The Ordway new era., 1911-10-13


Gods words to Adam. after he had
sinncd and sought to hide from his
Makcr-"Where Art Thouw Genesis
Iii. o.
The speaker declared that fear is
one Of the greatest maladles to which
humanity Is subject. md he quoted the
Apostles words. "Fear hath torment"
Although people differ greatly in their
mental makeup. the Pastor believed
that fear is common to all mankind
in some form or other. The only ex-
ceptions he admitted are the saints
of God. who have turned from sin and
given their all to the Lord us followers
of Jesus. These gradually come to
understand their Maker and to have
confidence in His loving provisions for
them In all their affairs. AS love
comes into their hearts fear departs,
AS the Scriptures declare. Perfect
love casteth out fear"
Although no human being is perfect.
for all have sinned and come short Of
the glorious standard. none are totally
depraved. An element OF the Divine
character still remains In all. All
have some realization Of right and
wrong. and some appreciation Of re-
sponsibility to do right and to avoid
wrong. Whenever sin is committed.
with 1t naturally and properly goes
some appreciation Of Divine dlspleas-
ure. OF unworthincss Of Divine love
and favor. In such hearts there Is of
necessity restlessness. because hui.
manIty Is SO constituted as to crave the
supervision and love Of an All.Wise
and All.Powerful Creator.
Adam, the Sinner, Ashamed.
The Scriptures clearly inform us
that although Mother Eve was de-
ceived by the Serpent. Father Adam
was not. The Serpent represented to
Mother Eve that God was striving to
keep His creatures in ignorance. and
recommended disobedicnce us the road
to knowledge and happiness. Mother
Eve. unacquainted with her Creator.
was deceived into disobcdience to His
command.
Father Adam, not deceived, under
stood perfectly that tho wrong course
would not bring happiness. but the
death penalty. His deliberately vii.
full sin was evidently prompted by
love for his wife. He put his wife in
the place Of his Creator. and sacri.
feed his life to share her penalty.
The guilty pair realized their un.
worthlncss Of further Divine favor
their unworthincss Of the fellowship Of
their Creator. which they had previ.
ously enjoyed. They hid from God. So.
said Pastor Russell. It Is with all sin
ners. They endenvor to hide from God
The Times Of Restitution.
Adam was not murderer and. even
II his crime might be called theft.
It was a small one-onIy nm apple
Had he been imperfect. as nre his
children today. his penalty might seem
unjust We are to remember. how.
ever. that he was perfect. und that
his rcnl crime was dlsobedience.
Gods voice calling to the sinner
should be hcarkencd to. for although
He speaks In tones OF justice. He tells
also Of "Love Divine NIL love ex.
ceiling" 1t assures us TINT our Gre.
ator has not forgotten US nor entirely
cast US OF because Of sin.
Such Of our race US are in the right
condition Of heart hearken to the voice
Of God and retracc their steps. seeking
to return to Divine favor under the
call Of this Gospel Age-to become
joint.helrs with Jesus Christ their
Lord aud Ttppdcmer. ns members Of
His Bride. by these the grent disaster
Of sin and its death penalty mny be-
overlooked. as special blessing which
will permit them to attain. through
faithful following In the footsteps OF
Jesus. the glory. honor and Immortality
promised the elect"
But very large class fail entirely to
hear Gods voice. Many OF them have
gotten into hcnthenlsh darkness and
doubt Others hear very impcrfectly
and think the Lord Is merely breath
ing out threatcnings against them
None VI these cnn be blessed Mt the
present time. But the Bible informs
US that God Is not content to let any
sinner 80 without hearing His voice Of
mercy. Hence He has provided that
those who. for my reason. cannot heaI
His voice and be blessed by the High
Calling Of this Age. must ultimately
hear.
Accordingly. the Bible tells US OF
Gods glorious arrangement for the
Kingdom OF Messiah. which will bind
satnn md set at liberty the prisoners
Of sin and death. and bring all to q
clear knowledge Of the Divine charac
ter through the blessed opportunities
provided IN the Redccmer. All the
blind eyes will then be opened, nnt
all deaf ears will he unstopped. Resti
tuition to human perfection and to ar
earthly Eden everlasting will be offer
ed to the obedient, and. wilful rejec
tors will be utterly destroyed (Acts Ill
1929.