Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-03-23

Romans. He tells US most distinctly,
rs the Old Testament does. that man
originally knew Ills Creator and was
IN fellowship with Him. but that he
gradually slipped away from this into
greater and greater depths OF degrade
tion. mental. moral and physical. Let
me read Saint paul's words when
they knew God. they gloriiied Him not
as God, neither were thankful. but be-
came vain In their imagnatlons and
their foolish heart was darkencd. Pro
Tossing themselves to be wise. they be-
came fools. and changed the glory u
the iucorruptlble God into an image
made like 10 oorruptible man. and TO
birds and four-footcd beasts and creep
ing things. CONTRARY to Divine In
structions they Imagined that the rec
IGNITION Of God IN all these various
creatures would increase their rever-
ence and make them better and more
thoughtful OF the lower creatures. But
herein they were foolish. Wherefore.
God,also gave them up 10 unclcanness,
through the lusts of their own hearts.
10 dishonor their own bodies between
themselves. And even rs they
did not like TO retain God in their
knowledge. God gave them over 10 n
reprobatc mind. to do those things
which are not proper Rom |. 2i-2s.
"Feei After God and Find Him."
But the feature Of our text which
most particularly impresses me is
Saint Paurs declaration that God de.
termined and appointed in advance the
times of these nations--when they
should be brought in contact with the
light Of Divine Truth. 10 the intent
that the revcrential quality, inherent
in the race, might exercise itself and
feel after the true God and happy find
Him.
We see that in Divine providence the
torch of the Gospel. first lighted In Pal.
estinc. spread westward and north.
ward through Europe. and still west
ward TO America. It, indeed has been
the torch of civilization. No other pow.
er in the world possesses the dynamic
force Of the Gospel Message. In pro-
portion as it is received IN its purity It
breaks the letters Of ignorance and su,
perstition. II sets men free. II de-
clares. MS does our text. the oneness Of
the human family-that the entire hu.
man family are by nature brothers. II
tells that God Is no respecter OF per
sons and that the same laws of right
and wrong apply TO kings aud princes,
bishops aud clergy. that apply TO the
humblest members of the race. and
that all must give an account TO tie
great Creator sooner or later.
This feature of the Gospel Message
has been the igniting spark for all cur
civilization But. alas. the comhina-
ton OF this civilization with the innate
selfshness OF the unregenerate pro-
duces a human type which IS danger.
Gus. because OF its higher intelligence
and unrestrained sweep of ambition
and Imagination combined with o
fallen nature. born in sin and shapen
In iniGuity ana continually tending 10.
ward seiishness In other words. a
man wholly ruled by seliishness IS dan.
gerous to his fellows in proportion to
his education and enlightenment. He
knows. better than his heather neigh
Dor, how 10 take advantage of the cir
cumstanccs ana conditions Of life. for
he IS lifted mentally 10 higher plane.
Conditions Nov Changing.
Saint Paul in our text declares that
God has predetermined times" asso.
ciaied with His dealings with the ma
tions and IN bringing 10 them the Cos
pei. We have already considered the
Divine order and time in association
with the call of the elect" Church-a
little flock"-called out of every ma
ton. people. kindred and tongue, TO
be the Redecmcr's associates In the
Messianic Kingdom which is 20 bless
Israel and all the nations. We be-
ieve that this election of the Church
class IS about complete and that soon
thereafter Gods Kingdom. the reign
Of righteousness. the worlds Judgment
Day. win begin
1t should not surprise us. therefore,
to find great changes imminent
amongst the peoples Of the whole
world The bounds Of human habita-
tions and the barriers of language are
rapidly yielding because Of the other
times Of Divine appointment which
have been reached. viz. the period
mentioned in Daniels prophecy as the
Time OF the End Daniel Xii, H.
And here we must remind you afresh
that the Time Of the End does not
mean the end OF time. II merely sig
nlflcs the time for the ending Of the
present order Of things. that a new or.
der of things. the Mcssianic Kingdom.
may be substituted Twenty-Five cen
turtles ago God determined this time
and appointed II aud gave us -four very
important proofs by which TO identify
II. Let US examine these.
"a The first sign OF the Time OF the
End was to be. MANY shall run 20 and
fro" How wonderfully this prophecy
Is fulfilled before our eyes today Its
fulfilmeut has been In progress. espc.