The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-06-12

cii The coy back, appreciating human
perfection viii be willing not to sac
rifce their earthly nature TO obtain a
heavenly, but viii enjoy the earthly
under perfect conditions, In a Para
disc restored isaiah xxxv, Ezekiel
xxxviD.
David Was a Prophet.
on a previous occasion we saw the
teaching OF the Scriptures to be that
the first to he blessed by Messiah's
Kingdom win be the Ancient Worthless
--I5noch, Abraham, Moses, David, and
the Prophets and that these will be
made Princes in the earth. AS one Of
these Princes, the Prophet David viii
have II very glorious station. His long
career, his "ups and downs" said the
Pastor, show us the lights and shad-
ows of the Prophets character more
particularly, perhaps, than In the case
of any other Bible character. And
they show us noble character, de-
spite Davids human weaknesses ana
the frailtles of his flesh, augmented
in power by his kingly office and the
misconceptions of klngly prerogatives
which prevailed in his day.
The beautiful traits of the character
of David. on account of Which he was
declared to be, not new creature
not "son of God" not an heir OF
God and ioint-heir with Messiah" but
"a man after Gods olcn hedrt"-these
traits were his loyal obedience and his
repentance Of everything which in any
degree was dlspeasing to God and In
D terrupted the fellowship Divine.
. Gods Spirit-begotten children may
not, therefore, take the Prophet David
d or any of the Ancients as. their pat
tern. Only Spirit -begotten ones can
serve as examples TO the Church.
They should walk in the footsteps OF
Jesus. and muy even take the Apos-
ties and other faithful brethren for
examples. The Apostle. however, sug-
gests that the Church may look back
with profit upon the Worthless of the
past, to note their degree of faith in
God and their obedience to that faith
st. Paul, however, explicitly reminds
us that God has provided some better
thing for us--tho Church-tliat the An
cient Worthless, without us members
of The Messiahl. cannot be made per-
feet (Hebrews xi, 3S-40).
Joint Heirship With Christ tho Better
Thing Reserved For Christians.
The "better thing" reserved "for us"
who are called Of God during this Cos
pei Age is the jolnt.heirship with
Christ, Jehovahs only y-begotten Son
and heir of all things, the partaking
with Him in all His subsequent work
for the blessing of Gods intelligent Gre
alton Therefore II is. as the Apostle
states, that the reward Of the Ancient
WORTHLESS tari'ies until first the over.
coming Gospel Church is exalted to
the throne with Christ In the dawn of
the New Dlspensation, now so close at
hand
As soon as the spiritual phase of the
Kingdom is established in power the
setting up of the human phase will be-
gin. In humble recognition. therefore,
Of the Divine purpose and order in the
superior exaltation of the Gospel
Church, we repeat the Apostles state
ment that they those noble, loyal,
righteous, faithful Ancient Worthless
without us shall not be made perfect"
But as to whether IRE shall be num-
bered among the ''us" depends upon
our successful running Of the race set
before us. Surely no less faithfulness
and nobility OF character can be ex-
pected OF rs than Of those who ran for
the earthly prize. And since all the
blessings OF Gods Plan-the exalta-
tion of the Ancient Worthless. the lib
Grafton OF the whole world from the
bondage of sin and death and the finaI
judgment of angels-await the mani
festation of the spiritual sons Of God.
the Gospel Church, therefore the Apos-
tie (chapter ~, in forceful metaphor,
points us back to those Ancient
WORTHLESS as stimulus for faith and
zeal. SAYING
Therefore also we, being compassed
about with so great q cloud of martyrs
tGreck martHrOH- so nobly wit
messed for God and righteousness let
us Iemulate them and lay aside every
weight and the sin which doth so easi-
ly beset us, and let us run with pa
tiepce the higher, heavenly race that
is set before as, looking unto Jesus, the
Author and Finisher of our faith, who,
for the JOY that was set before Him, en-
dured the cross, despising the shame,
and Is set down at the right hand of
the throne of God"
Jesus, our Ransomer, is also our
Forerunner and Pattern in this race.
He ran successfully, and, in conse-
quence, is even now at the right hand
Of the throne Of God, whittier we also
may go TO Him.
Jesus way TO the crown was the way
of the shameful cross, and He said.
II any man love me, let him take up
his cross daily and follow ME; the
pervant Is not above his LOId. etc.
Persecution and shame and grief and
loss are our portion in this present
world, but exaltation and glory will
follow in due time II we faint not.
Therefore we are urged to consider His
example and teaching lest we be weary
and faint IN our minds under the trials