The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-03-29

again totdwaik the glorious Day Of
aIessIah's Kingdom. In which Adams
race willnot only be awakened. but b
given every, opportunity Of gradually
rising to full perfection.
The First (chis0 Resurrection.
Further along in bis discourse the
Pastor demonstrated that the Church
OF this Gospel Age Is everywhere sepa.
rate aud distinct from all others of
mankind: they are neither Gentiles nor
Jews He made clear. however. that be
did not refer to the 4O0O0o,0o0 pro.
fessed Christians or to any partIcu-
lar sect. or denomination, as the Church
of Christ. He gave Scriptures In proof
of his contention that the Church of
Christ Is composed Of all sanity be-
levers in Jesus. seeking to walk in
His footsteps-not after the flesh, but
after the Spirit. BE called attention to
the fact TINT no denomination could
claim monopoly Of this Salntly class.
and that none could claim TO be free
from tares
In the PASTORS opinion. apparently.
the vast majority Of the 100000
of processing Christians are merely
tares or worse. He cited numerous
Scriptures 10 the effect that the heirs
of God, joint-helrs with Jesus Christ,
are little fock," Royal Priest.
hood" "holy nation" peculiar
people," who show forth the praises
of Him who hath called them out Of
darkness into His marvellous light"
The Pastor then declared that the
True Church is TO be found in all the
different denominations. and some Of
them outside all denomInatonal fences.
BE showed that the UNCONVENTIONAL
fences are contrary to the Bible. After
making clear WHO constitute 1.-THE
Church Of the First-bOrns whose
names are written in Heaven" the
Pastor declared that these are to have
share with Jesus In His Resurrection.
He quoted st. PauI's words, THAT /
might know Him and the power of His
resurrection, being made conformable
unto His denth. "-PhlllppIans $40
The Pastor seemed to give the
thought that in the Divine Purpose a
foreordaIned number Of the Church
class must suffer with Christ before
the Millennium could begin. Their SUI.
ferIngs would not be vicarlOus, as were
Jesus su6fcrIngs. nor necessary to the
redemption Of the world. as were His;
but the suferings would be necessary
in order to demonstrate their loyalty to
God and to righteousness-to prove
them worthy of the high honor of
joiut-heirshib with Jesus, aud s1arers
with Him in His Kingdom.
The Church's suffering with Jesus.
the Pastor said. is their dying to earth.
ly conditions and ambitions, as He did.
All who thus die with Jesus, Willingly
sacrificing earthly hopes. aims. ambi-
lions, are counted as sharing In His
DEATH" Such are assured In the Scrip.
lures that they will also in Gods due
time share In His Resurrection"
Ibis Resurrection" was not only the
First Resurrection, but also the chief.
the best, resurrection-to the very
highest plane of spirit perfcction-thc
Divine nature. Hence the promise to
the Church 10 share in His Resurrec-
ton means that His faithful followers
will experience a similarly glorious
resurrection to a higher nature. the Dl.
vine-with its glory, honor and immor'
taIity. This Jesus also AYERS, saying.
BLESSED and holy is he TINT hath part
in the First Resurrection. They
shall be priests OF God and Of Christ
and shall reign with Elm q thousand
years. "-Revelation 20:G
Easter and tho Passover
The Pastor says that the word EAST.
FIR occurs opce in our Common Yer
sion Bible and is n mistranslation-it
should be Passover Easter was fes'
tIval honoring the heather goddess of
Spring. The name was transferred to
the Passover celebration Of the early
Church in honor Of the Lords resur.
rection. Doubtless the attempt was to
divert the heather toward Christianity,
keeping the festival, but altering Its
significance. Whatever the word meant
then, It stands now to the Christian rs
the synonym for the glorious resurrec'
ton Of the worlds Redeemer from
death and the human nature to glory,
honor. Immortality. the Divine nature.
So, said the Pastor, the resurrection
Of Jesus is the guarantee Of the resur
rection of 1.-THE, Church, which is His
Body" 1t also assures US of the
worlds resurrection-tha an opportu.
nifty through Messiah's Kingdom is to
come to all mankind, TO be recovered
from the tomb and from all their i'm.
perfections-mentaI, moral and phys
ical. Only the willingly, intelligently
disobedient will ultimately die the Sec.
ond Death. which st. Peter describes
as perishing like natural brute beasts.
Resurrection Of the SOUL
Many Bible students have failed to
note that the Bible nowhere speaks Of
the resurrection Of the bOdv. Their er.
ror has given color, to the arguments Of
oCnnstics md others who Dont out the