The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-08-29

clared that the doctrine of total de-
pravity is totally wrong. The like
ness of God, which was perfect in
Father Adam, still persists in some
degree in all of Adams children,
sadly fallen though they be. Indeed,
no one is so fallen as not to have a
reasonable conception of his own de-
basement, feeling that he is justly
out of touch with his Creator, and
worthy of some kind of punishment.
In every human breast there is also a
sentiment of pity, and feeling of the
need of Divine pity. But just there Sc
rious errors, received from our fore
fathers in the Dark Ages, bar the way
and discourage those who desire to re-
turn to fellowship with their Creator.
Many Christians are benevolent,
sympathetic, ready to lend helping
hand and to give word of encourage
ment. Many are ready to help the un-
fortunates to sing them songs of Gods
love and sympathy and pity. But these
helps are discounted by the great cen
trail thought supported by all the va
rious creeds called orthodox; namely,
that God is indeed very angry with
humanity, and busily engaged in send
ing nearly every member Of our race to
an eternity of torture-ninety thousand
every twenty-four hours being the
present schedule.
creeds Drive Away From God.
While the Christian forgets the afro
cious Misrepresentation of the Divine
character given by the creeds, and re-
members chiefly the loving words Of
encouragement given in the Bible, it
is not so with the sinner, who has not
vet tasted that the Lord is gracious.
His thoughts revert to the fact that
he Is a sinner, and to the teaching that
eternal torment is his DOOM If he
can live for awhile a decent life, he
begins to hope, that he may escape
the threatened torture; but when he
falls again into trespasses and sins. he
strives to forget everything, and es-
pecially God and the future torture
of which. he has been told. He escapes
best from all religious thought in the
bar-room, at the gaming table, and in
general surrender to sin. He has a
fear Of God which he seldom con-
fesses, and which he bellies with his
profanity. He is miserable in the pres
the Bible.
Well did Satan know how to turn
the hearts and minds of humanity
away from God and from the Bible!
With what cunning did he introduce
these wicked Misrepresentation Of
Gods character into the creeds of
Christian people during the Dark
Ages! st. Paul gauges the matter
properly in the words, 'The god of
this world hath blinded the minds of
those who believe not, lest the light of
the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is
the Image of God, should shine unto
them. 20 Corinthians A.
Even In the blessed twilight Of the
Apostolic times, when the Church was
guarded from Satan's delusions, st.
Paul realized that comparatively few
| of the brethren had a clear insight
err: II pray God for you, that the eyes
| of your understanding being opened,
| We may know what is the hope of your
calling, that We may be able to com
prehend with all saints the breadth
! and length and depth and height, and
| to know the Love of God. which pass
eth all understanding" If this knowl'
edge of the Love of God is the great
need of Christians, if their eyes of i'm
Outstanding can only partially appre
| ciate, oh. what is the need of the poor
world thoroughly blinded by Satan
and unable to see anything?
| How Can We Be Otherwise Than In.
! dignant?
And let us not forget that Satan
! has used Christian tongues and Chris,
j tan pens to do this binding of the
world. The Message of Gods Love
In the Bible is clear, plain. beautiful
The misrepresentation and contradic
| tions of that Love by our forefathers
as represented in the creeds. evidently
was the inspiration of Satan. as the
Apostle declares Not only so, but oul
Adversary was assisted by his corps
of fallen angels. as st. Paul AGAR
declares that some give heed to seduc
ing spirits and doctrines of demons
Timothy Al.
| We owe 1t to ourselves. to our fam
flies and to the world in general Il
\ utterly destroy these blasphcmous mis-