Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1910-11-30

&R early fathers wrote We
W are perhaps disappointed
at the sudden. almost
abrupt. ending of the Acts. All the
more do we turn with expectancy for
further light upon that great early
heydey OF the church to its literary
leaders.
Among the very early Christian
writings is that known as the Epistle
of Clement 1t Ia written from Rome
TO the church ut Corinth which had
been pestered with partizans. There
was emulation and envy, strife and
sedition. The worthless rose up
against the honored. the foolish
against the wise. the young agains,
those advanced In years. Everyone
abandons the fear Of God and Is blind
In his own faith.
But once 1t had been so with this
church. At first Content with thu
provision which God had made for
you and carefully attending to his
his doctrine. and his sufferings 3ers
before your eyes. Ye yielded obedi
ence rather than extorted II and
were more willing to give than to TO
ceive."
Lesson Taught by Clement.
One can see 1t Ia the same church
TO which Paul ministered and which
he needed 10 sharply to reprimand
Because of these inner difficulties
Clement passes by the danger of per
secution and calls them to n quicken
Ing of the faith.
Especially does he exhort them to
humility. Quoting almost third OF
his letter from the Old Testament
and much also from the New, he
ceases not TO urge them to a finer
spiritual understanding Like many
of the early writer's he Is not always
exact, but he never misses the sub
stance OF the thought he wishes
to repeat "As I live, saith the Lord.
desire not the death OF a sinner
but rather his repentance. Though
your sins reach from earth to heaven
and though they were redder than
scarlet and blacker than sackcloth
| yet IL ye turn to me with your whole
heart and say. Father! ] will listen to
you" -
Then the reward How blessed and
wonderful the gifts of God. Life In
Immortality. splendor in righteous
ness, truth in perfect confidence. faith
In assurance, self-control I'm holiness
What then shall those things be
which are yet prepared for such az
wait for him?
But how may we attain this bless
ing? by him, even Jesus Christ, we
look up to the height Of heaven. BY
him are the eyes of our hearts opened.
BY him our foolish and darkened un.
derstanding blossoms up anew to-
wards his marvellous light: and by
him the Lord has willed that we
should taste of immortal knowledge.
For what can mortal man do, or what
strength is there In one made out Of
the dust?'
Truth In Burning Words.
He tells them, Eye are fond OF con.
tention, brethren, and full OF zeal
about things which do not pertain to
salvation"
But II you will look at the Scrip
lures you will find that the righteous
were prosecuted but only by the
wicked. They were cast into prison.
but only by the unholy. They were
stoned, but only by transgressors.
They were slain, but only by the ac-
cursed.
why then are these strifes among
you? Have we not ali one God and
Christ? Is there not one spirit OF
grace poured out among us? Remem'
Der the words OF the Lord Jesus how
he said woe to the man by whom
offenses come. But your strifes have
subverted the faith Of many. have
discouraged many, have given rise to
doubt in many. and have caused grief
to all"
Then Clement exhorts that all
shall enter the gates OF Righteousness
by reconciliation with God, and by
that love which beareth all things, be
lieveth all things, hopeth all things.
endureth all things.
BY all this and much more OF q
like kind Clement stirs up faith and
deters from evil.
How familiar It all sounds TO us.
the same human nature, the same
gospel pharmacopia, the same divine
possibility. The ravage OF strife; the
/ antidote, humility and Christ the SUI.
fering saviour.
n