The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-12-11

lost the spirit rf murder frnm their
hearts and are brother huters no long
er. The Scriptures tell as also than il
will be possible for "a man who has
been hguratively washed frnm his for
mer condition OF S~in-dehlement and
who has been clothed OF the Lord
Symbolicully in a robe OF righteous
ness and who had been begoIteu of
the holy spirit of love Ia turn from
this holy commandment of love L.
turn from the way ut righteousness. to
his former condition OF Sin-dehlemeut.
The Apostle gives the Illustration OF
the SOW that was washed returning to
her wallOwing in the mire IN Peter ii.
-. But the ease Of such is hopeless Il
the step be taken with fun intention
and deliberation il the return to a
m%urderous condition OF heart-Drother-
hating be with the fun consent OF the
heart. The Apostle, however. does iuti-
mate that up to Il certain point there
is hope of recovery aud hence he
urges an Of the faithful to assist these.
saying. He that converteth a sinner
o0nve a brother, from the errur OF his
ways shall save a soul from death"
Again we read. NO druukard shall
enter Into the Kingdom of Gad' a
Corinthians vi, TO- lie surely would
be unfit, This does not. however. I'M
ply that all Total abStainerS from iu-
t~oxicant Il uorS are tit tor the Ming
dom. Neither does it imply that Al
drunkari might not reform aud thus
cease To he Il |drunkard. and by the
Lords grace. become iii for the King
dom. Moreover the word druRkGrd In
the Billie Is frequently used in a tg-
uralivp ems u represents IN added
condition of the mind; as for instance.
we read, that Babylon's cup made all
The Nations drunk tRevelatiOn xviii,
2-3,. This signifies that fellowship
with false doctrines has permeated.
influenced. bewilderpd the world in
general Gods people partakiug of
ChriSt's cup OF suffering are said TO
receive the spirit OF a sound mild
clearness OF understanding respecting
the Divine character and Plan and the
principles OF righteousness. All who
will be fit TOR the kingdOm may be
expected 20 have considerable clear
ness of understanding respecting DL
vine things. They are to know God,
and by receiving his Spirit, they r
to have understanding of The deep
thlngs of God which the natural man
cannot understand Il Corinthians II.
10-l4t OF this our Lord spoke. saying.
''inls IL life eternal. that they might
know thee the only true God. and de-
sus Christ. whom thou hast sent"
The Importance of Fidelity.
Pride is another quality OF the heart
which would render its possesSor uu-
tit for the Kingdom of God. We read
that the Lord "resisteth the proud aud
giveth grace TO the humble Il reter ".
~ Pride h one of the thugs which
God hates. IL is a toe to righteous
ness in general and leads captive
many into sim hen we read TINT
God shows his favor to the huinbie.
we may be sure that the favor OF
joint-heirship with the Redeemer Is
for the humble alone. With what
c%arefulness this should lead us to
search Il hearts and put away every
thing In the nature OF pride. selt-cun-
ceit. Love Is the fulfilling OF the Law.
| nNsa 10 tho ,vr - III, Nu.. sp.,tG,,.
aud pride is a foe to love. 1t is related
to selhshuess. which is a 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
tentiOns and who would rather do.
right than do wrong. We may rejoice
with such that they are better than
their ntighbors, but they are not tit 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 tn EN-
1ure hardness as good soldiers Ut Jesus
Christ" aud TO- light a good light To
the end of the course. laying hold upon
eternal life and glory aud immurtuli-
ty. One of Gods objects in permit
ting the world and the flesh and the.
Adversary to have the power which
they now possess TO countpract aud to
fight against our good Intentions and
good resolutions Is explained IN the
Scriptures. We read The Lord your
God proveth you. to know whether
We love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with ali your sOul'
deuteronomy xiii. -. II love of sin
or love Of self OF love OF any earthly
thing can Oyerbalance our love to tue
Lord and to his Truth aud his people,
we are not worthy Of a place 10 the
Kingdom-not lit for the Kingdom.
Not merely good professions, but faith
fulness unto death. hxity of charuc-
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 constancy, lack of
devotion would unfit for the Kingdom,