Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-02-12

ably disposed toward Christ and right
tousness; others who regard the
Church as merely a moral club de-
signed for social and moral benefit or
influence upon the world. by counter
acting sinful influences: Still others
bitter at heart. sinful and selfish. hay-
Ing no faith whatever in Jesus and no
care whatever for morality and us
Ing the name of Christ hypocritically.
merely as garment to deceive, that
they may the better gain their ends.
Thus we find the nominal Church to
consist Of
a. Hypocrites; @ Moralists; 90 In
differents; a. Seekers after godliness;
% The true Church, "the sanctified in
Christ Jesus q Corinthians, /; D.
"members of the Body of Christ
prospective members of the Church
Triumphant.
Fightinss Without and Within.
Every member of 1.-THE Church of the
iirst-born" was called ito suffer with
Christi that he may be also later glori-
fed with him in the Millennial King
dom. Only those who will stand the
test of faithfulness under sufferings,
trials, crosses. self-sacrifices, have the
promise of sharing with Christ the
| glories of the Church Triumphant
IF we be dead with him. we shall
also live with him; If we suffer with
| him, we shall also reign with him; if
we deny him, he also will deny US"
| Gil Timothy Ii, II, 12).
| But why should the Church fightT
| Is she not commended to live peace
! ably with all? Are not Christians ex-
horted to war not with carnal weapons
! and to be smtten ON both cheeks,
rather than to return evil for evil?
! Where, then, comes in the fight? Who
are the foes? Surely none would as
| sail non-resistant.
| We reply that the facts do not bear
out that suggestion. Our Lord and his
apostles We're peaceable and non-re-
sistant. obedient to kings and laws,
| and yet they suffered violent deaths,
| They had their names east out as evil.
| And those who prosecuted and ma
| ligned them verify thought that they
| did God service. All who follow in
the Lords footsteps must expect SINH
lar treatment, because, as Jesus said,
1.-THE servant is not greater than his
Lord" Marvel not, if the world hate
you, We know that it hated me before
| it hated you If We were of the world
| the world would love his own; but be
cause We are not of the world, but /
have chosen you out of the world
| therefore the world hateth you" John
xviii, IS, 19l. The Master said, The
darkness hateth the light" which ex-
| plains why the chief religionists Of
| his time. being of wrong condition Of
heart, instigated his crucifixion. They
were of the darkness. living outwardly
holy, while in heart they were far
from consecrated TO God. The very
holding up of the torch of Truth was
painful to them, reproved them and
excited their animosity. Human ma
ture is the same today Notwithstand-
ing the fact that heretic-roasting has
become unpopular and intolerable to
the world, there are methods of pri-
vately and symbolically roasting,
slashing. wounding and killing prac-
tised by those estranged from God,
though sometimes highly esteemed of
men and Wearing vestments only
slightly less glorious than those worn
by Caiaphas and PLATE.
who Scourseth Every Son."
The Scriptures explain that there is
a twofold reason why Jesus and all
Of his followers are required to suffer
for righteousness sake.
% 1t is requisite to their own char
acknowledgment that they should not
only profess absolute loyalty TO God
and to Truth, but that this loyalty
should be put TO the test Thus we
read of our Lord that though holy.
harmless. Undecided" he was proved
perfect in his loyalty by the things
which he endured-by his obedience
even unto death. even the ignominious
death of the cross. The same princi-
pie, the Scriptures assure us, operates
in connection with all whom God is
now calling to be Emmanuels associ
ates in the Millennial Kingdom. They
must suffer with him if they would
reign with him. They must walk in
his steps Galatians V, IL; vi. j.; II
Thessalonians /, =; II Timothy i, IL
ii, 0, II; Iii, 12l.
(2) These experiences are designed
Of God to qualify us to be judges OF
the world during the Millennial Age
that the Christ. Head and Body, may
be merciful and faithful towards the
people Of earth. Likewise it is proper
that the world should know that its
judges have thus been tempted and
tried. and are able to sympathize will
them I'm their weaknesses and in theil
endeavOrs for iGhteousness-and more
willing to help hem up. up. up to hui
man perfe rlln 70 cOnsign then
TO the s
Alth lasted fol
III