Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-05-10
DIALOGUES OF ERAsrUs AND ARIsTARoTUi
II. On Conformity Of the World,

OF long aud earnest meditation which
for the most part have brought to me
II Joy that exceeds all other delights"
Avery good. God would have
us frequently search thus to know his
ways, that lie may reward us accord
ing to the riches Of His grace.
Ell have found 1t even 30. 1t has
been III my silent waitings that lie
has enlarged mo and enriched my
soul"
A.-"Ihat was also the psalmlsPs
experience, lie communed thus with
his soul; wait thou only upon Cod
be silent before Him; He is only my
refuge; my expectation is from Him.
And he learned to say: In Thy pres
ence of joy Yes, good Erastus, the
does recompense those who enter the
closet of medltatlye prayer, ana
shutting out dlstractiDg cares, inquire
Of His ways. lie mikes known His
secrets t. them"
E.-"Why do SO few discover this
precious truth? And why, after 1t is
discovered, do We so seldom improve
upon itR"
A.-"Ihese are questions, indeed.
Is it not, my brother, that we live too
much for this world but too little for
the nextW
Eff confess l have found it so in
my own experience"
Ali you have closely studied
our Lords microscopy prayer John
~ you have seen that there are four
forms Of tp,stiols used, and they
reveal our Lords conception of the
relation Of Christians to the world. l.
They are az the world. z. They are
not of the world B. They are chosen
out Of inc world. 4. They are sent
into the world These four preposi-
tional forms are very significant, are
they not|
E,-"Ihey seem to be. But, truly,
/ never had my attention directed 10
them before. True believers are GER
tainly not of the world, for the origin
of the new heart and new life is from
above. And being chosen out of, and
again sent into, the world it would
seem they are expected to maintain Il
distinct and separate life"
A.-"Ihat is the evident teaching
of our Lord. And it Is confirmed by
Holy Scripture. BE not conformed |
to this world, but be ye transformed
by the renewing OF your mind (Rom
1872 Not fashioning yourselves to
the former desires; but as He who
called you is holy, be ye yourselves
holy in all your conduct Il Pet,
liza l am driven to the conclusion,
good Erastus, that the chiefest cause
of SO few enjoying the blessings of |
region, is to be found here. They do |
not care for it. The care of this world |
and the deceitfulness of riches choke
the word in them and they become
unfruitful. The high ideal of a sepa-
rate and holy life may be regarded as
desirable, but is unsought as the
chiefest aim of the believer. AS a
consequence, people in whom the
spirit of God has begun to work, are
kept far below their privilege, and
often differ in many respects from
unbellevers only in name"
E.-"These are solemn statements,
and it makes me sad they can and
must be uttered"
Allow can one be otherwise
than PANIED as he reflects on such
conditions? But at another time we
shall DISCOURSE further and perhaps
may help each other to shun many
things that beset us in our earthly
life"
DIE He MEAN You? When Jesus
said, "Come unto me all ye that labor
and are heave laden" did He mean
you?
When he said, IF thy right hand
offend thee, cut it off" did he mean
you?
Did he mean you when he said, I'm I
ny Fathers house are many man c
IONS: l go to prepare a place for
-ou"
Did he mean you when he said, 8