The Mankato free press., 1913-03-07
Pastor RUSSELL S Sermon

4
before sin entered the world
| All such theories, therefore. are un.
scriptural. For this reason they are
In antagoniSm TO the Bible view, that
man fell from Gods image six thou
sand years ago; that he has passed
through six great Days in which has
! prevailed u reigl OF sin and death. in
duced by Satan at the beginning, and
still, 10 some extent influenced by him.
| Under this reign Of sin and death. man
has lost much Of the Divine image and
has become brutal more or less.
The redemptive work Of Jesus is not
TO he understood as change of the
Divine Plan and an abandonment of
the earth as II Paradise. populated by
humans in the mental and moral like
ness OF the Creator. God changes not.
The mistake w;ls merely one of ours.
not authorized by the Bible
The time for Restitution was not due
when Jesus gave His life as mans
Redemption-price: but those times :"
or years, or Restitution are due now
for we are living in the dawning time
OF the great Seventh Day "a Thousand
Year Day.. Messiah's first work as
the great King Of earth is about 10 be
inaugurated. He is about to hind
Satan-"that old serpent. the Devil"
e is about to bless. not only the earth
but also humanity. by rolling away the
original curse
MeSsiah's Kingdom is pictured as a
Day uShered in by glorious sunrise
Of truth and grace. In contrast with
its light and knowledge. all the past
six thousand years are figuratively
spoken of as darkness. usaiah 60:2.I
But the Sun of Righteousness now
arises with healing in His beams.
Gradually. not suddenly, the sun arises:
and SO the Restitution blessings are
coming in gradually. not suddenly
Sometimes in the early morning
there is thunder storm, which for a
brief space hinders rhe dawniDg of
the day. But it results i'm the drench-
ing OF the earth with refreshing
shower. So. according to the Bible.
will this New Day Of Messiah's King
dom be ushered in by terrific storm
or trouble. But ii will be short; ana
its effects upon the earth will be re-
freshing. The great contrast between
the righteousness Of the future and
the sin of the present will be so con-
spicuous that all will enjoy the new
condition: THE desire Of all nations
haJ
God Moves In Mysterious Way"
God has withheld the knowledge Of
certain features of His Divine Pro
gram--for our good. we may be sure.
The supposition upon which many of
us went in times past is untenable.
We supposed that God in the Bible
had set forth in plain terms every
thing respecting His Plan. When we
could not find it, we tried to manufac-
tufe it,. 1t is good to study the Word.
even if we do not understand. And
if our forefathers got themselves into
difficulties through errors of judgment
in studying Gods Word, we may he
sure that they We're not especially dis
advantaged thereby. Not seeing the
Divine purpose they were required to
exercise more faith. But that greater
amount OF faith was not then more
difficult, probably than the less
amount now necessary
Christian theologians become so in
tent in their reasoning upon the Heav-
emily things appertaining to the Church
that they forget all about the world
As cruelty became more pronounced
the Word OF God was less studied. IT is
not strange that our forefathers con-
Guided that all except the Church
would be eternally tormented. And
when they concluded this to be Gods
Plan, il is not surprising that they con
Guided to join in the persecution them
selves. Thus it comes that the pages
OF history are the records of bloody
neutrality-suspicious. directly from
Christians. and sometimes indirectly
from Christians through earthly gov
Thus the entire civilized world has
become intoxicated with the wine Of
false doctrine from the cup of the wo-
man who sat upon the beast. falsely
herself us the Bride of
Christ, but living in fgurative harlotry
with the Kingdoms of this world
Revelation Ills: 1882 AS we get
)ver the stupefaction Of our intOxica-
ion OF error. reason begins to return
% US. The Apostle calls this the spir-
t Of sound mind
We must not boast. There is still |!
darkness But we are
learing the glorious light. The Divine
character is shining out as it was never
een before. Divine Love and Mercy
ire conspicuous. Divine Justice is
een In its true light. Proportionately
Is we see these things. our souls mag |!
lify and glOrify the Lord. who is good. |
nd whose Mercy endureth forever
Gathering of the Elect Now.
The work of this present Age is un-
the gathering Of Gods
elect. 1t is equally unquestiOnable
hat the sanity are the Elect. st. Paul
'oints out TO us that this is Gods fore |
namely. that all who will ,
'e elected in this present Age must be /
opies of Gods dear Son. This is what |
: predestinated--t terms and condi |
ions. the requirements and qualiica-
ions. Of the Elect. tRomans $40, !
% God will permit none others to .
"a of that numbar Rut not n ,vnr6 iS