Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-11-10

abrupt. ending Of the Acts All the
more do ve turn vith expectancy i0v
further light Ipcu that great early
heydsy Of TIE church TO It's literary
leaders
Among the very early Christian
writings Is that known as the Erste
Of Clement Il Is written fruu Rome
70 the church II Corinth waica had
been pestered vith p~a-tiraEs There
wss emulation and snvy. strife ard
sedisipn TIE worthless rose uT
against The honnree. the foolish
against The viss the Young agails
these advanced "a years Everyone
aha-dous the fear o. God and IS bli-d
II his ~ faith
But once L had been so with this
church. AZ first -Ccnte1t with the
provision which God hal made for
you and carefully attending TO bis
words. We were inuardly dlied -ith
his doctrine. and his su-erings were
before your eyes We YIELDED obeii
encs rather than estorted K and
wsre more wiling 20 give than to re
celvs
Lessen Taught hy Clement
One can see Il is the same church
n which Paul miuis;ered and which
be needed 90 sharply 70 r~srriranc
Because Of these inner difficulties
! Clement passes BY the danger o. per
secution and calls them to a quicken
ing Of the faith.
Especially does he exhort them tc
humility. Quoting almost a third OF
lis letter from the Ola Testament
and much also from the New. be
ceases rot 10 urge them TO a finer
spiritual understanding Like many
% the early writer's he Is not always
exact. but he never misses the sub
stance OF the thought be wishes
70 repea As | live. saith the Lord
I desire not the death OF a sinner.
but rather his repentance Though
your sins reach from earth TO heaven
and though they were redder thar
scarlet and blacker than sackcloth
yet II ye turn to me with your whole
heart and say. Father, | will listen &c
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 in holiness
What then shall those things be
which are yet prepared for such as
xait for him.
But how may ve attain this bless
ing. BY him. ever Jesus Christ. We
look up 10 the height Of heaven. BY
him are the eyes Of u hearts opened
By him our foolish and darkened IN
derstandlng blossoms up anew 10
wards his marvellous light: and by
him the Lord has villed that We
should taste OF immortal knoViedga
For what can mortal man dc. or What
strength Is there in one made GU Of
the DUST
Truth in Burning Words.
He tells them. We are fond Of con
tention. brethren. and full Of yea
about things which do not pertain te
salvation
But IL you will look AT the Scrip
lures you will find that the righteous
were prosecuted but only By tho
wicked They were cas-; into prison
but only BY the unhOly. They were
stoned. but only By transgressors
They we're slain. but only By the &C
cursed.
Why then are these strifes among
you. Have ve not all z God anc
Christi Is there 10 n spirit Of
grace poured out among US. Remem
Der the words OF the Lord Jesus how
he said woe TO the man hy whom
orenses come. But you strifes have
subverted the faith Of many. have
discouraged many. have given rise &c
doubt in many and have caused grief
10 all
Then Clement exhorts that all
shall enter the gates OF Righteousness
By reconciliation with God. and by
that love which beareth all thing. be
lieveth all things. hopeth all things
erdureth all things
BY all this and much more OF a
Ike kind Clement stirs NJ faith an
deters from evil
How familiar Il all sounds 70 Is
the sane human nature. the same
gospel pharmaeopia. the same divine
possibility. The ravage % strife the
~antIdote. humility and Christ the SUI
fering saviour