The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1912-06-14

4 NJ The Ca { b Of i ,
| thought Of Purga
tory has been op
li(AS1OR RUSSEll)j posed by Protest
ants upon the plei
that Purgatory is not mentioned in The
Bible. Let us admit that no such Pur
gatory as Dante pictured has any vol
anne Of foundation. Let US admit tina,
not all that Catholics have claimed re
specting Purgatory is either Scriptura
or logical.
But let Us admit also that there are
Scriptures (of which our text is one
which tell Of salvation by fire" that
evidently is not the salvation in which
the "elect" Of God will participate as
more than conquerors'' through obedi
emily following in the footsteps OF
Jesus their Redeemer. Indeed, our text
o. the principal one used by our Cath
oiic brethren in support Of their Pur'
,gatory.
Pursatory In Our Text.
v But II the Pastor did not agree with
the Protestants that there is no Purga.
tory taught in the Bible. neither did
he agree with the Catholics respecting
the kind of Purgatory. for he pro.
ceeded to show that bis text referred
not to a place of suffering, purgation
that existed in the Apostles day. but
fhat the Apostle was here speaking
Dfophetitally. Of the end Of this Gospel
Age-foretelling purgatorial condition
at that time-not after men have died,
nor In another world. but in the pres
ent life. and on this earth.
Indeed, said Pastor Russell. not only
q the fire Of this text symbolical of
trouble. but the same is true Of nearly
all that is said about fire in the Bible.
There is a process Of destruction, con
sumption. Gods Righteousness is
spoken Of as a consuming fire which
burns against all sin and unrighteous-
ness.
The context shows that the Apostle
as discussing the Church In her earthly
estate; that some of the brethren
would not at the time appreciate the
difference between 1.-The gold. silver
and precious stones" Of the Divine
promises and the cheaper materials
Aikening them to wood. hay and stub
ible:" but that a day would come In
THE end of the Age when the Lord
would specially test His people and
when the tests would be severe and
crucial Ike fire. In that day wood. hay
and stubble would be consumed; but
ithe gold. silver and precious stone
characteristics of the true faith and
proper character-building would re-
main. We are not to understand him
10 mean that doctrines are all-impor'
Aapt. but rather that they are reflect
ed In the character-development Of the
individual who without them would be
unable to stand in the testings that
swould surely come in the close Of this
Age.
The Apostle points out. however. that
all who build their faith on Christ will
eventually be saved. no matter how
much error they may get into-even
though their entire faith structure is
wrong and will be consumed in the
foretold fiery trial. All who build faith
on Him. in full accord with the Divine
Revelation. obediently. will become
1OiDt heirs with the Redeemer in His
Kingdom. while those who build their
faith on Him, and maintain 1t even
through error. will be eventually saved,
though to q lower salvation. Theirs
will be a purgatorial experience-puri-
flying. sanctifying. fitting them for an
inferior blessing. on the spirit plane,
serving before the throne instead Of in
the throne.
Livinq In Time Mentioned In Text.
Apparently we are now living In the
very time mentioned in our text
MANY Of Gods people under the fiery
trials Of "hlgber criticism" and ''scl'
epce falsely so called" experienced a
Boss of all the faith they possessed. be-
cause they possessed only the wood,
nay and stubble of human tradition
and not the gold, silver and precious
Jewels Of the Divine Revelation.
Indeed, according to prophecy. we
zee that the time. is fast approaching
when Cod will have a further reckon
eng with the Gentiles and especially
with the portion called Christendom
gaichly favored. the responsibilities
nave been proportionate. The squar'
lng of that account means "a time OF
trouble such as never was since there
was a nation"
But II will not be In another world
nor In another nfe nor eternal IN dura'
fiop. Instead. God will merely permit
the race. In selfishness OF heart reject
Ding His counsels. to wreck present civ
dlization to such an extent that. unless
these days were shortened. there
would no nesh be saved. But on &C
count of the elect those days will be
shortened. BY the establishment OF
Mods Kingdom. to restrain evil. to en-
biehtep the world and to assist the
Wiling and obsdient back into the i'm
~ and likeness Of God.