The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-01-07

s3 the untold suffer
ings of true Chris
$3.50 tiGns throughout
~ S the Gospel Dispen-
IlfASlOR RUSSELlll saton. Part ".
-- of THE PHOTO
DRAMA OF CREATION on exhibition
at home and abroad. depicts the unwrit-
ten history of the Church of Christ and
shows the cost of following His
steps" The Pastors text was, ".Ieho-
yah hath appointed Me to preach good
tidings to the meek, to bind up the
broken-hearted." Gil.
The Gospel Message, the Pastor de-
clared, is for the meek. for the broken
hearted-the only class which God
wishes to have now. He is seeking
those who desire to be Christ's Joint
heirs in the Messianic Kingdom.
Therefore the MESSAGE is unsuited to
the hard-hearted. Only the tender
hearted care to know about Gods love
and mercy, the forgiveness of sins, the
privilege Of returning to the Father
and of having Jesus as their Savior
The Pastor believes that it is a mis-
take to go out into the highways and
byways to convert the very wicked
blaSphemers, etc.-thinking that these
are the ones for whom the GOSPEL is
intended. The Scriptures do not au-
thOriZe any such idea. Those living in
sin unrepentCd of are not in proper
condition to receive Gods great Plan
of the Ages, the speaker declared.
God has said that none of the wicked
shall understand" He does not wish
them to do so. Gods Message speaks
peace to those who are in trouble and
who are seeking the righteousness
which He provides.
The Gospel is not a sledge hammer
with which to break mems hearts,
he said. lie knows of no Scriptural
commission for Gods people to break
hearts. On the contrary. he thinks
that the Devil does most of such work.
The Two Conversions.
Next it was demonstrated that there
are two conversions; one Il turning
away from sin, and the other turning
to God. The latter is the principal
conversion. Only those who take the
step Of full conservation to God re-
ceive the Holy Spirit and obtain Il
clear view of the Divine Plan.
The Pastor showed that those be
gotten of the Holy Spirit not only be-
long to the Church, the Brotherhood
of Christ on the spiritual plane. but
are also reckoned as members of the
Body of Christ on the earthly plane.
From this viewpoint, he claimed,
Christ has suffered in the flesh through
out this Gospel Age. st. Peter de-
clares that the Prophets foretold the
sufferings of The Christ and the glory
to follow. st. Paul speaks Of filling
up that which is behind of the Attic
tons of Christ. After these suffer
ings the glory will follow.
Trials and discipline develop Chris
tan character, preparing the child of
God for future service in the King
dom. Whoever suffers in the flesh
because of being Christ's disciple has
occasion for rejoicing. Such should
continue faithful, that by and by as
polished jewel he may be ready for
glorious setting in the promised i'm
mortality.
Confessing or Denying Christ.
The terms of membership in the
glorifed Body of Christ were next dis.
cussed After one has been spirit-be-
gotten, his name is written in the
Lambs Book of Life as member of
the Body of Christ. Our Lord has
promised that if these are faithful to
their agreement to sacrifice their little
all He will not blot out their names
from that Book. But if any such deny
Him, He will deny them.
To confess Christ is TO live for Him
day by day--confeSsing Him in the use
of time, influence, money, talents-in
every word and act. Should any con
secrated child of COD deny Christ by
neglecting his Covenant. such would
demonstrate his unworthness Of mem
bership in tine glcrified Church.
Importance Of Conservation.
Great stress is laid upon cOnSecra-
ton, the Pastor declared. because i is
the only way of coming into relation
ship with God and Of approaching the
Heavenly Throne with assurance that
our petitions will be granted He il
Illustrated his point by reference to the
ancient custom of host to furnish
plain white robes for HIS guests to
wear over their own garments when
present at a wedding All cOnsecrated
Christians have accepted Gods invita-
ton to the Marriage of the Lamb
Each must wear the Robe of Christs
Righteousness or else forego the feast
The only way to get rid of sins is
through belief in the Lord Jesus Christ
and full conservation to do Coos will
even unto death.