The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-05-30

ss--z=--.ll-1-1--Sy the teAts BO "
fPA5ToR II U55lII prepare place for
Sssss===i- you; . -" and I
will come again and receive you unto
myself, that where am there ye may
be also" John xiv. 2, 3. The speaker
said .e .r1 pa
Doubtless we all have, 10. mind the
fact that we have just passed the an
niversary of our Redeemer's ascension
to the right hand Of the Tatber-to
the highest place in ail the Universe,
next to the Almighty Father. He as
eended up where He was before-to
the spirit plane of icing, with added
excellence of glory nnd honor. the re-
ward OF His faithfuIness and Obedi-
ence to the Fathers will, even to the
sacrificing of lis life at Calvary. He
ascended. the Scriptures declare. from
the more humble condition Of human
nature. little lower than the angels,
TO the exalted condition OF the divine
naturp--far above angels. principali-
ties and powers and every name that
2 Is named l.
The work for which the Logos left
the heavenly glory has not yet been
accomplished. He has suffered, the
Just for the unjust. giving His life a
Ransom-price for all; but this was
merely a means toward an end. and
that end has not yet been accomplish
ed-the blessing of Adam and his
fallen race. Thank God. however, that
the great, broad foundation has been
s. Tat MI hn IN plo hat N
great preliminary work has been In
progress during more than eighteen
centuries since His ascension. That
preliminary work IN the preparation Of
the Church of Christ TO follow Him
In faithfulness and self-sacri6ce to ex-
altation with Him to the divine ma
tire, glory, honor and Immortality.
which was His reward QI Peter |, ~.
A Chaste Virgin Espoused.
Tf. In times past, we have too care
7essly studied our Bibles and confused
Gods special blessing for the Church,
uuent blessing for the world through
Messiah and His Bride. iet us do so
no longer. Let us note that as the
Divine Plan for the salvation of the
world could not begin before the com
ing OF Jesus. except In Il typical sense,
neither can II begin TO operate until
fhc complete selection Of tho Church
until her perfectlng as the Bride. the
Lambs Wife," In the First or Chief
Resurrection,
The antitypical sacrifices which Je-
aus began stlll continue to be offered
hy Him. Those desirous of becoming
His ErIdc and joint-hclrs with Him In
Eiis Kingdom are now qualifying for
ssui exaltation. The invitation to
dheip Is that. renouncing siu and ac-
'ceptlng the Savior they shall present
their bodies living sacrifices. holy and
acceptable 10 God'--fcllowing IN the
footsteps of their RedecDier
In certain sense this presentation
OF the entire Church took place repre-
sentatively. In the Apostles and Others
sof the bve hundred brethren who be-
1ieved ot the first They were repre-
Hentatives Of the eutire Church. and
the acceptance of their sacrifice and
their be9eltlng Of the Holy Spirit
their espousal at Pentecost. represent
'ed the acceptance, the begettlng and
sespousal OF the entire Church from
then until now. We are merely fol
lowing In their steps: we are merely
under r-membprs Ia the same Body
THE Church of the first -borns. whose
names nre written In heaven" Gle
brews XII, 23l.
al Int nh hOI
the Church ~ not yet the Bride o.
Christ, but merely espoused, HI
writes. II have espoused you as /
thaste virgin unto one Husband. wh'
ds Christ" The period OF espousa
will not be complete until the close o
this Age. when the last member o
fbe Body shall have heen accepted
and when the First or Chief t,esurrec
iion 60 the spirit plnues shalt hnv,
bees accomplished the marriage o
eofaplete. union between Christ an,
HIS Bride In the heavenly glory.
Tho Way and the Place.
As the Rsaeemer was the 1rst to as
s9end TO the glorious station OF the di
vx.ne nature. far ubove angels. prlncl
il5aH1les and powers. aud as the Churcl
'sss ITO be His associate IN that glory. |
was znecessnry that lie should preced
her TO prepare the way. Our Lord
own wOrthiness of eyeitatlon to tn
divine nature was Witnessed by tn
Fafher Ia that lie raised Him from tn
dead qulckening Spirit, to glory
honor aud Immortality.
But before the Church could, in an,
sense of the word. be made acceptabl
In the heavenly courts. Il was neces