The Hartford republican., 1913-08-29

NC II dStOE uCCtdiCu thot tnC wv
trine Of total depravity is totally
wrong. The likeness Of God, which
was perfect in Adam. still persists In
Adams children, sadly fallen though
they be. Apparently none Is so fallen
as not to have some conception Of his
own debasement. and to feel worthy
Of punishment. In every human breast
there is also a sentiment Of pity, and
an apprecin ton Of pity from Others.
and feeling Of the need Of Divine pity.
Many Christians are benevolent.
sympathetic, ready to help the unfOr-
tunate, to sing them songs of God's
love, and to place before them texts
telling of Gods sympathy and pity.
But these helps are discounted by the
great central thought-supported by
all creeds-that God is angry with hu-
manity, and buslly engaged in sending
nearly every member Of our race to
an eternity of torture-ninety thousand
per day being the present schedule.
crssds Drive Away From God.
Then the Pastor showed that while
the Christian fOrgets the atrociOus
Misrepresentation given by the crceds.
and remembers chiefly the loving
words given by the Bible. the sinners
thoughts revert to the teaching that
eternal torment is his doom. Anxious
to forget God and the future. he es-
capes best from all religious thought
In the bar-room. at the gaming table,
and In general surrender to sin. He Is
miserab BILE in the presence Of the pure.
and fears the Bible.
After quoting st. Paul's words, ''The
god Of this world hath blinded the
inds of those who believe not" the
Pastor declared that Satan had intro
duced atrocious misrepresentation OF
Gods character into the creeds OF
Christian people during the Dark Ages
and that the blindness resulting from
these doctrines Of demons" is found
everywhere. even among believers
Few see anything respecting God and
the everlasting future clearly: few car
give a reason for their hope.
Let US not forget. said Pastor Rus
sell, that Satan has used Christian
tongues and pens to blind the world
We owe 1t to ourselves, our families
and the world in general to destroy
these blasphemOus Misrepresentation
Of the Divine character and plan
Since our eyes are opening to see tn
situation, how can we be otherwise
than indignant, and Jealous for tn
honor of our God and for the influence
Of His Truth amongst our fellowmen!
The Pastors Personal Experience.
The Pastor then related his persona
experience in learning to know God
The child of believing parents, he wa
indoctrinated along Calvinistic lines t
believe that only the Elect woul'
reach glory. and that the non-elec
would be eternally tormented. He wa
accustomed to think Of himself as on
of the Elect, and to appreciate the low
Of God in providing for their salvation
As boy of seventeen. member o
the Y. M. G. A.. he engaged In wha
was called Gospel preaching. Lik
the others, he pictured He'll and shoo
his hearers over it. Finally reason as
serted itself. He stopped preachin
and examined the creeds. He foun
the differences between them trivial
and that all taught the salvation
the few, and eternal torture for tn
remainder. Feeling sure that rea
God could not have made such plaI
he threw away the creeds, and wit
them the Bible. believing 1t to be tn
basis Of them all.
But having once known God as hl
Heavenly Father, his soul hungere
for Divine love and care. After Ion
study. he became convinced that tn
Creator. whose Wisdom and Power an
everywhere manifest must also be
God of Justice and Love. With 81
eyes of his understanding he saw 10
great God Of the Universe. Then b
began a search for Gods Message I
humanity. Having. as he suppose,
suficiently examined the Bible, B
turned to heathen religions. only
and them less rational. though lei
dendish, than his own.
Finally he resolved to study the B
BILE afresh. with untrammeled min
Gradually the Lord led him into cles
light, until he found that the bas
Of all our dificulty is our foliowin
Satan's lie--"Ye shall not surely die
Thenceforth the entire Bible becan
grand and harmonious. Now II stand
prs-sminent before bis mind a. Il
Word Of God.