The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-05-02

lM51oR fy1sssLtg hodcs. the grave,
the state Of death.
He considered a number of texts voic-
Ing his theme He said
Death is spoken Of throughout the
Bible as an enemy. Merely hymn-boo
theology presents it as q friend, an an
gel sent of God. Death is introduced
10 our attention ia the Bible as the
penalty for sin with the distinct un.
derstanding that had Adam not trans
gressed the Divine commands he need
not have died. nor ever have been cast
out of his Eden home. St. Paul en-
phasizes the fact that death is the pen.
atty of sin and that the resurrection Of
the dead will come to mankind as the
result of the redemptlve work OF
Christ He says, "Since by man comes
death, by man also comes the resur-
rection OF the dead. For as all I'm
Adam die, even 80 all In Christ shall be
made alive: but every man in his own
order" band or cohort q Corinthians
Nv, 21-23).
AS Genesis introduces death as a
penalty for sin, Revelation concludes
the great drama by pointing out
Christ's victory aud the destruction Of
sin and death, the release of all the
members of Adams family from his
sentence and eventually the bringing
of all the willing back to fellowship
with God and TO eternal life. Between
these two extremes of Divine Revela.
tion are the assurances of the Proph
Rf nd hA 10 nf al II ID
Apostles explulDing the processes of
redemption and reconciliation ST.
Paul summarizes these with the state.
ment, by one manl's dlsobediencel
sin entered into the world, and death
as the result OF sin, and thus death
passed upon all men, because all are
sinners. Az by one mans dis
obedience [thei many were made sin.
ners, so by the obedience of one shall
ttheI many be mnde righteous" (Ro.
mans v. 12-t9,.
Death a Ravonous Monster.
In the poetic language OF Scripture
death is symbollcally represented as
great monster which has been swal-
lowing UP the human family, never
satisfied Millions on millions have
already been devourcd. Mankind In
vain has looked for Dciyerer for
one able TO vnnqush death and to de.
liver the prisoners from the great pris-
'on-house of Shcoi, hadcs, the grave.
This monster was granted permission
10 devour the race 10y Him Who cre'
ated Ms, because we were unworthy
OF eternal life. Death. therefore, IL
backed by the mandate Of the Al
mighty, and lie cannot overthrow His
own decision.
The Divine proposition IL that who.
oeyer would meet the requirements OF
.snstice against Adam aud his race
might purchase or ransom them. and
hnve full right to deliver them from
the prison house, the tomb. For four
1honsand ycnrs there were promises
booking forward to this great Mes,
isianic Delvercr, hui only promises -
aNothlng was accomplished, Finally In
sdne time God scnt forth His Son
ale says that "iic came not to con
nenn the world mot 10 add to It's con
'denmation, not TO add to IFS sorrow or
main or trouble or hopelessnessl, but
tnui tnt WbIiu lHIuUEn Iilii hilt1t Ut
savcd' from dcnth--huvc life. perfect
ynnd everlasting. dcllvernncc from the
Jaws OF the monster aud from Ills
Driaon-house, 'ut although more than
eighteen centuries have sincc elapsed,
fhe race Is being swallowed up of this
strcat monster. death, more vOracious-
Nv thnn ninety thousand every
day His prison-house, sheOi, hGdrs,
ahe tomb, is supposed now 10 contain
twenty thousand millions OF Adams
Shidren. Why the delay? Did Gods
plans go awry? Was the Savior In
suliicient for His work? Was His sac.
Tiiice imperfect and unsatisfactory?
The Scriptures assure us that the
sacrifice that Jesus offered CiImself)
was satisfaction, "rdHSOu-price for
fllc sins Of The whole world They tell
us that tho Heavenly Father manifest.
ID His approval Of HE sacrifice when
lie granted the pcntecOstal blessing,
and that Jesus Is even now at the
Fathers right hand waiting 0Iebrews
<. ~. l0 until the time shall come
when the heather and The uttcrmost
parts Of the earth shall be given to
Him, that He may establish His reign
anf Righteousness. blessing the world
and releasing all the prisoners Of Sin
ssinc Death.
'rhe delay IL not In any sense an indl.
Gallon OF weakness, nor of any change
IN the Divine program II merely In
dicntcs thnt there is another feature
OF The Almighty's purpose which va
did not for u tine discern. The work
H. TO be great one. Twenty thousand
Eniilions are TO be delivered from
deaths prlson.house. And all of then
will need Instruction, uplifting, chas
--~~