River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-01-27

ing marked our Redeemer as differ
ent from all others.
The cultivation of this spirit of
love for enemies, as well as for
friends would mark the followers
of Jesus as children of God, as
having the Heavenly Fathers Spirit
disposition. He sends the sun
shine on sinners and on saints.
And the rain comes down for the
just and the unjust 1t is difficult
to estimate the amount of harm
done to our minds by the traditions
of the Ozark Ages" respecting
Gods intention to torment etern-
ally his enemies-all except the
elect. Thank God that we find that
these teachings are not from his
Book! They made our forefathers
heretic-burners
Admittedly love is glorious
quality and God-like quality. But
if it extend only to those who love
in return, how would it be worthy
of any special reward? Do not the
heather, yea, all men, love after
this fashion? And if we are court
eous merely to those who are court
eous to us, wherein are we superior
to others?
The followers of Jesus, the pupils
in his school, are to take the high
est standard of excellence for their
pattern, = their loving Creator.
They are to strive for perfection
such as his. They are to attain it
in their hearts, and, so Far as pos
sible outwork it in every thot and
word and deed of their fallen flesh.
Since the Lords followers have
fallen flesh il is not possible for
them to be perfect as God is perfect
except in heart, in intention.
But this good heart intention is not
sufficient to prove us worthy of a
share with Christ as his ELECT" to
the glories of his Kingdom. Our
profession of pure heart and God
likeness must be tested. 1t must
be demonstrated and developed to
the point of fxity of character. 1t
must stand tests of temptation. 1t
must endure faithfulness under
stress. Hence those accepted as
disciples of Christ are required to
be faithful under very trying cir
cumstances.
The Jews had gradually lost
sight of the Divine Law and had
| filled their minds with certain ira
ditions which were more or, less
j contrary to the Law.
Tradition quoted the Law, Thou
shalt not KILL" and then added.
"Whosoever shall kill will be in
! danger of the judgment''-in dang
er of trial and punishment by the
} appointed judges. But Jesus taught
a still more rigid application, name
ly, that anger against brother Gin
the heart, unexpressed) would be a
murderouS condition of mind, which
would be reprehensible in Gods
sight, even though the murder
might never be actually committed.
More than this, he reprehended the
unkind remarks, as, rakah, signify
ing block-head, and thou fool,
as meaning still worse moral de-
generate. Our Lord declared that
such expressions indicated wrong
conditions Of the heart, which
might ultimately bring the individ-
ual before the Sanhedrin, or, pos
sibly, eventually lead him on into
Second Death, symbolized by &C.
henna.
He'll fire in this study is literally
Gehenna fire. 1t refers to fire kept
burning in the Valley of Hinnon
(Gehenna) for the destruction of
offal and the prevention of contag-
ion. Into this fire the destruction
of malicious evil-doers might be
thrown for destruction. 1t thus
symbolized the Second Death
Rev. 20:14.
According to the Galilean Proph-
ct it would be useless for anyone to
approach God S altar with sacrifical
gift while his heart contained any
enmity against another. Hence any
of Christ's disciples before offering
a gift to the Lord should search
their hearts and purge them from
enmity, knowing that otherwise
their sacrifices and praises would
be vain.