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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 1911)
WHY JESUS REFUSED TO PRAY ELECTION AND NON ELECTION VIEWED FPOfl A NEW STANDI'OINl faster Russell 0.1 God's Times and Seasons Fall Wver, Mass., Feb. SO. - I'ustor Ilussell preached twice Iuto today. IIo hud lino audi ences and excellent I A I I attention. Wequote f rS, ! one of his Instriie- is - f 11 tlvediseoursei from the text. '7 pray not for the world, lut for thane uhom Thou hast gixn me" (John xv II, 0). He Bald: When, yenrs ago, 1 believed that on eternity of ' torture u waited nil who do not accept (Sod's "call" of the present time, I had great (lilHeulty with this text. I asked, Is It possible that our Redeemer was selectively unjust In his Tleulliiirs with our race? Can It he true that thu Heavenly Father merely calLs and draws a predestinated few to himself and to everlasting bliss? Can It ho true, an our catechisms re cite, that God and Jesus "passed by" the great mass of mankind without drawing them, without calling them, without giving them tho hearing ear, without opening tho eyes of their un derstanding? Can It be that all these blind and deaf, unsought, undrawn, uncalled and unprayed for by liie Savior are going down to eternal tor ment? My heart answered, No! I'.ut iny brain was confused by the errors, the misinterpretations of the Iiihlo, which I had received. John Wesley's "Fre Grace." Trained In the Dfictiine of Election and I'redcHtlnatlon I, like hosts of oth ers, felt somehow that lirolhcr Wes ley's teaching of Free (Jrnco was more noble, more God like, than I '.rot her Calvin's teaching respecting Election and Predestination. Nevertheless, when I reasoned on tho subject 1 Bald, Can I think of the omniscient Cod prewiring n great place of Riilllclent size to hold the entire hu man family and outlined with every devilish appliance for their torture, and yet being Ignorant of the condi tions under which they would be born? Can I think that he did not know that we would be born In sin and slinpen in Iniquity? Can I think that he did not know of tho present reign of Sa tan, Kin and Icm1Ii and that It would laHt for hIx thousand years and Inju riously nlTect our entire race? Itrother Wesley's theory of God's Love and good Intent ions of his en deavor to Have everybody seenw In consistent when contrasted with his teaching that only a Kaliilly few reach eternal bliss and that the thousands of millions must spend eternity In tor ture. Thus I was onco confused, as millions nre still confused today,. In respect to the Divine Character as ex- emplllled In tho Divine pint) of the ages. Ro far as I can nee, I'.rother Culvln had a wlf;o am! powerful Cod such as I could admire nnd reverence, If he had only been kind and loving Instead of diabolical. And Itrothor Wesley had n kind and loving Cod such as I could admire nud worship, If lie had only had the wisdom and power of Calvln'g theory. fo long ns wo have audi confusion In our minds faith nnd hopo nnd love and trust shake upon the foundations of our reason. We recognize that we know nothing of the futuro of our nelves; that wo nro wholly dependent upon Divine Ucvolallon. Hut we can not expect that our Creator would Rive us n Itevelatlon which to annctl fled minds would appear Satanic In Rtend of Dhino. Wo must remember that our Creator invites us to reason, aaylng, "Come, let us reason together; though your sins bo ns aenrlet, they shall bo white as snow." Surely n right understanding of the Divine Itev elatlon. the Itlhle, should be a reason able one to n snnctllled mind. Hearken to the Word of the Lord: Their fear toward me Is not of me, but Is taught by the precepts of men! (Isaiah xxix, 1.1. Hearken again: "As tho heavens are higher than the earth, so are my meth ods higher than your methods and my plans higher than your plans" (Isaiah Iv, 01. And no wo Mud, my dear Mends - God's Word Is true. His Character Is glorious. Only tho mist nnd Binokn of the "dark nges" hnve confused things for us nnd mystllled mutters nnd darkened tho eyes of our understanding. Predestination of the Bible. Now as the bIx thousand yenrs hnve passed nnd wo hnvo entered upon the tsnutmtic seventh Thousand wo are beginning to realize that It marks New Dispensation that tho night Is passed; that the dawu Is upon us. The wonderful Inventions of our day along earthly Hues aro In full harmony with the dear light now shining upon God's