord Let every one
oppose this fear which has done so
much to discredit God and His Word
| and so much to turn the hearts and
minds of the best people in the world
away from God and the Bible.
"Where Art Thou, Sinner7"
While our irst parents hid from God.
and all of our race have the same dis
position because of fear, God. never
theless. has not hidden from his crea-
lures. AS He called after Adam, say
ing, where art thouT' and brought
Adam forth from his hiding place, so
in due time all of Adams children will
be pursued by His grace and mercy
until all shall come to know Of the love
of God which passeth all human un-
derstanding.
We are not Informed that our first
parents afterward hearkened to God
and repented Of their disobedience
We merely know that they could not
retrace their steps The sentence OF
death upon them was enforced. They
| htlt OuI VI IIutu-dMdH
the life-sustaining fruits. The Divine
sentence against them was, Dying
thou shalt die" Gradually the dying
process operated against the perfect
man until, after nine hundred and
thirty years of struggling, he sue
cumbed-he was dead. The Divine
sentence against our first parents de
scended to their posterity. AS Goo
Hsaid to Mother Eve, 81 will greatly
multiply thy sorrow and thy concep
tion, so has it been with all of hel
daughters.
And God said to Adam. 'In the
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat breat
until thou return unto the ground from
whence thou vast taken" So Adam,
sons also have contended with tn
thorns and thistles, and, in sweat o
face. have labored for sustenance
gradually succumbing to the cares o
human life-duSt to dust returning
But as God called after the sinner il
Eden, so He has called after the sin
; ner since. but remarkably few hav,
had the hearing ear.
, Amongst those mentioned in tn,
Bible who heard the voice of God an(
obtained reconciliation, we remembe
Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacol
and all the prophets. the Apostles
, etc. But the masses of mankind hav'
not at any time been ready to hearkeI
to Gods voice. Fear has driven then
further and further away from tn,
Only Name. The question is a prope
one here, How long will God call aft
er the sinner How long will the sin
ner continue to be fearful of his Crea
tor, and continue to go further from
Divine Justice, Wisdom, Love ant
Power can call? If not, why not?
Why Not Call More LoudIy7
Gods call was greatly increased il
the days of our Savior and since
Men have heard of Gods love ant
mercy and His invitation TO becom,
reconciled to Him, but many still be
lieve in the teachings of the Darl
Ages, regarding eternal torment. whicl
tends to drive them to fear and ava.
| ~
: we, rs Bible students, more and NOR
appreciate, namely, that it is the Lor
of God that constrains, that makes n
happy, that brings the peace of Got
which passeth all understanding" Or
the contrary, as st. Paul declares, tn
doctrines of devils bring fear, torment
ing dread, and cause men to hid
from God. Many, unquestionably, il
the past have attended church serv
ices, not because of love for God, no
because of any truly worshipful spirit
but from fear, and in hope that b.
thus rendering some outward homag
to the Name Divine they might escap
torture in the future.
We are not for moment to thinl
of such people as hearing the Diyin
Voice. They are serving as are tn
|, heather, who have never heard of rh
!, true God, in any sense of the word.
We may be inclined to wonder tina
our Almighty Creator has apparent.
pursued the human family with Eli