The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-11-26

| our Loru Jesus CHRIST, nS GOd nns or
daincd all OF 1.-The elect must be (lo-
mans viii, 20l.
Not only must we have strong
| faith combined with fortiude, but we
must also add "knowlcdgc" We re-
quircd some knowledge of God and of
our Lord Jesus and OF the Gospel mes
| snge before we could come unto the
Lord ut all. but the Apostle Is not re-
| fcrrlng to this. uur earliest knowledge.
IL" Is addressing Christians who have,
already taken the first steps, lie us-
surcs us that they need knowledge to
enable them to 20 onward In Christian
development Knowledge in addition to
their faith and fortitudc, 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-
fdent 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 IL
was who declared, This Is life eternal,
| that they might knoW thee, the only
| true God. and Jesus Christ. whom thou
hast sent tJohn xvii. -. This knowl-
edge at the present time is secret
. knowledge and. as the Apostle says. IL
hidden mystery" which can be known
only by those who put themselves into
n 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 revelution-the
| Bible. In 1t we see his dealings past,
and his promises respecting his deal
| ings future. And correct apprecia-
| ton of these gives us Il knowledge of
| Gods character as eXempIitied therein.
| But since this knowledge Is not stated
| in terms for the world to understand,
| 1t 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. 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 iv.
| 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 immOd-
Grafton only on the one score-our i'm
! 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 raime It,
| etc. that we should be examples VI
wisdom and moderation to all-eXtre IL
| lists only along the same lines that
Jesus and the Apostles were counted
extremists by those who knew not, nei-
| Their did understand 1.-The mystery" or
| their endeavor to be of 1.-The very elect
Patience must not be forgotten. In
addition to moderation. Let patience
| have her perfect work, that We may
| be perfect and entire. wanting moth
ing" Next add godlikeness-genera
goodness, benevolence. beuignity to-
ward all. Add next brotherly kind
ness-in the natural family relation
ship. and also in the spiritual family,
the Church. Love as brethren"
Ought to love. I'VE ought also to
lay down our lives for the brethren"
Still further the Apostle urges that
while all of the foregoing are elements
Of love we superadd lore itself in the
fullest sense toward the Lord. toward
the brethren. toward humanity, to-
ward the brute creation and toward
our enemies. While all of these can
not be loved in the same degree. all
should profit by the spirit OF love in
| our hearts for all
aye Shall Never Fail"
Now comes the climax of the advice
W tHOSe StthlllS W Hluhe tueIT Calling
and election sure Verse ~. IF these
things be in you and abound, they
make you that We shall neither be bar
rem nor unfruitful in the know :
Of our Lord Jesus Christ" Ana lnen
as our text declares, If these things
abound and if we give diligence TO the
| maxim" sure of our calling and cleo
ton and do these things. we shall
never fail we shall in no case tail
/ of securing our election. God Seeketh
such for joint hership with their Re
deemer in the Kingdom. God seek
eth such TO worship him as worship
him in spirit and in truth"
The grand consummatioD OF our
election-our Kingdom honors and
glories-is specifically referred to by
3 st. Peter In the next verse. saying,
"For so an entrance shall be minis
tered unto you abundantly into the
everlasting Kingdom of our Lord ana