RELIGIOUS WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 152, 27 June 1914, Page 14

RELIGIOUS WORLD.

THE 'PASSOVER XAMB WAS TYPICAL. l-iiissiiige lor the Christian Church —for lie- Jewish Church —For all nations and kindreds—Centre in the Passover.

April jth.—Pastor Russell, of the LonJ"ii Tabernacle, to-day addressed the public on this subject. His text was: •I hrist our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast." (I. Cor. v. 7. S). He said: —

For thirty-five Centuries Cod's holiest people. Jewish and Christian, have with more or less understanding celebrated the Passover; but while many have recognised the form, few have perceived its real import. Those who see the real meaning of the Passover have great cause for joy, for gratitude towards Cod, and for confidence in the Bible. To understand the Passover means to understand the entire plan of Jehovah Cod in respect to humanity. St. Paul reminds us that Cod's first intimations respecting His glorious purposes of mercy towards our race were given to Abraham. After Ccd had tested his faith and obedience. He called Abraham His friend, and revealed to him in part things to come. The essence of the Divine message was. "1 will bless all the families of the earth through thy seed" (Gal. iii. 8.) This sure promise of Cod was afterwards confirmed with an oath, because the time would be long, and it " would be necessary that the heirs of salvation should exercise faith, in the promise. -'- •' ■ ; " THE .FII£T.'FASSOVER'.-i$ EGYPT. Pastor :Rus'sell reviewed the institution of the Passover. He reminded his hearers that the Israelites were in bonda"c in Egypt, and God commanded Pharaoh to let them go, sending chastisement after chastisement upon the Egyptians, to compel his obedience. Cod's mercy in lifting one plague after another , merely hardened Pharaoh's heart, until the tenth. By this plague all the firstborn of Egypt died in one night • while the first-born of the Israelites escaped ; because passed over. The Passover, therefore, memorialises the event. The first-born of Israel were subsequently exchanged for the tribe of Levi, which thereafter was counted especially the Lord's—some of the Levites serving as priests, sacrificing at His altar, and some assisting the priests in the work of instructing the other tribes. Moses and -\aron were members of this, priestly tribe all of whom became leaders of t"od's Chosen People in their subsequent experiences, particularly in their crossing of the Red Sea, and. later, the Jordan—both typical events. The Pastor explained that More the first-boms of Israel could be passed over, a certain sacrifice was necessary, in" to Divine arrangement. A lamb without blemish was saerificially killed, and its blood sprinkled upon the doorposts and lintels of all the d™H»P rf I«~L Each famflv Or group repeated the pic ' ture. sprinkling the blood upon the doorposts and lintels, roasting the lamb, and eating it with bitter herbs and un-ut-enod bread-ready for departure from Egypt- Eater, the host crossed the waters of •«*"*" ■ th( , Egyptians who had started in pursuit of them. „„__ THE -ANTI-TYPICAL PASSO\ERCod has promised deliverance from the power of Satan and the slavery of em to ill who are truly His people These were under bondage when God sent • forth His Son, Jesus, to be their anto - typical Lamb-to die, "the Just for the unjust," to give his flesh for the hfe of the world. As a result of that re- . demptive work, the Father high y gfi al-tcd him to the spirit plane lnd « e *. • his resurrection was to a still higher nature-the Divine, far above men or angels. . .. The blood represents the hfe, as the Bible tells. The blood of the Passover lamb thus typically represents the life which Jesus gave. The sprinkling of the " blood upon doorposts and lintels represents the part which must be experienced by all the Household of Faith. All such must trust, not in works of their own for justification before Cod. but in the sacrifice of Christ, who died for us. Additionally, they must partake of the La-mb—appropriate the merit of Christ's eacrifice by faith. All such are counted members of the "Church of the Firstborn," whose names are written in Heaven" (Heb. xii. 23). This Church is not yet completed. Thank God we may still sprinkle the blood of the Lamb upon the doorposts of our hearts, may sill have his precious merit imputed to us, and still have the privilege of be-.-oming members of the Church of the First-borns. ■**■« The great work of deliverance for the •world is pictured by the passing through the Red Sea. God's mighty hand will be exercised on behalf of all who are truly His. during tho thousand years of Messiah's reign. They will escape from the power of Satan and his hosts of sin. who will be restrained for a time. The destruction of Pharaoh and his hosts in the Red Sea is a pictorial prophecy of the destruction of Satan and all who are his.-sUI who love sin and hate righteous- ; ness, —_- _ "..'.-;..-,/-■ ~ .. - TW^'ABBiAHAiIOC'SEEDS. '.. ".. First the natural, • afterwards the spiritual, is God's order, the Apostle tells us (L Cor. xv. 4G), In. one sense of tiie word -the entire posterity of Jacob were the heirs of God's promise to Abraham. The first privilege was guaranteed to them under the Law Covenant. ... But, as God foresaw, the .* Jews''Were.liilna.ble tojeeep that Covonant ' because, like toe remainder of huma'llily, they are all Imperfect, all sinners, and because God's Law is the measure of a perfect man's ability. But they were profited by +heir endeavours to keep the Law, and glorious characters were developed amongst them —Moses, David, the Prophets, and many of lesser pro- : minenec who, as St.'.Paul.dcelir.es, man*,-; fested their faith aud. obedience even unto death (Heb. xi. 3S-40). Those ancient worthies have the promise of an instantaneous resurrection to . human perfection. They, are to constitute the nucleus of the. earthly phase of Messiah's Kingdom. To his standard, t'.nis set. up in the world, will assemble . gradually all desiring God's favour and . everlasting -life. - Pastor Russell then staled that, bef'li.. i.'uese blessings can" come to .man-. - kind-in general, there must be a Spiritual seed of Abraham. - He showed that Jesus' was Abraham's -seed- according to the. flesh, but that as such he never - could have-accomplished his great Messianic work. It was necessary for the Man Christ Jesus to lay 'down his ' liiimanity saerificially before he'could . be received to the glories of -the Divine nature by resurrection power. So also it must he with all who will become joint heirs with Jesus (11. Pet. i. 4). The testing of Jesus' loyalty. ' and those of every nation who would be of *' T the Spiritual seed of Abraham has progressed now for eighteen centuries, and the Pastor-believes it will soon be com-

