The Mankato free press., 1910-06-17

| and when the glory time would come
ditions; when Gods purpose would
thus ripen and bear fruit in the recov-
cry of those who fell from his favor
!! In Adams disobedience but were re-
deemed by the precious blood.
The great lesson of what constitutes
disobedience, and how serious a sin it
is. and what it would lead to if allowed
to take its course, was illustrated in
mans experiences; and all the hosts of
angels looked on with amazement, no
doubt. Gods Justice was fully dem
onstrated in the inflictiOn of the death
penalty and the permission of its in
roads upon the mental. moral and
physical perfection of his creatures.
bringing many of the race down al
most to brutality. Gods Love was
manifested in the gift of his Son. in
the arrangement of his plan by which
for the joy set before him, Jesus might
become Adams Redeemer. and the
Bridegroom of the Elect Church and
ultimately the great King of Glory
who, during the Millennial Age. is to
restore. revive and bless and test
Adam and all his race.
Christ and the Church CruciaIIy Tested
We cannot wonder if all the holy an
gels looked on in amazement as they
beheld the Only Begotten Son of God
leave the .'glory which he had before
the world was and humble himself to
take human nature-to be born a man
that he might redeem Adam and his
race. 1t must have seemed wonderful
to them not only that the Heavenly
Father would arrange such plan but
wonderful also that the glorious "Only
Begotten." ''First-Born. should be the
one TO whom the proposition would be
made to show his faith and love for
the Father. to do his will to the eX-
tent of such a sacrifice, not only of
glory. but. eventually. of life. They
had yet to see further operation of
the divine law of retribution operating
in Jesus for his blessing and honor
So intent were they in looking at the
humiliation Of the Only Begotten. and
then at his death. that apparently they
did not so carefully note the fact that
the Heavenly Father had set before
him great joys. great blessings. great
exaltation. when he should finish his
work
Already the Only Begotten was next
to the Father in glory and dignity,
hon nf lix-;,
honor could be bestowed upon even
the First-BOrn of every creature?
The Only Begotten himself appears
not to have thought particularly of
the promised glory: The Joy set be-
fore him. however. seems to have
been that he would do the Fathers
will and thus demonstrate his abso-
lutte loyalty even unto death. While.
no doubt. it was Il Joy to the Lord
TO be the Fathers Agent in the rescue
death. nevertheless we believe that
his chief joy in connection with the
matter was that thus he might demon
strate to the Father his absolute love
by his submission and obedience.
Our Lords own words were. Father.
glorify thou me with the glory which
had with thee before the world
was" Gohn xvii. 81, He knew Of
the Fathers proposed eXaltation of
him as reward. but he did not men
Father that when he had accom-
plished the Divine purpose he might
have back the same honor and posi-
ton and divine favor which he had
laid aside when he humbled himself
to become Adams redemption price.
the worlds Savior. Such modesty
and loyalty are difficult for us to
comprehend because of our fallen,
imperfect conditions.
But the Apostle explains to us.
speaking under the power of inspira-
ton. that because of our Lords obedi-
ence in leaving the glory and becom-
ing a man and dying for our sins.
therefore "God hath highly exalted
him and given him a name above ev-
cry name. that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow. of things in
heaven and things in earth Philippi-
ans ii. 8, 1O). Elsewhere in the Scrip
lures we are assured that our Lord be-
came partaker of the Divine nature in
reward far above anything that could
have been thought, not only above an
gels. but also far above his own prehu-
man condition. In thus rewarding the
faithful the Lord is carrying out the
spirit of our teXt--he has been eXem-
plifying what is otherwise taught in
the Scriptures-"what man SOW
eth that shall he also reap" Galatians
Vi, a. Adam sowed disobedience and he
and his race have reaped terrible
harvest of degradation. suffering and
death. The Only Begotten sowed obe-
1ience. as prOphetically expressed OF
him at the time of his baptism. II de-
light to do thy will, o my God: thy law
is written in my heart psalm Il. 81.
Laying down his life in harmony with
the Divine program was his sowing
md the reaping at the resurrection
was glory. honor and immortality. the
1ivine nature. How richly Jehovah re-
wards every demonstration Of loyalty
TO himself and the principles of right
eousneSS.
Behind Tree.
Two old backwOOdsmen had a dis
pute over Il line fence that became
feud that nothing but bloodshed would