The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-02-19

OF her child and forgets the many short.
comings, so God has promised again and
again in His Word to blot out all our trans.
gre1sions and to remember them no more
against us forever.
It is not therefore question as to
whether we can keep from SHINING our
sel"es..we know that we can not. but it is
altogether n question as to whether Christ
can keep US if we will but give Him the
right to do so. I have no question but
that Que could wa ek from one corner of the
street to the other with Christ so con.
stantly before him that. in his own judg.
ment at least, he would bn overcoming
sin. ] am perfectly clear that he could
increase his journey by many miles and
still be more than conoueror. I am abso.
lutelv confident that one could walk the
whole day with Christ so wildly before
him that i would be peace and JOY. And
what could he ACCOMPLISHED in one day
could be made the rule of mans entire
life.
After the return Of Christ for His church
there is to be treat dav Of awards. when
those who have been fqithful shall receive
recognition at the hands of the Lord Him.
self. in the preseroa of the assembled
hosts in the skies. We can tell lust what
this reward is to be, and yet this needs a
word OF explanation. We can not give the
exact description Of the crowns we shall
wear, nor can we estimate in human Ian.
guage their value in the opinion of men.
But we know. after studying the New
Testament, that it is to be according 10
our faith and in proportion to our faithful.
ness. lt is in this way that every child
of God may confidently say: ~ know what
nv award is to be-" He measured il him.
self. 1t is. verv true that one may stand
before God and receive from Him only n
measure Of reward. and it is likewise true
that he might have 2 greater blessing from
the hands of his Master John sneaks
about 20, full reward as if there might he
a reward that is not complete. Alas. this
is only too true! But the opposite is also
at the hands OF God Himself a full reward
And the purpose Of this book is 70 induce
us TO lay hold of the promises of God so
that our lives may be SO shaned according
to His will that when that day comes we
shall stand before Him with rejoicing and
not with sorrow.
A crown is always a symbol of reward.
Expressions containing the word are manv
times used in the New Testament. It is
sometimes "crown of life," again
crown that is incorruptible.'' a "crown Of
rejoicing" "crown of Righteousness"
and "a crown OF glory" But these names
are given not simply for the sake of en-.
phasis. as the change of q name might be
emphatic but because each crown means
been abe to see there are hut five crowns
in the New Testament Scriptures. Every
Christian NAV have one, but oh. the 10Y
OF it. every Christian may have FIVE. But
the message is still sweeter, for if we
should receive from the hands of our plor.
fled Lord the crowns there would still be
something in reserve.
Naturally the crown that should come
first in order would be the one mentioned
in James i: 12-"Blessed is the man that
endureth temptation: for when he is tried
he shall receive the crown of life. which
the Lord hath promised TO them that love
Him" This crown is also mentioned in
Revelation ii: 10-"Re thou faithful unto
death, and / will give thee a crown OF
life."
1t was to be given to the Church of
read the text-"Be thou faithful until
DEATH" and I supposed it meant simply
that we needed to he faithful during life
and that when death came our response
bility was at on end, but the word is
unto" and means not simply that one
should be faithful and willing to suffer for
the Master. but to suffer and to die.
This leads me to say that the crown OF
life is undoubtedly the one to be given to
the martyr-not simply the one who hes
died at the stake. or the woman who has
been thrown to the wild beasts that thev
might devour her. but the one who has suf.
fered in body and mind unknown to fame
but suffered nevertheless, and suffered for
the glory Of God.
It is likewise the crown that is to he
given TO the one who is able to do only
little things for Christ. So many seem to
think. that they can do brt little for Christ
and therefore leave that little undone. This
is most serious error. "Inasmuch as We
have done it unto the least of these We
have done it unto Me-" said Christ. A cup
of cold water given in His name, a word Of
cheer spoken for His glory. warm hand
clasp that He may be exalted in the opin.
ion of men-these little things win the
eternal reward.
So many people are asking: "What can
do to help on the cause of Christ. TO assist
my minister, or to help the church" II |
most helpful it would be the offering of
nnceasing prayer for the spread OF Christ's
kingdom, and for the outpouring of the
Holy Ghost upon the man who breaches
Christ at the sacred desk. l remember
very well when I first became pastor OF
the church to which | now minister. Al
ter / had prea he'd my first sermon and
the people had presented themselves to
say words OF cheer, an old man came walk.
ing down the aisle, leaning upon his staff
because of his age, and he said to me;
81 am afraid you will make it failure
did not consider that rluch OF a word
of cheer, and heartily wished he could
have given it to me at another time.
Then, looking about the church. he
added: Owe have always had a man OF
large experience, and the church is large
Then he came nearer and said: But !
have made up my mind to help vou." |
wondered in nv own mind what he could
do. He added: "I have determined TO
pray for you every dav that you are pas
tor of this church, and have covenanted
with two other men to pray for you"
At this my heart was filed with JOY,
and thanked God and took courage, feel
ing confident from the beginning that He
had given me the victory. The three men
soon grew to ten, and the ten to fifty, and
the fifty to 200, until in these days from
$50 to 500 consecrated men bow their
heads in prayer with me every Sunday
morning at 945, praying Gods blet ing
upon me as preach, and upon the people
as they listen. The most wonderful place
in all the world t., preach in is church
where the atmosphere is permeated wirh
the. petitions of faithful Christians for
Gods blessing uptm His ministers. And
these are they who. upon the great day OF
awards. shall receive the crown of life
They do little thir Us well, to the glory OF
God.
San Francisco is credited with having ono
saloon for every twenty-five adult male in.