The Hartford republican., 1913-07-25

-. Ny RuSSetl spoke W
l(RASIOR RUSSElll day. from the text.
.woe unto you
that are rich. for ye have received
your consolation. 80" And He lifted
up His eyes on His disciples. and said.
Blessed be ye poor: for yours Is the
Kingdom of God."-Luke 6:20. "a.
The Pastor began by declaring that
his address was not intended to arouse
class animosity. Although not rich.
he could sympathize with the rich 10
their position. as well as with the poor
In theirs. God. who Is very rich. is
able to sympathize with both classes.
The savior is also able. who being
rich. for our sakes became poor. that
through His poverty we might become
rich in the truest sense. Some Of
Gods faithful In the past were very
rich-Abraham for instance. Never
theless. during this Gospel Age. not
many great. rich or learned have been
called to the blessing now offered. Its
recipients have been chiefly the poor
Of this world. rich in faith.
The Master evidently included riches
of wealth. honor, education. ETC., in His
statement He implies that all now
possessing any of these blessings will
be. more or less hindered from obtain
ing Gods Highest blessing. and more
or less subject to woes. We are not to
suppose that He meant that at death
the rich would be thrown into ever
lasting torture. These woes appertain
TO the present life At the close Of the
Jewish Age, this. class experienced Sc
we're trials; and our Lord intimates
that at the close OF this Age the same
class will have similar experiences.
Wrath to the uttsrmest Upon Jews.
Wrath came upon the Jewish people
to the uttermost. in the End Of their
Age q Thessalonians 2:16) Those
woes did not belong to q future life.
That tribulatiOns come to all In the
present life Is unbeatable. But the
most terrible forebOdings are associat
ed with imaginary woes Of the future
'life-quite contrary to Scripture. We
are glad to set aside this nightmare Of
the Dark Ages
The Jews. whom our Lord addressed
did not realize that they were living ir
the End Of their Age, and that great
settlement wss about to come. Sinh
iarly, we are living In the End Of this
Gospel Age. and u settlement is now
due. Jesus f0ret0ld the crisis Of the
Ia
out from that nation all the Israelites
indeed. and then the nation was giver
over to itself. The Divine Hand which
had guided them lOOsed Its hold: anC
human passions accomplished theil
overthrow In anarchy. which caused
their downfall. A. d. 70.
SO we understand that. the End Of
this Age has come. aud God Is gather
ing His Elect. As.soon as this Is ac
complished. God will permit mankind
to wreck their present civilization. Al
the rich Of Jesus day suffered mos
keenly. so the rich will suffer most II
the coming time OF trouble.
compsnsations In Mature.
The Pastor then showed that botf
rich and poor have cOmpensntions. Th'
rich have trials and perplexities tina
the poor know not of. They also have
many more temptations to make then
less likely to seek the priceless thing
Of Gods Kingdom. But We are not t.
understand that God Is partial to TIN
poor. He Is choosing special class
and the conditions surrounding the ricl
and great make them less susceptible
| to His message and to the cultivation
OF humility. The experiences Of th'
poor are most favorable. apparently. +
the cultivation of meekness, gentleness
patience and lOve-qualities God esti
mates greatly.
Some poor. however. instead of be
ing drawn to God by poverty, cultivate
Ia spirit Of hatred. malice and strife
Such turn away from Him.
The class described by Jesus as ~
poor" are those hungering and thirst
ing after righteousness. who have be
come Gods children. These may b
rich or poor In the things Of this world
but all that they have Ii consecrate'
to God. in order TINT they may becop
joint-heIrs with Christ.
ThencefOrth. the esteem OF mer
while not ignored. must be secondar
to the Lord and His Truth. All tina
this class may possess will be used 3
His glory. regardless OF the fact tina
II win all be consumed In His service
The world knows NOT the followers Q
Jesus. even ~ Il knew Him not