The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-10-21
Comfort for Gods Children.

Comfort for Gods Children.
There is no place in the Bible
where we are encouraged to look
for ease as Gods children. The
book is perfectly honest through
out and forewarns any who de-
sire to become children of God
that ::In this world ye shall have
tribulation." 1t speaks clearly
of the "frey trials '.persecu-
tion," ssenemies for Christs'
sake and so forth. All Of these
seem, to some hearts, to be good
proof of a hard time all the way
through in the Christian expert
ence. If, however we will look
closely we can find, with every
one of the above statements, a
promise of refuge. See it is not
only stated that "In the world
We shall have tribulation,':' but
the book says also, 'tBe Of good
cheer; I have overcome the
world" John 1888. That is, I
am the overcomer, and if you put
your trust in me, though you be
in the midst Of circulation, "you
may comfort yourself with this
thought, that I will deliver you.
Again We are not only told that
we shall walk through the fire,
but also, "Thou shalt not be
burned; ueither shall the flame
kindle upon thee" Isa. 1872:
And so we might so on and lind
throughout that while no ease in
Zion is promised to any of Gods
own, yet in every way and by
numerous figures, God wants his
children to have comfort. ''Com-
fort We. comfort ye, my people,
saith your God" Gsa. 40:D. The
emphasis must be laid here upon
the expression, s:my people. "
There is no comfort to any 9th
ers. The very same truth which
brings comfort to the child of
God brings misery to the unsay-
ed. The same passage which
tells us that "He that believeth
and is baptised shall be saved.
tells US also that He that be-
lieveth not shall be damned"
Mark 1919. And so it is the
way through to the resurrection.
(See John 5:28-29). Marvel not
at this, for the hour is coming in
the which all that are in the
grave shall hear His voice and
Shall come forth; they that have
done good, unto the resurrection
of life; and they that have done
evil, to the resurrection of dam
nation" His people are the only
people who can have comfort
here or hereafter. Is it not
strange, therefore, that so many
who are really striving to be
Christians have failed to enter
into this blessing that God has
for them. So many are careful"
that is, full of care aud worry
about something, and seem to
have skipped that place in the
epistle to the Ephesians, where
we are told to be careful for
nothing" There is just one con-
dition of heart and mind in which
we can enjoy this comfort, and
that is when we have entirely
given ourselves over into Gods
keeping, with full faith that "He
careth for" US. Some men have
a sham comfort, from the things
of this world. The rich fool IN
the Bible is an example. He
seems to have had perfect conf
dence in the ability Of his pos
sessions to take care of him. His
idea of comfort was to seat, drink
and be merry" But here we see
the folly Of having perfect and
possibly sincere faith in the
wrong thing. Again, in the Old
Testiment we find a king whose
doom is written on the wall when
he is revelling in the comfort
which power position, is addition
to wealth, have brought him.
These illustrations show US that
there can be no real and lasting
comfort and Joy, bought or
brought by the mightles OF
earth's forces. The child Of God
who goes to him with the full
assurance of faith and commits
| to him his entire being is the one
who will have the peace and com
fort.
Thou wilt keep him in per.
feet peace whose mind is stald
on thee; because trusteth in
! thee" lisa 96.3O BE careful for