The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-12-22
PULPIT. -.
GOdJ WOrk
and Ours.

The body Ia merely responsible as The
agent or servant of the will. With
the world the Will and the body are
usually at one--sympatheticall coop
erative. But In those begotieD OF God
Spirit as his children matters are diff
fcrent. Their Wills by conservation
are developed along lines quite antag-
onlstic to the natural preferences OF
their hesh. so that the Apostle wrote.
with the mind | myself serve TOR
desire to server the Law of God. but
with the flesh | serve tor desire to
server the Jaw OF sin" tRomans vii.
25, Hence every pirit-begotten per
son has a warfare between his new
mind. with Its holy aspirations and de-
sires and Its opponent flesh with its
animal propensities, some good and
some bad Hence the Apostle exhorts
MI these New Creatures 10 war a
good warfare" against their own flesh
and to bring II into subsection TO the
| New Mind aud to the Divine Law.
He urges that we bring every thought
into captivity 10 the obedience OF
Christ Gil corint hians Z. 81. This. OF
course. would mean absolute perfec-
ton. so far as the New Creature would
be concerned and a complete deafness
so far az the flesh IN concerned. With
every thought captivated to the Lord
the individual would never III any
sense commit sin other than the sin
Of ignorance or imperfection.
God works in the minds of his peO-
pie not nlong the lines OF ensidrement
If the mind after the manner of Satan
md these who are subject to his de-
iusuns.-by hyppoiism. etc. Gods OPP
Grafton Is the very reverse of this. He
eniightpns the mind to do his work. He
displays to our minds gradually light
and truth. purity and goodness In their
true colors. In contrast with Sin. IL.
Dorance aud defilement. And in the
same words he sets before us the great
prize of glory. honor and immortality
and joint helrship with orr tedeemer
III his Kingdom The power OF these
t0Bes working In a conseerated mind Is
/ wonderful. II can make the naturally
weak strong, the naturally timid bold
40 lion.
This operation upon the mind is IA
gradual one from the time of our be-
getting of the holy Spirit until our
ehalge- all n; once. but gradually.
littlr BY little. the Lord displays To us
cue feature after another OF his won
llerfui Plan of salvation. Step by step
he shows 10 the appreciatiye and obedi.
rnt heart the riches OF his grace, his
loving kindness. his tender mercy. the
hotindiessnesS of his love and the nlti-
mate out working OF his Divine powers
for the blessing III MI of his creatures
who will accept his favors ON his own
terms. All the while he lenveS MS free
agents to will In harmony with his
proposition or to reject II. He will
,oerce no one. Our Lord Jesus ex-
PRESSED the Fathers sentiment In this
matter, saying. THE Father seeketh
such to worship him as worship him in
pirlt and In truth tJohn w. 81.
How God Works In Us to Do.
Endeavor to do right naturally fol-
lows right willing hut this does not
signify that God completes II work
upon our wills first and then begins q
fresh work upon us. stimulating ms to
J 10 right tn The best of our ability. On
he contrary. rs through his providence
and Word God exercised an influence
! upon our Wills through the knowledge
of his Truth. little by little each new
point of Truth was expected 10 be ac-
kuowledged by efforts gu our part to
,ln Gods will 10 the extent that the
J new will was able to control the I'M
perfect body. We may safely con
lube that each step In right ieiiiiny
must be followed by step in right
ioin0 before another item of grace and
; truth would be granted az n basis for
additional willing and then additional
doing. Thus. as we walk By first put
! ting one foot forward and then the
, other repeatedly. 40 the New Creature
walks or progresses by first willing
and next doing the Lords good pleas
ure to the extent OF his ability
As surely as the right.wIllne ia the
result Of Divine operation In the re
,ealing of Truth 20 also Ia the right
doing or the Divine influence In oul
hearts working IN Us both 10 ictH anc
10 do Gods good pleasure. ST. petei
ives us word right 10 the point
aging. Whereby are given unto vi
exceeding great aud precious promises
that by these ye might be partakers o.
the Divine nature" Ill Peter /, Al.
Work Out Your Own Salvation.
We have heard many improper pray
ers presented al the Throne Of Grace
by well-intentioned but nisinfornis-e
children OF God. Many Christians. re
quest God TO do for them that which
he tells them they must do for them
selves. The one who asks amiss some
times leaves the Throne OF trace con
fident that God will do for him wha
God has never promised to do for any
, body, but has told us each must d,
for himself. Many pray. abandon u
not Ia temptation. but deliver us fruu
. the Evil Que" and then walk straigh
, into temptation. wholly ueglepting tn
direciions of Gods Word Indeed
mauy SO neglect the study OF tina
/. Word that they are not aware wha
are its teachings. its counses. - reslss.,
|, Ing Satan aud the temptations froi
the world. the flesh and the devil, I
: which all must be more or less es
!, posed for their testing and characte
development
Some pray to God TO save them b
his Divine power and expect him I
work miraculously In them. while the
nre giving the best OF their time an
talent and influence to business or
pleasure or to Disqualification. Sue
need TO learn the meaning Of our tex
Work out your own salvation wit
fear and trembling" They need I
learn the meaning of the Apostle
words. Keep yourselves IN the love
God" God absolutely REFUSES TO de,
with us as machines. NJ, than thi
he refuses to cocrce, TO push, TO pul
to drive. those whom he IL now cnl
Ing to sonship and jolnt-heirshlp wit
Christ In hfS Kinptiotu