The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-12-20


that which nobody cares for or values.
but which all would like to get rid of.
as the darkness always hates the light
and seeks to quench II and reigns com
pletely only when all lights are ex-
tinguished. Christians, far and near.
either by expressing sympathy for the
Apostle or fellowshlpping with him,
or by defending him from the unjust
and malicious ISLANDERS circulated
against him, thereby exposed them
selves to similar reproaches and dis
esteem, opposition from their neigh
bors. etc.
History tells us Of various terrible
prosecutions of the Christians by the
Roman Emperors. 1t declares. for In
stance. that to crafty his depraved
mind Nero. the Emperor, caused u GER
tain portion of the city of Rome to be
| burned by incendiaries and that when
he found how angry the people were
he blamed the entire matter upon the
inoffensive Christians partly. no
doubt, because these had no friends.
either at court or amongst the people.
They could be blamed with impunlty
and the Emperor's own vicious Grim
inality would thus be hidden. On this
account hundreds of Christians were
publicly and brutally put to death.
"Great Recompense Of Reward"
Poor human nature finds 1t difficult
to stand alone with God and with the
few who are on his sde-the side OF
righteousness and truth. When. addi-
tionally. there comes persecution II
tries their hearts. proves their loyalty.
This Is exactly what the Lord designs.
He is now seeking special class Of
overcomers to be joint-helrs with his
Son on the spirit plane as the Bride
of Messiah. Through these he intends
shortly to grant to Israel and. through
Israel. to all mankind glorious bless
ings of instruction and restitution. To
be qualified to thus serve in the In
struction and uplifting of humanity 1t
IS necessary that these called ones
should he of strong character-copies
of their Master, In the spirit of their
minds. TO these he says. "To him
that overcometh will grant to sit
with me In my throne, even az | also
overcame. and am set down with my
Father in his throne" Qiev. Ill, 2D.
We can readily see how some OF the
more prominent followers of the Lord
who suffered martyrdom because OF
their loyalty to the principles OF
righteousness and to the name Of Je-
sus would be accounted overcomers
and members of the Kingdom class.
But sometimes 1t is difficult for us to
discern clearly how the less promi-
nent, less prosecuted ones stand with
God. st. Pau's argument proves that
they stand ,pelt-that God counts them
In as martyrs as faithful unto death.
II they have the martyr spirit. II they
are loyal. courageous for the Truth.
even though they never seal their tes-
timony at the stake, even though they
never are counted worthy Of open. or
public opposition or persecution. Here
Is an encouragement for all and this
is exactly what St. Paul would stim'
ulate us to in the words Of our text
We Must Let tho Light Shine.
He says, "Cast not away. therefore
your outspokenness, which hath great
recompense of reward" The Lord has
not promised great reward to us fol
merely believing, merely trusting, ant
, In cowardly manner keeping ou
, light hidden, lest Its exposure should
, bring to us persecution or reproach
He seeketh not such. Such will not b.
a counted worthy of n place In the King
dom which Is to bless the world.
a st. Paul elsewhere declares, "lf w
y deny him, lie will also deny us" Il
4 Timothy II. 12). If we have accepte,
q the Lord as our Counsellor, Guide
= Captain, Teacher, Exemplar. Bride
:, groom, he expects of us courage
:. confess him as such and on all suita
/, BILE and proper occasions to let ou
= light so shine before men that the
/, may see our good works and glorif
!, our Father which Is in heaven
to so accord with the Masters teacl
= Ing that, however we may be repre-
sented by others, all who know us IL
timately will take knowledge of u
that we have been with Jesus an
h have learned of him. They shoul
= also see that our courage, our bolt
It ness, our outspokenness. Is not n d'
l. sire to preach ourselves, not vainglor
9. in ourselves but that, on the contrar,
|; we preach Christ and the gloriou
% message of his Word, which alway
10 has brought opposition and persec'
y ton from the Adversary ana from n
1t who are under his binding influence.
1t Every faithful follower of JEST
It must be confessor-must show h
N colors. We do not mean by this thu
he must be belligerent and fight
l. carnal warfare, either with swords {
v spears or hands or tongue. On III
a, contrary, like his Master, he must eve
,f be alert to do good, His orders frol
le the Captain are "Speak evil of I
d man." What he must speak forth an
g. show forth by his life is the doctrir
g of Christ-the Truth, the Light,