The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-09-22

which he discussed
the permission of
ifPASTOR RIJSSFIO| evil by the Al
- mighty. He took
no particular text although, as usual,
he quoted from the Bible freely through
out his discourse. He said In part
The question of the Ages is, Why
did the Almighty, originally. permit
Evil-Sin? And why has an Omnipo-
tent Ruler such as He, for more than
sixty centuries, permitted Satan to
continue his reign of sin and death?
Leaving out entirely the unscriptural
theory so prevalent. respecting pur-
gatory of centuries, or torment ever
lasting, and considering merely the
trials, suffering, sorrow and pain Of
humanity during the present life, how
shall we account for their permission
by an AL Powerful Creator. who knew
the end from the beginning?
Why does He permit injustice, I'M
righteousness, headaches. heartaches,
mainly graciously, kindly, lovingly, as
a Father-as He deals with the angelic
sons of God? Is it just or loving Oh
the part Of our Creator to bring forth
millions of his creatures under these
admittedly unfavOrable conditions
beset by weaknesses and sinwardness
from their birth and surrounded by
others similarly weak, and beset by
Satan and his minions-wicked spir-
it's? Is it just that we should thus be
in an unequal fight subjected to weak
nesses and dying and imperfect con-
ditions on account of the sin of our
first parents and then, on. the same ac-
count, be in danger of an eternity Of
torture with nine hundred and ninety
nine chances out of thousand against
us? E< #EF
Our question is surely too deep for
any human philosophy. and those who
reject the Bible as Of Divine inspira-
ton may as well abandon all hope Of
an answer. God Himself, and none
other, could tell us of His, own secrets
why He did as He did. Truly we
read, "The secret of the Lord is with
them that reverence Him: and He will
show them His Covenant Ops. xiv, A..
The light now shining upon the Word
of God shows us that the Divine pur
pose in connection with mankind is a
progressive one. embracing Ages and
! DispensatiOns If we ignore these, we
are thereby blinded to the true answer
! to our question Accepting these. it is
the privilege of Bible students today
to see the light in Gods Word-to see
matters from the Divine standpoint
to understand the Mystery of God.
hidden from Ages and from genera
! tons. and now made known unto His
saints" namely. that in the Ages to
come, all the trials and difficulties. all
! the SORROWS and tears of the past. will
be more than compensated for. and
proved to be part Of the great Di-
vine Program which will work out to
the glory Of God and the enlighten-
ment and blessing of angels and men.
Mans Primary Lesson
First of all, God chooses to have
children possessed of quality like
His own-freedom OF will. He there
fore not only, created man perfect in
mind and body, but He gave to him a
will, the power Of cboice-liberty to
choose one course or another. God
| foresaw that giving man this liberty
of will would lead to the seduction of
Mother Eve, and to the disobedience
OF Father Adam. through his love for
his wife. Adams preference was to
die with her rather than to live in har-
mony with God without her: for if
he should disobey he would come I'M
der the sentence of death. Although
Adam and the angels were perfect,
they had not perfect knowledge Of
their Creator, Of His Love, His Wis
dom, His Justice, His Power.
God, therefore. without interfering
with Adams liberty. permitted the
great calamity Of death to come upon
him and his race. From the very be-
ginning God premeditated the entire
Plan of Salvation. as He has since
been working it OUT and He will COM
pletely accomplish the same ultimate
ly through Messiah's Kingdom. The
great lesson which will eventually
come both to angels and men will
show forth Divine Wisdom, Justice,
Love and Power fully co-ordinated. In
no other way that we can Imagine
could this great Revelation Of the Di-
vine character be so well made. How
ever. in order to comprehend this
great Program, it is necessary that
we follow strictly the Scriptural teach
ings, and avoid wholly the nonsense OF
our creeds, manufactured during the
| Dark Ages. We must see that the
wages of sin" is not eternal torment.
nor purgatory, but death.
| Charged hy the grand Jury Ol