Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1913 — PERILS AMONG FALSE BRETHREN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PERILS AMONG FALSE BRETHREN

St. Paul's Experiences Duplicate the Master's. Jesus’ Footstep Followers Wounded In the House of Their Friend*—The Philosophy of the Matter—How to Receive Buch Experience*— Why They Are Permitted The Results i They Servo—Special Perils Today,

Ottawa, Ont, March 30.-Pastor Russell, who since his last visit has many friends here, arrived again this morning. As usual, the largest auditorium was engaged for him. Wo report one of his addresses, from St Paul’s words: "Perlis among false brethren/’ (2

Corinthians 11:26.1 He said: St. Paul was fully devoted to the Master and His cause. His faithfulness brought many trying experiences. He served Christ to such an extent that many counted him a foot Those Who opposed his teachings often raised a tumult and blamed him for it, in ordei to bring him Into disrepute. Nevertheless, he rejoiced in all such experiences. None of these things moved him from faithfulness to his Master, whose servants be had persecuted before his eyes were opened. He recounts various perils from robbere. from Jews, from heathen, in the city, in the wilderness, on the sea. He winds up the list with the words of our text, “perils among false brethren." The question arises, “Were these sufferings deserved?’ Surely not! St Paul was a noble character and bore the Message of God’s grace in Christ Then comes the question, “If his sufferings were uot punishments, what were they?' We reply that like the Master’s, they were evidences of loyalty to God and of the darkness of the world, which led men to persecute him. Darkness Hate* th* Light. The Master declared that He stood for the principles of light righteousness, truth; while Satan stands for darkness, blindness, superstition. All children of the light must be uncompromising in attitude toward wrong. Therefore the world hates them and says all manner of evil against them falsely. Tea. men will feel that they servo God when they slay the righteous, whether literally, as with Jesus and St Paul, or by “shooting out arrows, even bitter words," the more popular present-day method. But some will say, ‘Times have changed! Today our ministers are reverenced. No one thinks of persecuting them. All men speak well of them. Those not spoken well of today must tn some way be unworthy.” How strange that we should forget! In Jesus’ day did any traduce the chief priests and Pharisees? Were they not spoken of highly and reverenced? But the Master and His disciples were not popular. According to their own record they were styled "the filth and offscouring of the earth.”. The Master said that whoever persecuted them, would feel that be did God service. As Jesus told some in His day, “To garnish the sepulchres of those whom your fathers slew, yet ye do their works.” So today many extol the Lord and the Apostles and denounce their persecutors, .while similarly they persecute. The Master was a Jew. The Jews were His brethren according to the flesh. Ye; they bated Him without a cause, persecuted Him and finally crucified Him. But St Paul lived after Pentecost and bad Christian brethren, begotten of the Holy Spirit fellowmembers of the Body of Christ Jesus had none such. “Of the people there were none with Him.” St Paul knew the bitterness of persecution from false brethren—the climax of all his perils. We may be sure, that such experiences were most difficult to bear, for they came from brethren of the closest possible relationship —fellow-members of the body of Christ Th* Godly Suffer Persecution. All faithful followers of Jesus have persecutions. These come from every quarter; but none are more cruel than those from Christian brethren. Disputes between Christians have been very bitter. History demonstrates this fact Heretic became the most obnoxious word in the dictionary. Nothing was too bad to do against a heretic. Thank God for the advancement made in Christian sympathy! No longer can civilized people take pleasure in tortures, burnings, etc. The general sentiment no longer appreciates or tol ecatee physical torture. But who can dispute that mental torture is equally severe? In our day there are more refined ways of persecuting, torturing, etc., open to false brethren. Evil-speaking, evil -surmising, slanders, ambiguous suggestions, etc., can be applied to the followers of Jesus today. All who take such a course are sharers with malefactors, even tbougb they do not indulge In physical torture What shall we say of the false brethren who do such things? Undoubtedly the Master still agrees with St John’s declaration. ‘Whosoever bateth his brother is a murderer and ye know that no murderer bath eternal life.” (1 John SrlS.I Surely none with a murderous condition of heart could be suitable for joint-heirship with our Lord in HM Kingdom'