Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-07-15

vice, no more service than the noontide
sun is to the mar whose eyes are sealed
in darkness.
And notice that this work which is
going on IN the heart is q good work.
From the time that we become morally
responsible until we are taken out OF
the world, there is something going on
in OUT hearts. III 1t is not the influence
Of God which dominates. It will be the
influence OF Satan. But as coon as
conversion takes place 1t Is God that
worketh IN US to will and to do accord
ingly to his good pleasure. The work
OF God in us Is good and nothing but
good. 1t is the work of grace or cal
walton In an immortal soul.
ar. This good work is divine In It's
origin. "He which hath begun a good
work" The word, he, here undoubted-
ly refers to the all loving father. Every
good in the universe begins with the
good one The first good thoughts.
sympathy, yolitions, aims. principles OF
action in the human soul, originate
with him, from whence comes every
good and perfect gift. Personal Chris
tianity in a man is a divine thing, 1t
Is the eternal logas made flesh. II be-
gins in a new creation. God only can
create. SO great a change as is re-
CURED in turning a life from sin and
selishness to holiness can only be eff
fected by a divine influence. That in
fiuence is put forth SO that the greatest
sinner may become the greatest saint.
HI. The fact that God has begun the
good work is a ground for thinking
that he will complete it. The charac-
ter Of God insures this. He. is not
tickle that he should change, nor weak
that he should fail. Man lives and
moves through life surrounded by un-
finished things. He has constantly to
say my purposes are broken off," He
often begins what he cannot carry
through. But Gods purpose LIS never
frustrated. Paul expresses his utmost
confidence in the willingness and pow.
er of God to carry through the work OF
salvation. lie says Il know him whom
I have believed and am persuaded that
ne is able to keep that which | have
committed unto him against that day."
The nature of the work implies that
God will complete 1t. Eternal life is a
gift. We can not earn it We can not
buy it. We cannot get 1t by keeping
the law of God. THE gift Of God is
eternal life" Who can reasonably
think OF Gods giving us salvation and
then taking it from US? Not only is
the beginning Of it from God. but the
mean of growth is from him. A per-
feet Christian is the result OF years OF
training. The new birth produces a
spiritual babe, much spiritual nourish-
ment and education is required to de-
velop the full grown man. HE that
spared not his own son but delivered
him UP for US all, how shall he not
with him freely give us all things" II
God has gone SO far as to sacrifice his
son for your sins, and If he has sent
his spirit into your heart creating you
anew in Christ Jesus you need not fear
hut that he will give you all necessary
spiritual things to complete the work
of redemption begun in you. He has
done the greatest thing possible in CIV
ing his son, and now will he fail to do
less. All, no., such a thought Is cb-
surd.
Nv. In the beginning, the continuance
and ending of the work of grace, God
requires us to cooperate with him.
in order that we may cooperate or take
the consequence. We must exercise
faith and obedience in the strength of
God and for the reception OF Gods
work in us. We are commanded to
abide in Christ, "and to let his word
abide in us. We are entreated to
uOiu last Tic pIOlconfOu VI Jul icibu
without wayering." And TO give dill
gence to make your calling and cleo
ton sure; for if we do these things. We
shall never fall" All this proves that
we must exercise the powers that God
has given us to cooperate with him in
the work of personal salvation. Paul's
confidence that God would finish his
good work in his children did not sug-
gest to him the foolish thought that
we have nothing to do, that 1t all de-
ponds upon God. and that If we are to
be saved we will be saved, and II we are
to be lost we will be lost" He prayed
for his converts and exhorted them to
use the means God had placed at their
disposal for their continuance in grace.
Whatever is possible for us to do we
are required to do. But these are GER
tain things which we can not do, but
we must rely upon God to do for us.
This is what Paul speaks Of in the text.
And now how encouraging this text
ought to be to those who are beginning
the new life. The first step is the hard
est, and the second or third step Is the