pleted. The gathering of the elect will complete this age and inaugurate the !New. Dispensation, during which God's blessings through Messiah's '.'. Kingdom •will (111 the earth,' superseding the curse which has rested upon mankind for (5.000 years, Messiah's New Dispensation will be the antitypical Sabbath l>ay, a thousand years long, in which The Christ will bring in everlasting righteousness, destroy all who love unrighteousness, and grant everlasting life to all the willing and obedient. CHURCH NEWS AND NOTES.

The Rev. -T. D. Russell, of Oamaru. organising secretary for the Church of England Men's Society in New Zealand, who arrived in Auckland yesterday, will preach at St. Mary's Cathedral to-mor-row- morning, and at St. Sepulchre's Church in the evening. He will visit the Otahunu, Northcote and Birkenhead branches during Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday morning he will attend a conference at St. Paul's , Parish Hall. The same evening a procession of C.E.M.S. members and other churchmen, headed by the city chosrs and a band, will march from Princes Street, via Sihortland and Queen Streets, to the Grey Statue. where an address will be given, proceeding afterwards to St. Matthew's Church for evening service. Mr. Russell will preach at All Saints' and Holy Trinity. Devonport. the following Sunday, and will leave Auckland for the Waikato on Tuesday July 7.

Some unrcgenerate individual turned out the gas in the Church of the Epiphany last Sunday evening during a prayer. The Vicar stopped and tiie organ played until the gas was relightedAt the close of the service the "Dead March'in Saul was played while the congregation stood in respect to the memory of 'the late Mr Murray, who was verger for sixteen years.

The local Young Men's Methodist Bible Class Union report a big increase for the past year. There are eleven more classes in the union and a net increase of 112 members. The year was a strenuous one. on account of the Dominion Camp being held here. Mr C. R. Edmond, tho retiring secretary, has given four years of devoted service, and Mr T. Price's place will be hard to fill.

