Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-03-16


been metamorphosed. Note that the
same life which was in the caterpillar Is
now in the butterfly, but how changed.
Changed into new being. For many
wears before scientists discovered tfis
metamorphosis they thought the cater
pillar and butterfly We're two separate
and distinct creatures, with no relation
ship whatever with each other. Does
not this Clarity and Illustrate Paul,s
teaching for men? BE We metamor-
Sphosed (transformed) into new crea-
lures in Christ.
Two blocks from the parsonage is a
marble shop. In the shop is limestone
az we'll as marble. The one used az
base stone. the other the shaft for In
scription. Limestone cannot be polished.
II is too coarse Neither can a fine and
artistic engraving be made upon 1t. But
marble will take a polish as smooth as
glass. Beautiful and artistic inscrip-
tons can be chiseled into it, We all
Know these facts, yet not all of us know
that marble was once limestone. Cecil
ogists call marble "methaphoric rock 2
hey show Us that limestone when met
amorphosed becomes marble. This
change is wrought deep in the bowels
ofathe earth by the agencies of God In
nature. Heat, moisture and pressure
We're necessary to the process: after the
transformation had taken place the
strata We're heaved up and forced to-
ward the surface where men have
found the marble ready to be quarried.
This again Illustrates the transforms
ton of which Paul speaks. The lime
stone of our gross and carnal nature
can be transformed into n better char
acter and life But as the limestone.
cannot make itself into marble. neither
can the natural man make himself
spiritual. Divine newer is necessary.
help from without must come
The marble is finer In quality. II takes
Ia polish 1t receives the Inscription so
lis the transformed character. And IL
Gods great work. shop the christian
character is polished by abrasion and
affliction. and the seif-deIlial and SELL
sacrifice Of his Christ like life Will en-
grave into his life the character Of his
Lord, SO that men shall see and read
and know that he is Chrfst's. The pol-
|ishing and chiseling hand of Cod is at
work in his providential dealing with his
children Let us not shrink from it,
knowing that it is He, who doeth all
things we'll and for our good.
8 That sc may prove etc-Spiritua
things can be proven as we'll as mater
ial things. The object Of proving a
thing is to know Now one can know
this transformed life-tliis new charac-
ter in Christ-fully az well as he can
know anything else. BE We Transformed
that We may prove and thus know the
good. acceptable and perfect God. This
transformation is necessary to the proof
Mathematical things can be proven
mathematically; chemical things. chem
ically; spiritual Things spiritually.
Each thing can be proven only by obey
ling the principles that govern or deter
mine the nature OF the thing to be
proven.
Obedience is necessary. 1t is go in
Everything. BY obeying the laws of
electricity we can use it. to light our
houses and run our street cars. ODE
idience is the KEY 10 Knowledge ana
power. Jesus says,: .tIf any man Will
do his VIII he shall know Of the doe
strine. whether 1T be of God. or Whether
III sneak of rnyseIf.,' This places the
proof Of spiritual realities upon the
same basis of proof as ANYTHING not
spiritual.
Every promise of God has conditions
Expressed or implied. ASK ard ye shall
receive; seek and We shall find. If We