The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-13

Hatred is satanic. Love is the full
filling Of the law. If a reasonable man.
whose heart is not hardened by sin and
1ransgression, will carefully study the
fifteenth chapter of John, beginning at
the ninth verse and ending with the
tweny-third, he will find very much to
consider, to mediate upon, to pray
over. Christ in this memorable chap
ter calleth his disciples friends and
says that the condition OF friendship
TO him is obedience: Eye are my friends
If We do whatsoever l command you
Henceforth, He tells them, We are my
friends, not my servants. "Ye have not
chosen me, but I have chosen you,'
and then, in verse 18th he " These
things you, that We love one
another" We are his followers If we
have been chosen of God in Christ, and
we shall know His will, and knowing 1t
we shall do it md will bring forth
fruit unto righteousness. 1t is the
law of love. Chosen by Him we must
strive to be like Him. If we have not
been chosen by Him, we shall remain
in sin, in impenitency, in open dlsre-
gard of all He commands and enJolns.
Not chosen we shall never desire to do
right and we shall never come to
Christ for salvation. Il have chosen
you' the Master says. Lost in sin
why should we choose Him, delight in
His service or strive to obey, love, ana
honor Him? Without Christ's love no
man will ever come to Him for LIE,
immortality, peace, victory. lie mas
chosen His disciples. He has given the
Gospel of His love to the lost and He
mas bestowed His favors and blessings
upon His disciples as He doth not unto
the world. He gives them help, en-
couragement, means of grace, opportu-
mites of faith and practice and leads
them in the ways Of holiness and in
the paths of peace. the more
we are thus favored of Him, the more
obedient to His commands, the closer
our vail with Him, the more gracious
our fellowship with the saints, the
more fruit we must continue to bring
FORTH 06th verse;, and at last life
ending here, the 'fuit will remain
and in the life beyond the grave 1t
will be garnered in the granaries or
HEAVIER and forever treasured there TO
our great personal advantage. These
things I command you, that We love
one another" Are we renewed in
heart? Do we live a life of faith in the
Son of God? Are we keeping the law of
service. the law of love? Are We SO full
Killing the law of love that We love one
another? Where is our fruit? Are We
seeking more grace? Do we press on in
holy living or are We of the earth
earthly, ~unrenewed, ~unsanctif1ed, I'M
saved? If we are renewed we love. II
our heart is right before God We do not
nate our fellow man. If we are living
the Christ life we are seeking to dis
charge our duties to our brother-our
duties to each other of love. If we are
indeed friends" of Christ, the Re-
deenaer and God, we are friends to
one another. Would a man filled with
E1ve wilfully injure or wrong his broth
@r? Would he Cypress or revile or SIAN
der or injure in any way any brother
Or any friend of Jesus? With love
glowing, burning in our souls for Christ
we Will have no place in them for evil
thoughts or malice or uncharitable-
1ess. Let US obey Christ in all things.
lat us Cleanse ourselves from all
EIthiness Of flesh and spirit Let us