The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-12-14

| --%t'tN7,- ifsN tfA'a fsVitNii VILLAINS ~
With vain philosophers and their spir
ituality was az q low ebb. Conditions
ire very similar today After eighteen
| centuries of Divine instruction ant
With the wonderful Bibles now at oul
command and with helps FOR Biblt
tudy. what manaes OF Christian.
ught we 10 be--in faith. in love. III
| obedience. In courage,
st. Paul points ont the necessity fol
The Lords people to assemble them
elves together for fellowship and fol-
The study Of his Word and to provoke
The necessity for this. he suggests. is
that sin on the part of those who
have received knowledge of tho
Truth and been made partakers of the
Holy Spirit is a much more serious
matter than the same conduct would
nave been before they came into the
precious relationship of spirit-begotten
children of God He says. For if we
sin after that we have received q
knowledge of the Truth, there remain
eth no more sacrifice for sins. but q
certain fearful looking for of condem.
nation and fiery Indignation which
shall devour us as Gods adversaries
oversees 26. 81.
Have we grasped the import Of the
thought? II signifies that those of u
who have accepted the Divine terms
and entered the family of God vii,
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 Death-annihilation
He who despised Moses Law died
without mercy. But he who, having
come to clear knowledge of the
| Truth, shall be found a willing sinner
will not only be cut off from 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 hone These thoughts should
make very earnest, very diligent, all
who have accepted Christ and been
accepted by him.
Nevertheless Be Not Discouraged.
These things were written. not only
for the Hebrew Christians of st. Pauls
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
tcOrld is not yet on 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 dilieent, 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 God" 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
i oiotiiA uiiNSN anu VI p'iiiS O'Ni 7th"a SSb
| 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 encour-
aging words.
| He says. Call 10 mind the former
days in which. following your illumi-
nation of the Holy Spirit, you endured
a great fight of Affections" St Pauls
| intimation is that at that time. while
suffering prosecutions. the brethren
We're 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
acknowledgement.
Two Classes of the Faithful.
In time of war not all can go 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
\ 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. "Ye endured a great fight of
Affections, partly whilst We were made
a gazing stock both by reproaches and
Affections and partly whilst We be
came companions of them that were
so used. For We had compassion of
me in my bonds, and took joyfully the
spelling of your &oods" (verses 32-34).
st. Paul and others prominent
amongst the Lords followers natural.
ly would receive the brunt of Satans
attacks 1t is presumed that the Epis.
tie Of which our text is a part was
written while ST. Paul was a prison
er at Rome Fellow Jews, so far from
being sympathetic for a countryman
reproached him as a traitor, unortho