, 1912-01-25

of His grace in His loving kindness to.
ward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians
II, 4, He claimed that all Christcn
dom has erred in respect to the lengths
and breadths and heights N depths
Of the love of God, which passeth all
UNDERSTANDING (Ephesians Iii. IS. 19l
This is evidenced by u conflicting
Creeds. not one OF which is rational
enough to be defended by one In d
hundred Of Its own clergy. who pro-
TESS that they believe 1t and are teach.
ing 1t.
This. he declared. is driving many
noble souls away from the Bible.
which has beer misinterpreted by us
all. Our difficulty has been that we
looked at the unfinished parts of the
Divine Program and have neglected to
properly use the telescope of Gods
Word. which would have enabled us to
see the coming features Of that Plan.
without which the whole would be In
complete and unsatisfactory both to
God and His creatures.
The Pastor reminded his hearers that
none Of us would judge of a new
building by the first story Of the struc-
ture. incomplete and surrounded by
scafTQlding. On the contrary. we would
inquire for the architects drawings
and consider them prophecies of the
building TO he. We should do likewise
in considering the work of the great.
Divine Architect of the Universe.
God purposes the development Of
the church class first. as a new crea-
ton on the spirit plane and higher than
the angels, "partakers of the divine ma
ture." I'VE are the Church of the liv-
ing God. a kind of first-fruits into God
of His creatures" al Peter 1. 4: James
1, 1877
Then the Worlds Salvation.
The Pastor impressed upon his hear
ers the fact that the Bible declares the
Church to be the 'First-borns." the
first fruits" Of Gods creatures. Thus
does God positively declare a Sec
ondary part to His great Plan of Sal
v%ation-in which free grace and full
est opportunity for reconciliation to
God will be granted to the non-elect.
But their salvation will be not heav-
emily, but earthly. Their resurrection
will not mean a change" of nature.
but a raising up to the perfection Of
human nature to be enjoyed in a world
wide paradise. by all the willing and
obedient. Nor will the unwilling and
disobedient be tortured to all eternity.
but as the Scriptures declare. "All the
wicked will He Destroy" they shall
"perish like brute beasts" in the SEE
1nl I..-,l ~ ~ 90 Al 81 n.,I,a ~
II, II. V.
In order to judge of the Divine char
acter we must see the Divine Program.
and not merely II primary section OF II
The Jewish Age and its people, Its
Law. Its priesthood and its Jubilee
were only rough. outline sketches OF
b Divine Plan, which had not then
even begun. The Redeemer is the
Foundation for the great structure; as
said st. Paul. 'Other foundation can
no man lay than that which Is laid
Jesus Christ"
Love the Principal Thing.
However, n God of Justice, Wisdom
and Power. devoid of Love. would be
as cold and unsympathetic as u mar
> aN bitatCo III
men Is Love. Neither palace nor cot
tage could be II real home and n place
or Joy and peace and refreshment with
out love. We cannot even suppose tie
heart devoid of love without suppos-
Ing 1t under the control of selhshness'
and s~elfishness Is merely another name
for sin.
The greatest men and women VINO
have ever lived. and who have done the
most to bless our race. have been men
n women Of heart. of Love. Surely
Love is the principal thing In all TINS
world. without which non can be tru'
ly happy under any condition. but VIII
which happiness is possible under al
most any condition. Whence came to
man this quality of Love, unless from
his Creatory
Purport of His Text.
The speaker declared that Gods Love
will be most wonderfully displayed IN
His gracious kindness In the resurrec.
don of theC Church. to glory, honor anu
immortality. Then will come n fnr'
ther display of Love Divine. all love
excelltng. when mankind in genera
shall be blessed under the Messianic
Kingdom. But Gods Love Is great
and our text declares that In coming
Ages God will display the riches OF
His grace, His love. toward as, HIS
Church. the Bride.
: LET us not receive the grace Of Gou
In vain Let us count the necessary