The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-05-24

the batner came upon the waiting
household of faith. 1t evidenced to
them the fact that their sins had been
forgiven for Christ's sake, that they
were justified freely from all things
through his sacrifice. and that their
conservation to sacrifice themselves
had been accepted Of the Father. and
that henceforth they might count
themselves as ''joint-sacriticers with
Christ" members of his Body" mem
bers of 'the Church of the First-born.
whose names are written in heaven"
members of the Seed of Abraham
Galatians iii. 29J.
Keys of the Kingdom.
The Master in speaking to st. Peter
assured him that to him were commit
ted the Keys of the Kingdom of Heay-
en-. which signified that the way into
the Kingdom at that time had not yet
been opened, and that Peter would be
honored by being the Lords servant
to do the opening work. There were
two of these keys" and therefore
there were two opening works to be
accomplished
The Church. under Christ her Lord,
is Gods kingdom, not yet set up or es-
tablished lin power and great glory
not yet finished or inaugurated. The
work of this Gospel Age is to "calP'
or invite such as have hearing ear to
become joint-heirs in this Kingdom,
for which he taught US to pray. Thy
kingdom come. thy will be done on
earth as it is done in heaven" So
many as genuinely accept this heav-
emily calling. this 'hign calling" to glo
ry, honor. and Immortality. are proba-
tionary members of the Kingdom of
Heaven. Such are Scripturally ex-
horted to continue faithful to their
vows of conservation, and thus make
their calling and election sure to a
place in this glorious Kingdom. which
will be inaugurated at the second COM
ing of Christ. But the Lord instructs
all saying. sit down first and count
the cost luke xiv. 2S); but if any
man draw back. my soul shall have no
pleasure in him" Hebrews x. 38l.
All who are thus spirit begotten (by
the holy Spirit, John i, 49, during this
age are promised a spirit birth, to
spirit-being in the resurrection. We
read, 1T is sown in corruption; it is
raised in interruption: 1t is sown in
dishonor; 1t is raised in glory: 1t is
sOwn in weakness; it is raised in pow
II fk. T..
raised a spiritual body. For this
| say, brethren, that flesh and blood
cannot inherit the Kingdom of God;
neither doth corruption inherit incor-
ruption" q Corinthians XIV. 42-44, SOY.
The entire period between the first ad-
vent and the second advent of our Re
deemer is set apart in the Divine Pro
gram for this great work of selecting
from amongst men the little flock"
such as shall be counted worthy of
these honors on the spirit plane. and
the privilege of participating with Mes
siah in his great work of the next age.
To the Jew First.
Only Jews received the Pentecostal
blessing The Gentiles were excluded
for three and half years thereafter,
In harmony with Divine promise
made to the Jewish nation. Then came
the time for similar privilege to be
extended to the Gentiles, and the rec
ord informs US that Cornelius was
the first Gentle to be received into
spiritual relationship with God. He
was good man. and had been a good
man for years; he prayed often. and
gave much aims to the Ieople, but
until then, the middle wall Of partition
separated between Jew and Gentle.
Even then he could not be received of
God because of his works, or prayers.
or aims, but must first be instructed
respecting Christ and his redemptive
work. and must believe and accept the
same. Neither is there salvation in
any other; for there is none other
name under heaven given among men,
whereby we must be saved" Acts iv,
12), either in this age or in any other.
Thus it was that. in harmony with
our Redeemer's promise. st. Peter used
the key" which introduced the Gen.
tiles to the Pentecostal blessings. As
he used the first key ON the Day Of
Pentecost in explaining. to the multi
tudes of Jews the meaning of the
Pentecostal blessings, and the privilege
that they had of entering into the Di-
vine favor thereby, So at this later
date. the Lord instructed Cornelius to
send for Peter, saying. "Send there
fore to Joppa, and call hither Simon,
whose surname Is Peter; he is lodging
in the house of one Simon a tanner by
the seaside; who. when he cometh.
shall speak unto thee" (Acts K, 80; XII,
IA, 15). Thus were the two keys"
used by st. Peter. and thus were the
doors Of the Gospel favor-the high.
calling of joint-heirship with Jesus.
thrown open. both to Jews and to Gen.
tiles, through faith in the precious
blood The doors thus thrown open
are not yet closed; but, as we some
times sing, "That gate was left AGAR
for me-"
l rejoice with you today, FELLOWSHIP
dents of the Word Of God. that this
great gift Of God is still obtainable,
that the time has not yet fully come
when the door of opportunity to this
high-calling must close. Close it will,
so soon as the full number Of the
"elect" shall be completed. Thank God
that another door will then open; the
door of Restitution TO human perfection
and to earthly life. grand beyond the
power of description.
But the blessed opportunity Of this
Pentecostal favor is still granted. AS
st. Peter declares in his epistle,
whereby are given unto us exceed
ing great and precious promises; that
by these We might be partakers Of the
divine nature" Oh Peter i, a. The door
to this divine nature is the one that
will soon shut, as our Redeemer illus
trated in the parable Of the "Wise
and Foolish Virgins" When a suffi-
cient number of wise virgins shall
have entered to complete the bride
class. forthwith the door of opportu-
nifty to that station, to that class, to
that honor. to the divine nature, will
be closed. and the elect Of God will be
neither one more nor one less than the
number originally foreordained.
my Spirit Upon All Flesh"
st. Paul speaks of this Gospel age
saying, Now is the acceptable time;
today If We will hear his voice.
harden not your hearts" Not all hear
his voice in these days. The great
mass Of mankind have not even heard
of the name of Jesus, and consequent
ly could not harden their hearts
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