The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-20

unspotted; whereas Il was his fault that thsy
were but few; who have not defled their gar
ments either by spotting themselves. or BY par
taking Of other mems sins; they shall walk
with me in white. In JOY In perfect holmes. In
glory: they are worthy. few good among
many bad. are doubly acceptable to God He
shall be clothed In white raiment. The color
Of victory. Joy and triumph. and will not
blot HIS name out Of tho book Of life. Like that
Of the angel OF the church at Sardis but he
shall live forever. / will confess his names a.
one Of my faithful servants and soldierH
And to the angel OF the church at Phfladel-
phia write these things / have given before
thee an open door, to enter into JOY OF thy
Lord and meantime to go unhindered in
every good work Thou hast little strength.
but little outward human strength; little. poor.
mean, despicable company. Yet thou hast
kept My word, both In judgment and practice.
Because thou hast kept Of my patience
the word Of Christ is indeed word Of
patence--I also will keep thee that thou shalt
not enter into temptation, but shall pass over 1t.
The angel at Philadelphia and Smyrna had In
their sight but little strength. and yet these
two were the most honorable Of all In the eyes
In faith and love, Of more value than all king
doms OF earth.
copy the following from James ANGEL
James, Birmingham, England. written in 1887.
which bears upon the subject OF the seven
churches OF Asia:
When 1 look into the New Testament, and
read what Christian should be, and then look
into the church of God. and see what Chris
tian are. I am painfully affected by observing
the dissimilarity.'
The church Of Christ in all tho sections Of
it, is sadly mixed up with the world AZ to
Its spirit and many of its customs and the
great body Of the faithful hTe body OF the
faithful, are far less marked in their separa-
ton from the followers Of pleasure and the
worshipers OF mammon, than they ought to
be.
Perfection Is our duty and perfection our
aim; by which l mean to say that Chris
tan is not to allow himself to practice any de-
gree OF any sin, and Is to seek every possible
degree OF every holy virtue.
Some OF the gerat master paintings have
Some of the great master painters have
manifested their skill In taking portraits OF
Themselves Conceive OF one OF those noble
pictures. fresh from the artists pencil present
ing in the magic OF drawing and coloring,
almost speaking representation OF the great
original BY some neglect however. 1t is
thrown aside and in Its unworthy banishment.
amidst the lumber of attic, soon becomes
covered with dust and dirt. till its beauty IL
disf1gured. and its transcendent excellence Is
disguised. Still. In despite of the dehlements,
there is the likeness and the workmanship OF
the immortal author. which, by careful
moval of the accidental adhesion, again shine
forth upon enraptured spectators, a glorious
display of human genius Is 1t a profane or
unworthy sinile, to say that Christian in his
present state of imperfection. Is something like
this: He Is the image of God, delineated
by God Himself, but O. how covered with tire
dust and impurities Of his earthly condition.
STILL however, beneath that berniehed exterior
there is the likeness and workmanship of the
great God, and which, when purified from every
speck and Disagreement. He will present in Its
restored state to the admiring gaze OF the
universe.
understa nding the writings In the book which
sent unto the seven churches which
In Asia "B."
Petersburg Dec. a.