Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1914-07-02

ilRAsIQRsRYssELg) the principal cities
of the U nit d
Kingdom and the Continent-Pastor
Russell is on the Atlantic homeward
bound. While abroad the Pastor also
lectured in many cities, and was the
principal speaker at General Conven-
tion of the International Bible Students
Association held in the British Metrop
oils. Today the Pastors text was. Even
when we were dead in sins. God hath
quickened us together with Christ. =
Ephesians 30.
The Pastor began with a review of
the trial OF Adam in Eden. He proved
conclusively that our first parents were
created perfect. in the image and like
ness of their Creator. Adam disobeyed
God. and thus brought upon himself
and all his posterity the sentence of
death. Owing thou shalt die 80
death passed upon all mem; for all
men are members of the race of Adam.
All are under the curse of death, which
came upon the world as the result of
sin.
The speaker also showed that we
were not condemned personally, for
we were not on trial personally. Fa
Their Adam alone was on trial, and
when he failed he was sentenced to
death. Gods great Law declares that
"all unrighteousness is sin; that the
wages of sin is death; and that the
soul that sins shall die" Adams chill
dren were born in sin-born after bis
fall from perfection. Therefore it nat
,nrally follows that they partake OF inn
perfection; and if the perfect man did
not keep Gods perfect Law, how could
imperfect men keep it? -.,--c..--r
Having demonstrated that all man
kind are under the curse of death by
reason of Father Adams disobedience,
the Pastor next discussed the PROPOSE
ton which the Bible sets before the
race. That proposition is not a ques-
ton of Heaven or He'll. but one of life
OF death eternal. To those who are in
harmony with God. who delight to dc
His will. He is pleased to give life
everlasting. But to those who are not
in harmony with Him He has decreed
to give death eternal-they shall not
have any place whatever in all His
Universe.
For instance, Gods provision for the
angels was that since they were per
feet. they should if they maintained
their perfection. live everlastingy
From Gods standpoint. to live ever
lastingly-the only way that He would
have His intelligent creatures live a
all-is to live happily, to enjoy life. t.
live in pleasure All the holy angels
are happy, perfect and blessed; TO
they have not transgressed the Law
of Cod So then. the speaker contin
ned. we see why the Scriptures teacl
that mankind are under the sentenc
of DEATH In fact. the Bible speaks o
all mankind. the world in general. a
dead wOrld-not that there are n
people who are active. not that al
have gone down into the tomb, bu
that those who have entered the gray
have merely preceded the others to tn
place whittier all are going. because Q
the one sentence upon all.
Gods Loving Purpose.
The Pastor next showed that, &C
cording to Gods righteous Law, man
kind are now unfit to live under tn
perfect conditions which He has pre-
pared. Even with the best of inten
tons. imperfect beings continual,
mako trOuhle for themselves and 9th
ers. In the present imperfect condi
ton of the race, humanity would max
trouble wherever they might be. Thi
is contrary to the Divine will; Co
purposes to have a Universe in whic
everybody shall be happy. everybod
good. everybody perfect.
With some the question might arise
"Why did God make us imperfect?
The speaker, after propounding tn
question, then answered it: The Bibl
declares that Gods work is perfec
deuteronomy 32:4) Humanity in the
present imperfect condition are nc
Gods work. God made Father Adar
perfect. After Adam had become
sinner and had brought the curse
death upon himself, he propagated
race by the law of nature Therefor
all of his posterity were born in sir
and for six thousand years have bee
falling, sinking lower in degradation
This is the Scriptural explanation {
human imperfection; this is why th