The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-03-24

slave OF c0vetousness is thief, a mise,
or as st Paul says, san idolater."
It is only when the spiritual life is re-
deemed and made perfect in the love Of
Christ that we are truly free from the
bondage Of sin and death. The true life
The spirit of man was made to live by
the Spirit of God that it may enter into
the life eternal. Christ came into the
world to set men free. ''If We abide in
my word" He says, "then are ye truly
my disciples; and ye shall know
the truth, and the truth shall
make you free" - every one
that committeth sin Is the bondservant of
SIM" ''If therefore the Son shall make
You free, you shall be free indeed"
but the Jerusalem that is above
is free, which is our mother" We
should be living not for the sake of
this present life alone, but that we NAV
be developed, educated, disciplined, cul-
tured by the Spirit Of God and made fit
to enter in and enjoy that spiritual aud
pairing for all those who love Him. This
ia our true ideal. Not to live for the
body nor the things of this world. Not
to live for the soul to crafty its vain
and earthly ambitions. But to live for
the perfection and freedom of the Spirit
that it may safely and with unspeakable
Joy reach its glorious destiny. For by
our Spiritual birth we belong not here in
any earthly relations, we belong in the
City of GOd-"Lhe Jerusalum that il
above, and Is free, which is our mother .
TIE GROWTH AND PROGRESS
of the life of the Spirit in us is the chief
thing that concerns us in this world
When we are brought to the font it is
| that we may come into the true relations
Of the spiritual life, and the prayer of
| Gods servant is: Grant that all sinful
affections may die in him, and that al
things belonging to the spirit may live
and grow in him." The church would
have US brought up in the nurture snd
admonition of the Lord" We are to be
trained as true soldiers of Christ, that We
may prevail in His strength against
"Sin, the world and the DEVIL" We are
| to "be partakers of HIS most blessed
| Body and Blood" that we may be FED
and nourished by the Bread of Life, thai
He may dwell in US and we In Him,
and that we may be always "submittinR
ourselves wholly to His Holy will and
pleasure, and studying to serve Him in
true holiness and righteousness all the
| days of our life"
! And so whatever the temporary condi-
| riOns Of this earth-life, whether rich or
| poor; in sickness or in health; whether
much we know or little; being weak OF
strong; humble or of high degree as the
world may see us ; whether we succeed OF
fail as to this worlds ideals the supreme
object and interest of this life ia that we
may be growing in grace and in the know.
ledge of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus.
SO that even Though our outward mar
| is decaying, yet our inward man is re.
newed day by day.
The hope of the freedom of that glori-
fed life Of the Spirit, which is
THE GRAND IDEAL OF THE GOSPEL,
ought to be more and better to our long
ing and unsatisfied hearts than all the
pleasures, riches and honors that this
world can offer US.
The most that is told us concerning
the life of the Spirit in the New Jerusa-
lem is, that all who enter there shall be
ills of this life. AS it is written: s'And
God shall wipe away all tears from their
eyes and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall
there be any more pain; for the former
things are passed away"