Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-04-29

N--------a----------- In the ueSu, Dul
ouickened III the spirit. by which two
exDeriences-deat and resurrection,
He preached unto the spirits IN prison
Il Peter Iii. IS. 49,.
This text has been made the basis 10:
some very peculiar presentations. The
Difficulty in every case seems to be TIE
failure 10 remember that the Bible at
ways and everywhere teaches that the
dead are really dead that they know
nothing. and that, therefore, it would
be Impossible to preach TO the dead
Spirits Once Dsobedient.
The spirits to whom the message WAS
given had proven themselves 0laobS-
dent, says st. Peter. He even tells us
The time OF their disobedience-"ln the
DAYS OF Noah, While the ark was pre-
pairing"
Turning to Genesis VI. 10, We ma
There the cause Of the disobedlence OF
these angels who for time had Deeh
naruitred to see what theg could do Tor
5he uniift Of humanity, or, rather per
mitted TO demonstrate that the down
ward tendency OF sin is lncuraole FIX
cent in the manner which God has al
ready arranged for through Messiah
and His glorious reign Of 1000 years,
Instead of those angels helping man
kind out of sin, they helped themselves
into sin: and hy SO doing they increased
the denravitv amongst humanity uhtll
the astounding record is that the
Uickedness Of man was great Ill tue
earth, and that every Imagination or
Tue thought of his heart was only eFll
continually" The particular SIN OF
those angels was that when they were
rrapted the privileges OF MATCHMAKING
of taxing human bodies-tor the sake
OF helping ana iustructing mankin0-
they irisused this power and TOOK 10
themselves wives.
We are particularly told that the on
spring Of this improper UNION were
giants, both physically and mentally
superior to the fallen human family
.'men OF renown." The race thus IN
several centuries became 81 corrupt
that apparently only Noah and his
family were left unconta!ninated.
1t was then and there. that God I'M
pris0ned these spirits CANCELS. VINO
kept not their lirst cstate'J. and are
therefore called fallen angels, devils.
demons. They were not imprisoned in
some faroir world called he'll. nor are
they engaged there in stoling fires.
; Tue record is that God cast them
down. that they might not longer asso-
tiate with the holy angels. but must be
reserved in tQilGrUS-Our earth's atmoS-
phere. Jude 6: ii Peter il. l. 8.
When imprisoned or cut OH from the
privilege. Of naturalization, many of
the FALLEN spirits continued their active
Opposition 10 God. after the manner or
Satan Hence they are spoken OF as
his angels lis messengers. and lie is
spoken of AZ Reei1ebub. their Prince
How Jesus Preached In Death.
Here arises another question: II
Jesus was really GeaI. as the Scrip
lures declare; II "lle poured out His
soul unto death and made His soul
not raised from the dead until tiir third
day after His cruciIYiOu. how cGuid
He i'll the meantime preach 10 spirits
II prison. or To- anybody else: We rc.
ply that He could preach III the same
way that the Apostle refers 10. saying.
Abel being dead. yet spcakcth' Gle
brewS Il. II; ana again. IN the same
way that the blood OF Abel IS said 10
have cried to God tieuratlYely or one
thing We are sure, namely. that Jesus
gave TO oral address while lie was
dead He preached in the way We
sometimes refer to when We say, 40
lions speak louder than words.
1t was the great object lesson which
Hhe fallen angels saw that constituted
70 them the great sermon that gave
Chem q GROUND for hope They admir-
e2 Jesus loyalty and fithfnlnrss to
God, out doubtless believed Him 10 b"
3ooliSh they never expected Hin To
arise from the dead.
But when they perceived His reSnT
rectien on the third day to glory. hon
or aud Immortality t'far above angels.
prineipaiitieS and powers. His ser
mon TO them was complete Dameiy.
that the wages Of sin is death, but
1.-The gift OF God is eternal lite
tRomans Vi. 23D And Us they realized
thus the Power OF God and the Love
OF God for His human creatures, the
Apostles words imply that this con
stitutei to them a message OF hope.
Doubtless there is much Significance
also in St. Paul's remarks. "know We
not that the saints shall judge an,
gels:" Il Corinthians vi, 81 We do
know that the holy angels neec no
judging. no trial: hence the Apostle
must refer to trial, or Judgment. o.
testing of these spirits in prison who
were disobedient. 10 she daye Of Noah