The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-11-24
E[
PULPIT.
ELECTING KINGS.
Brethren, Give Diligence to
Make Your Calling and Elec-
ton Sure Gil Peter i, 10y.

erations, but eventually extend to all
the families of the earth" who have
been going down for the past six thou
sand years into the great priSon-house
of death-"prisoners of hope. how
ever because Of the promise of Gods
Word and the redemption sacrifice of
Jesus.
My beloved hearers. if your hearts
are not moved by this message Gf
Gods grace and this inform ion IL
speeding his Kingdom and OF Nn.r pros
poets of becoming kings and priests il
that Kingdom, 1t is because you do not
believe the mcssage-bceause 9our
faith does not properly grasp the 'eX
ceeding great and precious promises
of Gods Word I'll Peter /. A.. | am
aware that this whole message by
Jesus and his apostles has been so
long covered by the rubbish of the
dark ages" that it was lost to our
sight for n long while. and sadly we
missed its encouragement to faithful
ness. am glad. however. that now
the eyes OF understanding are opening
to see the length and breadth and
height and depth in the great Divine
Plan of the Ages.
Tho Value of Earthly Crowns.
Consider for Il moment what fabu
lous prices have been paid for earthly
crowns, Thousands of lives have been
sacrificed and millions of money. To
gain an earthly crown. And thousands
who paid this price knew we'll that
uneasy rests the head which wears
the crown" They knew we'll too. that
its tenure would be precarious and
that the attainment of it would bring
them lasting hatred from others who
aspired to the same position and who
considered that their right To IL was
as good or better.
What comparison should we institute
as between the value of such a crown
and the .crown OF glory" honor and
Immortality which God has promised
to his clect-to such of them as make
their calling and their election sure.
Has God placed too high Il valuation
upon the heavenly crown. in demand
ing that those who would share 1t
with the Redecmer must prove their
loyalty to him and to the principles
Of Righteousness, and to the spirit of
love. to the extent of laying down
their lives in his service and in doing
good unto all men as they have OF
portunity. especially to the household
Of faith?"
Our Lord asked wherein would be
the profit to any man II he were to
gain the whole world and lose his
own sou-lose his future life. For
the purpose of our present topic we
might ask n modified question. name
ly, If one should gain the empire OF
the, whole earth and all of its riches.
and il another should gain this heav
emily election To the heavenly King
dom OF one thousand years and to
subsequent eternal blessings with the
Lord, which of these would choose
the better part-which would show
the real wisdom, and which would be
the foolish one? But the contrast in
creaseS when we note that the domin-
ion of earth cannot be secured by our
| Shiiiib ihiouSn bIttdN StuS. anu itldt
a mere competency of earthly wealth
is attained by only one OF n thousand
who strive for 1t day and night Sure
ly from the standpoint of the Father :
Word all earthly honors are vanities.
in comparison with the heavenly glo-
RES and blessings which may be sure
ly attained by the called" of this
Gospel Age-if they will but follow
the Divine directions
Terms and Conditions of Election.
In cur context st. Peter tells us upon
what terms the called and accepted
may make thcir election sure. After
calling our attention to Gods exceed
ing great and precious promises he
tells us that they were given us tu
the intent taat they should operate in
our minds So rs to Influence our lives.
in harmony with the Divine Will; and
that thus W. may become partaFars
OF the Divine nature. after ha, ins cs-
capped the corruption that is in the
world through desire" seltishhess.
lust verse -. He proceeds to ampli.
fy, and urges TINT such rs have this
hope shall give all diligence To the mat
ter OF adding to their faith virtue or
fortitude. That is to say. faith of IT.
self is very good rs start. but God
vqurcs more than this As condi
zion OF our acceptance for election he
requires that cur faith shall be of Il
strong kind. giving us fortitude for all
of lifes affairs; for all OF our Cove
nants with the Lord; for a faithful en-
durancc OF opposition, contradiction
etc, that thus we might be copies of
our Lord Jesus Christ. as God has or
dained all of the elect" musl he tlto.
mans viii. oM.
Not only must we have a strong
faith combined with forttudc. but we
must also add knowledge. We re-
quired some knowledge of God and Of
our Lord Jesus and of the Gospel mes
sage before we could come unto the
Lord ut all. but the Apostle is not re
ferring TO this. our earliest knowledge
| He is addressing Christians who have
already taken the first steps He as
surcs us that they need knowledge 10
enable them TO 80 onward in Christian
development knowledge in addition to
+! their faith md fortitude We have
nothing to say against worldly knowi-
edge. scientific knowledge. etc. when
these do not cross or interfere with
the Divine Revelation. but we are con
tident 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 II
was who declared, This is life eternal
that they might knoU thee, the only
true God. and Jesus Christ. whom thou
hast sent John xvii. b. This knowl.
edge at the present time is a secret
knowledge and. as the Apostle says, q
hidden mystery" which can be known
only by those who put themselves into
certain attitude Of heart and mind
and conduct toward the Lord and his
revelation. We are to study Gods
characterize learn respecting his JUS