Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-06-18

is declared TO nave DeeD ine DhEfN
ming Of the creation Of God" Revela
ton fiji, IA. He knew Q only Of Jesus
loyalty but that his experiences with
bin in glory would every way qualify
our Lord for the tests and the Sacrifices
necessary for the redemption Of the
race with his W precious blood
The Scriptures assure us Furthermore
that the Father set before him some
certain joys. certain blessings. certain
promises. in connection with this WORK
of mans redemption; as we read
"Who for the Joy set before him en-
cured the cross, despising the shame.
and is now set down on the right hand
Of the majesty on high" (Hebrews
xii, y.
R~etributive joys and Rewards.
We are to remember, TOO. that the
Scriptures distinctly teach that tn
condition Of the affairs Of our world
sin, ~retributive punishment, the re
demption through Jesus, the call of
the Church and their sufferings with
their Redeemer and the promises Of
future blessing and glory both for the
Church and for the ~world-are sub
jects in which the angels Of God are
interested. AS the Apostle Peter says.
"Of which salvation the prophets have
enquired and searched diligently.
Searching what or what manner Of
time the Spirit of Christ which was In
them did signify, when it testified be
forehand the sufferings Of Christ, and
the glory thai should follow.
Which things the angels desire to look
into" q Peter. /. 1912. They o
dered when all the sufferings Of Jesus
and when the glory time would come
and recovery from sin and death con-
ditions; when Gods purpose would
thus ripen and bear fruit in the recov-
cry Of those who fell from his favor
Ia Adams disobedience but were re
deemed by the precious blood.
The great lesson of what constitutes
disobedience, and how serious a sin II
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 infection 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 CrucialIy Tested
We cannot wonder If all the holy an
gels looked on in amazement as they
bebeld the Only Begotten Son of God
leave the glory which he had before
the world was and humble himself 10
take human nature-to be born n 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 a 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 viii TO the ex-
tent of such a sacrifice. not only of
-1Anu h,,N arsnnYt.al1u nf 1ffn FNhnp
had yet to see a 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. hat apparently they
did not so carefully note the fact that
the Heavenly Father had set before
him great joys, great blessings, great
e%xaltation. when he should finish his
work.
Already the Only Begotten was next
to the Father in glory and dignity,
honor and power; what more of divine
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 a joy to the Lord
to be the Fathers Agent in the rescue
of Adam and his race from sin and
death, nevertheless we believe that
his chief Joy in connection with the
mattar waS that TINS he mipht damon.