The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-12-23

but which all would like to get rid of,
as the darkness always hates the light
and seeks to quench it and reigns COM
pletcly only when all lights are ex-
tinguished Christians. far and near.
either by expressing sympathy for the
Apostle or fellowshipping with him.
or by defending him from the unjust
and malicious SANDERS circulated
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 deprayed
mind Nero, the Emperor, caused Il 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
inoffensive Christians - partly. no
doubt, because these had no friends.
either at court or amongst the people.
They could be blamed with iInpunity
and the Emperor's own vicious Grim
inality would thus be hidden. On this
account hundreds OF Christians were
publicly and hrl,tally put to death.
Great Recompense of Reward"
Poor human nature finds it difficult
10 stand alone with God and with the
few who are OH his sidethe side of
righteousness and truth. When. addi-
tionaly, there comes persecution it
tries their hearts, proves their loyalty.
This is exactly what the Lord designs.
He is NOW seeking Il special class of
overcomers to be iOint-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 it
is necessary that these called ones
should be of strong character-cOpics
of their Master in the spirit of their
minds. TO these he says, 'TO him
that overcOmeth will / grant to sit
with ME in my throne, even as | also
overcame, and am set down with my
Father in his throne (Rev. iii, 21).
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 to
discern clearly how the less promi-
nent, less prosecuted ones stand with
God. st. Paul's argument proves that
they stand iCelt-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, or
public opposition or persecution. Here
is an encoura cement for all and this
is exactly what st. Paul would slim
ulate us to in the words Of our text
We Must Let tho Light Shine.
He says. ''Cast not away, therefore,
your outspokenness, which hath great
rccompense Of reward" The Lord has
not promised great reward to us for
merely believing. merely trusting, and
in a cowardly manner keeping our
light hidden, lest its exposure should
bring to us persecution or reproach.
He 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" CT
Timothy ii, 10 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"
(Matthew V, 16). Our good works are
TO SO accord with the Masters teach
ing that, however we may be repre-
scented by others, all who know us in
timately will take knowledge of us
that we have been with Jesus and
have learned Of him. They should
also see that our courage. our bold
ness. our outspokenness. is not a 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 confessor-must show his
colors. We do not mean by this that
he must be belligerent and fight
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 Christ-tlie Truth. the Light. in
contrast with the prevailing Error and
Darkness.
The reward which the Scriptures
hold before our eyes Of faith is so
great that, to the worldly, it seems
foolish to believe in it, 1t is to con
sist, Of a share with our Lord in his
glory. honor and Immortality: in his
Mediatorial Kingdom soon to be estab-
lished;. in his great work as the Medi-
atOr IF tho Now Covonont I'm .,ront;nr