The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-10-01


breeze Is not blowing. In a world we
would govern perhaps rain. snow. ice
sunshine and CLOUD would come with the
regularity OF a clocks strokes. We would
guard against the swapping of boats in
SQUALLS the destruction of cities by tidal
waves, the death of cattle in Dakota
billiards.. the drenching of travellers IN
unexpected downpours. We would RUE
out Influenza as the result OF sudden
changes in the atmosphere. the loss OF
property by earthquakes and the death OF
multitudes in epidemics.
What a kingdom we would establish II
our will could be done! 1t Is posslple
we would relax the Sabbath law. abolish
capitaI punishment, leave every man free
IN do as he chooses about his religion,
eliminate hell as one or the terrors VI
the future. discard the dogmas OF retrE
button and by striking out the mlracu-
lous. make of Jesus but the foremost
man of the ages. of the church, nut the
queen OF social and benevolent institutions
and of these scriptures given by inspira-
ton a literature not Bible Iou
thoughts are not always mans thoughts
about the way of saving soul any
more than they agree about ruling the
world Jehovah has His way of admin
istering the universal Kingdom. lie Is
the father of rain. the scatterer OF the
hoarfrost and the ruler of the waters anu
stormy winds. In nature lie oruallS
whatsoever comes to pass. Propose
amendments to His laws. as we may,
the tides keep on their ebb and flow. the
planets circle overhead. storms arise ana
break over sea and land. earthquakes
shake the earth, epidemics rage ana neat
and cold rain and shine, fun harvest
and drought succeed each other accoIu-
ing to His will. Truly His ways are
Resides The Kingdoms of nature and
providence. there is one of grace anu
Paul is treating of 1t IN the text IL
OF the three. the greatest III Is tuS
greatest because the others are SuuSl-
diary to 1t. They are preparatory 10 us;
this third Kingdom. as Ii is written. an
things work together for the good Oh thIs
higher kingdom. 1T Is the greatest %
cause the king has expended on 1t more
thought care. solicitude and sacrifice imam
elsewhere He gave thought. enetgy'
time. to the work of making ana rullis,
but to the third kingdom lie gave Ills
precious blood. Man does not always
think as God does about the kingdom OF
grace These two passages point etcn
to a possible mistake In regard 10 tiils
kingdom.
/. The mistake of an inauiring sinner
Is corrected by the first scripture Anu
not only so. but We joy in God. throuSn
our Lord Jesus Christ. by whom we re-
ceive the atonement." Here We are
taught the way TO become CHRISTIAN
Salvation is something to be oDtalnSu'
not attained. We read of a young tele-
graph operator who was anxious TO be a
Christian The whole night he lay awake
considering the matter. Next day, weary
and still anxious. he went 10 MS WoIA'
Ali at once he heard the tick of his in
strument and to his joy and surprise
made out this message: Behold the
lamb of God that taketh away the SIN OF
ton through His blood, even the for
giveness of sins" The wire had brought
the message he needed. Had the scrlDeS
and doctors of Paul's day been ASKED
how shall a man enter the kingdom OF
grace they would have said: by keep
Ing the law" The pious Hebrew would
have answered thus: ADIah .Slrl,. 5 5
blood and circumcision make us God
children" The Pharisees said: AT
tend the synagogue, fast. give. utheS ahu
go up to the feaSts and be saved. IheSe
Paul saws we receive IT, Is tntt
all | must do?" l hear that soul at the
portals of life says. NO price To be
brought. no work of reformation to be
gone through with?" None. lou must re
ceive. not purchase eternal life. saliva
ton is a gift. not an exchange except
as YOU call the transfer of your sins 10
Jesus and HIS righteousness to you an
exchange. You must take as a gift what
YOU cannot earn rs reward.
In every purchase two conditions mus
be fulfilled. First, you must nnd an
owner willing to sell. To buy anything
YOU must find an open market. You can
not buv what is not for sale. SeconG-
there must he a purchaser having ami
fly to buy. He must have the wherewith
TO purchase. Lacking either Willingness
| on the owners part to sell or the ability
on the part of the would-be buyer TO pur-
chase the bargain is impossible. Apply
this to spiritual things: Salvation cannot
be obtained with money. First, because
God It's provider is not willing TO sell.
lie proposes to display His generosity
and bounty by giving it freely and n pro-
posal to buy is dishonor cast upon Him
Just as your offer of money Tor seat
at q feast of friend would be an IN
suit to his generosity. You cannot buy
what God says is not in the market
Second. il is Impossible to purchase Ills
gift because you have no adequate price
10 offer In exchange for it. III this be a
commercial transaction where equivalents
in value are 10 be exchanged. what price
will YOU bring? Ask yourself what can
/ give In exchange? To judge OF It's
value see what II cost God Himself to
provide it, What did lie pay for it be-
fore 1t could be offered for sale? II cost
the son of God His life and until you can
find something to match that precious
blood in a value. you may not nope
with corruptible things, such as silver and
gold. to secure eternal life.
2 The mistake of many believers IS
corrected by this second scripture. For
If bv one mans offense death reigned by
one. much more they which receive abund-
ance of grace and the gift of righteous
ness shall reign in life The way TO
reign In life is to freely receive what is
freely provided and offered. God has
provided for our life as forgiven sinners
and as He made us righteous in the
Righteousness of His son, SO He can
make us holy In the image of His son.
TO have peace is simply TO accept 1t, for
ne offers to give ii. My peace / give
unto YOU" Peace is the fruit of His
love manifested to US. Grace" saws
Luther. releases us from our sins and
peace makes the conscience quiet" For
our work in Christ's name and for deal
ing with evil we crave power. The OPEN
ing chapter of Acts will tell YOU how the
APOSTLES secured the power that wrought
marvcls by them all about the world.
Jesus told them they should receive it,.
He bids them to so and walt for IT and
one dav ii came on them as showers
come on thirsty fields to make them
green and then fruitful. With the sover-
eign freeneSs of the wind. to which Je-
sus compared the spirit. that power at
Pentecost came upon and clothed the
men who. till that power came. had been
weak. If any among US would live an
Astounding life let US know that such n
life NAV be reached not by struggle.
strife and agony. but by receiving the
abundant grace.