The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-01-21

service Romans 12:1.
Speaking with great earnestness, the
Pastor declared that he repeatedly
meets with people inquiring for the
Bread of Life. These seem to know
that there is something radically wrong
with the preaching of the nominal
churches. They tell that they are i'm
portuned for money; but that when
they ask for soul-food they meet with
evasion and subterfuge from many OF
the great and learned, who appear to
have lost sight of the Bible and heart
conversion.
Or, on the other hand, they are met
by the Salvation Army, with traditions
as indigestible as stone, to anybody
of ordinary intelligence. They are told
with all seriousness that God created
our race, with knowledge and intention
that nearly all of them would spend
eternity in torture. They are told that
to be saved from that awful fate they
should become Salvationists, and storm
the slums for Jesus. Their experiences
remind one of Jesus words respecting
father who, asked for bread, would
give his son a stone; who, asked for
fish, would give him a serpent.
The Pastor hoped that some of these
hungry souls were present in his au-
dience. He proposed to give them no
human theories or speculations-nor
would he compromise the Truth nor
dodge the question. He would endeav-
or to make the way to God so plain
that a wayfaring man need not err
therein; and he would do this by pre-
senting Gods arrangement and quot
ing Gods own Word.
Where Eternal Torture Error Leads.
No doubt those who invented the
theory of eternal torture thought that
they were taking the proper steps to
drive the whole human family to God.
But, on the contrary, 1t seems to drive
away from God and the Bible the most
intelligent people of every land. who
have naturally more reasonable and
just conception of the Creator than the
one presented in the church creeds.
lnstinctively they are repealed with
the thought that the Creator would
pursue a course which would be be-
meath the most degraded.
Undoubtedly the Bible is true in de-
claring such fallacles doctrines of de-
mons" Il Timothy Al From this
Bible-viewpoint we can see that it was
a master stroke on the part of Satan
and his subordinates to misrepresent
the teachings of the Bible, SO as to re-
pei those who might be feeling after
God" and desiring to draw near to
Him.-Acts l1:21.
Truth telIins Provokes the Clergy.
To tell the truth to the people. even
on so simsle subject, means the an
gerng OF the clergy: Why. do you
ask? Because it proves them to be
In the wrong, and proves that they
have not been feeding the people with
the Bread of Heaven. Instead of
building up the House Of God, the
Church, they have been building meet
ing demonstrating for numbers and
rather than to instruct the
people In Gods Word. Remarkably
few church members Of any denomlna-
ton know what they believe. They
give evidence that. IL Christians at all.
they are the merest babes in Christ.
None is able to judge another's heart
but all should be able to Judge Of each
others lives-fruits. by their fruits
re shall know them" said the Master.
Matthew 100.
IL the majority of Christians have
The fruits Of the Holy Spirit. they keep
them hidden; and surely many OF them
manifest the fruits Of the Evil Spirit
'anger. malice, hatred, envy. strife, bit
ierness. SANDER" etc.-which the Apps
Ties style works OF the flesh and OF the
Devil. -Ephesians 4:3l. Galatians 5:l9-
81; John 3:S.
We would not be misunderstood we
are not complaining that there are not
nice people connected with all the
churches. On the contrary. we com
pliment them on their education. their
refinement their wealth. their infiu
snce. Moreover. We compliment them
IN their Humanitarian sympathies. as
represented in hospitals. asylums and
hher benevolences. But all these
ihings are shared evenly by people
who are not members Of churches. A
participation In good works is by no
means proof that one Is Christian
A Christian is person who has come
nto a very special relationship 10 God
through Christ; and this relationship
Exists not In respect to education
wealth. color or sex.