The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-12-23

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centuries of Divine instruction and
with the wonderful Bibles now at our
command and with helps for Bible
study, what manner of Christians
ought we to be-in faith, in love, i'll
obedience, in courage!
st. Paul points out the necessity for
the Lords people TO assemble them
selves together for fellowship and for
the study of his Word and to provoke
one another to love and good works.
The necessity for this, he suggests. Is
that sin ON the part of those who
have received knowledge of the
Truth and been made partakers of the
Holy Spirit is a much more serious
matter than the same conduct would
have been before they came into the
children of God. He says. For if we
sin after that we have received a
knowledge of the Truth, there remain
eth no more IL sacrifice for sins, but Il
certain fearful looking for of condem-
nation and fiery. indignation which
shall deypur us. as Gods adversaries,'
yerses &c, 20. -.
Have we grasped the import Of the
thought? 1t signifies that those of US
who have accepted the Divine. terms
and entered the family of God Will
have no future opportunity in another
life We must either make our call
ing and election sure under the terms
Of the call, as accepted, or be rejected
as unworthy Of life everlasting as fit
for the Second Observation-Disclosures
He who despised Moses Law died
without mercy. But he who, having
come to clear knowledge of the
Truth, shall he found willing sinner,
will not only be cut off from 4 further
opportunity in the present Age. but be
everlastingly cut off from life. destroy
ed. God is able to destroy both soul
and body"-the present life and our flu
ture hope. These thoughts should
make very earnest, very diligent. all
who have accepted Christ and been
accepted by him.
These things were written, not only
for the Hebrew Christians of st. Paul's
day, but intended by the Holy Spirit
for all the household of faith. We
should not rock ourselves to sleep. nor
give to each other opiates. While the
acorld is not yet OH trial for eternal
life, the Church is now being tested
for life or death eternal The thought
should sober US. AS the Apostle sug-
gests. BE diligent. be SOBER be
faithful, following in the footsteps of
Jesus. ~ =,
But ST. Paul or, rather, the Holy
Spirit through him, took cognizance
OF the fact that the Lords people are
in world that is mo friend to grace
to help them on to Cod" The Apostle
recognized that we might become dis
couraged with our own faults and
weaknesses. Hence, after. earnestly
exhorting TO faithfulness, and energy
and after pointing out the dangers of
slothfulness and of being Over-charged
with the cares of this life and the de-
ceitfulness Of riches and thus losing
the spirit of Christ. he turns from, this
threatening attitude and uses enconr-
aging words.
He says, Call TO mind the former
days in which, following your illulni-
nation Of the Holy Spirit, you endured
a great fight of Affections" st. Paups
intimation is that at that time. while
suffering prosecutions, the brethren
were really in better, more alive.
spiritual condition than later. The
prosperity; privileges, freedom from
persecution enjoyed, had made them
slothful and less courageous. He
would have them and us call to mind
the victories won in the past, that we
might have courage for the present
and the future. How gracious, how
helpful, are all the provisions of our
God for those who now hear his call
and. seek to walk in Jesus steps! To
these he guarantees that every expert
ence Of life which his providence shall
permit shall work for good, for bless
ing. for valuable experience and edu-
cation along lines of righteousness and
character deyelopment.
Two Glasses Of the Faithful.
In time Of war not all can so forth
as soldiers. Some, unfit for such Serv-
ice, may perform useful part at
home supporting. encouraging, send
ing supplies to those at the 'front.' etc.
And so it is in the army of the Lord
Jesus is the Captain of all those who
voluntarily enlist as soldiers of the
cross TO battle against sin, especially
in MISUNDERSTANDING a good fight
Of faith and overcoming the spirit
of the world which surges all about
them. threatening to overwhelm them
as New Creatures in Christ.
st. Paul intimates a strong persecu-
ton, openly manifested by the worldly
spirited, Satan-deceived people of God.
He says, I'VE endured great fight of
Affections, partly whilst We were made
gazing stock both by reproaches and
Affections and partly whilst We be-
came companions of them that were
so used. For We had compassion zof
me in my bonds. and took joyfully the
spelling of your goods" verses 32-34).
st. Paul and others prominent
amongst the Lords followers natural
ly would receive the brunt of Satan's
attacks. 1t is presumed that the Epis-
tie of which our text is a part was
written while st. Paul was a prison
err at Rome. Fellow Jews, SO far from