Democratic messenger., 1903-01-31

standing silcn: IN the pulpit waited for an
answer The silence was voicefu Then.
looking at his congregation these were his
words:
"Brethrcn there is no response
After calling these names hc would call
the names of kings. the names oi apostles
the names of famous historians the names
of artists of scientists OF inventors OF
phlant hropists. and after the roll call
came again and again the answer:
Brethren. there Is no response. These
men are dead"
l could call the names. too. il | would
Here is the name OF one who was once the
superintendent of a Sunday school. and
who answered not at the roll call Here is
another who once stood as an officer in the
church, but his voice is silent Here il
another who was once honored in society
for his Drofessed faithfulness unto God
but there is no response to his name And
oh. the sadness! here is another whose
name was once a household word as an
honored minister of the gospel. and there
is no response to his name What is the
reason: Because, like the Nazarite. they
have come in contact with the dead Their
old sins have come up again. like bones
from the grave, deiiling their memory and
robbing them of their power. 1t is he
canse the very atmosphere they have been
Obliged to breathe, like ours is against
God and in enmity to Christ and it is not
easy to keep unspottcd from the world
clean.
But one is still lett to us. God is still
love- he still loves you. and, having loved
you will love you unto the end His New
Testament provision is a far better ono
than the Old "For ii the blood of bulls
and OF goats. and the ashes OF an heifer
sprnkling the unclean, sanctiiieth to the
purifying of the flesh. how much more
shall the blood OF Christ, who through the
Eternal Spirit offered Himself without
spot to God, purge Your conscience from
dead works, to serve the living God:
tHebrews tx: IL, III. We need not stay
out OF fellowship. or br deprived OF power
God is love. and He will give us all things
if we but fulfill His conditions.
"And thou shalt take the other RAM
and Aaron and his sons shall pat their
hands upon the head OF the ram. Then
shalt thou XIII the ram. aud take OF his
blood. and put il upon the lin OF the right
ear of Aaron. and upon the tin OF the
right car Of his sons. and upon the thumb
OF their right hand. and unon the great
toe of their right foot. and sprinkle the
blood upon the altar round about" Ex
xxx: 10. 20.
was the ram. This. Ike all the rest. sheds
light upon the gospel. and the understand.
ing OF 1t is the secret OF peace for many
life
When the blood was sprnk.cd on the ear
and the thumb and foot il was 4 sign they
were henceforth to be separated from all
worldly purposes. In this we get n deep
lesson touching conservation. We have
been told that we must forsake all for
Christ. and some OF us have done it, We
have been eounseled 10 give up the things
that really we have enjoyed simply he.
cause they are questionable or contrary TO
the teaching of Gods word. and when we
have done this the evil bird comes 20 us
saving:
You have forsakcn these things but
what have you got in return
Not lnfrequentiy we find persons who
stand IN this position. who are OF all per
sons the most miserable. This is because
they have taken only half the step. They
have separated themselves from something,
TO anything. In other words. there are
two sides to the doctrine OF separation.
We are to be separated from the world
but we are at the same time to be separ.
ated unto Christ and that place which
once the world filled is now TO be oceu.
pied by Christ Himself
1t Is to be noted that the blood was
placed upon the ear first. This is very sig.
nltcart TO me. So many people get an
idea that If they are converted they must
immediately do something for Christ. when
in point OF fact service comes last The
blood placed upon the ear first teaches the
lesson that we are to hear what the Lord
has to say to US. Ii we could but cultivate
the habit OF going alone each dav and sit.
ting still just TO commune with God what
source of strength it would he to Us,
God only tells His secrets to those who
shut out the world. and thus come close to
Him.
The blood was placed upon the hand
next. from which l learn we are not only
to hear what God has 10 say to us. but we
are to reach ont and take wha: He offers.
God has promised us the Holy Ghost. lie
is gift. Reach out and take the gift.
The blood was placed upon the foot last
This manv stand for service, but notice the
divine order.
We have reached time when rules Of
'ice are hardly necessary: when the
methods adopted for sou'-wianinc we feel
sure. must grieve the Hoy Ghost In
point of fact. If one is 10 be usel OF Cod
he must certainly surrender to God. and
give Him the right OF WY in his life and
then service comes naturally. and results
are sure.