The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-10-15
PEOPLES PULPIT.
Blessings Without
Sorrow
Text, "The Blessing Of the
Lord, 1t Maketh Rich; and He
Addeth No Sorrow Therewith"
proverbs x, 22).
OOO-s-s-s.s.s-s-s-s-s-s.

AdQetn mo borrow herewith
proverbs x, 22). !
was ioiy, harmless and indebted. sep
1rate from sinners" Of him again we
read that, in order to be thus holy. he
required specially miraculous birth
These things being true. how would it
be possible for even a little flock to
be found who would be acceptable to
God as joint-sacriicers with Jesus?
How could even little flock be found
who would be of the same spirit as
Jesus. Il copy of him in character?
The Scriptural answer is that some
could indeed be found possessed of the
character likeness of Jesus in the sense
that they would desire to do perfectly,
but none could be found able to do per-
fectly. because all are sharers in in
herited sin. This is part of the
mystery which gradually unfolds to
those who have the hearing ear and
the understanding heart and the eye
of faith. The Lords explanation of
the matter is this: when Jesus had
sacrificed his earthly rights and had
been received to spirit nature. and had
the earthly rights at his command to
give away, ''he assembled up on high
there to appear in the presence of God
for u.s." He appeared for. on behalf
of, all who believe in him and accept
forgiveness of sins and make conse
81 Lo. all 20
But Jesus did not accept as disciples
those who merely believed and were
justified by faith. He attached anoth-
err condition. namely. that they must
sacrifice all their earthly rights and
privileges as he did; otherwise they
could not be his disciples. Unless
they walked in his footsteps of self
sacrifice they could not be counted in
as his followers, members of his Body,
sharers of his coming glory and work.
His words were, IF any man would
be my disciple let him take up his
cross and follow me, and where l am
there shall my disciple be-" Except
man forsake all that he hath he can
not be my disciple" Unless man
love less father. mother. children and
all else he cannot be my disciple" HE
that loseth his life for my sake shall
find it,
In other words the Lords PROPOSE
tion TO the Church is that all the earth
IN rights of Adam Cost through disObe-
dience and redeemed by our Lord at
Calvary and now at his disposaD are
imputed to those who. during this
Gospel Age. turn from sin, accept
Christ as their Redeemer. and then by
conservation sacrifice all earthly rights.
In word our Lord Jesus has right
to give the earthly rights. the earth
ly life and honor. to any one person
or to any number of persons of Adams
race as something to sacrifice. When
they do mentally sacrifice earthly
rights they receive the begetting of the
holy Spirit to the heavenly nature.
But that heavenly nature itself they
will not receive until they shall have
finished the sacrifice agreed upon.
Thus as Jesus by keeping the Law
had a right to earthly perfection and
sacrificed it. so those keeping the Law
in the spirit of their minds and ac-
cepting the merit of Christ as justify
sacrifice these. use them in Gods serv-
ice that they may share Jesus new
nature and glory. The merit at the end
Of the Gospel Age will he the same
merit of Jesus. and will be at his
disposal. because. although passed
through the Church. it will not have
been kept by any member of the
Church and will therefore. be at our
Lords disposal at the close of this Age,
the dawning of the Millennial Day.
IsraeIs New Covenant.
What will be done with the merit OF
Christ's sacrifice at the end of the
Gospel Age when it shall have passed
trough the Church? We answer that
it will be used again. 1t will be given
to the Jews and through them to the
whole world. 1t is the blood or merit
which will seal the New Covenant
promised to Israel long ago. but not
fulfilled. 1t is one thing to promise a
Covenant: another thing To draw up
the terms of Covenant; Il third thing
TO sign and seal the Covenant. The
Kew Covenant has not vet been sealed.
The blood that will seal it is now being
used in the interest of the elect spirit
raj Israel. that the little flock may
have something to sacrifice. and there
by be granted share with Christ in
his spirit, nature and glory. This is
the cup referred to by our Lord in the
memorial supper when he said. This
is my blood of the New Covenant shed
for many for the remission of sins.
Drink pc all of it. The privilege Of
drinking with orr Lord in this cur OF
sacrifice belongs to this age only. None
will be left for the future.
But the blessing will not remain
with those who drink of the cup
their restitution rights and privileges
will be sacrificed and thus passed on,
for the benefit of mankind in general.
The Apostle says that our Lord at his
First Advent in his death became the
Surety or guarantor of the New