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


are very similnr today. After elghtcc
centuries of Divine instruction an
with the wonderful TIibles now NJ on
command ana with helps for Bib,
study, what manner Of Christian
ought we TO be--in faith, In love, IN
obedience, In courage!
st. Paul points out the necessity for
the Lords people to assemble them
selves together for fellowship and for
the study OF his Word and to provoke
one another to love ana good works
The necessity for this, he suggests Is
that sin on the part of those who
have received knowledge of the
Truth and been made partnkers of the
Holy Spirit Is much more serious
matter than the same conduct would
have been before they came into the
precious relationship of spirit-begotten
children of God. He says, For II we
sin after that we hnve received a
knowledge of the Truth. there remain
eth no more a sacrifice for sins, but a
certain fearful looking for of condem-
nation and fiery Indignation which
shall devour us as Gods adversaries"
oversees 20. 27).
Have we grasped the import Of the
thought2 II signifies that those Of us
who have accepted the Divine terms
and entered the family of God will
have no future opportunity In another
life. We must either make our "call-
ing and election sure" under the terms
of the call. as accepted. or be rejected
as unworthy of life everasting-as fit
for the Second Decentralization.
He who despised Moses Law died
without mercy. But he who, having
come to clear knowledge of the
Truth. shall be found willing sinner.
will not only be cut Off from further
oppor' unity in the present Age, but be
everlastingly cut off from life, destroy
ed. God IS able to destroy both soul
and body"-the present life and our flu
ture hope. These thoughts should
make very earnest, very dillgent, nll
who have accepted Christ and been
accepted by him.
Nevertheless Be Not Discouraged,
These things were written. not only
for the Hebrew Christians OF st. Paul's
day, but intended by the Holy Spirit
for all the household Of faith. We
should not rock ourselves to sleep, nor
give to each other opiates. While the
tOorld Is not yet on trial for eternal
life, the church IL now being tested
for life or death eternal The thought
should sober u.s. AS the Apostle sug-
gests, BE dillgent, be SOBER" be
faithful, following In the footsteps OF
Jesus.
But st, Paul or, rather, the Holy
Spirit through him, took cognizance
OF the fact that the Lords people are
In a world that Is mo friend to grace
to help them on to God" The Apostle
recognized that we might become dis.
couraged with our own faults and
weaknesses. Hence, after earnestly
, exhorting to faithfulness and energy
: and after pointing out the dangers OF
slothfulness and Of being Over-charged
with the cares Of this life and the de
, ceiifulness OF riches and thus losing
; the spirit of Christ. he turns from this
T threatening attitude and uses encour
: aging words.
; He says, "Call to mind the fOrme
/, days In which, following your illumi
. nation of the Holy Spirit, you endured
: great fight OF Affections" st, Paul
!, intlmation IL that at that time, whll
= suffering prosecutions, the brethre
were really In II better, more alive
3 spiritual condition than later. Th
o prosperity, privileges, freedom fror
n persecution enjoyed, had made theI
l. slothful ana less courageous. III
a would have them and us call to min
II the Victories won In the past, that W
i might have courage for the preser
and the future. How gracious, ho'
" helpful, are all the provisions of ou
~ God for those who now hear his ca
~ and seek to walk In Jesus steps! Il
e these he guarantees that every exper
II ence of life which his providence sha
" permit shall work for good, for bles
~ Ing, for valuable experience and ed'
!, cation along lines of righteousness an
~ haracter-deveiopment
st Two Glasses Of the Faithful.
II. In time OF war not all can go fort
lie as soldiers. Some, unfit for such SER
er ice, may perform n useful part I
I'd home supporting, encouraging. sen,
IL Ing supplies to those nt the front, ct
n Aud so II is in the army of the Lor'
" Jesus Is the Captain of all those wi
~ voluntarily enlist as soldiers of II
OF cross to battle against sin, especial
no I'm themselves fighting n good fgl
s. OF faith" and overcoming the splr
no OF the world which surges all abol
m them, threatening to Overwhelm the
IL as New Creatures In Christ.
ls st. Paul intimates n strong persec,
o. tlon. openly manifested by the world
IN spirited, Sat0n-decclved people of Go
he He says, "Ye endured n great fight {
re Affections, partly whilst yc were mat
" gazing stock both by reproaches M
of annlctions and partly whilst ye b
he came companions of them that we
r. so used. For yc had compassion I
yc me IN my bonds, ana took joyfully Il
yh spelling of your goods" Werses 32-3D