Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-06-15

ants upon the plea
that Purgatory is not mentioned in the
Bible. Let us admit that no such Pur-
gatory as Dante pictured has any vol
une of foundation. Let us admit that
not all that Catholics have claimed re-
specting purgatory is either Scriptural
or logical.
But let us admit also that there are
Scriptures (of which our text is oue)
which tell of a 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
is the principal one used by our Cath
Ollie brethren in support of their Pur.
gatory.
Pureatory In Our Text.
But il 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 a Purgatory, for he pro
ceeded to show that his text referred.
not to a place of suffering. purgation
that existed in the Apostles day, but
that the Apostle was here speaking
prophetically. of the end of this Gospel
Age-foretelling purgatorial condition
at that tme-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
is 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 process of destruction. con
sumption. Gods righteousness is
spoken of as consuming fire which
burns against all sin and unrighteous-
ness.
The context shows that the Apostle
is 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
likening them to wood, hay and stub
ble:' 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 like fire. In that day wood, hay
and stubble would be consumed; but
the gold silver and precious stone
characteristics Of the true faith and
proper misunderstanding would re-
main. We are not to understand him
to mean that doctrines are all-impor-
tant, but rather that they are reflect
ed in the character-developme of the
individual who without them would be
unable to stand in the testings that
would 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
joint 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 a 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
Living 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 higher criticism and sci
ence falsely so called" experienced a
loss of all the faith they possessed, be-
cause they possessed only the wood.
hay and stubble of human tradition,
ana not the gold. silver and precious
Jewels of the Divine Revelation.
Indeed, according to prophecy, we
see that the time is fast approaching
when God will have a further reckon
ing with the Gentiles and especially
withsthe portion called Christendom.
Richly favored. the responsibilities
have been proportionate. The squar-
ing of that account means "a time of
trouble such as never was since there
was a nation"
But 1t will not be In another world
nor in another life nor eternal in dura-
ton. Instead, God will merely permit
the race In selhshness of heart reject
ing His counses. to wreck present civ
iliZation TO such an extent that, unless
those days were shortened. there
would no flesh be saved. But on ac-
count OF the elect those days will be
shortened by the establishment Of
Gods Kingdom, to restrain evil. to en-
Hghten the world and TO assist the
willing and ohodient back into the in