The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-08-18


the Sunday before. He was robbed of
money, and jewelry, and was rendered
unconscious for over day. We knew
Forrest when he was a boy living with
his father, Ellis Runnels, near Brandon.
on the place now owned by MIR. II. A.
Busick as a mineral water resort. Forrest
was a bright boy at his books. He fol-
lowed the newspaper business for several
years. AT this date of his personal trouble
he is secretary of the Bristol, Tenn,
Board of Trade. A telegram from Bristol
stated that he was found unconscious in
an an alley in Philadelphia.
The prouacted meeting at the Baptist
church was begun last Sunday morning
at II a. m, Rev. |. P. Trotter, of Hat
tiesburg, preaching the initial sermon, and
a fine one it was. AT the close of the
services we solicited a synopsis of the
sermon and he cheerfully gives it to us
to gointo the Brandon News. 1t here fol-
lows:
THE SEAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Text: Eph. 1873. (The reader will use
MS DlDle now.
Ephesus was a lumber market. Logs
were marked and Aoated from down above
on a stream down to Ephesus. The
owners recognize each his logs by his own
mark and take possession.
So we are sealed with Holy Spirit of
promise when we believe and that mark
designates us as belonging to. the Lord
as we move down the stream of time.
A sinner hears the Gospel, then believes
the Gospel, and is then sealed with Holy
Spirit of promise-a promise of Heaven
at last He is sealed before he joins a
church and before he is baptized. He IS
sealed for Heaven the moment he believes.
I. This seal is one of validity.
In the courts of our land document
is signed and sealed transferring a piece
of properly from one person to another.
1t means that the matter is settled once for
all as to who owns that property. There
is no going back of the transaction. So,
when the Holy Spirit seals 'he soul as
the Lords it is done once for all, end
soul belongs to God.
When the Holy Spirit seals soul as
the Lords, his name is written in the
Lambs Book of Life. There is perfect
book keeping in Heaven. There are no
blurs in that book. No names are written
there and then scratched out.
?. The seal, too, is one of security.
When the Babylonian seal was placed
on the stone at the mouth of the lions
den securing Daniel, it, meant that all the
power of Babylon would be called out,
If necessary, to see to it that the door re-
NAMED closed. When the Roman seal
was placed on the stone closing the sep
ucher in which Christ our Saviour was
placed it meant a promise of the Roman
government to exercise all its power to
keep it closed 1t was secured by hui
broke the seal and rolled away the stone,
and the resurrected Christ came forth.
Notice, our security is not such as is
wen by any earthly organization, even
the mightest government of earth; tor
the thought of them are weak. Our Sc
curitv is such as the Omnipotent One
gives He is able to do what He prom
ises "My Father is greater than ALL"
saws Christ, "And no man is able to pluck
them out of my Fathers hands" Here
then is one security. 1t is not our power
that saves US and keeps US after we are
saved. 1t is Gods power that saves and
keeps US.
We have in Isaiah 4I:1o-13, a sweet
picture of Gods Hand clasp. He takes
hold of our right hand with His right
hand and says, "Fear thou not; for /
am with thee. will strengthen thee, yea,
| will help thee, yea, will uphold thee
with the right hand of my righteousness
A child walking by his fathers side is
safe, not because it has hold of his
fathers hand, but because the father has
hold of the child's hand. So, we are Sc
cure because God has hold of our hand.
a. A child of God is sealed with the
Holy Spirit of promise-promise OF Heay-
en-. A Christian has Gods promise that
he will take him to Heaven. Men often
fail to carry out their promises; either
because they are unable, or because they
are not willing. The devil also does
mt hesitate to violate his prom ses. You
can count on God, who cannot lie, to do
what He promises.
Gods promise is called an earnest
of the inheritance that awaits him IN
glory. 1t is part payment which secures
the full scene 1t is Heaven begun, glory
in the seed and bud. 1t is an option
in Heaven.
"Paul said 81 know in whom | have
believed and | I'm persuaded He is able
to keep that which have committed
to Him against that day." Commit your
soul to God as you commit litter to
the post Office. AS long as you hold on to
even a corner of the letter it is not COM
mitted to the postal department. This
is done when you turn it entirely aloose
and drop it in the box. What that IS
done the government promises, it It IS
able to deliver the letter to its destination
So. friend, when you commit your soul
to Gods keeping He promises to give you
a home in Heaven if He is able to get
you there. Let us rejoice in the security
of child of God.
- A-I