Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1913-04-10

the text. Come now, let us reason to-
gether. saith the Lord; though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be us white as
snow."-Isaiah us.
Although thoroughly loyal and very
reverential. the Pastor has evidently
cut loose from the crceds. 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 that
their best friends prefer never to think
Of them.
The Pastor claimed that the repu-
siveness 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? He
urged Christians to abandon the creeds
and unite as Bible students, intent on
knowing the testimony of Gods Word
and Of obtaining the guidance of the
Holy Spirit In the understanding of it.
Jesus held up to scorn the inconsist-
encies of His day. If here today, He
would show us many Inconsistencies
in our estimation of sin aud righteous
ness, the Pastor believed. Our Lord
declared that while the religious lead
ers of His time were 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
20 fhatr
critically heightened their prayers.
1t was not that praying was wrong.
or that tithing was Objectionable but
their recognition of these showed them
all the more responsible in "devouring
widows houses" and other sharp prac-
tises, whereby they took advantage Of
the unfortunate. This principle still
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
hypocrites are the worst of sinners in
Gods sight. Theirs were the most
scarlet sins. he believed.
Greater and Lesser Sins.
Wealth covers a multitude of sins.
To be financially unsuccessful is
crime. on account of which many con-
slider a wife justified In seeking a di-
vorce. and some churches justified in
dropping the culprit from their men,
bership list What matters 1t that
Jesus comforted the weary, heavy
laden and unsuccessful? What mat
tiers 1t 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 faith2
What matters II that very rich man
has two concubines, besides a wife2
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,
If committed by worldly person; but
hatred would be crimson-a sin of deep
er dye-if cherished by Christian
AS love is the fulfilling of the Divine
Law. so>hatred implies its tiagrant vio
lation.
Mankind have inherited sin-tainted
blood from Adam, Selfishness of vary
ing hues stains every member Of the
race. Many have not the proper focus
upon the Divine Law, Taking the-let'
ter of that Law. they avoid the. cruder
forms OF thaft. adultery. murder hiuk.