The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-03-24

like tullerS' soap; ana he Snall Slt as
refiner and purifier of silver; and
he shall purify the sons of Levi, and
purge them as gold and silver, that
they may offer unto the Lord accept
able sacrifices" NIalach iii, ., 81
Both Houses of Israel.
Natural and Spiritual Israel are con-
trasted. The Lord through the Proph-
ct foretold that Messiah would be
"for stone of stumbling and for
rock of offence to both the houses of
Israel"-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 knei0 not the time OF
their visitation"-they did not know
that the time had come for the estab-
lishment 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 Sunday! 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
| leu I,a I'M xx,itI !,
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
BILE 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 Millennial 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 iii. 1929. True,
the Foolish Virgins may subsequently
get the oil and subsequently have q
glorious future, but they will lose the
choice place of Divine favor and bless.
ing. They cannot be Of the Bride
class, but will receive their blessing
under the figure Of "the virgins her
companions that follow her. psalm
xiv, 14.
1t is in order for all Of Gods people
who now get awake from the slum.
Der of worldliness which has long
stupefied them, to join hearts and
voices in a 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.
fillment 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 10 make up my jewels
individually (Malachi iii. 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 Chisten-
dom now ready to receive him at his
second advent. AS it was, only the
"Israeites indeed" in whom was no
guile, that then knew the voice OF the
Shepherd. so it will be here an indi-
vidual matter. The Laodicean period
Of the Church's history is upon us
Revelation Iii, 10 The Nominalism
Of our day is fully portrayed by our
Lords words. Christendom boasts
that she Is rich and increased in gods
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 'lsraelites in
deed" Ours is Palm Sunday in the
highest sense Of all. How are we re
ceiving the great blessings which be
token the parOusia of the Master? Dc
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 il
all things? 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, when we shall see our Redeem
er as he is, and share his glory. AS st
! Paul says, "See that We reject not hin
that speaketh from heaven"' Greater
= light. greater privilege, greater blessing
everyway are ours than were those
, enjoyed by the Jews at our Lords
> first advent. These privileges anC
: blessings are our tests Let us be-
= faithful. Let us present our bodies
living sacrifices and with renewed yea
seek to glorify our Lord in our bodies
t and our spirits, which are his Il CORN
= thians vi 20.
| Those who have the eyes to see and
: the ears TO appreciate the voice nov
? speaking from heaven should be aler
to hail him Lord Of ALTO accept hin
/. as their Redeemer and King and vol
unfairly to present themselves to hin
E and his service-not waiting for tn,
}. time when he shall reveal himself IL