Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-12-07

Text of tho Lesson, 7 Pet. !, 1-1:-Mem-
ory Verses, SIS - Golden Text, Col. i,
It - Commentary by the Rev. ID. VI.
sJcarns.
l. "Petor, an apostle Of Jesus Christ, to
the strangers scattered throughput Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia Asia and 'Bithynia."
The writers Of the epistles know but one
master-they are either servants or apostles
of Jesus Chrst-and being controlled by
the Spirit they glorify Him Math. xiii $;
John xvi, 1Q. Their aim is to help their
fellow strangers to be holy in their lives
and full of good works that God may be
glorifed Chapter ii, II, 12).
9 Fleet according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctillcation
of the spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling
Of the blood Of Jesus Christ. Grace unto
you and peace be multiplied" Scriptural
election is the choosing of some TO bless
others, these chosen ores being taken out
from the rest that they may be specially
qualified for special service CEph. i, 4; Rom.
viii, 29). The exceeding abundance of His
grace and peace is given to such that
through them it may be multiplied to 9th
crs. If you have received Him, you are one
of His elect. If you have not received Him,
you may do so at once John Vi, 81; iii, Ii;
Rev xxi, IL.
3. blessed he the God and Father OF our
Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His
abundant mercy hath begotten us again
unto a Lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead" The siguih-
canoe of the resurrection is fully stated in
] Cor XIV, 49, %. lie who was dead is alive
forevcrmorc, and at the right hand of God
are the evidence of our justification and the
assurance Of our continued life CRev i, IS:
Rom. iv, %; viii, 34). 70 be identified
with a risen, living Christ, who has all
power in heaven and on earth, and to be
commissioned rs His ambassadors to pro-
claim His salvation is surely the highest
honor that mortal man can enjoy on this
earth (Juhn xvii, IS; III Cor. V, 3O).
4. ITO an Inheritance incOrruptible and
indebted and that iadeth not away, re
served in heaven for YOU All things here
are perishable, but the word Of the Lord
and the glory Of the Lord endureth forever
Oversees "A, %; | John ii, Il; Heb. xii, 3S,.
Jesus at the right hand of God is not only
our Righteousness and our life, but also the
assurance that our bodies shall yet be Just
like His and that we shall reign with Him
q Cor, XIV, %; Phil. iii, 81; Rev. Y, ., 1oJ.
D. "Who are kept by the power Of God
through faith unto salvation, ready to he
gevealed in the last time" Jesus does the
saving and the keeping, and we do the
trusting and obeylnS. See how we are kept
in Jude l; Rom. NV, Il lsa. XII, -. Saliva
ton Is ours now II we have received CHRIST.
We are also day by day working it out, and
yet we are waiting FOR Ii, Tor 1t Is every day
nearer than when we believed I'll I'm. l, y,
Phil. ii. II, IL; Rom. Kill III. IL Is three
fold salvation. We have eternal life, We
are manitesting that life, and we expect the
gloriiied body and the Joys of the Kingdom.
e. "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though
now for a season, if need be, We are i'll heavi-
ness through manifold temptations.' We
Will surely rejoice II we believe the facts,
but not otherwise for JOY and peace come
only by believing iRom. XIV, l3l. Jesus told
us that we must expect trbulatlon, bat
that we may have peace tJohn xvi, 49,.
Paul testiiies that 1t is possible to be joyful,
yea even exceeding joyful, III tribulatior
| (Rom. V, .; IL Cor. VII, -.
I. That the trial of your faith, being
much more precious than Of gold that. per
! lsheth, though 1t be tried with fire, might
/ be found unto praise ana honor and glory
/ at the appearing Oh Jesus Christ" 1T Is Il
/ most profitable study to mediate on the
1 word precious IN these two epistlcs u Pet.
/ l. . "; II, 1, =; IL Yet. l, !, A.. fath that
/ cannot endure Is very questionable fmth.
! We must steadfastly believe and wait pa
! tiently TIL lie come (Jas. V, . s; Cor. ~,
| -. Then we shall see how all our light AT
hlctions have been working out Tor us lar
more exceeding ana eternal weight OF glory
| I'll Cor ", ~,
s. wv nom having not seen We love; III
whom, though now We see INN not yet be
lieving, ye rejoice III the JOY unspe"kable
and lull Oh glory some thlhk mat II thcy
could only see II I'm they would love Hlm'
but lie sad, blessed are they that have
not seen ana yet have beleVeu' (John XN,
$50. 10 faith unseen things become very
real and may be enjoyed almost as pres
ent possession. The city which Abraham
looked for and the recompense Of the re-
ward which sustained Moses, and the glory
TO be revealed which Paul saw, were Won
:irously real to them and will be to Us If we
only believe llieD. NJ, TO- 20, 70; Rom. 5, lS).
.. Receiving the end OF your faith, even
the salvation of your souls" This is not