Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-08-18
Pastor i Or Russe5,IRs Sermon, |.


could not be coerced into substituting |
mystery for the Word of God. until |
the Emperor lent bis influence His
decree was that Christian doctrine us
thus defined in the 'Nicene Greed |
should have the prestige of the sup
port yOf the Emperor and of all his |
subordinate officers throughout the |
Roman Empire. All believing contrary
70 this creed would be neretlcs, and
BE tonsiderad' IN opposition to the En-.
peror. and such had the privilege OF |
leaving the Empires Thus was the
mystery of trinity enshrlned by a
heathen' EMPEROR, not baptized-not
even sprinked.
The history Of the persecution Of all
who would not worship the tlinltarian
mystery would ill volumes. One sad |
illustration Is familiar to all-rthe burn
Ing Of Seryetus, by good Brother Cal
wins signature TO the death warrant,
Is it any wuuder that With such con
ditions prevailing for centuries, the
Bible ignored and the creeds worship
ed, the true teachings Of the Bible ON
many subjects were completely lost
sight of? Is 1t any wonder that, when
In the sixteenth century God began to
bring the Bible back to the attention
of the world, it was burned by the
bishops in front of st. Puuls Cathe-
dral in London? Is 1t any wonder that
the presbyterians of that time were
rpefsecuted for studying it, and could
meet only in secret?
Is ii, any wonder that the men who
began afresh to study the Bible, but
vino had their minds tlnctured with
the creeds Of centuries, were consider
ably handicapped? Is 1t any wonder If
some Of their conceptions Of correct
Bible Interpretation were rude and
crude? Have not our various Protes-
tant denominations marked fresh en-
deavors to get nearer to the light7
Now as we are in the dawning Of the
New Dispensation. and God is lifting
the veil Of ignorance in general, is 1t
any wonder that we can see the true
teachings Of the Bible more clearly
than did our forefathers? Surely It is
what we might expect, as well as what
the Bible distinctly declares: "The
mystery of God Shall be finished"
which He has kept secret from the
foundation Of the world
Tha DitnulfNy a. praaanb II
1t seems sad indeed that now, in the
dawning of the New Era, and Its
clearer light ON the Bible as well
as upon all things, so few Chris
han people should be prepared to
profit by these clearer views, Only in
our day is thorough Bible study possi-
BILE for the majority In civilized lands;
for only Of late is there sufliciency of
education to admit Of intelligent Bible
study. What is the explanation of the
failure to. make use Of all these bless
ings fayors, privileges and opportuni-
ties for Bible study? 1t is loss OF faith;
as Jesus Said: when the Son Of Man
cometh, shall He find the faith on the
earth" 1t would appear that with
more advantages than any previous
generation, ours has less faith in God
and less trust in the Bible as His Word
The cause Of this can readily be
traced, and It appalls us! Our great
institutions of learning, founded by
our BlbleAovng, God-fearing forefa-
thers, have become worldly-wise They
have followed the course Of leaning to
human understanding, against which
we were forewarned by God-that the
wisdom OF this world is foollshness
with God and will perish,
Following the guidance Of so-called I
Higher Critics, the rank and file Of
professors Of colleges have lost their
faith, and at the present time, all over
Christendom, are engaged in destroy
Ing the faith of the most intelligent
young men and women of the world |
Having lost faith in the Bible them.
selves, they think they are doing a |
real service in destroying the firth OF
Others, Truly, they know not what |
they do; as the Bible declares, the wis.
dom Of our wise men has perished;
the understanding Of the prudent men, !
the wealthy, etc, who govern these, Is \
not apparent,-lsaiah 20:14
With college graduates sneerlng at
the Bible, and ignoring Divine wor.
ship, except In the sense OF drawing
nigh with their lips, is It any wonder
that the spirit of this Inndelity Is grad
ually extending to the masses-the less
educated2 Is It any wonder that these
who have nothing in particular to gain
from religion except comfort and hope,
bereft of these, care nothing for Bible
study or for church attendance. except
TO hear the music or brilliant ad.
dress or to renew NcquNlntNnceshlps2
Balm Of Gilead the Remedy.
The only remedy which can hinder
the world from rapidly rushing on to-
ward socialism and anarchy, In utter
disregard OF God aud His Divine ar.
rangements, is return to Bibles study. |
Nor need ethePeople be invited bacl to
study The Bible along the lines OF the i
,ereeds, Indeed, In order to attract at.
tentlop 70 the Word OF God, 1t Is nee
essafy That Christians should unite III /
smashing, their creeds and IN telling !
teFeAF0iT platplySmt these creeds |
thornuglIy.- nlisropresent the Divine
Character and the Divine Pmnp
With other Rible Students, make !
this my chief business In life. Having