Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-04-29

S--------- Isaiah al.
The Pastor showed that throughout
the Scriptures a woman Is the symbol
Of the Church-a pure woman Of
pure Church, a corrupt woman Of
false Church. Our Lord compared the
true Church In the end Of the Gospel
Age to q company of virgins-some
wise and some foolish--and Himself to
the bridegroom. st. Paul amplifies the
figure, declaring, II have espoused you
1.-THE consecrated church, as a chaste
virgin unto one husband, which is
Christ" q Corinthians 112) Here,
as in our Lords parable of the Ten Vir.
gins, the Jewish marriage Is set forth
as typical Of the union between Christ
and the Church-a very different fg-
ure from our marriage custom.
In olden time, when betrothal took
place, legal and binding documents
we're signed by or for the contracting
parties; but no actual marriage oc-
CURED for about year. While walt.
ing for the bridegroom to take her to
his own house, the espoused virgin
was expected to be as faithful to her
aspousal as Is now expected Of any
true wife. We see the harmony be-
tween this custom and our Lords deal
ngs with His Church.
No one Is espoused to our Lord who
has not entered into definite contract
with Him. The Lords part Of this
contract Is the assurance through the
Scriptures that IL faithful the Church
shall be Fills jolnt-heir in His Milen.
NAL Kingdom. The Church's part is
covenant Of conservation, loyalty even
unto death. The interim between our
personal acceptance Of our Lords gra'
cious promises by a full conservation
Of our all to Him and His service until
we actually die corresponds TO the be-
trothal period of the Jewish maiden.
But the more exact fulfllment Of the
figure Is found in the history Of the
Church as whole. Our Lords virgin
Church was espoused to Him at Pente'
cost. and has since been waiting for
the Bridegroom's coming and her res.
direction change to glory, honor and
immortality-the union, the marriage,
"Seven Women In That Day."
Then the Pastor proceeded to explain
the meaning Of his text. The number
seven is well recognized throughout the
Scriptures as a symbol Of complete.
ness; and so it may here signify all the
churches Of this world-cxcluding the
true Church, which is not Of this world,
and which does not follow its course.
We have come to the time when all
the various sects and denominations
feel the reproach Of their situation
brought about by the confusion of doc
trines amongst the different branches
OF Churchanity. The heather are III
quiring how 1t comes that there are so
many kinds of Christians and that they
all get their various theories out OF the
same Book. This is a reprooch that Is
keenly felt by the leading minds of-all
denominations,
The one Man of the text very prop
erly represents our Lord, the Heaven
~ Bridegroom, The text signifies that
all the nominal churches have come 10
the place where they desire to be call
ed merely the churches Of Christ but
wish nothing more TO do with HIM
They desire to hold their sectarlnn
names, but they wish also to be calleu
Chrstians-their chief asset. For the
doctrines Of Christ they care nothingi
and for any thought Of redemption anu
covering Of sins through the merit OF
His blood they care nothing, They ue'
sire merely His name.
Not So With the True Church.
The more these women desire to eat
their own bread and to wear apparel o, o.,
their own Punishment, the more "u'
the true ones of the Lords people
amongst them find that they have he''
ther lot nor part there. The true
Church does not wish to eat her own
bread; she desires the Bread from
Heaven. She does not prefer her own
theories, her own plans OF saIvation'
but that which God has provided
things new and old from the store
house of Divine Truth. Neither does
she desire to wear her own apparel 10,
she has come to understand that o''
her righteousness Is as filthy rags
More and more Is the true Cnuryn Cn
learning to appreciate the rope gn su
her by the Heavenly Bridegroom.'ue
wedding garment. More and more does
she trust in the merit Of her keuet ul m
er, the covering of whose justincallo,u
was symbollzed by the skins OF the sue ,,,
rlace given to Adam and Eve as 'n'
covering Of their nakedness'