Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1903-02-26


glory, which Thou hast given Me-
At IS good thing to turn again and
again in this way to the Scriptures to find
what is the plan God has marked out for
us, and then to square. our lives according
to this plan, to see. wherein we have fol.
lowed it OF have failed If the failure has
been grlevous it is not necessary that we
should go in mourning all the. day long,
for, just as mother forgives the weakness
OF her child and forgets the many short
comlngs, SO God. has promised again and
again in His Word to blot out all our trans.
gressions and to remember them no more
against us forever.
It is not therefore a question as to
whether we can keep from shining our
selves-we know that we can not, but it IL
altogether a question as to whether Christ
can keep us if we will but give Him the
right to do so. [ have no question but
that one could walk from one corner of the
street to the other with Christ 50 con-
stantly before him that. in his own judg-
ment at least. he would be overcoming
sin. / am perfectly clear that he could
increase his journey by many miles and
still be more than conqueror. I am abso-
iutely confident that one could walk the
whole day with Christ SO vividly before
him that it would be peace and JOY. And
what could be accomplished in one day
life.
After the return Of Christ for His church
there is to be great day of awards when
| those who have been faithful shall receive
recognition at the hands of the Lord Him
self. in the presence of the assembled
hosts in the skies. We can tell just what
word of explanation: We can not give the
exact description of the crowns we shalt
| wear, nor can we estimate in human lam
guaee their value in the opinion of men.
But we know, after studying the. New
| Testament, that it is to be according to
| ness. It is in this way that every child
! of God may confidently say: II know what
| my award is to be-" He measured it him
| self. 1t is very true that one may stand
! before God and receive from Him only y
| measure of reward, and it is likewise true
the hands Of his Master John speaks
about "a full reward as if there might be
a reward that is not complete. Alas. this
| is only too true! But the opposite is also
| true, that one may have at that great day
| at the hands of God Himself a full reward.
us to lay hold of the promises Of God SO
! that our lives may be SO shaped according
to His will that when that day comes we
| shall stand before Him with rejoicing and
not with sorrow.
| 4 crown is always symbol of reward.
Expressions containing the word are many
times used in the New Testament. It is
"crown that is incorruptible,". a "crown Of
rejoicing" "crown of righteousness"
and s: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 a
certain, kind OF reward. So far as have
been able to sec there are but five crowns
in the New Testament Scriptures. Every
Christian may have one, but oh. the Joy
| of it! every Christian may have five. But
| the message is still sweeter, for If we
should receive from the hands of our glori-
fed Lord the crowns there would still be
something in reserve.
first in order would be the one mentioned
| in James i: l2-"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: 1on"Be thou faithful unto
iife. iafste' and l will give thee a crown OF
It was to be given to the Church Of
Smyrna, that suffered the most. / used to
read the text-"Be thou faithful until
DEATH" and 1 supposed it meant simply
that we needed to be faithful during life
and that when death came our RESPONSE
DlllCy was. dL du cuu. DuI tHc WoAu 10
"unto." and smeans 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 has
been thrown to the wild beasts that they
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 be
little things for Christ. So many seem to
think that they can do but little for Christ
and therefore leave that little undone. This
is a most serious error. "Inasmuch as We
. have done it unto the least Of these ye
have done it unto Me" said Christ. A cup
cheer spoken for His glory, a 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
t unceasing prayer for the spread of Christi
kingdom, and for the outpouring of the
Holy Ghost upon the man who breaches
: I-Christ at the sacred desk. l remember
5 very well Wncn L nFSL DecdHlc pdstOI "
: | the church to which now minister. AT
/ ter had preached my first sermon and
, | the people had presented themselves .te
e say words of cheer, an old man came walk
| ing down the aisle, leaning upon his stat
q because of Ills age, and he said to me: ..
II am afraid you Will make it failure. :"
/ / I did not consider that much Of a wore
t Of cheer, and heartily wished he coule
e have given it to me at another time.
q Then, looking about the church, h
added: eve have always had a man O
n large experience, and the church is large. !,
have made up my mind t, help you." :!
e wondered in 1ny own mind what he could
do. He added: II have determined X
Il pray for you every day that you are pas
tor Of this church, and have covenantet
It with two other men to pray for you:
s AT this my heart was filed with JOY
Y and thanked God and took courage, feel
e ing confident from the beginning that HI
r had given me the victory. The three mel
le soon grew to ten, and the ten to fifty, ant
v the fifty to 200, until in these days fron
o $50 to 500 consecrated men bow thei
Il heads in prayer with me every Sunda
is morning at 945, praying Gods blessin,
le upon me as preach, and upon the peopI
K as they listen. The most wonderful ,plac