The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-03-22


eth? for he is like Il retner's fire and
like fullers' soap; and he shall sit as
a refner and purifier of silver; and
ne shall purify the sons of Levi, and
purge them as gold and silver, that
they may offer unto the Lord accept
able sacrifices" (Malachi ill., 2, 3l.
Both Houses of Israel.
Natural and Spiritual Israel are con-
trasted. The Lord through the Proph-
ct foretold that Messiah would be
"for a stone of stumbling and for a.
rock Of offence to both the houses OF
Israe"-to Natural Israel and to Spir-
itual Israel. We have seen how the
first house stumbled on that Palm Sun
day-celebrated today. They stumbled
because they kneto not the time of
their visitation"-they did not know
that the time had come for the estab-
llshment Of the Kingdom; hence they
were not alert to their privileges and
failed to be in the proper condition of
heart TO receive the blessings. Or, we
might state the matter reversely and
say that those who did not know and
did not accept Messiah, were those
whose hearts were not in the right con-
dltion, else they would not have been
left in darkness q Thessalonians v, ~.
Many things indicate to us, now,
that we are living in a time CORE
spending to that Palm Sundayl Many
things imply that Christendom is now
undergoing its great test and that only
the fully consecrated of heart and life
will be accepted of the Lord as his
"Jewels" and be granted share with
Christ in his Kingdom. Many things
imply that we are now In the time
when the true people of God are be-
ing divided into two classes, as pic
tured for us by our Lord in the para
bic of the Wise and the Foolish Vir-
gins. AS only the Wise Virgins were
prepared to enter into the marriage, so
only the consecrated ones the polished
jewels of the Lord, will be accepted as
fit for the Kingdom and be granted a
share in the glorious resurrection
change which will precede the great
time of trouble, in which the Foolish
Virgin class, although not of the
world, will participate with the world
True, that great time of trouble will
usher In the glorious Mlllennial dis
pensation, in which the Church in
glory with the Great Redeemer will
pour out upon all mankind the Won
derful restitution blessings which God
has promised by the mouth of all the
holy prophets (Acts Ill, 1928. True,
the Foolish Virgins may subsequently
get the oil and subsequently have n
glorious future, but they will lose the
choice place of Divine favor and bless
ing. They cannot be of thSs"Bride"
class, but will receive their blessing
under the figure of "the virgins her
companions that follow her" psalm
xiv, IA.
1t Is in order for all of Gods people
who now get awake from the sum-
Der of worldliness which has long
stupehed them, to join hearts and
voices In Il great shout-the shout that
the Kingdom is at hand! The shout
of Hosanna to the Son of David! And
that the time Is at hand for the full
lillment of the passage, "Gather to-
gether my saints unto me, saith the
Lord! those who have made a cove
nant with me by sacrifice. They shall
be mine, saith the Lord, In that day
when l come to make up my jewels"
Individually (Malachi Ill, 10.
"See That Ye Refuse Not Him"
AS the Jewish nation was not ready
to receive Jesus as Its King, on that
first Palm Sunday, neither Is Chlsten-
second advent. AS 1t was, only the
"lsraeltes indeed" In whom was no
guile, that then knew the voice of the
Shepherd, so 1t will be here an indi-
vldual matter The Laodicean period
of the Churchs history Is upon us
Revelation Ill. 10. The Nominalism
of our day Is fully portrayed by our
Lords words. Christendom boasts
that she Is rich and increased In goods
and has need of nothing; and knows
not that she Is poor and miserable
and blind and naked. The Lord now
stands at the door and knocks. He
offers himself to the "Israelltes In
deed" Ours is Palm Sunday In the
highest sense of ALL How are we re-
ceiving the great blessings which be-
token the pdrOnsig of the Master? Do
we hear his knock? Have we opened
our hearts? Are we searching his
Word and listening for his voice and
seeking to know and to do his will In
all thingsF TO all such very shortly,
we believe, will come the greater and
fuller PentecOstal blessing:--the resur-
rection change" from the glory OF
character merely to the glory of person
as well, whom we shall see our Redeem
er as he is and share his glory. AS st.
Paul says, "See that yc reject not him
that speaketh from heavenl' Greater
light, greater privilege, greater blessing
everyway nre ours than were those
enjoyed by the Jews at our Lords
first advent, These privileges and
blessings are our tests, Let us be
faithful. Let us present our bodies