Word, making Its dark places bright and Its rough places smooth nud enn bllng us to removo tho Btumhllna tdones from tho "pathway of tho Just which Bhlncth moro and moro unto the perfect day." Now we cau aeo w hy Jesus did not Tirny for tho world. It was becauso the world was not In any danger of a fiery hell. More than that, It was be raiiso God's tlmo for dealing with the world had not yet come. Tho world, however, Is to bo dealt with by the rent Redeemer. After He ahull have ST 1 1 . act up nis Kingdom In power and great glory; after He Khali have bound fcaun fc. a thousand years that he might declve the people no more, fie glorious Savior, Messiah, will cause u general enlightenment of mankind wd a full oportuuity for all. rich and poor, grent and small, to rise up fm n j dust and ashes and the grave to the: full perfection of human nature. j I lit Mill or UlUlleoUsiiess Wl.l arise with healing In his beams, blessing mankind, healing their diseases, men tal, moral and physical, and causing the knowledge of tho Lord to (ill the vhole earth. No longer will any heed to say to his neighbor or his broth er, "Know thou the Lord, for all shall know Him, from thu least to the greatest" And only the wilfully wh k ed and disobedient will be cut off from life lu the Second Death not torture; but, as St. I'aul declares, "They shall be punished with everlast ing destruction." We see, then, that our Lord's reason for not praying for tho world was that Ho knew tho Father's Plan that tho world was not to be dealt with during this Age, but during the lie vt. the Kingdom Ago. The Muster prayed for Ills own, for the class which He has been selecting during tho past nine teen hundred years. These are vari ously called "the elect," tho "dis ciples," "ills followers," "members of Ills Hod.v," n "Hoyiil Priesthood." the "P.ride," "the Lamb's Wife," the "little Hock," to whom It Is the Fa ther's good pleasure to give the King dom. Elect to Blest Non-elect. Feeing, then, that there Is a differ ence between God's provision for the world, to be dispensed In the next Age, nnd his provision for tho Church to be given now, we usk. What Is' the dif ference between these? Tho answer Is that tho world's salvation Is to be to human nature and an earthly Paradlso world-wide; while the elect class Is a apodal ono called of God, chosen In Christ und faithful In ndversity nnd, by the Lord's grace, Is to have a heav enly nature, liko unto that of tho an gels, but superior. Theirs Is a "heav enly calling," n "high calling." They are to be liko their Lord and Redeem er and Head nnd Iirldegroonv Jesus, In His glorified state, "far alsive nn gels and principalities and powers, nnd every name that Is named." Is this nn arbitrary election? Does God arbitrarily draw nnd call one abovo another? Yes. Ho thus select ed the Jewish nation to be Ills pecu liar nation not, however, to the detri ment or Injury of other nations. He thus called Isaac Instead of Jshmacl, nnd Jacob Instead of Esau to bo the progenitors of His chosen nation Is rael, whom Ho foreknew ns n people nnd predestinated to a certain servico ltut this selection worked no Injury to either Ishmael or Esau. Similarly during tills Gospel Age God chooses fmm the world a certain class nnd grants them- t he heating enr nnd the seeing eye, nnd Ho passes by others nnd gives them not this special favor This, however, is not to be to the (lis udvnntago of tho others nun -elect, uuchoHcn, uncalled. According to His Purpose. St. Paul speaks of the Church ns "called according to Ills purpose." lie even tells us what the purpose Is, namely, that In Ages to come lie i might show forth the exceeding riches of Ills graco'ln Ills loving kindness toward us In Christ Jesus (Epheslans II, 7). Toward this specially called iass God will to all eternity manifest spedal favor. I'.ut wo nro not to sup pose that there Is no reason for this selection nnd favor. There Is n reason. It Is las nuso of cerlaln Intrinsic quail ties or characteristics possessed by this class which God Is now selecting. lhey will nil bo "bii hits." They will nil love tho Lord moro than they love houses or lands, parents or children, self or nny creature. They will nil possess the fruits and graces of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, this Is God's particular pre destination. St. Paul tells us that He foreknew that Ho would provide His only-begotten Son to bo tho Savior of mankind und the Head over