Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-09-22

text was 2 limo
"a thy Ito o d
llRA2!S2R!RySSElllJ hath not given us
the spirit Of fear,
but Of power, and Of love, and of q
sound mind"
As far as the speaker can discern,
the whole world is dominated by the
spirit of fear. which seems to be the
Adversary's means for deluding man
kind and keeping them away from
God. This we see amongst the heath
en-, who are largely under the control
Of Satan and the evil spirits. The
gods and demigods Of mythology were
undoubtedly the fallen angels and
their progeny. Genesis Ola; Levitt
Gus 1871; Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm
106:34-3S; Corinthians 1O:2O.22) The
Scriptures abound in references to the
evil work Of the demons. Many pro-
fessed Christians are deluded by these
spirits, because Of neglect Of the teach
ings and warnings of the Bible.
This spirit Of fear, the Pastor de-
clared. together with the worldly am
billions of religious leaders, brought on
the Dark Ages. Fear was used as
lash to drive people into the churches
In an effort to convert the world. Bias
phemous doctrines, grossly misrepre-
senting our loving Creator, were foist-
ed upon the people to brighten them
into subserviency. Satan and his de-
mon hosts were the real insugatOrs Of
this condition, according to Gods
Word. But fear cannot bring men to
God. The most It can do Is to cause
its victims to make an outward pro-
fession which bellies their heart senti-
ments. History proves unmistakably
that the blasphemous doctrine Of end.
less torture has utterly failed to bring
men to God. The most hardened GRIM
inals are generally those who have
been taught this doctrine. The great
mass Of the careless, the Indifferent,
the morally lax, have been thus indoc-
trinated from childhood. It Is not
Gods design to draw any to Himself
by such methods
Hsathsn Driven Away From God.
The Truth has drawing and sancti-
flying power that nothing else can have.
If the world were not under the blind.
ing influence Of 1.-The god Of this
world" Satan, all mankind would be
captivated by the Truth. But Satan
does not wish the light of Gods good
ness to shine into mems hearts. Con-
seQuently he has endeavored to cause
people to think Of their Creator as the
greatest Demon imaginable. No man,
however depraved, would commit the
devilish deeds that are attributed to
God. Any being that would torture
billions throughout eternity would be
Devil of the blacklist dye.
These blasphemous teachings have
caused the majority to immerse them
selves In pleasure-seeking, in business
almost anything rather than to think
Of their Creator. The eternal torment
theory has been Satan's most success
full device for hindering people from
loving our God. Even the heather ma
turally wish to find their Maker. ACTS
17:22-28) But when missionaries are
sent to teach them such terrible mis-
representations OF His character, the
heather are repealed. Consequently
little has been accomplished In leading
them to Christ.
India. the Pastor met some intelligent
natives who frankly told him that they
considered their own gods superior to
the Christian God, and that they could
not worship God who had damned
all their fOrefathers to eternal torment.
He apologized to them, telling them
that they were quite right, but that
they had been misinformed respecting
the character of the God of the Bible.
While there, he learned that practical
~ the only natives who profess Chris
tianity are what are known as "rice
Christians creatures who at
tend whichever mission promises them
the most rice. It was not the Message |
which drew them, but the material
benefits expected.
The work Of the Gospel Age has not
been that of converting the world, but
merely the selecting Of the Church
from the world (Acts 15:13-1S) Pres
ent adverse conditions in the world |
are most favorable to the training Of |
this class, who during the incoming
Age are to be used Of Jehovah, In as
ISOLATION with their Head, Christ Jesus, |
to bless al mankind by instructing
them IN the Love Of God, shown in
His provision for their salvation and I,
uplift through the Atonement work Of |
their Redeemer. Then the world WIN |
be delivered from slavish fear.