The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-11-16

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in comparison with the heavenly gIo-
ries and blessings which may be sure
~ attained by the called" of this
Gospel Age-if they will but follow
the Divine directions.
Terms and Conditions of Election.
In our context st. Peter tells us upon
what terms the called and accepted
may make their election sure. After
ing great and precious promises he
tells us that they were given us to
the intent that they should operate in
our minds so as to influence our lives.
in harmony with the Divine will; and
that thus we may become partakers
of the Divine nature. after having es-
capped the corruption that is in the
world through desire" selfshness,
lust verse a.. He proceeds to ampli-
fly. and urges that such as have this
hope shall give all diligence to the mat
ter of adding to their faith virtue or
fortitude. That is to say, faith of it,
self is very good as a start, but God
requires more than this. AS condi-
tien of our acceptance for election he
requires that our faith shall be of
strong kind giving us fortitude for all
of life's affairs; for all of our Cove
nants with the Lord; for faithful en-
durance of opposition, contradiction,
etc. that thus we might be copies of
our Lord Jesus Christ, as God has or
dained all of "the elect must be Gro
mans viii, 29).
Not only must we have a strong
faith combined with fortitude, but we
must also add knowledge" We re-
quired some knowledge of God and of
our Lord Jesus and of the Gospel mes
sage before we could come unto the
Lord at all, but the Apostle is not re-
ferring to this, our earliest knowledge.
He is addressing Christians who nave
already taken the first steps He as
Sures us that they need knowledge to
enable them to go onward in Christian
development-know i'll addition to
their faith and fortitude. We have
nothing to say against worldly knowl-
edge, scientific knowledge, etc, when
these do not cross or Interfere with
the Divine Revelation, but we are con-
fident that the Apostle did not intend
to refer to worldly knowledge, but to
the greatest of all scientific knowledge
the knowledge of God.
How shall we know God? BY study
of his character Our Lord Jesus it
was who declared, This is life eternal,
that they might kROio thee, the only
true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou
hast sent John xviii -. This knowl-
edge at the present time is a secret
knowledge and, as the Apostle says, a
hidden mystery" which can be known
only by those who put themselves into
a certain attitude of heart and mind
and conduct toward the Lord and his
revelation. We are to study Gods
characterize learn respecting his JUS
tice, his Wisdom. his Love and his
Power, by studying his revelation-the
Bible. In it we see his dealings past,
and his promises respecting his deal
ings future. And correct apprecia-
ton of these gives us knowledge of
Gods character as exemplitied therein.
But since this knowledge is not stated
in terms for the world to understand,
it follows that only those in proper
condition OF heart and enlightened by
the holy Spirit can receive this knowl-
edge. 1t is taught only to the pupils in
the School of Christ 1.-THE secret of
the Lord is with them that fear him;
and he will show them his Covenant"
Other Graces to Be Added.
The Apostle continues his advice as
to things necessary to be added by
those who would make their calling
and election sure. They must keep
adding, and the adding must be little
by little and day by day. The knowl-
edge we gain of God through his Word
should lead us to greater moderation
translated temperance, in our common
version. Let your moderation be
known unto all men" philippians iy,
81, moderation or balance in thought,
in word, in action Gods people may
be called extremists by those who are
not begotten of the holy Spirit and who
know not the mystery But even
they should be able to charge iDlnlod-
GRAFTON only ON the one score-our inn
moderation, our faithfulness to the
Word of the Lord and to our Covenant
of self sacrifice as followers in the
footsteps of Jesus. Our lives should
be SO moderate as respects business
and pleasure and food and raiment,
etc, that we should be examples of
wisdom and moderation to all-extrem-
lists only along the same lines that
Jesus and the Apostles We're counted
extremists by those who knew not, neil
Their did understand "tae mystery of
their endeavor to be Of the very elect"