The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-12-17

mer condition OF sin -detilement aud
who has been clothed of the Lord
symbOlically In robe OF righteous
ness and who had been begutteu of
the holy Spirit OF love to turn FROM
this holy commandment of love-tC
turn from the way of righteousness, IL
his former condition of sin-deHempnt
The Apostle gives the Illustration u.
the SOW that was washed returning to
her wulowing in the mire Gil Peter Ii,
22I But the case of such Is hopeless IL
the step be taken with fun intention
and deliberations II the return to II
murderouS condition OF heart-brother'
hatiug-be with the full consent OF the
heart. The Apostle, however. does init
mate that up to Il certain point there
Is hope of recovery and hence he
urges all OF the faithful to assist these.
saying, HE that converteth sinner
(once brother, from the error OF his
ways shall save soul from death.
Again we read. NO druukard shall
enter into the Kingdom of God" Il
Corinthians vi, 1O,. He surely would
be unfit. This does not, however, inn
ply that all total abstainers from i'll
toXicant liquors are tit for the King
dom. Neither does 1t imply that n
drunkard might not reform aud thus
cease to be Il drunkard, and by the
Lords grace. become fit for the King
dom. Moreover the word druHkdrd In
the Bible is frequently used in fig
Z nI
condition of the mind; as for instance.
we read, that Babylon's cup made all
the nations drunk (Reveation xviii,
2-3i. This signifies that fellowship
with false doctrines has permeated,
Influenced. bewiIdered the world in
general. Gods people partaking of
Chrst's cup of suffering are said to
clearness of understanding respecting
the Divine character and Plan and the
principles of righteousness. All who
will be fit for the Kingdom may be
expected to have considerable clear
ness of understanding respecting Di-
vine things. They are to know God,
and by receiving his Spirit. they are
things of God" which the natural man
cannot understand Il Corinthians H..
10-14l. OF this our Lord spoke. saying,
This Is life eternal. that they might
know thee the only true God. and Je-
sus Christ. whom thou hast sent"
The Importance of Fidelity.
Pride is another quality of the heart
which would render its possessor I'M
fit for the Kingdom of God. We read
that the Lord "resisteth the proud and
giveth grace to the humble Il Peter V,
81. Pride is one of the things which
God hates. 1t is a foe to righteous
ness in general and leads captive
many into sin. When we read that
God shows his favor to the humble,
we may be sure that the favor of
joint-heirship with the Redeemer is
for the humble alone. With what
carefulness this should lead us to
search our hearts and put away every
thing in the nature of pride, self-con-
ceit. Love is the fulfilling Of the Law.
Love Is the Law of the New Creation;
and pride is foe to love. 1t Is related
to seltishness, which is 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 neighbors. 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 to zen
dure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus
Christ" and to fight a good fight tC
the end Of the course. laying hold upon
eternal life and glory and immortal
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 counteract and Il
fight against our good intentions ant
good resolutions is explained in the
Scriptures. We read 1.-The Lord you
God proveth you, to know whether
We love the Lord your God with al
your heart and with ali your soul
deuteronomy xiii. 81. If love of sill
or love of self or love of any earthl.
thing can overbalance our love to thu
Lord and to his Truth and his people
we are not worthy of place in thu
Kingdom-not tit for the Kingdom
Not merely good professions, but faith
fulness unto death, tixity OF charac
ter. are required Of the Lord of sucl
as he would honor with share in tn
Kingdom.
An Abundant Entrance.
Having noticed that lack of love
lack Of zeal. lack of constancy, lack
devotion would unfit for the Kingdom
let us notice some of the characters
tics necessary to place in the kint
dom-some of the qualities, therefore
which we must each cultivate i'll on
own hearts, which we must each d'
velop In his own character. The Apo
tie explains these and urges the ma
ter thus, add to your faith fortitud'
and to fortitude knowledge; and
knowledge temperance; and to tempe
ance patience; and to patience godl