Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-01-26
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvcn


I TOPIC IOr Int Ntch hCSAh '---" -
Comment by Rev. S. ii. Doyle.
ToPIc. Gods covenant. II thou wilt.
| then. Zech. iii. :; John Ky. "a.
Gods covenants are usually conditional
promises. In the covenant with Noat
! that the world should not again be de
stroyed by food, which was uncondi
tional, we see an exception to this gen
eral rule Gods principal covenants are
the covenant of works, salvation and
blessing promised ON condition of perfect
obedience to the law, and the covenant
of grace salvation promised upon condi-
ton of faith in Jesus Christ. In each OF
these covenants we see the underlying
principle, If thou wilt, = then. In
the former il was, If thou wilt obey, then
thou shalt be saved In the latter it is,
If thou wilt believe, then thou shalt he
saved. In each of these principal cove
nants were innumerable secondary cove
nants, attendant promises with their
conditions. II is TO two Of these, and
not TO either principal covenant. that our
topic directs MS.
|. If thou wilt walk in my ways. and
if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou
shalt also judge my house. and shalt also
keep my courts, and | will give the
places 10 walk among these that stand
by thee" tZech. iii, .. Here an angel
gives Joshua conditional promise as
representative of the Jewish priesthood.
The condition was personal good be-
havior and official faithfulness. The
sight Of the temple courts and compan-
ionship with angels, probably meaning
eternal life This promise applied 70
priests and now to ministers. But ali
were not priests and all are not ministers.
To make il universally applicable il may
be summed up practically thus; If thou
wilt be faithful in thy sphere, then shalt
thou he rewarded accordingly. This
makes il practical TO al. The priest mnst
befaithful as priest, the people as people.
All of us may hot have high positions "
tire church, but God expects Of us only
obedience in the position we occupy, be
il high or low. Some have ten talents.
some FIVE and some perhaps only one.
OF those who have five talents, ten tai
ent service and ability is not required.
From one talent God neither asks nor
expects using for five talents. This is
Gods conditional promise 10 all. If thou
wilt be faithful in whatever station of
life thou hast been placed, to whatever
talents and opportunities have been given
to thee, then thou shalt have honor and I
blessing in this life, and in the world to F,
tome eternal life.
2, If We abide in me, and my words /,
abide in you, We shall ask what We will, |
and it shall be done unto you" John Ky,
y. These are words of Jesus in his fare |
well discourse to his disciples. II is also
a conditional promise The promise is
answer To prayer. The condition is /
abiding in Christ. To abide in Christ |
means 10 have a constant living union |
with him, as the branch is united to the |
vine. His words abide in us when we
receive them in faith and love, by per (
sonal study or other instruction. lay I
them up in our hearts and practice them I
in our lives. This promise still holds /
good If Christ and his words abide /
ilNlAN III usi prayer VII DC "iSMtteu.
What promise could be richer and
grander to the children Of need? Let
Us fulfill the conditions that we may re-
reive the promise.
Bible References-Gen. iv, 81; Deut. /
vii. II; xviii, Is; Lev. XVI, 80; Ps.
xxi, .; PROV. viii, .; Dan. iii, II; Math.
Y. %, "a; John viii, 10; Col. i, 2l-2S;
Heb. iii. 81 Pet. iv, 1919; John i, 8.