The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-07-11

3kAsIQK R0SS6lly) text. "And In hell
he Tilted up his
eyes, being in torments, and seeth
Abraham afar of aud Lazarus In his
bosom" duke xvi, 23D. Addressing the
public under the auspices of the In.
ternational Bible Students Associa-
Tton, che speaker Said;-
am not choosing my topic for this
'occas'on according TO my own prefer
ences, nor do wish 10 do SO. Reallz-
ing that great cloud of superstition
and erroneous Interpretation of Gods
Word acts as an earth-bOrp cloud to
'hide the heavenly Father from our
eyes OF faith, am continually address
ting myself to the removal of this bar.
<ier, TO the intent that the light Of
the knowledge of the glory of God as
n shines In the face of Jesus Christ
our Lord may shine into the hearts of
ali of Gods dear people more efful-
gently than heretofore; 10 the intent
that, with the clouds removed. our
eyes may behold the King In His
beauty, and our hearts be drawn to
Him as to a Father. RS to a God Of
love, as to an Almighty Savior,
Time and again as I have delivered
an address setting forth the Divine
Plan or the Ages from the Bible stand
point have been approached after
ward 10y Christian brethren who said.
what you say. Pastor Russell. Is
cheering, is Godiike. is Just what our
hearts are hungering for and crying
for, but--but 1 cannOt accept IL be
cause OF the Lords Word respecting
the Rich Man and Lazarus and Els
description of their fates"
What l say to these privately never
reaches the ears Of others who have
the same query and the same obstacle
TO meet, hence take this as my topic
on this occasion. not only for the bene-
at OF this audience. but for the bene-
ut OF the larger audiences to whom
I speak weekly through the columns
of the press Of this land and Great
Britain and Australia numbering mil
, lions. Alksgsa{ TO have this stumbling
stone vetpnGsAsfrom their pathway, and
by Gods grace we will remove It, He
will remove 1t, using our stammering
Ltpa nor tie purpose
Literal or Wkich7
AZ Is not sufficient thatI declare that
I'm the Scripture under consideration
ftne great Teacher was giving a parable,
1t ts not sufficient that l quote. with
cut a parable spake Tie not unto the
Speupie." Some dear. earnest children
of God would object. saying, gt reads.
Shere WAS n certain Rich Man, etc"
u mUst, therefore. prove that II In n
,aryble and not tlternl statement by
ishawing that, considering II as lit
'serni statement. II would be untrue and
ahBnf0. After thus proving 1t to be n
vparafiie I will discuss II as such.
II u Re statement OF literal facts
then ali The facts must I've taken lit.
orally. Ttiis would mean that because
n certain man wns rich and fared
nountifniiy every day and was clothed
an purnie md hnc ,inen ne would go Ia
an eternity OF torment. without sin
gle chargr iNeing made against hin
siong the lines az murdcr. or Injustice
Ur hinspheuiy. Tor IN the account moth
INK 81 the kind appears Furthermore
nothing Is said OF the poor man as he
fng Eodly man, n saint. bvt merely
&Ant h. was poor, fu;l OF sores. which
Che dogs licked: and that he ate tho
ouai from "rhe Rich Mans" table
II those he the grounds aud condl
fionS npon which rny of us have hat
hope Tor eternal bliss. surely n com
psratiyely small humber could ciaiu
IL. Did we ever have such expert
cncesf n not. what ground have we
according to this teaching. fer n hon,
~ gnnchlng Abrnham'a hosem7 Aud
additionally. II the steiemcnt ls ~
ernl one, Abraham md his bosom mus
be considered Hicrai a,so. and u oDll
Two ur three who were beggnra ,llt'
Laxarus were before nv, what hop
RyoslG we have fog room IN Abraham
eDaomf But enough of thIs' We Sc
nsioarly that the statement II pAraboli
wnh we must look for such go. Interpre
eSti0h as will At all conditions Ant
ihere n Is!
Viewed 90 q Parable.
plrwfsg the matter M a parable. ou
Nnicnirics all disappear os soon as W
get The hey. The great Teacher Il
xhis parable was criiIcisng the TEND
Ms ~ The Jewish nation and fore
Seiikng their fate Tie Himself was a
aptrast, 30 were sFis alscilies ana g
have ali been since who haYe becom