Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-04-11

llPASlOR RUSStllJl hefe' eNldehtiN
Nf------------------ for cllmacteric re
suits. We report his discourse FROM
the text. Come now. let us reason to
gether, saith the Lord though your sins
be MS scarlet they shall be as white as
snow Isaiah i:iS.
Although thoroughly loyal and yeTy
reperentinl. the Pastor has evidently
cut loose from the creeds. He admit
ted that all contain kernels Of Truth.
but declared that these are buried in a
mass of chaff--hidden In God dishon
oring theologies SO unreasonable thaiI
their best friends prefer never to think
of them
The Pastor claimed that the repul
siyeness Of the creeds binders people
from looking for the truth which they
contain. This is well, he said, Why
should we search for Truth In various
creeds when we have the Bible? lie.
urged Christians TO abandon the ereedsI
and unite MS Bible students, intent on
Knowing the testimony Of Gods Word
and of obtaining the guidance of the
Holy Spirit IN the understanding of IL
Jesus held up to scorn the ineonslst
encies of His day. II here today, He
would show us many Inconsistencies
in our estimation of sin and righteous
ness the Pastor believed, Our Lord
declared that while tue religious lead
ers Of His time We're careful to 1.-THE
all their increase. they outraged the
very spirit of Gods Law OF righteous
ness; that in mean ways they took the
bread from the poor, and TO divert at
Sention from their course they hypo
critically heightened their prayers.
4 1t was not that praying was wrong.
+ sr that tithing was objectionable, but
I their recognition of these showed them
+ all the more responsible In "devouring
widows houses" and other sharp prae-
tises, whereby they took advantage OF
the unfortunate. This principle still
I operates. said Pastor Russell
Today. as In our Masters time, there
/ Is a way of keeping within the law
! and out of the penitentiary, while at
the same time the spirit of the law IS
outraged and trampled in the dust OF
avaricious money getting. Now, as
/ then. money-lovers pose as philanthro'
pists. and hold honorable places In
churchianity The Pastor spared not
this class. He declared that religious
1 hypocrites are the worst of sinners in
/ Gods sight Theirs were the most
/ scarlet sins. he believed.
Greater and Lesser Sins.
I Wealth covers multitude of sins
To be financially unsuccessful Is
4 crime, on account of which many con
/ slider a wife justified in seeking di-
vorce, and some churches justified in
/ dropping the culprit from their mem
bership list. What matters 1t that
Jesus comforted the weary, heavy
Iaden and unsuccessful? What mat.
tiers It that the Scriptures declare that
/ not many rich. wise, great or learned
has God called to the Heavenly inner
itance. but chiefly the poor of this
world, rich IN faith?
What matters It that a very rich man
( has two concubines, besides wifef
! What matters it that his religious in
structors know Of the fact? He Is a
+ supporter of their church! Were he
poor, this crime against human and
Divine Law would be unforgivable.
He would be assured that he would
suffer torment throughout eternity!
Sins Scarlet and Crimson.
Our text discriminates between scar
let and crimson. as indicating shades
[ of guilt In the same kind Of sin. For
instance, murder would be scarlet sin,
IL committed by worldly person; but
hatred would be crimson--a sin OF deep
er dye-if cherished by Christian.
J As love is the fulfilling OF the Divine
Law. so hatred implies It's hagrant VIC
latiop.
Mankind have inherited sin-tainted
blood from Adam Seldshness OF vary
ing hues stains every member OF the
/ race. Many have not the proper focus
I upon the Divine Law. Taking the let
ter of that Law, they avoid the eruder
forms Of theft. adultery. murder--mak-
( ing the same mistake that Israel made.
According to Jesus Interpretation Of
I the Law. theft could be committed IN
( the heart by coveting. by stealing the
business or reputation Of another. Sim
ilarly, adultery might be committed
1 without overt act and hatred Is murder.
Increase of knowledge has brought
Increased responsibility But human
iselfshness has kept pace. The thlev-
7 ish spirit abonnds. The civilized world
should awaken its conscience to the
Golden Eule-the Law OF Messiah's
/ coming Kingdom.