The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-01-07

thew XVI, "a. 28. 1t is Cup" OF
suffering, self-denial self-sacrifce, as
| respects the earthly things which we
give up, surrender, that we may at
| tain the heavenly things as jointheirs
with our Redeemer. There might be
danger, however of some getting the
wrong thought on this subject. There
| is peculiar pleasure in drinking OF
the Lords cup of self-sacrifice, which
those who have never partaken of can
not hope to understand. 1t is the
pleasure of fellowship in his suffer
ings, as st. Paul explains. And part
Of the pleasure connected with that
coup" is the associated hope of drink
ing with our Lord of his other cup of
| joy and glory and blessing in the King
dom, as he promised.
The necessity of partaking of this
Cup of the Lord is shown by the
Savior's words to two of his disciples
who inquired, saying. lord, grant that
we may sit with thee, the one on thy
right hand and the other on thy left
hand in the Kingdom" Our LORDS
reply was that they little realized what
this high privilege of sitting in the Mil
lennial Throne with him would cost.
He inquired, Are We able to drink OF
the cup that shall drink Of" (Matthew
Xxx, 22)-the cup Of suffering, ignominy,
dishonor, death?-"and to be baptized
with the baptism that l am baptized
| with?"-not the baptism into water,
but into that which is symbOlized by
the water-a baptism into his death.
The apostles indicated their willing
ness. And we can do no more. 1t
left to ourselves. undoubtedly the con-
tract would be more than we would
be sufficient for. Our sutticiency is of
Gods proyidence-our great Redeemer
Is our High Priest and Advocate, able
to succor us in every time of need.
and able to provide ways Of escape
from trials too hard for us; able to
strengthen us when weak: able to give
| us the meat in due season." able to
make us strong in his might; able 70
bring to our attention the great and
precious promises of Gods Word. Yea,
says st. Paul. Il can do all things
through Christ, which strengtheneth
me" philippians iv, 49,.
"ln the Presence of All the People"
In the context the prophet declares,
~ will pay my Vows unto the Lord in
the presence of all the people" Pub
licly, openly, l will espouse the Lords
Cause. will remember his words,
"WhosOever shall be ashamed of me.
and of my words, of him also shall the
Son of Man be ashamed, when he COM
eth in the glory Of his Father, with
the holy angels" Mark viii. 3S). l will
be faithful in the performance Of my
Covenant to such degree that my
loyalty shall be known to all the breth-
rem as we'll as to the Lord, who reads
the heart. Yea, and the worldly should
know of the faithfulneSs of Gods peo-
pie, even though, not approaching the
| matter, they should despise them and
count them fools for Christ's sake.
Vows of this kind are not for the
disposed. They are yet in their sins,
if they reject the offer of Divine for
giveness upon Divine terms of cOnSe-
Grafton. Such may not think to take
Vows Of conservation to the Lord until
first they have renowned wilful sin
and accepted redemption through faith
in the precious blood. Until then they
p-oy in lD xr,;nlr
the wicked God said. What hast thou
to do to take my words into thy mouth
las VOwI seeing thou latest instruc-
ton and easiest my words behind thee"
psalm ], ID. All who do not wish Di-
vine instruction, all who spurn the
Lords Word, are in this sense wicked
in wrong condition Of heart. We
are glad that there is no truth in the
theory that they are liable to eternal
torture, but, oh, how much they are
missing, nevertheless. of the joys Of
the Lord in this present time and Of
the glories and eternal blessings of the
future
In closing, dear friends, let me sug-
gest to you little Vow unto the Lord
mot as instead of your Conservation
Vow. which is all comprehensive. but
as supplemental thereto-as specifying
certain matters, which are indeed part
and parcel of your Conservation Vow.
The thought is that by this Vow these
particular features of your obligation
will be daily more prominently before
your mind. 1t is my belief that the
taking of it earnestly and soberly and
the keeping of it, would be one of the
wiSest New Years Resolutions that
Gods people could make-most helpful
to them in the peculiar time in which
we are living.
A Vow Unto the Lord.
l. Our Father which art in Heaven, hall
lowed be Thy name. May Thy rule come
into my heart more and more. and Thy
will be done in my mortal body. Relying
on the assistance of Thy promised grace