the Church, and Ho foreknew that He would hnve n Church, n Uoynl Priest hood under tho great High Priest, as members of Ills P.ody. God foreknew also the kind of a Mossngo Ho would send forth and that It would bo at tractive only to a certain class pos sessed of n love for righteousness. These only would hear His call. These only would have tho eyes of their un derstanding specially opened, because theso nlono would accept of Ills assur ances and mako n full consecration to Ills service. Such He would beget of Ills Holy Spirit, and audi, In due time, would bo born of tho Spirit In tho res urrectlou und enter Into tho fellowship nnd companionship und kingly Joys of their Master. It Is of this special class that the Apostlo declares, "Whom God did foreknow, theso Ho also did predesti nate to bo conformed to the likeness (Image) of Ills Son" (Romans 111, 2'J). That Is to say, God's predestination was not only thnt lie would have a Church, but, additionally, that tho terms or conditions of fellowship In that Church Bhould be that each one would liocomo Christ like. Surely this Is a good predestination, with which no one could find fault. Whether we shall gain a pine with (ho "elect" on tho heavenly plane, or n placo with mo non-elect world In restitution to enrthly nature, we cannot do other wise than recognize the Justice of God In bo deciding, that none but tho saint ly copies of their Iord, could be mem bers of the elect Church and Joint heirs with lllm In His Kingdom. "True and righteous aro Thy ways, Lord God Almighty!" "Who ehall uot cotno and worship before Thee, when Thy righteous acts are made innnl fst?" Truly It is written of this treat King of glory, Head and Mem bers, Bridegroom and Erlde, "TJnto Him every knee shall bow and every tongue coufesa to the glory of God." "Ask of Me and I Will Give." Although our Lord did not pray for the world, lie will yet pray for them, and His prayer will be uuswercd. The: promise reads. "Ask of Me and I will I give Thee the heathen for an Inher itance and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession" (Psalm II. 8l. Jesus did uot make this request on the night of His crucifixion because It was not the Father's time to uuswer that prayer. Appropriately He wailed, and while gathering the "elect" from every nation, people, kindred and toiiL-ue, the K'riptures declare that Ha Is seated at the Father's right hand of glory expeitlng or waiting for tho time to come when the Kingdom under the whole heavens shall be delivered to Him by the Father. This will be done ut the end of this Gospel Age, when the saintly P.ody of Christ sh.ill have been completed. Then "He shall take unto himself Ills great power und relgu.,r A great time of trouble pill fol low. Tho plowshare of sorrow will make ready the hearts of mankind for tho great blessings which Messhih will then lio ready to bestow, because that will be the due tlmo. Ft. Paul tells us that Messiah's reign will be n vic torious one: "He must reign until He shall have put all enemies under His feet (in full subjection); the last ene my that shall bo destroyed Is death." Then, after a thousand years, after having accomplished tho purpose of tho Father In the uplifting of all the willing and obedient of mankind to earthly perfection tho great Prophet, Priest, Mediator and King of Glory will at the end of the thousand years' reign deliver up tho Kingdom even to God tho Father, that God may be all In all (I Corinthians xv, 28). Whllo Satan will be bound at the beginning of Messiah's reign and every form of unrighteousness will bo rooted out, nevertheless the raising of man kind up out of Bin and degradation to perfection will be n gradual work. As tho regenerating Influences operate In mankind, they will become more nnd more alive, less nnd less dead until nt the end of tho Messianic reign Adamlc death will be no more; It shall have been fully destroyed by the raising of mankind completely out of It; the last enemy that shall bo destroyed Is death Atlantic death. The Second Death will never be de stroyed, but will be everlasting. It Is not nn enemy to God nnd Ills right eousness, but a valuable servant to de Btroy everything wilfully nnd Intelli gently out of accord with the Divine Government righteousness. I Pray For Them. Ail who nro seeking to walk In the footsteps of Jesus; nil who have taken up their cross to follow HI in, may well rejotco In that feature of Ills prayer which says. I pray for those whom Thou hast given Me thnt they may nil bo one, as Thou, Father, and. 1 lire one, thnt the world may believe that Thou hast sent Mo (John xvll, 2". 