The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-07-22

HaslSkkQ92tlLlJ knowledge OF the
Scriptures. The
program calls for four discourses daily
for eight days, Amongst the speakers
are some noted Bible students. Pastor
Russell was one Of the speakers of to.
day. We report his address. FROM the
text. Woe unto you that are rich. for
We have received your consolation. 80
And He lifted up His eyes on His dis
ciples, and said. Blessed be ye poor:
for yours is the Kingdom of Cod
Luke G:24. 20.
Think not. my dear brethren. said the
Pastor. that my address Is intended to
stir up class animosity. The tribula-
tons and disappointments OF life come.
not through needing the Divine Mes
sage. but through neglecting 1t. AL
though not rich myself. can sympa.
thize with the rich in their position. as
well as with the poor in theirs. God,
Himself very rich. is able TO sympa-
thize with both the poor and the rich:
so Is the Savior. who. being rich, for
our sakcs became poor. that we
through His poverty might become
rich In the trlleSt sense of that word.
Some of Gods faithful servants in
the past were very rich-Abraham for
instance. Nevertheless. the Lord fore.
warned us that not many rich. great.
learned. or mighty would receive the
highest blessing promised during this
Age. On the contrary. recipients OF
the greatest favor will be chiefly the
poor Of this world. rich in faith. These
will be heirs Of the Kingdom.
The Master evidently intended to in.
clude riches Of every kind-learning.
Influence, honor of men. etc, as well
us financial wealth. This view broad.
ems the text to signify that all who
now possess great privileges and bless.
lngs above the average of mankind
will, by these blessings. be more or
less 'hindered from obtaining the best
things OF Gods favor, and more or less
subject to woes.
We are not TO take the views Of the
darker days. and to suppose that the
Master meant that the rich ut death
would be thrown into everlasting tor.
ture. The woes of the Bible. on the
contrary, apply 20 the present life
The rich. the influential, the learned.
the great, addressed by the Master in
the words Of our text. were living in
the close Of the Jewish Age. but re.
allied 1t not. And we might have no
occasion whatever to apply our text to.
day, but might consider 1t MS already
fulfilled in the past. except for the fact
that the Jewish nation and its expe.
riences at that time typifcd the Cos.
pei Church and the experiences Of
Christendom in our day.
Wrath to the Uttermost Upon tho
Jews.
st. Paul. referring 10 the same woes
which Jesus predicted, hut living near
the close OF the Jewish Age. when the
woes were being poured out. declared.
Wrath has come upon this people to
the uttermost-that all things written
In the Law and the Prophets concern.
Ing them should be fulfilled. Il Thcs-
salonians 2:16A IL all the woes pur.
posed Of God upon the ISraelites in the
conclusion of their Age were fulfilled.
rs st. Paul declares. then none Of those
woes belong to the future.
That woes and tribulations are asSo.
ciatcd with the present life for both
the rich and the poor IS unbeatable
All acknowledge these woes. But the
most terrible fOrebodinGs are associated
with imaginary woes of the future life
quite contrary TO the Scripture teach.
ings. If We must speak OF tribula.
tons in the present life. in order to be
faithful to our commission. we are
glad to be able to set aside and nullify
the nightmare Of the Dark Ages re.
speeding eternal torment for any.
The Jews. whom Jesus addressed.
He declared knew not the time of
their visitation" They realized not
that they were living In the end OF
their Age, and that great settlement
Of matters was about to take place.
Similarly. We are now living in the end
Of this Gospel Age-anothcr great set.
Element day In the Divine arrange.
! ment. The intellectually. politically.
socially and financially rich Mt that
time. addressed by our Lord. were very
self.satisfed. very prosperous. and
looked for the MesSianic Kingdom in
m opposite direction from that which
Jesus taught. So today. the inteliec,
tual and the rich in various ways are
satisfied ns never before. and mcrel'