The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-05-16

f95AS SToR Il SU55ELLg preached from the
words of the Apos-
Gle. Christ brought life and immor-
tality to light through the Gospel"
The speaker said
ALI around us we see what the Scrip
lures designate reign of sin and
death. The various forms of life In
nature-the grass. the flowers. the low
er animals and man--exist for brief
summer time of life. then wither and
die. This does not strike us as
strange, except In conjunction with
humanity, and that because of mans
greater intelllgence-his appreciation
of the value of life. his growth in
knowledge and his ability to use life's
opportunities with his increased wis
dom.
The disposition to shun death is
not peculiar to man; 1t IL the law
of nature. The smallest creature, by
instinct, fees from death. The law of
self-preservation Ia properly said to be
the first law of nature. The lower ami
mails, like man, have sensation. an APP
probation of pain; but all these things
ty than In the lower animals; and the
lower the form of life the more slight
are these sensations. We are not de-
Tending vivisection. but we quite agree
with scientists that the pain, the suf-
fering of the lower animals, Is as moth
ing in comparison with that Of hui
manity. We even note the fact that
the more refined a human being, the
more intense his suffering. Core
spondingly. refinement and intelligence
bring fear OF death and desire for
life everlasting.
All mankind seem. instlnctively, to
hope for future life. even though with
the majority the hope IL accompanied
with dread respecting its conditions
However, only the Bible reveals "A ra-
tional basis for faith respecting fu'
sture life--a survival OF the general
death conditions everywhere prevalent
The heather hope for future life. but
none of them furnish a logical basis
for such expectations, Only In the
Bible can this be found.
The heather hope Is represented by
their great philosophers. Socrates and
Plato. Their hope IL. IN brief. that. In
view OF mans great superiority over the
beast, 1t must be he will have future,
even though TO all appearances death
means the same to the human as to the
brute The Bible explains that man was
indeed created In his Makers image and
likeness and granted the privilege of
eternal life on condition of obedience,
but that he dlsObeyed and therefore
became subject TO death; and that
death, the penalty. effects him exactly
as IL does the brute creation But the
Bible does not leave the subject here.
It tells of Gods pity and love. and OF
His provision to rescue mankind from
ain and from death.
God Meets Mans Emergency.
Since the Divine sentence IL that
only the perfect may live. Adam and
slis race. as imperfect sinners, could
mot have eternal ife after violation
--sc the Divine Law: but to meet this
emergency, Divine Love provided a
tRedeemer, who died. "the just for the
unjust. "As 10y maB came death, by
a Man also comes the resurrection OF
the dead; for as all In Adam die, even
80 all IN Christ shat be made alive;
rssvery man IN his own order" Il Corin
thians xy. 223'
Thus God hns manifested His char
.ncter in II way aud 20 degree which
could never have been known TO an
gets or 20 men had ue not permitted
sin 10 enter the world His Justice
shas been manifested In the inhlctior
>of the death penalty upon our race fol
six thousand years. Divine Love hn'
been manifested In the arrangement
snadc by which the Only Begotten Sor
OF God. on the heavenly plane, counted
lt Joy 20 leave Hts glory and homo
and be made flesh and die for our sins
Before the Divine Plan shall be fully
.consummnted. Gods Wisdom nnt
Power will also stand fully revealed
through His deaiing with sin and sin
ners,
Through the merit of Chrlsts death
Adnm's tralsgression will be- fully OF
aae2, and the penalty OF Adams sill
will be fully paid 20 Justice; and Adam
himself and all OF his posterty VIII
.iinve shared his penalty, will be sc
free from the sighlng and crying, III
Htain and trouble. mental, moral an
fbhgsicai Incidental to the execution o
tthe death sentence against sinners
dhuE. through the death OF Jesus d
wine provision has been made for
culture eternal life for mankind-fo
80 Eulny as will appreciate the priv
siege aad conform themselves 10 th
Divine laws and avail themselves {
Sthe privileges which viii bo granted,
Ths WORLDS Salvation Waits.
HOw natural {. IL for us to be III
.sDaUenti the few years OF our live