Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1911-08-24

addresses fro N
Gods words to Adam. sitter he had
sinned and sought to hide from his
Mnker-"WteFe Art Thour' tGenes.s
III, o.
The speaker declared that fear "a
one OF the greatest malsdies to which
humanity IL subject. and 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-
ceptlons he admitted are the saints
OF God. who have turned from sin and
given their all to the Lord M followers
Of Jesus. These gradually come to
understand their Maker and TO have
confidence IN Ills 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
depravcd. An element of the Divine
character still remains In all. All
have some realization Of right and
wrong. and some appreciation Of re
sponsibil!ty to do right and tn avoid
wrong. Whenever sin Is committed.
with It naturally and properly goes
some appreciation Of Divine displeas-
ure. OF unworthIncss of Divine love
and favor. In such hearts there Is Of
necessity a restlesspess. because hu.
manity is NO constituted as to crave the
supervision and love Of nm Aii.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. 10
Mother Eve that God WAS striving TO
keep His creatures In ignorancc. and
recommended disoOecicnce M the road
10 knowledge ard happiness. Mother
Eve. una,quainted vi'h her Creator.
was deceived into disohedience To His
command.
Father Adam. not deceived. under
stood Ierfecii.' that tie wrong course
would nor bring happiness. but the
death penalty. Els deliberately. will.
fui stu was evidently prompted by
love for his wife. Tie pnt his wife In
the place OF his Creator. and sacri.
feed his life TO share her penalty.
The gritty pair realized their un.
worihincss OF further Divine favor
their ruwu-;hiucs.. ur the fellowship of
their Creator. which they had previ-
ously enjoyed. They hid from God. 80.
sold Pastor Russell. 10 is with all sin
ners. They enceavor 10 hide from God
This Times OF Restitution.
Adam Was not murderer and. even
II his crime might i,e called theft.
1t was small one-oniy an apple.
Had be been imperfect. ms are his
children today. bis pelsilty might seem
UNJUST We are 10 remember. how
ever. TINT he was perfect. and that
bis real crime was disobc,lance.
Gods voice calling TO the sinner
should he hearkened to. for although
He speaks In tones ~ justice. He tells
also Of Love Divine all love ex-
ceiling" II assures us that our Gre
ator has not forgotten US nor entirely
cast Us OF because ~ sin.
Such of our race as are In the right
condition Of heart hcarkrn 20 the voice
OF God aud retrace their steps. seeking
to return 10 Divine favor under the
call Of this Gospel Age-to become
Joint-heirs with Jesus Christ their
Lord aud Reedemer. as members of
His Bride. by these the great disaster
OF sin and Its death penalty may b>
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 fall entirely TO
bear Gods voice. Many Of them have
gotten into heathenish darkness and
doubt Others hear very imperfectly.
and think the Lord Ia merely breath.
Ing out threatenings against them
None of these can be blessed at the
present time. But the Bible informs
Us that God Is not content to let any
sinner go without hearing His voice Of
mercy. Hence He has provided that
those who. for any reason. cshnot hear
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. whtH will bind
Satan and set at liberty he prisoners
OF sin and death. and thing all to a
clear knowledge OF the 1Ivine charac.
ter through the blessed opportunities
provided IN the I,edeeber. All the
blind eyes will then h opened. and
all deaf ears will he unSopped. Rest
tuition TO human perfection and to an
earthly Eden everlasting will be Offer
ed to the obedient. ajd wilful rejec.
A.