Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 163, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 July 1914 — REFUSE NOT THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

REFUSE NOT THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN

Only Those In Harmony Can tho Hand of Church Use. Man's Rebellion Against God —To Israel Alone God Spoke—Through the Law and the Prophets—God Now Speaks Through His Son—To the Church Alone—Only the SpiritBegotten Can Discern Spiritual Thingy-Proper Attitude of Heart. Consecration a Reasonable Step.

July 12. The PHOTO-DRA-MA OF CREATION is now exhibited daily in more than eighty cities, both here and abroad, illustrating the Bible. From all sides come words of commendation. Today Pastor Russell’s text was, “See that

ye refuse not Him that speaketh • * ♦ from Heaven.”—Hebrews 12:25. The discourse began with a comment upon the opening verses of the Epistle to the Hebrews. There the Apostle contrasts God’s Message sent through our Lord Jesus Christ with those sent through Moses and the Prophets. Elsewhere be tells us that God speaks peace unto us through His Sou. This statement reminds us that all mankind were brought into rebellion against God through the disobedience of'their father Adam, in whom they were condemned to death.

The Pastor then traced the history of mankind, ent off from Divine fellowship, falling deeper and deeper into sin and death conditions. About two thousand years after man’s fall, God gave the Israelites opportunity to come into harmony with Him; speaking to them through Moses. St Paul reminds us that whoever disobeyed Moses’ Law died without mercy. Later, God spoke tiftsraei through the Prophets, but had no communication with the remainder of the race.

The Apostle’s argument the speaker declared, is this: Brethren, note how disasters came upon Israel because of their neglect of Divine messages sent through Moses and the Prophets. Reflect. then, on what should be the penalty inflicted upon those who refuse to hear Him who speaks from Heaven. If those who rejected Moses’ Law died without mercy, of how much severer punishment should those be counted worthy who count the blood of the Covenant wherewith they were sanctified a common thing, and who do despite to God’s spirit of favor? The Pastor inclines to the thought that the Apostle’s words have a deeper significance than appears on the surface. The Israelites were a typical people; and when he recalls how many of them died in the wilderness because they rejected the Divine word given through Moses, he wonders how many who now refuse to hear God’s Son may perish in the SecondrDeatii. ~ /Three Classes In the Church. Next it was demonstrated that God’s consecrated people will finally be found in one of three classes. The Little Flock, to whom it is the Father’s good pleasure to give the Kingdom, is limited in number—to only 144,000. The Great Company, whose number is not revealed, are unworthy of a place in the Little Flock, yet at heart are loyal to God and the principles of righteousness. Lastly Is the class that die the Second Death—that do despite to the Covenant of Grace. Judged by Israel’s wilderness experiences, which were typical, this class will be much larger than was once supposed; .for many Israelites died-because of having rejected the testimony of the Lord.

The Pastor then showed that only those are now on trial for life Who have escaped from the Adamic condemnation. Only have a standing with God who have turned from sin and have fully consecrated themselves to God. Throughout this Gospel Age all consecrated believers have received the Holy Spirit just as soon as the Father has accepted them through the great Advocate. These alone have been on trial for life or death eternal. It was then explained that only those can reject Christ and go into the Second Death who have come fully into discipleship with the Redeemer. While many have been drawn toward Christ, yet only those who have been begotten of the Holy Spirit have really heard Him who speaks from Heaven. According to Scripture, only those begotten of the Spirit can discern spiritual things. Those who have never heard of the goodness of God have comparatively little responsibility, said the Pastor. The heathen millions, he asserted, could not present themselves to God in sacrifice; for they have not known Him. Our Lord was cited as having said that those who knew not would receive fewer stripes than those who knew, but did not Whoever therefore knows the Divine will and the difference between right and wrong has a responsibility, and will receive stripes for disobedience, even If he does not come into a fulPtrlal for life eternal. The proper.attitude of heart is that of appreciation of God’s mercies. It Is onlv reawtuinble that those who come to a knowledge of God's goodness should consecrate themselves to Him. Today the lord’s voice sounds throughout the earth. Whoever hears it should heed the Message. >