The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-10

tuIu lIOul tuC way VI itShiSOt.'LNA'''' "
his former condition of sin-detilement
The Apostle gives the illustration of
the SOW that was washed returning to
her wallowng in the mire Gil Peter ii.
22). But the case of such is hopeless ii
the step be taken with full intention
and delberation-if the return TO
murderous condition Of heart-brother-
hating-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 a brother) from the error OF his
ways shall save soul from death.
Again we read. mo drunkard shall
enter into the Kingdom of God" Il
Corinthians vi. 10,. He surely would
be unfit. This does not, however, inn
ply that all total abstainers from in
toxicant liquors are tit for the King
dom. Neither does it imply that a
drunkard might not reform and thus
cease to be drunkard. and by the
Lords grace, become fit for the King
dom. Moreover the word drunkGrd III
the Bible is frequently used in fig
urative sense. 1t represents an added
condition of the mind; as for instance.
we read, that Babylon's cup made all
the nations drunk Revelation xviii,
2-3I. This signifies that fellowship
with false doctrines has permeated,
influenced. bewildered the world in
general. Gods people partaking OF
Christ's cup of suffering are said to
receive ''the spirit OF sound mind
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 d.
| vine things. They are to know COO.
and by receiving his Spirit, they are
to have understanding of 1.-The deep
| things of God,' which the natural man
/ cannot understand Il Corinthians ii.
1 10-14). 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"
! ne importance OF TiaShey'
Pride is another quality of the heart
which would render its possessor UNI
! 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 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 a 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
I Will SUCH tudL dIC DStlCi
! their neighbors. but they are not fit 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 EN-
dure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus
Christ" and to fight a good fight to
the end of the course. laying hold upon
eternal life and glory and immortali-
ty. One of Gods objects i'll permit
ting the world and the flesh and the
Adversary to have the power which
they now possess to counteract and to
fight against our good Intentions and
good resolutions is explained in the
Scriptures. We read 1.-The Lord your
God proveth you. to know whether
We love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your sour
deuteronomy xiii. b. II love of sin
or love Of self or love of any earthly
thing can overbalance our love to the
Lord and to his Truth and his people,
we are not worthy of place in the
| Kingdom-not fit for the Kingdom.
Not merely good professions, but faith
luluSSS ulstO uCOIh. hAitJ VI NAi'tA ~
ter. are required of the Lord of such
as he would honor with share in the
Kingdom.
An Abundant Entrance.
Having noticed that lack of love,
lack of zeal. lack Of constancy, lack of
devotion would unfit for the Kingdom,
let us notice some of the characters
tics necessary to place in the King
LONESOME of the qualities, therefore.
which we must each cultivate in our
own hearts, which we must each de-
velop in his own character. The Apos-
tie explains these and urges the mat
ter thus, Add to your faith fortitude;
and to fortitude knowledge; and to
knowledge temperance; and to temper
ance patience; and to patience godli-
ness; and TO goodness brotherly kind
ness; and to brotherly kindness love.
For if these things be in you and
abound. they make you that We shall
neither be barren nor unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
for If We do these things. We shall new
err fail: for so an entrance shall be
mlnIstered unto you abundantly into
the everlasting Kingdom Of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ I'll Peter i,