River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-07-16

>--~----@----s----- of this Associa-
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 at 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 Russell'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 ~ of
The Photo 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
awing attention to the statement
that the Gospel Message is for the
meek. the broken-hearted. During the
Millennia 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
Messiah'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
tender-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 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 were 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 wish
them to do. so. The very reverse is
true. His purpose is to bind up the
broken hearted.
Gods Message speaks peace to those
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 sledge ham,
mer with which they are to break
mems hearts. The speaker does not
know of any Scriptural commission
for any of the people Of God to break
the hearts of men. On the contrary.
he thinks that the Devil does most of
such work.
The Two Conversions.
There are two conversions, declared
The Pastor The first is a turning from
sin; the second. turning to God.
Those DESTROYS of approaching God are
seeking to leave sin. Those who are
living in sin wish to be away from God.
We cannot go in two directions at once.
The course which God would have any
pursue is this: When one finds that
he is a sinner. he should repent and
| turn away from sin; then. when he
| learns that God has made an arrange
ment by which sinners may be recon
ciled TO Himself. he shoulc ascertain
what steps he should take in order to
obtain his share in that reconciliation.
While turning from sin may ia some
respects be called a conversion, yet it
is not the principal conversion Only
those who take the step of full con-
secration to the Lord may receive the
Holy Spirit and obtain clear view of
the Divine Plan. As the Apostle says,
1.-THE natural man receiyeth not the