The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-30

While there is unmeasured delight
and satisfaction in the Christian life
that is for genuine disciples of the cru
Gifted and risen Lord, there are severe
trials, temptations and disappoint-
ments often. In fact, Christian life is
a warfare, and with it is coupled a re-
ward. While there are frequent and
sharp trials there is a divine support
afforded under them all. Great are
the troubles of the righteous. but the
Lord will deliver him out of them alr'
Psalm Xxxiv:19. This has been
abundantly. repeatedly exemplifed.
The first preachers of the Gospel were
visited With extreme trials. tribula-
ftions, Prosecutions, sufferings, and yet
they werc finally delivered, for when
they die they got home to Heaven.
If we who suffer will only have the
promises of God realized in our own
experienCz. we shall like them count
all things 0ut loss for Christ" In Co
rinthians, Sth. 9Th and 10th verses, we
read: eve are troubled on every side,
yet not distressed: we are perplexed,
but not in despair: prosecuted. but not
forsaken; cast down., but not destroy
ed; always bearing about in the body
the WINS Of the Lord Jesus. that the
life also of Jesus might be made man
fest in our body" We are not over
come or disabled for duty. We still
know what course to pursue. We are
not left helpless or comfortless, we are
not left utterly at a loss TO do as
those forsaken of God. We may be
prosecuted but we shall not be left
without divine succor and favor. We
sha continue under the blessing OF
God, the promises of His Gospel, n
the help of the Holy Spirit Ito press
towards the mark of the high calling,
and when smitten shall be able to rise
again and renew the conflict. But
wherever we are or whittier we go we
shall bear with us the prosecutions
and cruel death of the Lord Jesus;
shall be exposed to like prosecutions
and perhaps with like sufferings from
the hand Of the wicked. that the life
also of Jesus might be made manifest
in our body"-that a life conformed TO
that of the blessed Saviour in its wild
est sense. so far as He was man.
1t is " a life devoted to God. sustained
by Cod and which will be finally made
triumphant in a glorious resurrection
over all evil" In this life we must be
ever awake to the wiles of the devil
having a conflict to carry on in our
W hearts, and a war to wage ceas-
lessly with the great enemy OF oul
souls, seeking constantly a triumph
over all manner of temptations
whether of the world, h flesh or the
devil. We nave a great work to do &c
save our own souls and to help to save
our p~erishing feIlow-beings around u:
who are set upon by the evil n anC
by their own sinful natures and ten
denotes. As one English writer say
of warfare and aid to others: ''W,
dare not. when we see him ~ravagins
a needless world, deceiving the simple
4~over-reaching the wise, getting tn,
poor into his den, and Staying the ricl
in the midst of their treasures; W,
dare not. as soldiers of Jesus Christ
dare not desert our saviour
ranks: we dare not refuse to fight Hi
enemy; we would not If we burst. w
long to help in the deliverance OF on
brethren. We desire to warn them o
their danger, to assist them in avert
ing They have as We have, a mos
watchful, artful, resourceful arcn-ene
my of souls to contend with 10 wa
with him one must have on the whoi
armor, the full panoply of God, Wit