Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1909-12-11


have been broiher-haiers aud have
been washed. cleaDsed. sanctitied,
brought into eart-relationship with
the Lord and iuto love of the brethren
II SO, the implication Is thai they have
lost the spirit OF murder from their
hearts aud are brother haters no long
er. The Scriptures tell lis also That 1t
will be possible for man who has
been tiguratively washed from his for
iner condition Of sin -deiilement aud
who has been clothed OF the Lord
symbolically in n robe of righteous
ness and who had been begotten Of
the holy Spirit Of love TO iuru from
this holy commandment of love-fo
turn from the way Of righteousness. 10
his former condition OF siu-deflement
The Apostle gives the Illustration OF
the SOW that was washed retpning 10
her wallowing in the uiire q, i'eier ii.
~. But he case of such is hopeless II
llle step be taken with fun iBiention
and deliberation- If the return 10 a
uurderoils coudition OF Ieart-brother-
hatiug- lie with lie fun couscut OF the
heart. The Apostle, however, does inii-
nlaie that up 10 Il certain puiut there
is hope ut recovery and hence he
saying, "lle that conyprteth Il sinner
(otce Il brother, from the error of his
ways Shall save a soul from dea;h."
Again we read. NO druukard shall
enter iulo The Kingdom of God" Il
Corinthians vi, lOI. lie surely would
be unfit. This does not. however, ini-
ply that all total abstaiuers from i'll
toxicaut liquors are tit for the King
dom. Neither does it imply tha. Il
drnukard might not reform aud thus
cease 10 be a drunkard, and by tile
Lords grace. become tit for the King
The Bible is frequently used in a tis
urative sense. 1t represents an added
condition of The mind: as for instance,
We read. that Babylou's cup made all
the Datious drunk tRevelation xviii,
2-3l. This siguites that fellowship
with false doctrines has perlneateu.
influenced. bewildered the world in
general. Gods people partakiDg OF
Cbrist's cup OF suffering are said TO
receive "tbe spirit of Il sound MUD =
tlearnesS of understanding respecting
the Divine character aud Plan and the
principles OF righteousness. All who
will he fit for the Kingdom may he
expected to have considerable clear
ness Of understanding respecting Di-
vine thugs. They are TO know God,
and by receiving his Spirit, they are
10 have understanding OF The deep
thugs of God which the natural man
cannot understand q Corinthians ii.
1O-14i OF This our Lord spoke. saving.
This is life eternal. hat they might
know thee the ouly true God. and Je
sus Christ. whom thou hast sent
The Importance of Fidelity.
Pride is another qualht OF the heart
which would render its possessor I'M
fit for the Kingdom OF God. We read
that The Lord :'resisteth the proud aud
giyeth grace TO tie humble Il Peter V,
a.. Pride is one OF the thugs which
God hates. II is foe to righteous
Hess III general aud leads captive
many into sin. Nheu We read that
God shows ms favor to the humble.
we may be sure that the favor OF
joiut- heirship With the Redeemer is
for the humble alone. With what
caretUlneSS this should lead us To
search our hearts and put away every
thing in the nature OF pride. sef-cuIl-
ceit. Love is the fulfilling of the LAW.
Love is lhe Law OF the New Creation;
aud pride is IL foe TO love. Ii is related
10 SclliSllnesS. which is Il deep seated
foe of every grace OF the holy Spirit.
The Lord wishes us to see that The
Heavenly Father is not merely calling
for those who have generally good in
teulions and who would rather do
right than do wrong. We may rejoice
with such that they are better than
their neishbors, but they are not fit for
, the Kingdom OF God, unless their love
for Righteousness. for Truth, for the
will of God, be SO firmly established
that they are ready and willing to ell
durr hardness us good soldiers of Jesus
the end of the course. laying hold upon
eternal life and glory and immoriali-
ty. One of Gods objects i'll permits
ting The world and the flesh and The
Adversary to have the power which
they now possess TO countcract and TO
fight against our good irtentions and
good resolutions is explained III the
Scriptures. We read The Lord your
God proyeth you, to know whether
ye love the Lord your God with all
your heart and With MI your soul
deuteronomy xiii, u. II love OF sin
or love of self or love OF any earthly
thing can overbalance our love TO tue
Lord and to his Truth aud his people.
we are not worthy of Il place in the
Kingdum-not fit for the Kingdom.
Not merely good professions. but faith
fulncss unto death. fiXity OF charac-
ter are required of the Lord OF such
as he would honor with a share in the
Kingdom.
An Abundant Entrance.
Having Noticed that lack Of love,
lack Of zeal. lack Of constaucy. lack Of
devotion would unit for the kuSdonl.
let us notice some of the characteris-
tics necessary TO Il place in the King
dom some of the qualities. therefore.
which we must each cultivate ID our
own hearts. which we must each de-
veiop in his own character. The Apos-
lie explains these and urges the mat
Ter thus. add to your faith fortilude;
and to fnrtitude knowledge; aud 10
knowledge Temperatures; and 10 temper.