21 1. Tho oneness of God's people Is not represented In tho various sed3 and parties of the present tlnin. It Is rep resented In tho fad that nil tho conse crated followers of tho Redeemer are Individually united to lllm ns the Head nnd united to each other ns members of His P.ody. "The Lord knoweth them that nre Ills." Hy and by, by tho power of tho First Resur rection, nil these shall be perfected on tho spirit plane and constitute tne Kingdom for which we pray, "Thy Kingdom come; Thy will bo done on earth as It Is In heaven." As a re sult of that Kingdom's coming the world will nil be brought to the point of is'llevlng In Jesus nnd will nil hnve tho opportunity of oblalnlrg through lllm tho gift of God. eternal life. Our Lord's solicitude wns not merely for tho Apostles nnd earliest members of the Church whom tho Father gave Him in the special sense, ns His per sonal companions nnd helpers In the founding of tho Church; he prayed on, anylng, Neither prny I for theso nlono, but for nil those nlso who shnll bo llevo on Me through their Word. The Master's words outlined to us tho Dl vlno Program. And Jesus himself be pan to dednre the Gospel und brought life nnd Immortality to light. He commissioned His twelve Apostles, St. Paul taking tho place of Judas, to Bpeak In Ills Nnme nnd ns Ills special mouthpieces. Whatever they would declare to be binding on earth would bo binding In tho sight of God In llenvn. Whatever they would looao and declare to bo non-csseiithil ou earth, wo may know would bo so by Divine decree (Matthew xvl, 10). In a word, Jesus, tho Apostles nnd the Prophets nlono nre to be consid ered the special guides and standard bearers for tho Church. We are to bellevo on Him through their word and not through tho word of counsels or synods or presbyteries. Each Individ ual of tho Church tins his personal re sponsibility. This Is In hnrmony with our Lord's declaration, "My sheep know My Voice and they follow Me; n stranger will they net follow, but will (lee from n stranger." It behooves us today to hearken bock to tho words of Jesus ns He personally uttered them nnd ns He srsnnl!y sent them to us through Ills chosen twelve. Soon the Master's prayer for Ills dis ciples will have fulfillment. They will be one with Him beyond tho veil, sharers of His glory nnd Kingdom. Then will come the tlmo when tho world will believe. The knowledgo of the Lord w ill fill tho earth and nil the blinding nnd stumbling Influences of the present will be at nn end. The Savior will not need to prny for the world then, but Instead will exercise His power on their behalf, overthrow ing evil nnd uplifting every good prin ciple nnd nil who love righteousness and destroying those who would cor rupt the enrth. ... J-lV - THE STATE GQIMSERVATIQN CONGRESS A SUCCESS The state conservation congress closed its second annual meeting in Lincoln Friday night, In an at mosphere of success and enthusiasm. Five hundred people attended the evening meeting, at which a declara tion of principles was adopted, and at which W. J. Bryan spoke, the ad dress being his first in Nebraska since last November. The credo of the congress consists In an affirmance of the principles of the national conservation congress; a demand for the creation of a national department of health; a suggestion that grazing lands be Included In the grazing domain; recommendations for the development of Industries in this state which use raw amterial; for the advertising of opportunities for Investment here; for the conservation and development of all reso urces. A strong good roads legislation planli was adopted. The people are directed to turn t heir attention to the pos sibilities of the sand hills country. The serious decline of soil fertility due to soil erasion and constant crop ping Is touched upon, and the rota tion of crops Is given as a partial remedy. Tree planting is urged, the possibilities of fruit production are exploited, the value of the sted in dustry Is touched upon and the rela tion of the live stock Industry to agriculture is rehearsed. In conclu sion a strong plank demands the fur thering of agricultural education. Officers of the congress are much pleased at the attendance, many dele gates paying their fare from the west ern part of the stato to take part In this meeting