Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-01-08

Cacfhce F1oiy ana Acceptable Cnto LOO anu 2
You Reasonable Service Romsns xi, u. |
f, -.-s-.-.-s-.-s-s-s-s-s-s-sO
Once made and accepted by the Lord
through the importation Of the holy
Spirit, it cannot be annulled. But why
should we wish to annul the VowI
Why should anyone who puts his hand
to the pillow look back? To use the
Apostles illustration, why should the
, SOW that was washed return to wal
lowing In the mire? Why should we,
after having renounced the world and
received the begettlng Of the holy Spir-
It, and after having tasted of the good
Word of God and the powers of the
Age to come, lose the precious taste
and appreciation of these, and return
in .raving 10 the beggarly elements OF
the world? Surely there are no good
reasons for so doing. Surely the joys
OF the present life. as well as the hopes
Of the Kingdom to come. all should en-
courage us to fully "set our affections
on things above and not on the things
beneath"
The world, the flesh and the Adver-
sary-all exercise influences contrary
to our Vow or Resolution to the Lord
TO be dead to the world and to self
that we may be alive with Christ and
share his glory-suffer with him. that
we may reign with him. The poet has
expressed the proper thought here, say
ing,
NV soul be on thy guard
Ten thousand foes arise:
The hosts of sin are pressing hard
To draw thee from the prize
Much of our success in keeping our
Vow of Conservation depends upon
two things:
% The clearness of our grasp of the
situation when we made our Vow ana
the thoroughness of our intention; the
amount or weight thereof; the Will
power exerted for righteousness
(9 An additional feature OF great
weight In the matter is the degree Of
our knowledge. 1t is in line with this
thought that the Scriptures declare.
MY people perish for lack of known
edge" God has given us his Word
and informed us that 1t is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof and for cor
rection In righteousness, that the man
Of God may be thoroughly furnished.
He has advised us to search the Scrip
lures and TO forget not the assem-
bling Of ourselves together. And
where his advice is followed and the
Scriptures are searched daily, not In
a formal manner. but with desire to
know and to do the Lords will and to be
guided In his way, Strengthening OF
/ the will Is effected. Correspondingly
there is weakening OF the evil in
Guences which oppose us as New Crea-
lures and our Vow. The Word of God
is so arranged as to provide meat in
due season" for all of his faithful peo-
pie, whether old or young, In every
time. AS "babes in Christ" as young
| men and as full-grown sons of God. 1t
! Is for each of us a storehouse Of Grace
! and Truth, to make us strong in the
! Lord and in the power of his might.
/ Only by appropriating this spiritual
food can we have strength to fulfil our
! Vow, TO finish our course with joy and
to attain the Kingdom. Item by item,
as our minds are able to grasp It's an
folding prospects of glory, honor and
( immortality we are thereby strength
, ened by the Lords might in the inner
3 man.
In proportion as we realize the facts
of the case we may appreciate what n
! great bargain the Lord has offered us.
! We surrender in conservation our
earthly rights, privileges and pleasures
and receive in return more happifying
! spiritual blessings in the present life
! and the Inheritance of the unspeakable
/ blessings and glories of the future. 1t
! should, therefore become much more
easy to pay our Vows with a willing
! heart, as We grow in grace and In
! knowledge Of the Lord and his Word.
Indeed, as the Apostle suggests, 1t is
possible for US TO reach the place where
we can rejoice in tribulation also
knowing that thereby our future bless
! ing is increased.
| aWhat Shall 4 Rander?"