The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-02-11

>--------'-- toward Him who
gave His well-beloved Son for mans
redemption.
Today Pastor Russells text was. so
is lie that layeth up treasure for hiln-
| self but is not rich toward God.
| Luke 1921.
The discourse opened with the dec
laration that the world today possesses
wealth beyond anything recorded in
history, and in every conceivable way
is growing richer \ brief cnumcra-
ton of modern improvements and con-
veniences which would amaze our fore
! fathers was followed by Il series Of
questions which appeal to every
thoughtful mind.
Are we as a race, the Pastor asked.
! growing rich toward God? Is not the
very reverse true? Are not faith and
| godliness on the decline? Is it not true
! that within the last fifty years the love
of money, which St Paul declares is
"A root of all evil" has intensified?
| Although we are better housed. fed and
! clothed than were orr forefatherS. yet
there is general unrest due to trust in
riches. Despite police, detectives. tele
graphs, telephones, etc, human lives
and property are still in peril because
of the hunger for wealth.
"Whose Shall These Things Re?"
Taking up his text. the Pastor then
discussed the parable from which it is
taken In it our Lord pictures man
whose lines were fallen in pleasant
| places and whose wealth increased I'M
der sun and shower. But instead of
growing rich in character through the
cultivation of noble qualities by using
his opportunities for helping those less
| favored than himself, this rich man
| permitted selfShnesS to dominate him
Instead of dispensing wisely the wealth
which Divine providence gave him, he
accumulated more for himself.
Many today are following his exam
| pie the speaker regretted to say. In
this parable the Master has drawn a
! picture of practically every man in the
| world, some of whom are really doing
these things. and others are longing for
the opportunity.
Hear the Lords Estimation.
Commenting upon the Masters esti-
nation of this foolish rich man the
Pastor asked, If the Lord considered
the rich man of His parable a fool,
what may we suppose is His estimate
of the masses today-blessed as never
, before. and therefore responsible as
men never before were responsible in
| the use Of money? He fears that the
Lord is not well pleased with the
scramble for wealth witnessed every
where
The speaker then explained that the
Lord does not address His reproOf to
the world, but to His Church--the con
sccrated few. The world. he declared.
is about to learn Il great lesson. Hav-
ing sown to the wind the seed of self.
| i3hneSs. it is about to reap the whirl
wind of trouble, the fruitage of selfish
ness. in which the interests of rich and
poor will clash in the conflict between
those who have secured wealth and
those who will strive to take it from
them-"a Time of Trouble such as was
rot since there was nation"
According to Scripture God is not
now appealing to the world: for well
He knows that so intense is the spirit
of avarice that such an appeal would
be useless. BY the time that the poor
world has learned that SeliishnrSs is
an integral part of sin, even as love
and benevolence are integral parts of
righteousness, it will be ready to cry
for Divine assistance. Then Gods
means of assistance. the Messianic
Kingdom, will be inaugurated and will
bring blessed results of love, joy,
peace and good will amongst men.
To the Church-God's sanity people
both in and out of sects. parties. ETC.
the Lord says, Let not your treasures
be of an earthly kind; spend and he
spent in the interest of others and in
the service Of God: and thus seek to
share with Ne. not only in the suffer
inGs of the present. bat III the glory,
honor and Immortality of the future.
"Take Away the Stony Heart"
The Pastor concluded hi,, discourse
after showing that turin2; MeSsiah's
Millennial Reign humanity's hard
heartedness viii gradually be diSsoy-
ed. Satan Gill he bound and the curse
removed. The stress being lifted.
mankind will rise from their present
condition of se!fshness back to the
image of God. lost in Eden redeemed
at Calvary. As the Scriptures declare.
God will remove the stony heart and
give them heart Of flesh-lind, SYM
pathetic. But the incorrigible will He
destroy in the Second Death.