Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-12-15
Pastor Russell's Sermon

tence Of death, all dying, justly, re-
gardless Of whether 1t be a more grad
ual wearing out, or instantaneous
death--whether it be by hunger. acci-
dent white plague, black plague, or
other ailment.
But should not the followers Of Christ
expect exemption2 some inquire. We
, answer, Mol Quite to the contrary,
these enter into special Covenant Of
SacriAce-surrender or reslgning all
their claim to an earthly life, earthly
hopes, earthly joys, In exchange for the
Heavenly ones which God has prom
ised to all the followers Of Jesus. Only
those who suffer with Him will reign
with Him. Only those who die with
Him to the earthly nature, ETC., will
live with Him on the Heavenly plane.
and be kings and priests and joint
heirs with Christ in the Heavenly
Kingdom which Is to bless the world
and restore 1t to human perfection.
Few seem to have noticed that Jesus
neither healed Himself nor any OF the
Apostles. The miracles Of healing
were performed on outsiders, with a
view to evidenclng the Redeemer's
teachings; and even these attesting
miracles, as st. Paul pointed out, ceas-
ed after they had accomplished their
work-after the Church had been es-
tablished. But, we are asked, did not
Jesus say in Mark 1917, IS that the
healing power would be an evidence OF
discipleship throughout this Agel No.
we answer. All scholars now agree
that no part Of the 16th chapter OF
Mark after the sth verse was written
by Sc. Mark. That the portion from
the 9th verse to the end Of the chapter
was added long centuries after 81
Mark was dead is clearly evidenced by
the fact that those verses do not occur
in any manuscript Of earlier date than
the fifth century.
The rewards Of this Age, offered TO
the Church, are Heavenly, spiritual to
be attained fully In the resurrection
change of the Church. Nevertheless
the faithful followers Of Jesus enjoy
certain special blessings of mind and
body In their present life-such as the
peace of God, which passeth all under
standing" rest from the worrying
cares common to the remainder OF the
world. These. indeed, bring often
measure OF health to persons previous
" annoyed by every trying difficulty
of life, but now enabled through faith
in Christ and acceptance Of the Divine
promises through the Holy Spirit. to
take no anxious care In respect to the
future. knowing that their Father
careth for them and has promised that
all things shall work together for theiI
good, whether 1t be sickness or power
ty. or what not
Tho Gospe Respecting the Plague
The Gospel has special Message to
every one smltten with the white
plague or the black plague, or any
other Of the hundreds Of forms OF
death. That Message Is that the pres
ent life Is but transltory, vestlbule to
a more glorious life, an anteroom of
instruction, preparatory to entering tho
life which God has provided for all OF
our race who are willing to accept II
on His terms through the merit of
Chrlsts sacrifice.
The broad Message Of the Gospel,
while It has only one offer In the pres
ent tine, assures us OF n future oppor'
tunlty for all. Those who now accept
the grace Of God have the great prlvi-
lege Of becoming members OF the
Church in Glory. Others have the as
surance TINT there will be n resurrec'
tion, not only Of the Just, but also of
the unjust; and that this signifies an
opportunity Of rising up out of sin and
death conditions to human perfection
But even to attain that blessing would
mean to attain nm earthly instead OF q
Heavenly Inheritance.
Moreover, thnt blessed opportunity OF
attaining eternal life and earthly per
fectlon will not mean an escape from
the penalty OF wllful sins OF the pres
ent life. II is u part OF the Divine
Law that whoever sins shall suffer
and that whatsoever man soweth
that shall he also reap" But those
who have known the Masters WILL
and failed TO do II, will receive more
and severer stripes more punish
ments, than others who have not
known His will, and have done equal
ly evil things--the heathen, for In
stance. Luke 1871 4a
The Morning ls Dawnlng.
The light OF the Mlllennlal Morning,
gradually breaking through the dark
ness, ignorance and superstition Of the
past. is showing us more particularly
what disease Is and how II should be
comboted. And although we cannot
hope to accomplish great results, II IL
our duty TO do our best In opposing
the reign OF Sin and Death-to do all
In our power TO stamp them out. All
the diseases OF our bodies are aggra'
vated by sin and more or less relieved
by proper living, proper thinking, and
mind and heart resting In faith upon
the Redeemer and His glorious provi.
sion for our future
We are learning, too, that as the sun
light of Truth Is good for our minds
ana morals, so the natural sunlight is
good for our bodies II is an lmpor.
tant factor In the healing OF all dis.
eases. As the Word OF God Is the pure