River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-08-27

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Russell's text today was, "See that We
refuse not Him that speaketh
from Heaven Hebrews 1925.
The Pastor introduced his discourse
with a comment upon the opening
verses of the EqiStle to the Hebrews.
There the Apostle is contrasting the
Message which God sent through the
Lord Jesus Christ with those messages
sent previously through His servants
Moses and the Prophets of Israel.
The Apostle elsewhere tells us that
God speaks peace unto us through His
Son. This statement suggests that
previously there had been war. Away
back in the days of Eden, when Fa-
Their Adam and Mother Eve were on
trial, Mother Eve was misled by Sa-
tan's suggestion and disobeyed Gods
command. Then Father Adam. lean
ing to his own understanding. sinned
wilfully, that he might have fellow
ship with his Wife-rather than with
God. Thus the entire race were brought
into rebellion against the Creator and
were condemned to death In Adam
Then the Pastor went on to trace
the history of the rebellious race of
man. Cut off from fellowship with
God. falling deeper and deeper into
sin, degradation and death conditions,
none were fit to be called children of
God. About twenty-five centuries aft
er the fall. the Almighty gave the Is
raelites opportunity to come into har
mony with Him. There He spoke to
them especially, through Moses and
the Law Covenant. directing that who
ever would hear Moses and obey might
come closer to their Creator. So we
read, 'They have Moses and the
Prophets; let them hear them" God
had not spoken to mankind in general;
only to the little nation of Israel had
He given a Message. To them He had
not spoken in any other way than
through the Law and the Prophets
The Apostle tells us that those who
disobeyed Moses Law died without
mercy. Moses was Gods mouthpiece;
and therefore whoever disobeyed him
came under the penalty Of death.
The Apostles argument, the Pastor
declared, is this: Now, brethren, re-
view the history of Israel, and see
how from time to time they neglected
the messages which God sent them at
the mouth of angels and of Moses, and
note how disasters came on them be-
cause Of that negligence. If, then,
there was such a penalty inflicted for
negligence respecting the words of
Moses, what should be the result of
refusing to hear Him who speaks from
Heaven itself? If those who rejected
Moses Law died without mercy. how
much severer punishment should they
receive who would count the blood of
the Covenant wherewith they were
sanctiied a common thing. and who
would do despite to Gods spirit of ia
vor? Surely we may expect that there
would be nothing further for those
who reject Gods arrangement for
mans salvation!
Three Classes In the Church.
The Pastor next showed that the
consecrated people of God will finally
be found in one of three classes. The
Little Flock. to whom our Lord de-
clared it is the Fathers good pleasure
to give the Kingdom, is a limited
number-so far as we can judge prob
ably $4,000. Then comes the Great
Company. whose number no man
knows"-God not having revealed it
class unworthy Of place in the
Little Flock. but yet loyal in heart to
God and the principles of righteous
ness. Last of all, is the class that go
into the Second Death. the class thai
do despite to the Covenant of Grace.
Formerly the Pastor was inclined to
think that this class would be very
small. but of late be realizes that ac-
cording to the experiences OF the typi-
cal people the number will be much
larger than he once had thought; for
many Israelites fell In the wilderness
on account of having rejected the tes-
timony of the Lord. and their death
was typical.
No one is on trial for life. the Pas
tor declared. excaDt tbnsa who have