A good deal of space is devoted in the issue of the "Christian World," of May 7th. to the death and work of the Rev. C. Silvester Home, MA.. MP. It is explained that death was due to heart failure. A London specialist had declared 12 months earlier that Mr Home, though only 48 years, was a prematurely old man. It was on that account, that Mr Home took the trip to the United States. After lecturing at Yale he was en route for Canada, in the Lake Ontario steamer Coroana. As the boat was entering the harbour. Mr Home was found dead in his_Chair by the captain. The remains were removed to the residence of the Leader cf the Liberal party in Ontario Provincial Legislature, Mr Russell, who had been on the wharf, awaiting the arrival of Mr Home. Mr Home's remains were subsequently removed to England. The deceased was born at Cuckfold, in Sussex, in 1865, took his M_\. degree at Glasgow, then, after going through Mansfield College, was appointed to the pastorate of the Kingston Church. He contributed to the- "Sunday Magazine," "The Speaker," wrote a novel entitled "The Modern Heretic," also popular "Histories of the Free Churches," and the "London Missionary Society."

Ail showing the value of the Ijaymen's missionary movement, the Methodist Churehof Toronto reports a wonderful -increase in contributions to Foreign Missions. In 1907, the Church gave £ 10,000 to Missions, and five-years later -the total had risen to JC2S*OOO. Tho Jargo .increase is. attributable to the .'educative,* work of the Laymen's Missionary Societies.

The increase on the foreign fields of the Wesleyan Methodist Church for the centenary year is the most remarkable ever experienced. The increase of 4.002 members is the highest on record, while the number of adult baptisms, 6,242, has only been once exceeded. This result is' all the more satisfactory, because it follows a period of steady growth. During the last eight years the full membership of foreign mission districts lias increased by 30,000! Surely a wonderful record.

The Rev. S. R Orr. of Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church, has'been presented with "a minister's gown. The Rev. S. W. Currie, who was moderator of the charge during, the vacancy, was handed a cheque with a request that he would purchase something to remind him of his relations with tbe church. The Rev. Percy Wclber, who visited Australia to recruit his health after sixteen years' service for the Anglican Missionary Society in India, states that there arc over five million in the Agra district, where, he was labouring, but the caste problem stands in the way of the missionary. 'He adds, however, that the low caste' Hindoo is being Christianised because it raises him in social status. As a Christian he can plead against a Brahmin in court, whereas he could not do so if he remained in his original caste. The question naturally arises as to how far refusing admission to a shipload of Hindoos to Canada, may prejudice the work of the ■missionary upon their return to India. To preach universal brotherhood in India is all right, but it somewhat modifies the effect if the newly accepted brother finds himself barred on account of his colour, from settling in another portion of the same Empire.

Commissioner Lamb, of the Salvation Army, who visited 'New Zealand recently, has a good word to say for the work of. the:Jdberal Govefjinient during the Pre&iie'fSbip of the late R. J. Seddon. "He gave the islanders a continuity of policy," said the Commissioner, "conducive to the maturing of measures of constructive legislation, from which they are now reaping the benefit.'' He also adds: "The present •Govprnmentr-is-imbued with • the modern Spirit, and is ' pursuing lofty ideals, encouraging every enterprise and every purpose that will tend to the development and -betterment of the country."

Dean TngeVJipreaching at St. Paul's Cathedral, said they heard a great many pretty things about the pleasure of work, but -he doubted whether -those who uttered them had had much experience of what hard work means. Let them get rid of cant. Nine-tenths of all work was drudgery.

Father Bernard Yaiighan, addressing tbe debating circle of the Aldwych Club on tbe question, "Should Religion be Advertised?" said that; personally, he belonged to the oldest advertising firm in TeHgion. On one occasion he was present at a banquet given by an insurance company in New York. He was the second of-a long list of speakers, and he announced to the audience, "1 presume it is because I belong to the oldest life insurance company in the world that they thought I had a right to stand up" at "once. -I am the o"nly agent for that institution at present before you, and I am prepared to do business."