St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-11-15

searches out new facts in regard to the
tiny star, or the scientist through his
microscope learns more and more of
the infnitesimal microbe, but, oh!
we may submit to the hand of God and
experience the thrilling joy of the new
life.
Il know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart.
Nor how believing In His word
Wrought peace within my heart.
II know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.
But I know whom I have believed.
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I have committed
Unto Him against that day."
The Pattern.-As in every workshop
where raw material is taken and man
ufactured into articles useful and or
namental, there is the pattern, the
working model which is followed,
so it is in the workshop of God. The
perfect man, Christ Jesus, is the mod
ell after which all the constructive
work of the shop is carried on.
The first Adam disobeyed God and be-
came subject to death as a conse-
quence of sin. All nodded after his
pattern in the world since then have
borne the same disfiguring marks OF
sin and death. You cannot expect the
machine which is constructed after
the imperfect model will be free
from defects. 1t was necessary,
therefore, if man was to be recon-
structed, recreated, new and perfect
model must be secured. For centuries
God was busy preparing for this ire
mendously important event in the
world. In the FITNESS Of time He
chose His dearest treasure, His only
begotten Son, to go to the earth and by
HIS life among men, and as man, sup
ply the perfect pattern after which the
new and Heavenly race was to be con-
structed. He perfectly kept the law
of God and did His Fathers will. He
was tempted in all points like as we
are, yet without sin. Wherein Adam
tory over Satan, and forever put the
arch deceiver of mankind to flight.
As the perfect pattern He stood upon
the mountain of TRANSPORTATION and
the glory of God transformed Him and
He was revealed to the eyes OF sim
full man as the perfect man. He was
ready to 60 back to God, as far as He
Himself was concerned.
But from beholding the face of His
Father in Heaven He turned His gaze
back to earth and saw the sons of
Adam the First dead in trespasses and
sins. He had demonstrated His own
purity and holiness. Now came the
working out of a plan by which death
as punishment for sin could be over
come and man could be recreated
after the perfect pattern. And this was
the subject Of conversation between
Christ Jesus. the perfect man, and
Moses and Elijah. He talked with
them concerning His decease, or ex-
odus, which He should accomplish at
Jerusalem. He was to become more
than the pattern. He was to become
the vitalizing force by which the dead
soul was to be called into life again.
Talk as much as you will about Jesus
being the perfect model and hold Him
up to the world to follow, to lido as'Je-
sus would do" to follow sin His
steps!" Why, it is simply impossible
and preposterous for unregenerate
man to try or expect to do such a
thing! You cannot reshape the old
unregenerate man into the likeness
and form of the perfect pattern. God
knew it couldn't be done. He knew
hat man had to be reborn, recreated, to
be made new creature, and that then
the molding into the likeness Of the
perfect pattern would be simple
matter. Christ saw this clearly as He
stood upon the mountain of trans
figuration. He was ready to step
back into His place in Heaven, but He so
loved the world that He came down into
it's midst again and became 'sin for
us, Who knew no sin; that we might
be made the righteousness OF God IN
Him." He became our substitute for
sin. for 1.-THE Lord hath laid on Him
the iniauity of us ALL" Thus in Christ
man escapes the consequences OF SIM
while at the same time Gods judg.
ment against sin is perfectly salts
fed. He triumphed over death in His
resurrection, and thus became not only
the perfect pattern to be used in Gods
workshop, but the vitalizing force as
WELL
Good Works.-Man in his workshop
builds machines to perform certain
work. They are expected to do that
work or be cast aside as worthless.
No less is this true in Gods workshop.
"For we are His workmanship. created
in Christ Jesus, unto good works" God
cannot be satisfied with the soul which
is content to rest in the thought that
it is safe in Christ Jesus. He wants to
see that newborn creature in Christ
Jesus performing the functions for
which he was created. "Created unto
good works." Impossible to do good
works apart from Christ, but in Christ
such activity becomes possible. 1t is
evidence that the soul has been born
again, and it is absolutely essential
to it's life and growth. God found Pc
fer an ignorant fisherman by the lake
Of Galilee and made him into an apostle
and preacher. not for himself alone.
but that he might preach on the day OF
Pentecost and win three thousand
souls for Christ. And that he might
90 on doing the good works OF God,
from raising the lame man at the tenn
ple gate all through his busy ministry
to the glory of his martyrdom. God