The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-12-14

| Lord are dcsD'Scd and rejected by al.
He says that we are counted as the
filth and offscouring of the earth
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 it and reigns CON.
pletely only when all lights are ex-
tnguished. christians, far and near
either by expressing sympathy for the
Apostle or fellowshipping with him
or by defending him from the unjust
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 a 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
| luOllciiSlNt Vii iSlihitS partly, III
| doubt. because these had no friends
either at court or amongst the people
They could be blamed with impunity
| and the Emperor's own vicious Grim
inality would thus be hidden. On this
account hundreds Of Christians were
publicly and Brutality put to death.
"oreat Raconpenss of Reward"
Poor human nature finds it difficult
to stand alone with God and with the
few who are on his side-the side OF
righteousness and truth When, add
tionally, there comes persecution il
tries their hearts. proves their loyalty
This is exactly what the Lord designs
He is now seeking special class OF
overcomers to be joint-heirs 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 ii
is necessary that these called ones
should he of strong character-copies
of their Master. in the spirit of thcil
minds. To these he says. ITO him
that overcometh will ! grant to SIT
with me in my throne, even as l also
overcame. and am set down with my
Father in his throne Rev. iii, 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 it is difficult for us tC
discern clearly how the less promi
nent, less prosecuted ones stand with
God. st. Pauls argument proves that
they stand tcell-that God counts them
in as martyrs, as faithful unto death
If they have the martyr spirit, If 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, OF
public opposition or persecution. Here
is an encouragement for all and this
is exactly what ST. Paul would slim
ulate us to in the words of our text.
We Must Let the 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 for
merely believing, merely trusting, and
in cowardly manner keeping our
light hidden. lest its exposure should
bring to US persecution or reproach.
lie seeketh not such. Such will not be
counted worthy of place in the King
dom which is to bless the world.
st. Paul elsewhere declares. IF we
deny him, he will also deny us" III
Timothy II, 12). If we have accepted
the Lord as our Counsellor, Guide,
Captain, Teacher, Exemplar, Bride
groom, he expects of us courage to
confess him as such and on all suita-
BILE and proper occasions to let our
light so shine before men that they
may see our good works and glorify
our Father which is in heaven
fMatthew V. 16l. Our good works are
to so accord with the Masters teach
ing that, however we may be repre-
sented by others, all who know us in
timately will take knowledge of Us
that we have been with Jesus an6
have learned of him. They should
also see that our courage, our bold
ness, our outspokenness, is not q de-
sire to preach ourselves, not vainglory
In ourselves, but that, on the contrary,
we preach Christ and the glorious
message of his Word, which always
! has brought opposition and persecu,
ton from the Adversary and from all
who are under his binding influence.
Every faithful follower of Jesus
| must be a confessor-must show his
colors. We do not mean by this that
he must be belligerent and fight a
carnal warfare, either with swords or
spears or hands or tongue. On the
contrary, like his Master. he must ever
be alert TO do good. His orders from
the Captain are, "Speak evil of no
man" What he must speak forth and
show forth by his life is the doctrine
of Christine Truth, the Light, in
contrast with the prevailing Error and
| Darkness.
The reward which the Scriptures
| hold before our eyes of faith is so
sreat that, to the worldly, it seems
foolish to believe in it. 1t is to con-
sist of share with our Lord in his
glory, honor and immortality; in his
Mediatoriai Kingdom soon to be estab-
lished; in his great work as the Medi-
ator of the New Covenant in granting
Divine blessings. through the merit of