The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-07-18
Pastor RuSSell's Sermon


and sets aside entirely the Savior an,
His important work as Advocate 70
| the Church In the present, and as Medi
ator elect for the world In the future.
! Wrong Views Respecting Prayer.
/ Nearly all Christian people In TIL,
| past have discerned the subject O.
| prayer very indstinctly. Sinners hav,
been urged to pray: moralists. who
have never accepted Christ as theil
/ Savior have been chided for not pray
ing. In general way the impression
| has been given to the world that Goo
| is very anxious to have some recogni
| ton on the part of humanity. and viii
be glad to be approached by anybody
at any time. How strange mistake!
Was it not God who denounced sir
| and placed the penalty. or curse. OF
death upon the sinner. and cut off the
sinner from fellowship with Himself
Has He changed? Will He ever
change? Was not the statement that
God heareth not sinners" correct
one?-.Iohn 9:31.
The Church Has an Advocate.
Gods arrangement whereby His con-
secrated people may approach Him ac-
ceptably is clearly stated. I'VE 1.-THE
Royal Priesthood have an Advocate
with the Father Jesus Christ the
Righteous" q John 2:1) But before
the Redeemer of men will become the
Advocate for any, certain terms and
conditions are laid down. Those APP
preaching are first of all reminded
that mo man cometh unto the Father
but by Me1-the Advocate. And upon
inquiring respecting the terms upon
which He would be their Advocate. we
are admonished that He serves only
those who become His disciples In
quiring the terms of discipleship, we
receive the answer. eff any man will
come after Me. let him deny himself,
and take up his cross and follow Me-"
Matthew l6: "a.
Under these conditions the poorest
and the meanest of humanity have
the privilege of approaching with cour-
age the Throne of Heavenly Grace to
obtain mercy. and to find grace to
help in every time of need. (Hebrews
4:16) But equally certain is it that
none others have access to God. mel
Their is there any other name given
by we must be saved" from our fallen
condition, than the name of Jesus.
Perhaps there is something revolu-
tionary in this thought that. while all
may worship in the sense of bowling
down and showing reverence to the
Almighty. none but the consecrated
followers of Jesus have any assurance
whatever of the Divine supervision of
their affairs. And none but these have
any authority for coming to God in
prayer.
One exception to this rule should be
here stated: namely, that the children
of consecrated believers. while they
are still immature of judgment, have a
standing with God through their rela-
tionship to their parents st. Paul
makes this very evident in his declara-
ton: 1.-The unbelieving husband Is
sanctified by the wife, and the unbe-
lieving wife is sanetified by the hus-
band. else were your children unclean.
but now are they holy.''-1 Cor. ia.
The translation of this text slightly
beclouds the Apostles thought, which
is that where either of the parents
has become disciple of Jesus. the
child stands related to God, regardless
of the standing of the other parent
Such children may participate in wor-
ship and in prayer. But this relation
ship manifestly terminates shortly aft
er the child shall have come to a per-
sonal knowledge of its responsible
ties. Thereupon it must make per-
sonal covenant with the Lord, or have
its standing with the rest of the world.
And that standing, be it remember
ed. does not mean liability to eternal
torment. 1t merely means alienation.
separation. from God and from His
special care and providences In the
present time: for the Divine arrange
ment is for the ultimate blessing of
mankind through the Messianic King
dom-through the Temple of Glory and
its Royal Priesthood glorified. in Its
Kingdom power for a thousand years.
Might the Truth Discourage?
Some might be inclined to say, There
are millions of people who. with more
or less formality. approach God in
daily. Should we not fear that
after truthful presentation of the
facts these would be discouraged? Our
reply is that the whole responsibility
for the Divine Plan rests upon its Di
vine Author, who says, HE that hath
My Word, let him speak My Word
Indeed, the preaching of
the Truth on this subject may bring
many Indifferent ones to the point of
decision, and thus greatly benefit them.
Have we not been telling the world
difference between Gods people by
and the children of this
world? Have we not been misleading
them In this respect? Is it not high
time that they were told the truth on
this. as well as some other subjects?
A gentleman who attended my
in London met me the fol-
lowing day and said. "Your discourse
did not at all encourage ME: indeed.
It greatly discouraged me- had for
years thought of myself as Christian,
being member of the Church of Eng
and. / participated in its service, but ]
without ever having had the thought
that | could not be acceptable as one /
Of His children. nor as member OF