The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-05-02

people: that ye should shew forth the
praises of Him who hath called you out of
darkness into His marvellous light"
Much has been said about the peculiarities
of the people of God that proceeds upon
the assumption that to be peculiar in the
Bible sense is to be odd in the usual sense.
1t is sometimes said, as though it were
specially commendable thing, that there
was time when you could tell Methodist
as far as you could see him-for the early
Methodists were peculiar people," If so,
it is we'll enough that the day has passed.
let US not sigh for its return. Piety that is
proud of its plsinness of dress is as hateful
as that which is proud of its richness of
dress. Religion that is only garb-deep is
very superficial. Real humility may, and
often does, move among us in silk or
broadcloth and come in contact with pride
as it stalks forth in calicoes and jeans.
The fact is pride and humility are things of
the heart and cannot be put on the back on
Sunday::and hung up in the closet through
the week. To masquerade in the attire of
the fathers and mothers of Methodism and
1
not to increase our usefulness but to make
us ridiculous Their success was not due
to such peculiarities but in spite of them.
Such psltry questions are very remote from
the peculisrities of the text. The real
peculiarities of the people of God are seen
in the exalted privileges and lofty attain
ments for which they are distinguished.
They are peculiar as to their origin "a
chosen generation" Christianity is the
only religion that represents God as seeking
and choosing His people. Christ came
into the world to seek and to save that
which was lost. Many are called but few
are chosen for the reason that they will moi
come. Our election to eternal life depends
on our 'sanctifcstion of the spirit unto
obedience and sprinkling of the blood OF
Jesus Christ" Gods people are also dis
; tinguished for their dignity-'a roya
priesthood" Every believer is priest snG
: is divinely called upon to offer up spiritual
sacrihces-even the sacrifice of broker
and contrite spirit. And since Jesus oul
Great High Priest has passed into the
heavens earthly priesthOods are no more
We may come therefore with boldness Il
, the throne of grace and offer our owl
sacrifices and plead our own cause withou
any other human being to stand between
us and God. But we are kings as we'll a
priests. We are children of the King 0
/ kings but our present dominion is re
/ strcted to the rule of our own spirit
, and greater is he that ruleth his owl
spirit than he that taketh a city," They
> are also distinguished for their sanctity-"i
holy nation"-called of God to live abov,
the world. Christ prayed not that WI
should be taken out of the world but KEEP
from the evil. Instead of being led by th'
, spirit of the age they should live in holy in
dependence of it. Their controlling motives
should be ito shew forth the excellencies Of
, Him who hath called them out of darknes
, into light" They should be exhibitors o
Gods workmanship. By both precept AM
example they should proclaim His powe
to save. LET your light SO shine befor
r men that they may see your good work
/ and glorify your Father which is il
a heaven"