The Newtown bee., 1902-08-29

life, and may have it apundantly." Let us briefly consider of what this life consists, which Christ came that we might have.
 Primarily it consists of our being in favor with God; reconciled to Him; soul saved by grace will be rich in the possession of diversified treasures; hence the life Christ gives is an abun- dant life, and if we fail to enjoy it's abundance, it is because we stitie it's growth in us, by seeking joys again in the beggarly elements of the darkness of sin. That is, we leave the light which, Christ imparts and seek for life and growth in the pleasures of the world. Spiritual gifts, though all the fruits of Divine love, are as various as the needs of humanity. There is then no necessity for the child of God seek ing for the joy of growth amid those pleasures that exist in that darkness where the light which comes from Christ has not been permitted to shine.
 The raising of soul dead by sin, to life in righteousness,
 IS A MOST PRECIOUS GIFT;
 and such life to be abundant that is 1 growing life, must be influenced by all the principles of Divine grace; for it is by grace that this life is given us. Hence it follows that growth in this life consists in living dependent on Christ.
 He first gives us this, for He came that we may have it; and then He sus- >tains this life in us, even as the good shepherd sustains life in his sheep by green and the shade inviting. How beautiful the words of the 23d Psalm here:
 '"The Lord is my Shepherd, shal! not
 want.
 He maketh me to lie down in green
 pastures;
 He leadeth me beside the water of
 reSt.'
 Thus dost Christ impart life and growth to the soul, sustained and SUD- ported by him.
 He also delivers and saves, this won- derful Shepherd, who by His coming enables His sheep to have life and to have it abundantly. For there IS not only nourishment for strength, and rest for growth, but restoration and "He restoreth my soul.
 He leadeth me in the paths of right
 eOusnesS for His names sake, " Thus we see not only life but dbun- dant life, proceeding from Christ to benefit all who will walk in the light He imparts.
 But more, Christ will crown those who trust in and follow Him unto the | end; for He declares that to those who | are faithful, walking in His light, liv- ing in His life, He will give crown of | life. Here we behold the full measure of the abundance of the life that Christ came that we may have. Thus is it clearly intimated that THE TRUE CHRISTIAN IS LIVING
 CHRISTIAN. He lives because spiritual religion of which he is a partaker, is a living thing: hence this life is a growing life. | It grows up into Christ which is it's living head; or as Paul expresses it in | his letter to the Ephesians, '.Till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of | God, unto full grown man. unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. But let us consider some of | the benefits brought into the soul by this life which Christ came to give.
 There is love. Reciprocal love. It is and they that seek me early shall find me-" That love that joyously seeks the object of its affection. Seeks it early: Seeks it finding it. A love that loves because it was first loved, A love that rel joices to do the will of the one loved. That makes every duty delight and every service joy. From love flows peace, "because to be minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Says Paul, "the peace of God passeth all understanding" It is peace too high, too deep. too long, too wide, for the happy pOsSeSSOr ever, to exhaust. My peace l give unto you; not as the world giveth, give 1 unto you," said He who is the life of the world. Then there is confidence brought into the life of the soul, and we feel the en- of the promises of God to His children. Therefore, i've are made partakers of Christ, "by this life, that we may "hold the beginning of our confidence steadfaSt unto the end" having thereby boldness to enter into the holiest with d confidence, (which nath great recOmpense of reward" confidence in that power that is able 10 hide us with our living head in the great fountain of life.
 WITH GOD md into unity with the spirit, there y leading us in the bond of peace, to grow by faith in the knowledge of the Son of God, and into the abundant life i which He came to bring. Thus are