Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1903-02-18

treasure house of his God, If he is will
ing 10 pay the price. ] am sick and
tired OF hearing the unsaved say: ~
would like to be Christian" while
they are holding on TO the price of
that salvation with q self-will and
stnbbornness born of hell. am
weary and heart-sick from hearing
Christians with doleful and mournful
voices and made-to-order sad countc-
nanccs crying: 81 would like TO be
better Christian; | would like 10
possess this virtue or that spiritual
GIFT" while they cling to every cher
iShcd plan and desire which fill their
lives and are unwilling to pay the
price Of self-sacrifice and devout seek
ing Of God which would make the
coveted gift their blessed possession
he people who cry: Lord, Lord -
with false humility and mistaken re
hglous fervor, may work mp a deal
of sentiment and awaken a false hope
but if the price for salvation is not
paid 10y "A surrendered will they will
he among those to whom the Lord
will say in the last great day: DE
part from Me. for never knew YOU
~ N'I NtiS OF lnluultN.
The Laodicean Christians, poor. mis-
crnhly poor. although rolling in wealth
with their pockets filled With the
money of the world which flowed
through their city. Naked, disgust
'ngly naked, so as to compel God
10 say that lie would Spuc them out
of His mouth, although they were
clothed in he magnificent white wool
cus for which the city was famous
I:lind, helplcssIy blind. although the
natural eye was keen and Toasted it,
self upon the riches and beauty and
c,sturc Of the world. And GoG cries
10 them, as He does to the Christians
Of to-day: "Ruy NV gold. buy NV
white raiment. let Me anoint thine
eyes with My cycsalvc." The price Of
Gods pure gold of unalloved faith
was the giving up Of their riches,
their indulgences, their selfish ease.
The price of Gods white raiment.
which would clothe them indeed and
give them the right to sit at the mar
rage supper of the Lamb. was the
sclf-righ teousness of onward ap-
penrances which had permcnted the
killed out the spark of Divine life
which at one time had been felt And
they were blind and must 90 10 the
great Physician TO he healed They
must use His cVesalVe if they would
have their spiritual vision quickcmcd
and come to see themselves as God saw
them If The poetic vision Of man can
penetrate the fair face and form he
fore him. the air Of grace and The
winning smile, and see nothing but
"A rag and a bone and hanl, Of hair. -
what awful things the penetrating eye
Of God hcholds as it picrces the veneer
Of mans culture and refinement and
religious supcrfciaiitics and lays bare
the hidden heart. when man looks
with God he sees indeed that the
heart is dcccitful above all things and
csperatcly wicked" and is eager to
bc clothed upon with the righteous
ness which is by faith in Christ Jesus
He is willing TO pay the price He is
willing. as was Paul. to "crucify the
flesh with the affections and lusts."
that the fruit of the Spirit" might
he unhindercd in its growth in his
life.
\ Message for To Day.-Thc mes
sage TO tho Laodiccan church is a
clear and solemn message for the
church Of to-day. when has the
church Of Jesus Christ been so
wealthy and bonstcd Of that wealth
as is the case to-day? When has she
welded such power as she does to.
day in social and educational fields
and in reform moNcmcnts2 Whcr
has the church turned 50 eagerly to
tho wisdom Of man for the solution
of LIES problems and the strength
ening and building up Of the church
as to-day? Emotion is being deridcG
and frowncd down, and cold intel
lectual acceptance Of the doctrine Of
salvation is taking its place. The
deep spiritual truths of Gods Word
are being levelcd to mans ideas and
reason. and lie i becoming stricken
with the fatal blindness which aiTiict.
ed the Laoiccan church And how
patient God is through il all Read
in your Bibles the verses which close
the chapter from which our text is
taken. God is love to the cnd-lovr
in His punishment Of sin: love i'm Hi,
dealings with His hayward and dis
obcdient children. He follows III,
counsel Of our text with the rcassur
ing words "As many as love. !
rcbukc and chastcu he Jealous there
fore, and repent And lie waits
lie waits, He waits, And if lie
cannot gain the car Of the church.
He turns go the individual hcnrts and
stands and KNOCKS " hc OPENS He
will como IN and sup with him. and
The wonderful promise of sitting
with Him upon Ills throne Is given
10 the individuals who pay tho price
by overcoming and letting the Spirit
Of God operate IN their lives
What God Offers is In one hand
God holds out 10 MS gold. tried i'm the
FIRE; white raimcnt, and free treat
mcnt for spiritual blindness. which
is the most awful condition into