Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-05-06

He considered a number Of texts vote
ing his theme lie said:-
Death IL spoken OF throughout the
Bible as an enemy. Merely hymn-book
theology presents II as friend. an an
gel sent of God. Death Is introduced
20 our attention In the Bible as the
penalty for sin, with the distinct I'M
Outstanding that had Adam not trans.
crossed 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
the dead will come to mankind as the
result OF the redemptivo work of
Christ He says. "Since by man comes
death. by man also comes the resur-
rcction OF the dead For as all in
Adam die. even so all in Christ shall be
made alive; but every man In his own
order" band or cohort Il Corinthians
". 21-23l.
As Genesis introduces death as
penalty for sin. Revelation concludes
the great drama by pointing out
Christ's victory and 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 10 eternal life. Between
these two extremes OF Divine Revela
ton are the assurances OF the Proph-
cts and the words OF Jesus and His
Apostles explaining the processes OF
redemption and reconciliation. ST.
Paul summarizes these with the state
ment. by one manl's disobedlencel
sin entered into the world. and death
as the result OF sin. and thus death
passed upon all men. because all are
sinners. s'' As by one mans dis
obedience rthel many were made sin
tthel many be made righteous" CRo-
mans v. i2-19l.
Death a Ravenous Monster.
In the poetic language OF Scripture
death is symbolically represented as a
great monster which has been swal.
lowing up the human family. never
satisfied. Millions on millions have
already been devoured. Mankind I'm
vain has looked for Dellverer-for
one able TO vanqulsh death and TO de-
liver the prisoners from the great pris
on-house Of sheol. hddes. the grave
This monster was granted permission
to devour the race by Him Who Gre
ated us. because we were unworthy
OF eternal life. Death. therefore. is
hacked by the mandate OF the Al
mighty. and Tie cannot overthrow His
own decision.
The Divine proposition Is that who
ever would meet the requirements Of
Justice against Adam and his race
might purchase or ransom them. and
have full right 10 deliver them from
the prison-house. the tomb. For four
thousand years there were promises
looking forward TO this great Mes
sianic DelIverer. hut only promises
nothing was accomplished Finally. In
due time. God sent forth His Son
He says that HE came not to con.
denim the world mot 10 add to It's con.
demnation. not TO add TO It's sorrow or
pain or trouble or hopelessness). but
that the world through Him might be
saved from death-have life. perfect
and everlasting. deliverance from the
Jaws OF the monster and from his
prison-housc. But although more than
eighteen centuries have since elapsed.
kf.a In l,ofs lls.x rsnI ~ 10
great monster. death. more voracious-
" than eyer-ninety thousand every
day. His prison house. shcoi. hGdes.
the tomb. Is supposed now to contain
twenty thousand millions OF Adams
children Why the Delay? Did Gods
plans go awry? Was the Savior In.
sufficient for His work? Was His sac
rifice imperfect and unsatisfactory
The Scriptures assure us that the
sacrifice that Jesus offered Qiimselfl
was satisfaction. "rdnson,-price." for
the sins Of the whole world They tell
us that the Heavenly Father manifest.
ed His approval OF the sacrifice when
He granted the Pentecostal blessing,
and that Jesus Is even now AZ the
Fathers right hand waiting OHebrews
K. r. 49, until the time shall come
when the heather and the uttermost
parts Of the earth shall be given to
Him. that He may establish His reign
Of righteousness. blessing the world
and releasing all the prisoners Of Sin
and Death.
The delay IL not in any sense an indi.
cation Of weakness. nor Of any change
In the Divine program. II merely In.
dicates that there Is another feature
OF the AlmIghty's purpose which we
did not for time discern. The work
IL to be great one Twenty thousand
millions are 20 he delivered from
deaths prisonhouse Aud all OF them
will need instruction. uplifting, chas.