The Mankato free press., 1909-03-19

pertinent In our :op;c izs.. we Lii.
one of another respecting orr prep
ration for the -cyil day into Mb:ci, "
are entering. Have We on Tho who'll
armour of God; ere VIC standing firm
ly ourselves and helping the brethrei
to stand firmly against the wiles OF
the Adversary, oGr common foe: have
we on tho wedding garment of Christ s
righteousness. faith in his blood? Arc
we seeking to keep it free from spot
and wrinkle or any, such thing? Arc
we distressed by any impcrfection,
spot or wrinkle. SO that we go atonce
to the throne of heavenly grace there
to obtain mercy and cleansing and to
lind strength to help for all times of
need? While keeping in memory the
foregoing, as the proper Interpretation
of our Lords parable, let us colabor
with the great Reaper to the extent OF
our ak;.i:y under his promise, 'fie
that reapeth receiveth wages and
gathereth fruit unto eternal life
John 4:36.
WHAT A MAN SOWETH HE
REAPETH.
Before closing we note the fact that
not only has our Lord been sowing
and now reaping the harvest OF this
age and preparing for the greater SOW.
ing and reaping of the Millennial Age.
but that each OF us, and indeed all
mankind. outside as well as inside the
Church of Christ, does a sowing and a
reaping work in respect to his own
life and interests. The beginning OF
all of our sowing is in the mind, or,
as the Scriptures would say, in the
heart: Out of the heart procecdeth
the various good and bad influences
which go to make up our characters.
What we SOW, We will reap in time.
If we SOW anger, malice, hatred, envy,
strife, ambition, vainglOry, bitterness,
backbitings, evil-surmising we will
reap accordingly. What sad harvest
results from such a sowing. How
many fold these evils are multiplied
to ourselves and to others. And how
far-reaching may be the influence OF
these evil things upon others! They
ripen, they go to seed, they arc blown
by the winds of gossip and suspicion
and many are thereby dcfiled. What
will the harvest be-" Surely the har-
vest of such sowing will be with bit
terness and tears proportionate to the
degree of knowledge enjoyed and
Sipned against.
1t is bad enough that the world, uu'
instructed of the Lord, with no cars
to hear his counsel, should SOW such
an evil, injurious crop. What respon-
sibility would be ours under such cir
cumstances if our ears have heard.
our eyes have seen something of the
gIories of the Lord, the beauties of
his character and the fruits of his
spirit. God forbid, you say, that any
of US should make such q mistake
and thus SOW in our hearts crop SO
displeasing to the Lord and so inju-
riuus to ourselves and to others.
On the other hand, the Lords con
secrated people, whose hearts have
been prepared under Divine supervi.
sion. have heard the Masters words
instructing us how to SOW profitable
crops that will prove to be blessings
to ourselves and to others and glori-
Gus to his name. In his Word he sup
plies the good seed and he gives us
freely the seeds of mcekneSs. gentle.
ness, patience, long suffering, brother.
ly-kindness, faith, hope, joy. He who
sows these carefully, patiently. pcrse-
veringly in his heart and who watches
day by day, lest the enemy cast in any
seed of malice. envy or Strife--prompt.
ly purging it out and destroying it
what a blessed portion is his. How
beautiful are the flowers of grace and
truth as they develop and more and
more manifest themselves in looks, in
words, in deeds, What fragrant pcr.
fume is eXhaled from the heart and life
which is thus regulated in harmony
with the Divine Word.
Dear friends, let us make no mis-.
take; let us do no experimenting; let
us not think for a moment that our
own wisdom is sufficient and that we
may set aside the instruction of our
Lord and of his apostles. Let us now,
in the harvest OF this age, be, if pos
sible, doubly alert to watch and pray
lest we enter into temptation, lest VIC
fail of the grace of God, fail to attain
share in the glories OF our Redcemer
which so shortly is to be used of the
Lord for the blessing of all of the fam
lilies OF the eartn and to guide them
and instruct them as to how they must
root up all evil weeds-malice, strife,
envy, etc.--and must SOW freely the
seeds of truth and grace, to the intent
that the harvest of the Millennial Age
in turn shall see them blessed with
human perfection and full restitution |;
failing of which they will be utterly
destroyed in the Second Death.-Acts
1928
DESTROYS, dear friends, that you
should have every opportunity for
helpful Bible Study, ! have arranged
with the publishers of one of my
books, "The Divine Plan of the Ages,
that between now and the time of my
starting on European trip, May 5,
they should supply any orders coming
through me at absolute cost.