The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-10-23


(RASI0R RUSSElDl declared:
Few Of the Mas
ter's words have been SO miSunder-
stood rs has this text. Its influence is
greatly increased by the unScriptural
thought that the dying sinner passes
to everlasting torture. Those under
the spell of that false doctrine cannot
be reprOvCd for wishing to escape
from its terrifying influence. They
grasp IT the narrative of the thief,
and hope that their departed had eX-
perienccd a momentary repentance and
said, Jesus. forgive me-" and straight
way was carried TO Paradise. The ali
surdity of the proposition is crowded
out by the mingling of hope with love
for the deceased.
The Pastor then described a funeral
service which he once conducted. The
deceased had been murdered in dis
tant mining region, and had died not
being member of the church, and by
no means saint His poor widow $
walls. which had interrupted the serv-
ice, were caused. the Pastor afterWard
learned ny the thought that hor hus-
band had died without having had
time to say. God forgive me"
Who can blame the poor woman for
thus reasoning: Had she not been so
taught by all the great crecds of Chris
tendon? Had not her husband and
herself been taking chances Of hav-
ing moment for repentance before
expiring? asked the Pastor. 1t is Il
shame that this wrong has been so
long allowed TO keep people from max
ing peace with God In earlier life.
Repentance Always Proper, of Course.
Pastor Russell did not wish to he
misunderstood aS diScouraging death
bed repentance or any other. He
would. however. have all recognize
that there are fixed rules Of Divine
Justice which forbid us to think that
there is hell full of uufortunates
who died suddenly. with no opportu-
nifty for repentance; that there is n
Heaven fun Of lucky vagabonds, car
ried 10 glory without change Of heart
or character. merely as a reward for Il
momentary prayer. Whoever sows q
life Of sin and Self-pduleence will not
reap glory honor and immortality. but
more d"urayed disposition than that
with which he was born.
The Dyin1 ThieFs PRAYER,
The Pastor declared that the suppo-
sition that the thief asked to go to
Heaven with Jesus, or that Jesus
promised that he would 30 to Heaven
the same day, is a mistake. Jesus did
not go TO Heaven that day. but to the
Bible hcli-IIadeS. Sheol. the tomb.
He remained dead St. Peter says. until
the third day. when God raised Him
from the dead After His resurrec-
ton He appeared TO Mary and said, Il
have not yet aSoendcd to My Father"
The Bible tells that Paradise was
lost through Adams sin. six thousand
years ago; and that. as a result OF
Jesus death it will be restored during
the Millennium Since there was no
Paradise when Jesus died. He could
not have meant that the thief would
be with Him there that day.
Evidently the thief had caught the
thought that the grand, kinglv chara .
ter beside him WAS probably the Mes
siah. How to explain the circum-
stances he knew not, but he defended
Jesus. Then with a measure of hope
he said. Lord. when Thou CONTEST into
Thy Kingdom. remember me"
The Pastor then showed that in sub
stance Jesus reply was. Poor thief.
appreciate your words: and when Ny
Kingdom shall be established. will ra
ward your Kindness Notwithstanding
his dark day. am King; and these
experiences are necessary. Be it as
you have asked-"Thou shalt be with
Me in Paradise"
The difficulty has been with the
translatOrS' wrong thought and the
displacement of the comma. Pune
tuation is n modern convenience There
is none in the original Scriptures
Placing the comma where we have
done leaves the passage thoroughly in
accord with all the Bible That pas
sage leaves not a shadow of Scriptural
support to the thought that prayer n
moment before death changes the ever
lasting destiny Of anybody.
The Pastor urged his hearers to get
back to the Bible and away from the
foolishness Of the creeds. The Bible
declares that a dead maD is dead But
Gods Word stands pledged for n flu
ture life for humanity. In due time
both thieves will rise from the dead
to receive the blessings purchased by
the Redeemer's death.