Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1914-07-09

l@AsT0R 0gssEZg) era &c Conventions
ton are now in progress. the other two
being at Columbus. Ohio. and Clinton
Iowa. Upwards Of 1000 delegates are
In attendance at each Convention Be
ing President of the Association, Pas
tor Russell expects to be present three
days ut each of the assemblies
Two sessions are held daily in each
of the cities. and the Pastors famous
Creation Drama is exhibited each even
ing. There being four parts to the
Drama. three full presentations will be
given.
Pastor R,ssell's theme today was
one of great interest. The discourse
set forth the philosophy of the untold
sufferings of Christians throughout
this Gospel Dispensation. Part Nv. of
The l'llotu-Drama of Creation now on
exhibition both at home and abroad,
depicts the unwritten history of the
Church of Christ. and enables those
who see it to realize to some extent
what it has cost true Christians to ''fol-
low His steps" The PASTORS text was,
'Jehovah hath appointed Me to preach
good tidings to the meek. to bind up
the broken hearted" -Isaiah GIL.
The Pastor opened his discourse by
drawing attention to the statement
that the Gospel Message is for the
meek. the broken-hearted. During the
Millennial Reign of Christ God will
take away the stoniness of heart from
mankind and will give. instead. hearts
of flesh. Under the blessed conditions
of the Kingdom. hard. selfish hearts
will gradually become soft. tender.
kind. gentle. But now. in advance Of
Aessiah's Kingdom. God is seeking
those who are seeking Him. Those
who are not especially seeking Him are
not likely to find Him.
Preaching the Gospel to the meek
Is the work of this Age. This is the
only class which God wishes to have
now. He is seeking the class that de-
sire to be OF the Bride of Christ Jesus
joint-heirs in the Messianic Kingdom
Therefore the Message is not such as
would suit the hard hearted. Only the
er-hearted care to know about the
love of God. the mercy of God. the
forgiveness of sins. the privilege of re
turning to the Fathers House and
of having Jesus as their Savior.
The Pastor believes that in the past
we have had a wrong idea as to whom
the Gospel Message is to go. We went
out into the highways and byways TO
find those who were very wicked
blasphemers. etc. thinking that these
were the ones with whom we We're to
deal. The Scriptures do not authorize
any such idea. a person living in un
repented sin is not in the proper con
dition to receive Gods great Plan OF
the Ages. the speaker claimed God
has declared that none Of the wicked
shall understand" He does not wisl
them to do So The very reverse is
true. His purpose is to bind up the
broken-hearted
Gods Message speaks peace to thos,
who are in trouble and who are look
ing to Him. seeking the righteousness.
which He provides. Some apparently
have made a great mistake in think
ing that the Gospel is a sIedge ham
mer with which they are to breal
mems hearts. The speaker does no
know of any Scripturai commission
for any of the people of God to breal
the hearts of men On the contrary
he thinks that the Devil does most O
such work
The Two Conversions
There are two conversions. declare,
the Pastor The first is a turning fron
sin: the second. a turning to Coo
Those DESTROYS of approaching God ar
seeking to leave sin. Those who ar
living in sin wish to be away from Coo
We cannot go in two directions at once
The course which God would have an
pursue is this: When one finds tina
he Is a sinner, he should repent an
turn away from sin; then, when b
leia~ that God has made an arrange
" by which sinners may be recor
I'D 10 Himself, he shoule ascertai
II steps he should take in order {
o. IN iis share in that reconciliation.
i, mic turning from sin may in som
respects be called a conversion. yet
is not the principal conversion. Onl
those who take the step of full COZ
secration to the Lord may receive til
Holy Spirit and obtain clear view q
the Divine Plan. As the Apostle say.
'"The natural man receiveth not tn