The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-12

We read Peters letters with much
interest. We suppose We have read
them an hundred times. There is so
much in Peters life that is mos re-
markable, and his experiences are most
variable, even dramatic and tragic.
Peter was naturally impulsive, and af-
ter his great tribulation n conflict in
the closing hour of the Masters life he
took on new hardihood, new courage, a
holder heart, a greater willingness to
serve and toll and be spent for Him he
had in great weakness denied. There
is a vast amount of the human in Pc
ter's character. So wha he writes Ito
the strangers and we are one of them,
'scattered' abroad in many lands and
in many ages, is Of greatinterest to us
The salutation of his first letter detains
and interests us. He is writing "tO
| strangers" whom he designates as
"elect according to the f~Oreknowledge
Of God, the Father" How "elect?"
Why "elect?' What does "elect" here
| mean? Chosen is h meaning. God
only possesses foreknowledge. It is one
of His attributes. He foresees and
foreknows. He foresees because he
foreknows. And yet knowledge of any
kind is not causation and cannot be
Even man knows but his knowing does
| not cause. He knows the man hangs,
but his knowledge of tina event in no
! way compels the hanging. Peter
| means to say in his formal salutation
Ito the strangers" to whom he writes,
hat they have been chosen to be Chris
! tians, to be followers of the Saviour,
joint-heirs with Jesus the Redeemer-
| Chosen by the all-knowing God, their
Heavenly Father. He says chosen
Through sanctificatiOn of the Spirit
that is through power Of the Holy
Ghost they had been born again, a
been introduced into the Kingdom of
Righteousness, into the household of
faith, made meet for the Heavenly in
heritance, had become the son Of God.
h sanctifying and regenerating work
by the Holy Ghost was so efficient, so
COIIlpAClC I1Cy OCC1 SAlCSCA OIllO
obedience and s%prinkling of the blood
of Jesus Christi Consider the words
used. By the work Of the Spirit, sane
tifying and regenerating the sinners,
they had been made holy and fit for
H~eaven-had been made a peculiar
people jealous of good works-had fell
lowship with Tod and then enjoyed the
communion of saints-had been set
apart unto obedience" and the foun-
dalton Of it all was the Cross, the sac
cleansing blood, the perfected work of
Jesus. ELECT = = through sanctifica-
tion Of the Spirit, unto OBEDIENCE
"elect" through the "sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ" There is no
other way to Heaven-there is 10 other
Savior out Jesus-there is no other
sacrifice for sin. It is a marvellous
privilege, wondrous call, a most graci-
Gus choice! What privileges n bless
ings and unmerited election this. Chosen
of God because We believe. Made heirs
of glory because we come in the ap-
pointed way. We should inded rejoice
unto great salvation. How can a
sinner saved by grace, fail to serve,
honor, glorify and worship God? How
can a man thus chosen and saved ever
return Ito the beggarly elements of the
world" forget the privilege and dis
honor and spurn the Redeemer? With
Heaven liz sight, Gods promises full and
unfailing, grace to sustain, the Holy
| Spirit to quicken, guide, inspire and
| witness how can man forget or falter?
God who has begun the good work can
| make it perfect.
Governor Russell will please hit Car
| Det-ha geer Grant hard and fast. He is