Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1909-12-01

for the blessings Of the future which
they receive by faith. but additionally |
they appreciate blessings granted to
them in advance in the present life |
and give thanks for these. The first
of these is the knowledge, the appre-
citation. of the goodness of God in
granting us u release from sin and it's
penalty by faith. so that we Gan with
out waiting for actualitiesIS now re-
joice in the mercy which has justified
us freely by Divine grace through faith
in the blood of Christ. The realiZa-
ton of the rolling away of our load
Of sin, realization of our forgiveness
by the Father. calls for gratitude. for
thanksgiving. and this cause continu-
ing. our thanks continue. We were
lifted from the horrible pit and the
miry clay of sin and condemnation
and our feet were placed upon the
Rock Christ Jesus. 1t was in cOnSe
quence of this that new song was
put into our mouth. even the loving
kindness of our God. And this is the
first cause for our thank fulneSs. All
other blessings rest upon this blessing
and all other thanksgivings should
properly. therefore. include thanks for
this blessing.
Additionally after being justified we
were indicted into still further grace
or privilege, namely. the privilege of
becoming members of the Body of
Christ. members of the mystery"
class. The invitation to this class the
Apostle expresses thus. Il beseech you.
brethren. by the mercies of God your
Justification that We present your
bodies a living sacrifice. holy. accept
able unto God. which is your reason
able service" (RomanS xii. u. Through
this grace or privilege. if accepted. we
gain the opportunity Of a change Of
nature-from human to Divine. Our
human nature justified. cleansed. made
acceptable to God as sacrifice
through the merit of Christ. if sdcri
feed by US faithfully. will be replaced
by spirit nature and glory. honor. i'm
mortality. joint-heirship with our Lord
and Head. What cause we have in
this for thanksgiving: What shall we
render unto the Lord our God for all
| his benefits towards us? I'VE will
take the cup of salvation (his cup. the
cup of self-sacrifce) and call upon the
| name of the Lord (for assistance to
drink of the Masters cup. We will
| pay our VOWS of conservation unto the
| Lord-publicly before all his people"
| psalm cXvi. 12-14).
| Every joy he sends me
Comes sweet and glad SURPRISE.
The very fact that we do not know
| everything; the fact that we are ever
learning as pupils in the School Of
/ Christ. so far from being cause of
disappointment, is a source Of pleas
ure The heart that has come into
faith union and communion with the
Lord learns something more daily re-
| speeding the Heavenly Fathers love
and care, and each fresh item of
knowledge is new well-Spring Of
pleasure. He satisfeth the longing
SOUL" BLESSED are they that hunger
and thirst after righteousness. for they
shall be filed" Goodness and mercy
follow me all the days of my life. "
These are the experiences Of those ripe
Christians called upon by the Apostle
to give thanks unto God in every mat
ter and to know that this is Gods will
in respect to all those who are mem
bers of Christ-'in Christ Jesus
psalm evil. 8; Matthew V, 6; Psalm
xiii. g..
Thanks Through Tears.
Let us not overlook the fact that oul
|
thanks for our sorrows. our trials. oul
disappointments. as we'll as for OUT
joys and pleasures. for everything in
cludes all things. Nor is this the only
Scripture to this effect. Hearken tC
the Apostles words which urge the
members of Christ to rejoice in tribu
lation. not because tribulation is JOY
producer. but. as he explains, Tribu
lation works out additional patience
and patience brings additional expert
ence and larger experience brings lar
ger hope. until we are not ashamed OF
our tribulations. because of increased
| love of God shed abroad in our hearts
thereby (Romans V. 3; viii. 35).
The basis of all these blessings and
and the present experiences is faith
First. in the fact that there is God
Second. in the fact that be has a noble
character. Third. in the fact that his
Wisdom. Justice. Love and Power are
perfect and thoroughly coordinated
Fourth. in the fact that all of those
powers are enlisted in the salvation Of
| the world Fifth in the fact hat tina
salvation began to be worked out by
our Lord at his First Advent. Sixth
in the fact that it is still working ou
in the selection Of his Church. Sew
enth. in the fact that shortly it will
begin to take practical shape in the es
adjustment of Christ's Mil.ennial King
dom. Eighth. in the fact that through
that Kingdom blessing shall exten6
to every creature of our race
| ca h0n lot