to boost the reputation of Nebraska. Mrs. O. Fickler, residing about three miles south of this city, was a visitor In town today and called at this office and renewed her subscrip tion to this paper for another year. VERY time & Marx Suits or I d to make that i im$m iummmmmM Y0u k.wii. inm pip. wii mjwm I Manhattan Shirts for Spring art hare. 23 c 1 17 M is of the old style and works hard, why not get an easy operat ing process Meyer's Ratchet Pump. A big advantage in bever age by having a Hatchet Handle. Make your deep well pump work easy with a Meyer's Ratchet Head Pump. Also all styles of Plain Head Pi mps. Ask to sec the cylender that has g1ass seat, making it im possible for sand or any particles to hold bottom valve open. THE HARDWARE MAN, f 7T fV g?r.:.7l:J53U ASHLAND DRAINAGE DISTRICT. NOTICE. To all Parties Interested: Take notice that the Board of Directors of Ashland Drainage Dis trict will meet at Knights of Pythias hall, in the City of Ashland, Saunders County, Nebraska, on the 4th day of March, 1911, at the hour of 10 a m. j to hear all parties Interested In the apportionment of benefits to the various tracts of land in said district, by reason of the drainage Improve ment therein ordered, at which time and place all such parties may appear In person or by counsel, or may file written objections thereto, and at which time said Board of Directors will proceed to hear and consider all objections made. Ashland, Nebraska, February 18th, 1911. Ashland Drainage District, . By Nelson Shelter, President. (Seal.) A. B. Fuller, Secretary. Direct From IVdieniia. From Saturday's Dally. Anton Prosek arrived from Chi cago this morning, having landed In that city a few days ego, direct from Bohemia. He comes from the same province of which Mr. Frank Janda Is a native. Mr. Prosek does not speak any English, but Is a thrifty appear ingg gentleman and will no doubt I make a good American. DR Herman tader, Graduate Veterinary Surgeon (Formerly with U. S. Department - Agriculture) L'urHcty K(t,ka$iae Board Calls Arswered Promptly Telephone 378 White, Plattsmouth we sell one of these Hart, Schaffner Overcoats at the prices now ruling, we make a good prices er the 3tdkz f3hiu& 3C fe) U Li IT Plattsmouth, Nebraska POPULAR MURRAY YOUNG U10Y HiED IN OMAHA From Friday's Dally. Among tho marriage licenses Is sued In Omaha yesterday we note tha: one was granted to D. Bert Crawford of Coleridge, Neb., and Miss Emma Graves of Murray. We suppose by the young couple getting their license In Omaha that the wedding occurred In that city. The bride Is the young est daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Graves of Murray and is a very beautiful young lady, possessing all the qualities to make home bright and cheerful. Mr. Crawford former ly resided In the vicinity of Murray and is a young man very popular and highly respected by all who know hlm. The young people, as we under stand It, will make their home on a farm near Coleridge. The Journal joins their many friends in wishing them an abundance of happiness and prosperity. Ordinance Xo. 48(1. An ordinance vacating Emerson street, between lots forty-six (46) and forty-seven (47), In South Park Addition to the City of Plattsmouth, State of Nebraska. Be It ordained by tho Mayor and Council of the City of r!attsmouth, State of Nebraska: SECTION I. That all that part of Emerson street, between lots forty six (46) and forty-seven (47), la South Park Addition to the City of Plattsmouth, State of Nebraska, bo and the same Is hereby vacated a such street. : SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect and he In force from and after Its passage, approval and pub lication Q3 by law required. Passed and approved this 13th day of February, A. D. 1911. Attest. John P. Sattler, Mayor. B. 0. "Wurl, City Clerk. Subscribe for me Pany journal. We're much out of one of cur clothes as ssible from one season to an ther that's what ails the now. Sale prices $10, $14, SIS and (rr Quite oni-1 OvPTvnnio 1 vl UUllO U11U w v. v-vu W vj worth from $15 to $35. 33 cent to 50 per cent off from regularprice. All clothes marked in plain figures. Our Cabinets are filling rapidly with new clothe for Spring. The styles and patterns for the coming season are stunning. We'll be glad to show you any day you care to stop In and look. Ihe'JIome of lhtrt, Shuffncr tt Marx Clothes Manhattan Shirts Stdnon Ihits Spring Stylet In Stetson Hate arrived. e Large Showing. n
