The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-03-31
closest in pceftlen to The Master we

closest in position TO the Master we
would suppose that st. Paul would be
first. with st. John. St Peter and st.
James near by in glorious excellence.
And yet we know not how nearly up
TO the Apostolic standard some rlay
be WHO have lived very humble and
obscure lives. lave fought a good
fight and finished their course with
Joy. Indeed. the twelve Apostles seem
10 occupy, by Divine decision in ad.
vance. the very highest stations in the
Kingdom, next to that Of the Redeem.
er, Who said of them. "lc who have
followed Me. in the regeneration
shan sit upon t,ccirc HIOHcS Judging
the twelve tribes of Israel Matthew
xix. 2Sl. Again. they are pictured to
us as the crown Of twelve stars" To
The Church Revelation xii, Il. aud yet
again they are pictured To us rs the
the Church in her future glory. us he
New Jerusalem feveiation xxi, III.
Those called of God to this high sal.
walton. as members of the spiritual
Kingdom which shall bless natural Is
racl and through her al the nations,
are required to demonstrate their 10y
atty to God by faihfulH"yS crca unto
death--in the narrow way Of Sclf-sac-
rilicc. As there is no other Name than
that of Jesus whereby any may be
saved to eternal life. SO. likewise. there
is no other path whereby any may
reach the Kingdom except the mar
row way, land few there bc that find
it," All who attain to the Kingdom
must be ovcrcomerS Of the world to
the extent Of self sacrifice. The grada
lions Of glory will be because OF spe-
cia manifestations of zeal for the
Lord and His cause of righteousness
and Truth against sin and error.
A Lesser Spiritual Salvation.
The Scriptures clearly show another
class in process of salvation during
this Gospel Age. quite separate and
distinct from The Bride class. These
are referred to in various parts Of the
Scriptures. They will all be loyal. to
the extent that they would not deny
the Lord nor wilfully practise sin.
Their failure to reach the status of the
Bride is indicated in an insufficiency
of zeal in connection with their loyal
ty This class is described in Reveal
zion vii, "a. They are represented as
having failed to keep their garments
unspotted from the world-faied TO
live eircumspectiy, carefully enough.~
Hence in a great time Of trouble I'D
the end of this Age these are represent
cd as; washing their robes and making
them white in the blood of the Lamb
and then coming up through that trib-
ulstion to glory and honor. but not
TO immortality, nor to the same degree
OF glory and honor as the Church, the
Bride. The distinction in their glory
is indicated in that instead of being in
the Throne they are before it; instead
of being the Bride. they will serve: in
stead of wearing the crown. they will
bear palm branches: instead of being
the Temple. they will be servants in
tue Temple. -a.
This same class Is referred to by the
Apostle in his declaration respecting
the end of this Age. He intimates that
some will have an abundant entrance
III Peter j. III into the Kingdom. while
others will be saved So as by fire
II Corinthians Iii, 10. The fire Of this
Day will test every mans work of
what sort il is. Some will be proved
to be gold, silver. precious stones,
These the fire" will not consume.
Others will be proved to be an admix-
ture OF hay and stubble. which will be
consumed, though themselves will be
saved from the fire Il Corinthians iii,
10. 49,
The tribe of Levi pictured the entire
Church Of the First born but il con-
tanned two classes little flock OF
priests and the great company OF LIE
Bride class and the servant
class. none Of whom have any inner
itauce in the earth. all of whom have
the heavenly inheritance.
AS Isaac typified our Lord. the Re-
dcemer. and as Rebecca typi6ed the
Bride class, so Rebecca's mdideHs typi-
fed this 'great company class This
same thought is brought to our atten-
ton in Psalm xiv. where the Bride
class is pictured as being presented
to Jehovah In the end of this Age In
glory. honor and immortality. illustrat-
ed by raiment of fine needlewOrk and
gold. Following the Bride come 1.-The
virgins. her companions. who follow
her" These also will be greatly hon
ored. greatly blessed. though theirs will
be less honor. This great company"
will not constitute the Kingdom, al
though they will be identified with. 1t
and its wonderful salvation and bless.
ing for mankind.
Keeping or Breaking Commandments.
The Great Teachers declaration that
they who break Gods commandments
and teach others SO to do shall be
called least in the Kingdom has caus'
ed considerable perplexity in the past.
The question has been, How could any
one be fit at all for the Kingdom who
breaks Gods commandments and
teaches others so to do? The answer
is that many of Gods people have la
bored under more or less of blindness
and have done things which they