Evening journal., 1909-12-18


He recognized as a Christian that
he had certain lesosns to learn in the
School OF Christ and this was a part
OF his course OF preparation for joint
heirship with Christ in the glories Of
the Rfiliennial Kingdom The course
included not merely theory. but also
practice. He not only Theoretically
learned about Christ, but experiment.
ally. He became a partaxer with him
IN the sufferings OF this present time.
And sympathetically he was permitted
to enter into a large degree Of lnowl-
edge Of the mystery" OF the Divine
Plan hidden from the world.
Not only had his own course OF In
struction been a thorough one, but he
had been given a post graduate course
as an ambassador for his Lord and
Redeemer and as an Apostle for tho
brethren, tho Church. Moreover. he
recognized the fact that all such as
became members OF the Body Of Christ
are so directly under the Divine super
vision md regulations that their times
are I'm Gods hand-all or their affairs
OF llfe temporal and spiritual AS tho
Masters death could not occur until
his hour was come" 80 likewise It Ia
with his consecrated members
He had kept the faith and the faith
had kept him. Many do not realize
how important are knowledge and
correct faith. MY people perish for
lack OF knowledge Is the Lords tes-
timony. And their faith can keep pace
only with their knowledge, for faith
must have a basis. A correct life de-
pends greatly upon a correct faith
why did our forefathers burn one aR-
other at the stake In a diabolical mani
ner? Because they were governed by
error False doctrines. styled by the
Apostle doctrines OF DEVILS" had ben
presented TO them and they had be-
lieved them. And the legitimate out
come OF the wrong belief, the wrong
faith was wrong doing. Believing that
God purposed the torture Of his crea-
lures for centuries In Purgatory or for
UNRELIABLE millions Of years In eternal
torment they copied the misconception
Of the Almighty in their lives, TO our
horror.
But st. Paul had kept the faith-the
true faith once delivered into the
saints-faith in-the Redemer's sacri-
/ noe; faith in it's application on our
behalf; faith in our justification by
] the Father on that account; faith In
. the glorious promises Of Gods Word;
faith ia the Lord and faith In the
I brethren. Surely Il means something
20 keep the faith--especiolly when VIC
realize that our great Adversary
satan. Is on the alert continually to
take II from US or turn or twist 1t to
our loss OF injury.
The crown mentioned, the Apostle
had seen for many years with the eye
Of his faith as part OF the Lords
promise. He had absolute confidence
in the Lord and in the promise he had
received from him. That crown had
been his cause OF rejoicing FOR maily
wears not because Of pride or ambi-
tion but because OF love and benevo-
lence. He would love 10 receive that
crown because It would be the mark
OF Divine appreciation and love for
him: and a mark OF his faithfulness-
He esteemed Il because II would AFFORD
him untold opportunity OF blessing his
feuowmen In association with his Lord
\ and the brethren on the plane or glory
during the Millennium.
He hoped for this crown. but did not
hope TO receive Il at death. He knew
the Bible teaching on the subject or
; resurrection-tha this was his Coda
provision for the communication Of his
blessing. first for the Church, and sub
seouentiy for the world. He knew and
taught that there would be "a reaur-
rection Of the dead, both OF the Just
and OF the unjust" (Acts 24;ls) he
desired TO have a share with his ke-
deemer in ell OF his glorious King
don, work and he knew that II could
not herin NTH the completion Of this
Gospel Age, when all the elect Church,
as members OF the Bride of Christ
would share in "his resurrection to
glory honor immortality and glorious
Kingdom privilegess--PhiL. $40, II.
II was for this reason that he pro-
ceeded to declare that the crown was
laid up for him-awaiting him-not at
death but at the time Of his resurrec-
tion. That crown the Lord would give
to him and TO all others in the attitude
of heart to appreciate his revelation
at the Second Advont-"that day"
, True not many at the present time
; love his appearing. The majority, not
Z only of the world, but also OF Chris
tians, seeking but not finding in pleas
. ures, riches. honors of men, have GER
tain ambitions along these lines which
! they would like TO satisfy nrst. ana
! then POSSIBLY they might be willing for
the Lord to establish his Kingdom
: But, no! by the time their lives have
. been spent in such pursuits, they are
r.
bewildered and generally further than
d ever from seeking the Kingdom
r None but this class will receive this
) crown Thank God, the remainder will
' not be tortured. but, on the contrary.
I will be blessed by their crowned breth-
. rem. from whom. as the Christ OF Cod
[ will 20 the blessings OF restitution
Z thoruch the agency of the Millennial
: Kingdom. Eventually all the blind
3 ewes of understanding viii be opened
! eventually all will see the great
b Messiah, though Invisible to the nat
ural spirit. Then every knee shall bow
8 and every tongue confess to the glory
OF God.
st Paul closes his exhortation BY
reciting that in his trial before Nero
, some in whoa he had full confidence
I had forsaken him. and he concludes
4 that the Lord. nevertheless, stood with
e him and strengthened him and that he
. had every conhdence in his care to the
a end OF the way.