Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-02-18
blindness that God would anoint tho

blind man is hardly q safe per.
son TO carry on financial transac-
tions. He cannot tell the difference
between gold and brass. lie is not
able to distinguish the dark garment
from the one of snow-white wool
ms being true, 1t is necessary to
cure him OF his blindness before
sending him to buy gold and white
raiment. Spiritual blindness must be
cured before the soul is able to dis
tinguish Gods gold and pick out His
white raiment. There is a very great
ueai OF base metal in circulation to-
day that Is passing for Gods gold
ana there are multitudes OF people
VINO seem to have their nakedncss
covered who are not wearing the
white garments which God provides.
Inc human eye is deceived, but the
penetrating gaze of God will detect
the sham every time. Therefore. buy
Gods gold and obtain from Him
Whltc ralmcnt. As we have already
SAld, Cod holds out in one hand HIS
goa and white raimcnt, and with
the other lie reaches to receive the
price which He cNacts before tho
goods are delivered God does n
strictly cash business, and if Won
wish TO obtain His golden gifts or
III" white raiment You must pay the
price at the time you take the goods.
And what is il that God offers ms
ana what is the price He cNacts in
re' urn The white raimcnt is the
righteousness of God with which the
repentant sinner is clothed when he
accepts Christ as Saviour and is
washed in the cleansing blood. The
gold includes all the fruits of the
Spirit, and which are so fully set
forth in Ephesians, SO. and Gala
tianS, 30 and %. The price which
'od demands ere the white raimcnt
Is given TO cover the nakedncss Of
man - n repentant and believing
hthrt, and a surrendered will. Many
man would have the white garment
OF SaIVat l"n If he could buy the same
with this worlds goods. But he is
NOT wiling to pay the price which
''"" asks. Like the proud Pharisce
IN the temple, he iustifics himself bv
the long and really splendid list OF
ms benev"lcpccs, his gifts to the
church, his devotionS and his clean
lt'; he has no sense of the neel of
Saviour, and his will is unyiel1iny
and self aSScrtive. Is il not strnnoa
'hht man Is not willing TO pay the
price which God asks for His white
'h''heht! lie wants to price-mark
'"h goods. Who would dare be so
PteSuThpiuous as to go into the store
"t the merchant and ATTEMPT 40 die
tate to hun the prices at which the
goods should bc sold? If we want
his goods we must paw the Drica
Which he asks. and we do not feet
,n"t IL IS unfair or unreasonable for
MN I" fix the terms on which he win
let his goods bc sold And WIN,
should man think that God has less
right I" fix the price of His gold and
MS white raimcnt? Man boldly
walks. sometimes, where angels fear
TO tread, ana he sets aside God,s
plain declarations as to the way of
salvation. and plans and speculates
ON the way hc thinks the white robe
of salvation is obtained.
Simon. the sorcercr of Samaria.
attempted I" buy Gods Gift of the
Holy Ghost. and Peter said unto him:
hY money perish with thee, be.
cause thou hast thought that the
gut at God may he purchased with
money Thou hast neither part nor
lot III this matter" But what Simon
could not buy with his money. he
co"Id buy with surrendered and
obcdicnt and believing heart. for Pc,
ter goes ON to tell him: For thy
heart IS not right IN the sight Of
H"d. Repent, therefore, of this thy
wickcdncss; and pray God. if perhaps
the thought of thine heart NAV he
forgiven thee" Every gift of God
costs something God does not give
to the soul which is not willing TO
pay the price, for if lie did it would
be the same as casting pearls before
SWINE, ana His gifts would lie tram
pea under unappreCiativc and desc
Grating feet. But, as there is moth
ing displayed in the store windows
but what may he obtained if one is
willing to pay the price. so there is
nothing in the rich treasure house OF
God but what may he had if the soul
Is willing 10 pay the price. Man may
not have the price to buy the costly
articles he sees displayed i'm the mer-
chants window, but the soul always
has the price within itself to secure
Gods white raimcnt and His precious
gold tried ia the fire of His right
eOus love.
Show Windows. The merchant de-
Ponds very largely upon the tastT
display 81 his choice goods i'm his
show windows to secure trade for
his store and TO sell his poods Tho
highest priced help in his store is
the skilled window dresser. who
knows just how 10 place everything
to the very best advantage. Tie
Christian is Gods show window. In
tho Christian God expects TO have
his white raimeut worn 80 graceful.
~ and faithfully that those about
him viii rcndily see the Heavenly
livery. and desire tho same kind 81
apparel God wants and expects His