The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-26
BIBLE STUDIES OF BROOKLYN
 TABERNACLE
Ry PASTOR RUSSELL

Teaching by Parables Only.-Matthew xiii, 34, S5.-September 29.
 "The words that I speak upto you. they are spirit and they are life. John vi, bS.
 Today's lesson declares, All these things spake Jesus unto the multitudes in parables, and without parable spake He not unto them; that 1t might be full filled which was spoken in parables; l will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. v
 Bible students and Bible scholars have generally expressed surprise that the Great Teacher. in harmony with the above scripture, spoke always to the people In symbolic language, dark sayings" the meaning of which they rarely understood. Another scripture informs us that the reason was that the true invitation was not intended for the ordinary multitude, but merely for the consecrated.
 Those who accepted the Lord as the Savior and who took upon themselves the required VOW of faithfulness in walking in His footsteps unto death, were granted special enlightenment; as it is written, "To you 1t is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of heaven, but 10 out siders these things are spoken in parables. that they might not see and understand
 The simple explanation of the matter is that an understanding of spiritual things would do harm rather than good to those not spiritually begotten-to those not fully consecrated to the divine will. But with the views we once entertained, and which are voiced by all the creeds of the dark ages. none of the explanations would be tenable, because according to those creeds, only the elect are to be saved, all the non-eect are to be lost. and the elect |. { tad to derstand the things pertaining to the heavenly calling.
 The entire matter is clarified when we recognize the difference between the sal vation of the world to the human nature. during Messiahs reign of 1000 years. and the salvation provided for the elect, called during this age, and specially instructed and guided with the view of their making their calling and election sure.
 The Aspostle Jesus Mouthpiece
 It has been claimed that the doctrines of Christianity can be better gleaned from the writings of the apostles than from the sayings of Jesus, as reported in the gos- pels. There is considerable truth in this claim and the reason is manifest; namely, Jesus words were addressed mainly to the multitudes. and when He addressed the disciples He could not discuss even with them deep, spiritual truths, because they had not been begotten of the Holy Spirit, and therefore could not understand spir- itual things. Jesus Himself declared, q have many things to tell you, but we can not bear them now"
 After Ye Were Illuminated''
 St. Paul gives the key in one of his epistles. saying. After that ye were illuminated. ye endured a great fight of afflictions." O1ebrews X. 42) The illurni- nation received was the begetting of the Holy Spirit. This has been true with re- spect to all the members of the body of Christ throughout this afe. Each one presenting his body living sacrifice has been accepted by the great Advocate, and presented as a part of His own offering: and then the offerer has been begotten of the Holy Spirit to be new creature in Christ.
 It is to these new creatures that the statement is made. "All things are yours, for ye are Christ's, and Christ is Gods. It is to these the Bible has promised, He will show you things to come." It is these that are to be guided into all truth as it shall become due It is for these that the word of God is a storehouse, from which ..thjngs both new and old'' are to be pro- duced under the Spirits guidance, as they become meat in due season. to the household of faith"
 Babies in Christ and Men
 Along the same line we note the fact