The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-19

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his work is certainly one Of the mos,
learned and valuable af recent contri.
buttons to primitive Biblical history
In the first nine verses of st. Peters
second Epistle General there is sci
forth most directly Gods good gift tr
the children Of men and orr manifold
duties in turn. He states how he had
been made an apostle and servant of
Jesus Christ through precious faith
through Jesus Christ, and he, there
fore, would have grace and peace
multiplied" to others through the same
knowledge by faith in the same Saw
Jour, Jesus our Lord" He sets forth
that Christ hath given life and godli-
ness" through Himself, and that He
hath called us to glory and virtue"
These excellent gifts are freely be-
slowed and often most unworthily, and
they are accompanied by "exceeding
great and precious promises" for which
we should be deeply grateful for they
concern both this life and the life to
come. It is the full knowledge of these
wondrous promises so present and vet
so FAR reaching that enable us to be-
come "partakers Of the divine
We are saved through Christ crusifed,
we come to know Him as our only
Saviour and King, who for our sins
died upon the Cross, and having such
exceeding great and precious
promises we are led on until we be-
come indeed ~"partakers Of the divine
the greatest, the most exalted
that can befall a redeemed
sinner. st. Peter then gives us the
list Of virtues that must adorn the
Christian character. No longer a sin.
ner in open rebellion but a sinner re-
and saved by grace; no longer
slave to passion, but in complete
we no longer follow the de-
vices OF a corrupt nature nor yield to
me allurements of the devil, having
cen made here "partakers of the al
zine nature" Beginning with the fifth
1erse n apostle shows the plan of
growth, the line of development in
christian graces and attractions. Tn
- AC 4CCOIOS the dOOTtlOnS /
in character building. He says
are ito give diligence" There is to |
'e no lettering or neglect, but assidufty !
ND earnestness must mark our life. |
his we'll directed dilig nee. this faith
pursuit of happiness will bring to us
resh joys as we'll as new principles of
he. We will give "all diligence" to
id ITO u faith virtue" Saved as
indicated we become faithful and
'rm in h discharge of duty; we are
add to virtue the grace of KNOWLEDGE
knowledge in holy things, knowledge
holy living, knowledge that shall
ring us a higher understanding of God
duty that we may accomplish more
Or Him and humanity. Then to virtue
no knowledge We must add also the
r1nciple of Temperance" which means
govern appetites and desires and
eslgns. Next we must cultivate the
race or patience"-a submission to
In all things, in life and in death
all that befalls us. The next thing tn
: sought IS "godliness'-for this must
ooe TO virtue knowledge, temper
1ce' patience. Goodness includes
Try much. 1t means a complete abb
rpuon, q complete submission. a
mplete surrender, a complete DISPOSE
On to serve, love, honor, glorify God .,
everything. To "godliness" is to be {
loeo "~brotherly kindness" How {
pin how all-embracing, how far l
aching is "brotherly kindness!" It =
.es in all mankind and embraces e
my virtues. If it filed the world as I
all prevailing principle of action. of {
e. what vast changes would be
ought in the world! Hatred and mall
; courses n defamations would be y
p away n o v would reign in t
: heaffs OF all men. To this great. q
principle Of life-this con- S
liing impulse, must be added Char a
This word means love and should :,
SO translated. God governs the Z"
rld by love. Christ nqu only a
'ough love. To love mar out of love s +.
God is indeed victory, and brings its "
II precious reward. Let these prin- .
les be fully Incorporated into life =
now excellent, how admirable, how
u mgr perfect that life. Peter de- |
res that IF these things"-these
nclpies, these graceS "be in you. and
UNI" then it will follow surely that j..
will be neither barren nor un-
in the knowledge of our Lord 7
Christ" But On the other hand
you are without them you will be
md" the apostle afirms, and will
be able to discover that you indeed =
re purged from your old sins" You :
a failure. In religious life a fraud. TO
have made an experiment and fail &c
You cannot see afar off," says
er. Your vision is imperfect. your Oh
is q disappointment. you are blind t.
by b god OF this world, you can ca
therefore. see beyond the world OF GO
re, and not having heavenly wisdom -
Ire affair or from God dotins on the H.
gs that perish and Indifferent To -
eternal things that make tor the