Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-13
- ~ 1PLYMOUTH-BETHEL
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THE RISEN CHRIST ,-
HEAD AND MEMBERS

AeA - ~ -
the things above This does not mean that
the poet mistakenly thought
Sweet prospects. sweet birds and sweet
Have All lost their sweetness to me-
It may mean-we believe that it should
mean. the very reverse to this, namely that
sweet prospects sweet birds and sweet
flowers
Have all gained new sweetness to me-"
II means, moreover that in the flowers and
birds and everything that is beautiful, the
awakened, the quickened soul, finds hint
and suggestion of the still grander, still nooler
things, which God hath in reservation Tor
those that love Him-"eye hath not seen' nor
ear heard, neither have entered into the
heart of man, the things which God hath pre-
pared for them that love him." II Cor. 2:s.)
The nav creature must live more than ever
along the higher lines mentioned by the apos-
tie Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things
are lovely, whatsoever things are OF gooo re-
port; IL there be any virtue and II tnere pe
any praise, think on these things. FhlI
ASH II means contrariwise, that the new
creature will disesteem more and more Whatso-
ever things vile, impure, ignoole' sian
derous and all evil-speaking.. BY our pro-
gress along these lines we may know some
thing respecting our resurrection progress. II
we be without love for Righteousness anu
truth and without hatred OF Inlqulty, IL Woulu
be a sure evidence that no. ne"
creatures at all. that we had not passed from
death into life, that we were NO. 4is~-i "'...
Christ"
SET YOUR AFFECTIONS ABOVE.
Some of fallen race have very little al
lection of any kind by nature. 1t viii be very
difficult for such to enter the Kingdom, the
very basis Of which is love out OF pure
heart" However, those who have strong ar
fections sometimes find themselves sorely dis
fraa "a a conflict OF interests
between the earthly and the heavenly. The two
are at warfare Our heavenly Bridegroom de-
mands that IL love Him as His Bride we
must first demonstrate that we love Him su
premely-more than we love parents or chill
dren, houses or lands. or even life itself Ere
quently there is conflict OF interests, tnere
fore, the father or mother for the children or
for each other the children for the
parent. The Lord does not fault us for at
lection, strong affection, but 1t is a reason
able demand that we should appreciate most
Of all Him who has redeemed and called"
u.s. not only in respect 10 the things of this
present life. but also to things in the future.
The apostles statement, Set your affection
on things above, not on things on the earth,
implies repeated setting, as though the az
fections might slip away from the heavenly
things, had already done The intimation
is that we are to have before our minds the
proper standards things of the kingdom
first; and are to keep seeking and keep setting
our affections upon the heavenly things. This
might reasonably call forth the question. Why
should such an exhortation be necessary? See
ing the danger and Importance of those things,
why should II not become second nature to US
to think chiefly of the heavenly things? We
reply that this is because are by nature
earthly and must do our thinking through the
natural brain, and because continually
surrounded by earthly attractions which draw
earthward and make bids for time and
interest. Furthermore. our great Adversary
seeks to attract us from the great prize, from
loyalty to the heavenly kingdom.
FOR YOUR LIFE is HID WITH CHRIST.
As the apostle suggests in our text Your life
is hid with Christ in God" Elsewhere he tells
us that when Christ who is our life shall
appear. we also shall appear with him In
glory'-we also shall be manifested with him
in glory; then shall the righteous shine forth
as the sun in the Kingdom OF their Father
Matt. 13;4S) Respecting this hidden life the
Apostle says. The world knoweth US not. be-
cause 1t knew Him not" Il John SD Again
the Apostle Peter suggests that If the Jews
had known who Jesus was they would not have
crucified the Lord Of glory. Similarly IL they
really knew the followers Of Jesus. If they
really understood their hearts, IL they compre- !
hended the fact that they are the children /
Of the Highest the world would he very care !
tul in it's treatment Of the little flock - /
at the present time for our development in /
patience, in experience, in faith, in love-the
provoked, that rendereth not evil for evil or /
railing for railing, that seeketh not it's own in
terests merely, but is on the lookout also for
the interests of others
This same thought is expressed elsewhere |
in the Scriptures when told that |
the church is the mystery" and we are as |
shall be finished" The first resurrection |
will end all the mystery and the secret fea- |
lures Of the Divine plan, which until now have |
greatly perplexed both saints and worldly. ,
Then all will see the wisdom Of God in So
lecting the church under special conditions /
of trial and testing of faith and loyalty and /
endurance So great is to be the glory and /
honor of the church that had all these mat
tiers been seen with distinctness at the present |
time. some might have striven for the prize \
through spirit of ambition. But the method |
which God has taken requires that we shall /
walk by faith and not by sight. that enlight-
eminent and undersi anding will be granted |
only In proportion as the heart manifests
loyalty to the Lord and as II Inanifests HUI
mility and every form of righteousness. This |
Divine method will ultimately commend itself |
to all.
The lessons and experiences Of the church
in her own progress along the lines Of the |
resurrection life will enable her to have sym
pathy with the world during the Millennium.
when as the bride. the lambs wife, she will |
be privileged HIS mouthpiece to grant the
world the riches of Gods blessings in and /
through Christ Jesus Lord. Then shall |
1.-THE Spirit and the bride say, Come And let [
him that heareth say. Come. And let him
that is athirst come, and whosoever will let
him take the water of life freely" (Rev.
22:17) That at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow, OF things in heaven and
things in earth and things under the earth.
and that every tongue should confess that
Father" CPhil 2:10. III And the glory of
see it together. for the mouth of the Lord hath
Tea