The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-06-20

resenting his Word and his Character
we have driven away from God and
The Bible some Of the most intelligent
uf our fellows. by reason of the con-
Trajectory nonsense of our creeds.
The Apostle urges, "Study TO show
thyself approved unto God" We are
not TO suppose, therefore, that the
highest of all science. that which per-
aims to the Divine purpose and the
Divine plan. can be acquired without
dudU. We are not in this claiming
hat study alone would bring the de-
'ired results of proper knowledge. We
heartily agree in the Scriptural prop
,sitlon that the world by wisdom
Snows not God" We are not there
iore to study along the lines Of world
y wisdom. but along the lines Of that
wisdom that cometh from above"-
llong the lines of the inspired Scrip
ures. We must study! Whoever will
lot study will not know. THE secret
4 the Lord Is with them that rever-
nee Him" And reverencing him
means the giving Of our best thoughts
nd talents TO the study of his Word,
hat we may know the things freely
siven TO us of God" Il Corinthians Il,
p.
We should note further as Bible stu.
ients that We must not study to be ap-
Iroved of men. but TO have the Divine
spproval. This will bring to us, as II
lid TO the Master and his apostles, the
lisapprobation of the worldly-wise and
lominally religious. 1t was the Chief
'riests and Scribes and Pharisees. and
lot the common people of the Jews, nor
he Roman soldiers. who were guilty
# the crucifxion of our Lord. And
We must expect similar conditions, be-
ause, as the Apostle says, "As he was
so are we In this world" The class
who called the Master Beelzebub is the
same class which will oppose his foot
step followers.
God permits all this with wise and
loving foreintention. Nothing connect
ed with the opposing forces is In any
sense of the word interfering with his
great Program. He set apart with Di-
vine wisdom this Gospel Age OF nearly
nineteen centuries for the sole purpose
OF selecting from the world ''the
Church of the frstborns"-the antityp-
lcal Priests and Levites. The restric-
ton OF his message. the darkening of
counsel the clashing of creeds, the op-
position Of the world, the flesh and the
Devil, are all wisely permitted with
the foreintention on Gods part that
thus all through the Age the way of
the cross-in the footsteps Of Jesus
should be marrow way" 80 that
comparatively few finding 1t would
care to walk In IT,
II is those few. that t'little flock"
Jealous for God. for his Word, for
righteousness. that he IL now marking
out as the prospective joint heirs with
Jesus In his glorious Kingdom. which
Is to bless the world with full opportu.
nities for earthly salvation-'restitu-
tion." The trials of the faith, the pa
tience. the love. the devotion Of this
little tiock" are all designed and not
accidental. Satan and his hosts may
think to thwart the Divine Plan and
may mislead and use humanity as their
tools, but II shall yet be seen that all
of the Divine purposes shall be ac-
complished. The Word that has gone
forth out Of Jehovah's mouth shall
prosper In the thing whereto he
sent It,
81. Paul declared Of earthly Israel,
that they enjoyed much advantage
every way, because to them were COM
mitted the oracles OF God" SO now,
dear friends, 1t seems to me that you
and | and all sincere Christians the
world around enjoy much advantage
every way. Looking to the past we
md great excuse for our dear forefa-
theirs who. with sincerity Of heart, so
misunderstood the Divine Word and
30 misinterpreted the spirit Of the
Master that they burned one another
= The stake. We ghoald- not think Do
-wv