The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-01

Gospel. The ecclesiastical education
a systems of the day tend to mold the
mental development in grooves and
ruts that are almost impossible to
get out of when one desires to do
some original thinking.
Q.-Psal- n xxxxvii. 35, Il have seen
the wicked in great power and spread
ing himself like a green bay-tree. -
Kindly explain the smile? (Massa-
chusetts.)
Answer.-The special thought of the
Sacred Writer seems to be that of the
prosperity of the wicked As the bay
tree spreads out to some distance from
the trunk and bears a mass of foliage
OF a deep green color at the eXtremi-
ties of its branches giving every APP
peaIance of life and vigor and of
generally prosperous condition. so the
wicked are the ones that usually get
along successfully, taking advantage
of their fellows. 1t is said that all
around underneath the bay tree moth
ing else will grow, there is general
deSolation. So with the wicked; in
every direction where their great pow
er is exercised, there is produced hard
ships, suffering and death for others.
1t is a tree that does not bear fruit
1T is a useless tree as far as being a
blessing and a benefit to others is
concerned, although it is quite orna-
they may be we'll dressed and well
grOOmed. handsome to look upon. but
the world is not benefited by their
existence, and, indeed, would be much
better without them. Another pecu-
llar1ty is that it has a Superabundance
of roots, running out from the trunk
in every direction. The wicked are
noted for their coVetousness: reaching
out and laying hold of everything
they can get their hands on. The
world is impoverished by their absorb
ing tendencies. and they give nothing
IN return for what they get. Pity the
ornamental but useless wicked.
Q.-Will you kindly explain Peter
iii, 1920, and tell who the spirits in
prison" are? Also. in what way the
l1ord Jesus went and preached to
them? (Consecrated.)
Answer.-The universe is very
large place and this globe upon which
we dwell is, comparatively speaking
only a small grain of sand in one far
off corner of the vast eXpanse. Man,
a dlrnlnutive speck moving around in
the dust, has Vainly imagined that he
and his kind form the center and hub
OF the entire tremendous order of
things Just as the little ant proudIvI
mounts its hill and deems that he is
monarch of all he surveys as he gazes
d1sdalnfully around: SO man has con-
sldered that he is one of the Lords
or creation However, the Bible re-
Feals to US that there are myriads of
spirit beings inhabiting the realms
a bove that are far more glorious and
powerful than members of the human
race. These have been interested
spectators of the great tragedy being
enacted upon this earth. "AlI the
worlds stage and men and women
merely players is a true expression
from one of the poets The Apostle
CONVEYS the same thought when he
says For we are made spectacle
(Greek theater) unto the world and
TO angels" Ct Corinthians w. 81
Some of these angels in their endeav-
orS TO rescue the race from sin and
death, themselves came under con-
demnat ton because of disobedience to
the Divine commands, Gin the DAYS of
Noah, while the ark was a preparing"
THESE angels, Spirits have been in
prison, restrained under chains of
darkness. Genesis vi, IA: Jude s.
me Lord Jesus, by His death and
resurrection, preached a powerful SER
mon in pantomime to these spirits in
prison Doubtless some have bene-
fitted by our Lords example as thev
saw the results of faith and obedience
to the Divine will of God.