The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-03-31

mt disloyaIty to God, but they surely
So always represent slackness or mat
,ention to the Divine message: though
We may be sure of the Lords faithful
ness in enlightening all who are of the
proper teachable spirit.
John the ssptist's Class.
To what class does John the Baptist
belong, and what will be his share in
the Kingdom according to our text:
Since the call of God began with the
call of the Church, and since the
Church began at the First Advent Of
Jesus. it follows that no one was called
Of God to salvation prior9to Jesus time
none for fortyonc hundred aud fifty
years after sin entered the world.
God did. however. recognize the 10y
atty of heart of His Prophet Enoch
and communed with him and blessed
him, etc. God also recognized Abra-
hams faith and spirit Of obedience,
and ISaac's and Jacobs, and that of
Moses and Aaron aud numerous proph-
cts and other faithful ones less notable.
Did lie not call these? We answer
chat he did not call them to salvation.
for no salvation could be positively
offered until the Redeemer had Sacri-
feed; nor were they called TO the King
dom. for the same reason. God did
tell them that in due time He would
bless all the world. He did tell them
that in due time the great Ruler of
the world would come forth from
Abraham's poSterity in the line Of
Isaac and Jacob and the nation of Is
rael. But telling them Of coming
blessing and giving them eternal life
are different matters. st. Paul de-
clares that none Of them got eyerlast-
ing life, and that 'by the deeds Of the
Law no flesh can be justified before
God
Israers Law Covenant served to
instruct the Chosen People. 1t was
a call to do right. and a promise of
eternal life If they would keep the
Law. He that doeth these things
shall live" Israel learned the lesson
that a perfect Law could not be kept by
imperfect beings. Some of them and
some Of the Gentiles in due time heard
of Jesus and how God has provided
justi6ca ton through His sacrificial
death.
God Provides Some Better Thing For
tho Church Than For Ancient
Worthless.
ST panl tal1a no tho ctaf11s NJ tbcco
noble characters, Of whom John the
Baptist was the last They were vol
unteer servants of God. SO to speak.
Those Of them who were born under
the Law Covenant by their faith lived
above it and will be fully rewarded,
call OF offer Of eternal life was made.
Their faith and obedience were pleas
ing to Cod; as st. Paul relates. "All
these died III faith. not having receiv-
ed the things promised them,, God
having provided some better thing for
lie the Gospel church,, that they with
out us should not be made perfect
hebrews 81. 12. 40.
THE Church of the First born" is TO
be perfected first, and on the spirit
plane. "partakers Of the divine ma
ture'' III Peter /, A. In due time those
from the tomb to receive the blessing
which God declares shall be the re-
ward Of their loyalty. As the Church
will have the better resurrection" on
rhe spirit plane, so those Ancient
Worthless will have the better resur-
rection'' on the earthly! plane. They
will come forth from the tomb actual
ly perfect. while the remainder of
mankind will lie obliged to attain per-
lection by the slow profess of faith.
works. obedience, during the thousand
years Of the Kingdom.
Ancient Worthless Will Be Princes In
All the Earth.
Moreover. those Ancient Worthless,
while not members OF the Kingdom.
per sc. which will be spiritual. will be
members of that Kingdom in its earth
~ phase. They will be the Kingdoms
earthly representatives. princes or
rulers. in all the earth, as the Scrip
lures declare psalm xiv. 1G). We re-
member the words Of Jesus to this eff
feet: ''Ye shall see Abraham. Isaac
and Jacob and all the Prophets in the
Kingdom" but He said not word
about Himself or His disciples being
seen: properly so. because they. As spit
it beings. will be invisible to men.
The Scriptures still further intimate
that during the thousand years OF
Messiahs reign. all the faithful OF
mankind. all the Obedient. will be priv
LEGGED to come into relationship with
the King. This is figuratively repre-
scented in the statement that the great
ones Of earth will bring their glory
and honor into the New Jerusalem"
With such glorious hopes before us,
With such appreciation Of our Heaven
IL Fathers glorious character and
wonderful Plan, with such a grand
view Of our Savior's work. with such
a hope Of a share with Him In His
Kingdom. what manner OF persons
ought we to be in holy living and
gotlliness! Nor should it be thought
strange that any of the spirit-begotten
now. or the restored of the future.
who would turn their backs upon the