The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-08-04

ing, and contract being made to build,
the wise contractor will
II. Seek a solid foundation of rock or
other hard and durable material
For character building, God tells of a
sure foundation. See Isaiah %: 16.
Therefore thus saith the Lord God:
Behold, l lay in Zion for a foundation,
a stone, a tried stone, a precious cor
ner stone, a sure foundation"
What Jesus says about this founda-
ton:
Therefore, whatsoever heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them, 1 will
liken him unto a wise man, which built
his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the
foods came, and the winds blew, and
beat upon that house, and it fell not,
for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these
sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man,
which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the
floods came, and the winds blew, and
beat upon that house, and it fell, and
great was the fall of it," Matt 7:24
to 81.
Is this a sure foundation7 Hear Paul
to Timothy: 2 Tim. 2:19: "Neverthe-
less the foundation of God standeth
sure, having this seal, The Lord know
eth them that are his"
III. Wise contractors seek good me-
teriaI for building purposes, and they
build only for time. Character build
ers for eternity need much more use
good, yea, the best material. Where
do they find it, See 2 Peter Il to II
And besides this, giving all dill
gence, add to your faith, virtue; and
to virtue, knowledge;
And to knowledge, temperance;
and to temperance, patience; and to
patience, goodness;
And to godliness, brotherly kind
ness and to brotherly kindness, char
ity. (S9e Col. 3:14)
For If these things be In you, and
abound, they make you that ye shall
neither be barren nor untruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But he hat lacketh these things is
blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath
forgotten that he was purged from his
old sins.
Wherefore th'L rather, brethren,
give diligence to make your calling
and election sure, for if ye do these
things, ye shall never fall;
For 50 an entrance shall be minis
tered unto you abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ"
NOTE; Cd Diligence required in the
builder.
~ The work to go forward to COM
p~leGion. Eph. Alp, Is,
NOTE: The builder in this world may
have excuses-Ioss of material. Char,
acter builders have no excuse on this
account, because our material is indie
structable-hid with Christ in God.
g. The effect on the builder. Verse 8.
a. The result of idleness, short
sightedness, loss of memory. Verse 9.
o. Z ;ernal Insurance against falling
Verse 9, and Matt. I6. Is. Note the
if"
". The result of building
Carpenters build houses for homes on
this earth. Note: All dwellings are
not homes. Christ built character for
divine uses in time and eternity. He
realizes that his body is the temple of
the Holy Ghost" Il Cor. GIG; 2 Cor. 6:
16), and that his character decides his
place and measures of usefulness in
Gods kingdom. Paul. writing to the
Eyhesians, says:
Now, therefore, ye are no more
strangers and foreigners, but fellow citi
zens with the saints, and Of the house
hold of God;
And are built upon the foundation
of the apostles and prophets, Jesus
Christ himself being the chief corner
stone;
In whom all the building fifty
framed together groweth unto a holy
temple in the Lord:
In whom We also are builded to-
gether for a habitation Of God through
the Spirit. Eph. 2:19 to %.
% The result.-We are related to
other builders and the household of
God. Examine spiritual temples built
by Patrlarchs, Prophets and Apostles, |
all of the same material, and On same
foundation.