Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-06-17

tillH IlOEt Nutu tutN tfNlt lNurtu VI
lands parents or children, or self
We can plainly Sec then. that with
out this begetting of the Holy Spirit,
which belongs. Of course, 10 the serv-
ants and handmaidens of God during
this Gospel Age. none arc able TO mp
prcciatc the things unseen. And
hence the world of mankind In gen
eral, brought back TO perfecton-and
all the eay back, approaching human
perfection-w be willing not to sac
rifice their earthly nature to obtain
heavenly. but will enjoy the earthly,
under perfect conditions, in n Para
disc restored isaiah xxxv. Ezekiel
xxxviD
David Was a Prophet.
ON previous occasion we saw the
teaching Of the Scriptures TO he that
the first to be blessed by Mcssiah's
Kingdom Will be the Ancient Worthless
-Enoch. Abraham, Moses. David. and
the Prophets-and that these will be
made Princes I'm the earth. As one Of
these Princes. the Prophet David will
have 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 David's human weaknesses and
the frailtlcs of his flesh. augmented
in power by his kingly office and the
misconceptions of kingly 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 joint-heir with Messiah but
"a man after Gods 0mn hcdrt'-these
traits were his loyal obedience and his
repentance Of everything which in any
degree was dispensing TO God and in
terrupted the fellowship Divine.
Gods Spirit-begotten children may
not. therefore. take the Prophet David
or any of the Ancients as their pat
tern. Only irit-begotten ones can
serve as examples to the Church.
They should walk in the footsteps OF
Jesus. and may even take the Apos-
ties and other faithful brethren for
examples. The Apostle. however, sug-
gcsts 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 Ms--the Church that the An
cient Worthless, without us members
of The Messiah. cannot he made per-
feet Hebrews xi, 3s-i0).
Joint Hership With Christ the Better
Thing Reserved For Christians.
The "better thing" reserved for us"
who are called Of God during this Cos
pei Age is the joint-heirship with
Christ, Jehovah's nly-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 1t is. as the Apostle
states. that the reward of the Ancient
Worthless tarries until first the over
coming Gospel Church Is exalted to
the throne with Christ In the dawn of
the New Dispensation, 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 ms TO whether IRE shall be num-
bered among the ''as" depends upon
our successful running of the race set
before us. Surely. no less faithfulness
and nobility Of character can be ex-
pected of us than of those who ran for
the earthly prize. And since all the
blessings OF Gods Plan the exalta-
ton of the Ancient Worthless, the lib
Grafton Of the whole world from the
bondage OF sin and death and the final
judgment OF angcls-nwait the mani
the Gospel Church. therefore the Apos-
tie (chapter ~, in forceful metaphor.
points M back To those Ancient
Worthless hs stimulus for faith and
zeal saying
Therefore also we. being comprised
about with so great cloud of martyrs
tGreek mGriHroH who so nobly wit
messed for God and righteousness let
us Iemulate them and lay aside every
weight and the Sin which doth so east
~ beset us. and let MS run with pa
tience 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. despIslng the shame.
and Is set down ut the right hand OF
the throne Of God"
Jesus. our Ransomer. Is also our
Forerunner and Pattern IN this race.
II