Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1904-03-09

mighty. not many noble are called: but
God chose the foolish things of the world.
mat He might put TO shame them tina;
are wise" And this all means. not that
God does not want the wise and cultured
and mighty to be saved. but that the very
simplicity OF His message which is able
to reach the world proves a stumbling
block to them. Gods message is simple
but profound. easily understood by all.
and mighty to save those who receive IL.
GODS message is also pertinent
~ message. tits 'precept upon precept.
precept upon precept; line upon line.
line upon line; here a little. there lit
tie. IL is to the point. II is prepared
with the certain. definite purpose of
meeting certain. definite need. Man
has one supreme and desperate need.
and that is deliverance from sin and its
consequences. There is universal con-
seriousness in the heart of man that he
is sinner. Even the most untutored
savage is oppressed by the thought of
violating the will and pleasure of his
gods, and seeks in some way to appease
and secure their favor. And man is a
sinner and lost. as God S simple message
declares. and Gods message goes on TO
apply the remedy, the only remedy which
can meet the need. That is. Gods
message not only diagnoses the case
tells what is the matter with man-but it
goes on to prescribe just the remedy that
is needed to cleanse and heal. When
Naaman came to the prophet of God.
/ 6nGnnrnt a Al Scin Il &c
ease of leprosy. and the servant of God
delivered Gods message to him he was
minded 10 turn away in anger and dis
gust because the remedy which he had
expected would be applied was not ad-
ministered And vet Notwithstanding
the fact that he thought the waters of
Damascus were far better than those OF
the Jordan. it was bathing in the Jor-
dan and the Jordan alone which re-
moved his leprosy and made his skin
TO return upon him like that OF little
child. Gods message to Naaman was
just such as would meet his need, and
Gods message to the world to-day is
just such as the world needs to bd saved.
Pass before the great Physician, oh
man. oh, woman, Let Him diagnose
your case. He says: 'All have sinned
and come short of the glory of God" He
goes on to say that that condition of sin
Will bring forth death-soul death.
For the soul that sinneth ii shall die"
And then having told you the nature of
your disease in simple word of three
letters, SIN, having told you the CON
sequences of that disease in n word of
five letters-DEATH-H goes on to
point TO the remedy; He says: Behold
the Lamb of God. which taketh away
the sin of the world" II is the one
remedy for sin. And Gods message is a
pertinent message. because IL speaks of
the remedy-the only remedy-for the
supreme need of man.
GODS message is also persistent.
~ "Precept upon precept, precept upon
precept: line upon line, line up
on line; here little, there a
little" over and over, and over
and over again, God repeats His mes
sage to a lost and dying world. See Him
as He patiently. lovingly. longingly deals
with His chosen people. How persistent
He is! Prophet after prophet sent TO
them to deliver His message Punish
ment after punishment inflicted
upon them that they might re-
ceive and understand His mes
sage. In the chapter from which
our text is taken we have the prophet
ic story OF Israel's captivity. of Samaria's
destruction. an example and warning to
judah to hear and obey Gods message.
upon precept; line upon line. line upon
line; here little. there little" And
yet they would not hear, they would not
heed but plunged down to their ruin.
And for nearly 1000 years since Christ
came as Gods message to the world He
has been persistently trying to bring
the world to its acceptance. All. Chris
tian. have you grown weary in bearing
this message TO the world? Have Won
about concluded that the world needs
something else? Have you begun TO
feel that the simple Gospel message is
getting monotonous and is worn thread
bare? Look away TO God! Learn from
Him! Behold how persistent He has
been in delivering His message. And
dare you be any less persistent? Dare
you falter, and grow faithless. when
God says: BE not weary in well doing
for in due season ye shall reap If We
faint note Ii is "precept upon precept
precept upon precept: line upon line
line upon line; here little, there a lit
tie" It is Gods way. He keeps pre-
scribing the only remedy which will eff
feet a cure. What would you think of
physician who would change his medi-
cine at the within and notion OF the pa
tient. and instead Of giving the remedy
which alone could cure. would provide
something which would not stay the
disease or cure? No, the successful ply
stefan must be persistent in his treat