Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-07-28
GODS BLESSING BRINGS RICHES
Through Christ a Great Blessing is
Coming TO World.


ings of health Blessings of heart and
mind-Especial blessings for the Church
Bride of Christ to be fabulously rich
Blessing of divine favor and fellow
ship even now.
New York City, July 2. Pastor Rus
sell spoke this evening at the New
York City Temple, w. 6Srd ST., near
Broadway. His discourse was based
upon the wise mans words, ''The bles-
sing of the LORD maketh rich; and He
addeth no sorrow with it,"
Proverbs 1922.
The blessing of the Lord, the pastor
declared, is here contrasted with the
curse pronounced upon Father Adam in
Eden. That curse was death, not eter-
nal torment. The blessing, therefore,
will be the antithesis of death-life
everlasting and return to Edenic con-
ditions for all who are willing and
obedient. The wilfully disobedient,
however, will come under another
death sente:.ce. scripturally called the
second death, from which there will be
no recovery. Christ dieth no more.
The speaker believes that God has as
good purpose in connection with the
creation of mankind as with that of the
angels, and that the present great diff
ference between the conditions of men
and the holy angels is the difference be-
tween condition of sin and one of
righteousness. The angels who live in
a ste tie Of holiness and happiness are
those that kept their first estate. This
some Of the angels failed to do-the
fallen angels, the demons. Jude 6. }
Man in his present fallen condition is
sick, mentally, morally and physically.
Because of sin he has come under
divine curse-not a devilish curse of
eternal torment, but divine curse of
death. Genesis 8: 1919; Romans 6: 90.
Divine curse of death. Genesis 3:
1919; Romans 6: %.
That universal blessing is to come
to all men is made very clear in Scrip
ture. This blessing will come through
Jesus Christ. AS the curse was a
worldwide sentence which reached to
all of Adams posterity, bringing all
into condemnation, so it is the divine
purpose that a release from this con-
demnation shall come to all through
Christ. Our Lord Jesus "by the grace
of God tasted death for every man."
Every member of Adams race, wheth-
er living or dead, is to experience an
individual opportunity for life eternal
through Christ's death.-l Cor. 1921,
q; Heb. 2:9; Tim. 2:5, 6, Acts 3:22, %.
FEW SEEING EYES AND HEARING EARS.
Some Christian people claim that now
is the worlds only opportunity. Citing
the proclamation that whosoever believ-
eth in Christ Jesus shall have everlast-
ing life, they declare that this offer
does not extend beyond the present
existence, that responsibility to heed
this offer rests upon all now. The Bible
indicates, however, that not many now
understand even the first principles of
the great blessing which God has pro-
vided. The majority believe not, because
Satan has blinded their minds through
ignorance, superstition and priest craft.
W st multitudes have died without hav-
ing heard Of Christ. Since intelligent
faith in our Redeemer is absolutely essen
tial to salvation, according to Scripture,
how could these have opportunity for
salvation if the present life ends all
hope p Corinthians Al; Acts Alp;
John 5:25, %, 20; etc.
To His disciples our Lord intimated
that few now understand Gods arrange
ments. Matthew 13:lO-l7.) His time
to enlighten the world has not yet come.
Only few are now in proper condition
to be profited by the Truth. Therefore
the Lord sees that this knowledge is
given to none except those in the right
heart attitude and able to exercise faith.
Upon others Gods Message makes little
impression. Weakness of heredity or
handicaps of training or both hinder
them.
All having hearing ears and under
standing hearts realize the blessing
mentioned in our text. During the
next Age the Lords blessing will come
upon the world, but will operate quite
differently. Christ will take control of
all the world, will bind Satan that he
deceive the nations no more, and will
grant the blessing of life everlasting to
l.who will receive Gods gracious offer
into good and honest hearts. These
approaching Times of Refreshment st.
Peter calls Times of Restitution. (Acts
a III he