Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1907-12-13

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devotees OF pleasure. They are born
for eternal life. 70 fit them for this
high destiny Is the noble trust COM
mitted to the fathers and mothers. But
alas, how many of them are totally
deficient in the qualifications neces-
sary to achieve this purpose Of Gods
loyel Hence Jehovah says: / have
known Abraham to the end that he
may command his children ind his
household after HIM"
That is, God converted Abraham to
the end that he might be able to train
his children Alright. Here then is the ex-
PLANTATION the observation-disclosures baptism
inithe church OF God. One at least OF the
parents must be communicate mem
Der of the church before they have the
right 20 present their child for this
sealing ordinance. In the case of
house mot household) baptisms in the
n, T. the baptism of the children fol
lows that Of the parent. See Acts X.
2. At. 49. XVI. IA. 15. and 81. SO. Cor.
/. 16. That you need beloved friend
the converting grace Of God to enable
you 10 act the true part toward your
precious child and to help it In the
great battle with sin and satan, Is a
most solemn truth. 1t interests you
net only for yourself but or the child!
The motive that should pro pit you
to submit yourself to Christ is thus
seen to be twofold.
But to show how it is that the par
ent must be christian IN order to do
what God requires the following
points are presented:
~ The authority with which you
are invested is Divine trust, and
therefore must be discharged as re-
ligious duty, and from a spiritual mo-
tive. But these are conditions which
the carnal heart cannot meet. For
the "carnal mind is ennity against
God, for 1t is not subject to the law of
God neither indeed can be. "The
the spirit Of God" &C. Therefore Eye
must be born again.
81 The question of eternal life is the
one great thing to which you are in
treduced in connection with this mat
ter. The manner of dealing with sin,
and the proper handling of the word
of life Is far from your habits of mind
and investigation. You do not realize
what either sin or salvation means. For
If you did you could not possibly remain
rs you are, indifferent and at ease.
It would either drive you to the Cross
or to desperation. Your efforts in your
present condition are as when the
blind lead the blind and both fall into
the ditch. You do not sec, much less
do you feel the absolute need of your
child for the atoning blood of the Sa-
viour. Hence all your endeavors such
as they may be, fail utterly to meet the
condition of the ehilds salvation. ''ye
must be horn again, Tin order that you
may see and understand.
Olet me press home upon your hearts,
We parents of these little ones the
glorious opport given you to Sc
cure the everlasting happiness of those
children whose lives are dearer to you
than your own. You have been the
instruments of transmitting to them
| the bitterness of spirit al death. God
now gives to you the possibility of re
claiming them from the curse of the
law and the destruction of sin. He
made covenant with Abraham the
father of the faithful in their behalf
emphatically including them and
commanding the sign and seal of the
covenant of redemption to be set
upon them that they along with your
selves should be made the heirs of sal
walton. He says to you each one,
train up these children in the way
they should, go and I will bless them
and bring them to the knowledge of
my truth! God is faithful to every
W ord of His promise.
5. Notice also the connection be-
| tween this covenant with Abraham,
in which God requires him to command
his children and his household after
him, and the fulfllment Of the great
promise that He gave to him, / will
make of thee great nation; and in
thee shall all the nations of the earth
be blessed"
This is the glorious gospel promise,
to be accomplished through our Divine
Saviour, and is today marching on to
its contamination. And see how 1t
starts in the family and the fulfillment
of Its conditions! 1t is in vain that
mans wisdom may seek to devise
some better plan. After all other