Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1912-05-18

I
mtsslOned TO do a work Of icifHsssia0
In the present Age.
The Churchs witness was TO be the
telling Of the Message OF Gods grace
to those having an ear to hear. al
though they be bur few. secOndarily,
she was to witness TO the world BY
her faithfuiness to the principles OF
righteousness, and thus TO show forth
the praises OF Him who called her -0ut
Of darkness into His marvellous light
But this Witnessing was not in order
to the converting OF the world. but In
order to gather out OF the world the
number necessary to complete the Di-
vinely fOreOrdained elect Bride Of
Christ.
The sseond Reason.
As the first error was in respect to
the worlds conversion to the Lord. the
second error was in respect to rhai
iconld happen 70 ths iOOTld II they were
not converted to the Lord When the
erroneous idea gained credenee that
everyone who does not accept the in
Yitahon and become a member Of the
Bride Of Christ is to be eternally tor
mented. can we wonder that It led
many good people to a frenzy Of error
respecting what should be done 10
save their families and neighbors and
the heather millions from a supposed
eternity Of torture!
It was because OF this supposed ur-
geney that those coming to belief in
Jesus were exhOrted not 10 stop 10 feed.
and to grow strong in the Lord and to
study His Word, but to be moved by a
frenzy Of zeal to bring others to the
Lord. This frenzy in turn led to most
unreasonable teachings and practices
which we are only now gradually get
ting rid Of as we realize that a great
mistake was made.
How strange that we did not stop TO
think OF the absurdlty OF our position
and how It misrepresented the Heay-
enly Father In a most detestable light.
How strange that any should ever
think that when the Heavenly Father
sent out the call to those who have
the hearing ear. to joint-helrship with
Jesus Christ their Lord, lie would
conslgn to eternal torment any who
would decline 10 accept the admittedly
stringent rules and conditions appertain-
ing to this "call'-the narrow way"
Of the footsteps Of Jesus-self-denial.
etc!
Well do the Scriptures assure US that
the saints "wrestle not with flesh and
blood merely but rather with wick
ed spirits In high positions" OF inhu-
ence. Ephesians vi. l2l Well does
the APOSTLE tell us that it is the God
OF this Age who hath blinded the
minds Of those who believe not. Oh
Corinthians ". A. Well can we see
how he put light for darkness and
darkness for light during the Dark
Ages.
Another Lesson We May Learn.
We must not leave our text without
calling TO memory a most wonderfully
instructive lesson concerning the prop
er way to reprove and rebuke our
brethren when the same is surely nee
essary. So far as the record shows, the
three Inquiries which our Lord made
OF 81. Peter respecting his love for Him
were the only rebukes ever given him
as an offset. or punishment for his
shameful denial Of the Master on the
night In which He was betrayed
Had many Of MS been In the Masters
place we would have felt that 1t was
necessary to make st. Peter very hum
bly apologize before we would have
anything further 20 do with him. We
would have been inclined to speak OF
his weakness. Of his ingDtitude, Of
| how he knew better etc, etc. Our
sense of justice would IN many In
stances have entirely OvershadOwed
our sense Of mercy and sympathy.
But not so with the Master. He knew
the loyalty Of st. Peters heart. He
knew that be had already gone out
aud wept bitterly over the matter.
He knew what a sense Of shame
would be- upon him and how much
courage It would mean for him TO
think at an ~ meeting the Master
whom he had denied.
Surely Il was on account Of this
sympathy for st. Peter and this appre-
citation OF the tendency he would have
70 become entirely discouraged that led
our Lord to mention ST. Peter 6rst
amongst the Apostles on the morning
OF His resurrection, saying to Mary, TO
whom lie hrst appeared, 60 and tell
My disciples, and Peter"-don't let Pc
ter think that he Is an outcast Let
him know that think OF him and love
him and sympathlEe with him and
have forgiven him. because know he
did Il under stress
We Should Copy the Masts's Methods.
Aud II our lord aud Master has set
Us such on example OF benevolence
and forgiveness without request. how
are we learning this lessong To what
extent do we forgive others their
trespasses and 10 what extent do we
30 more than half way 10 let them
know that we harlgr no resentful feel.
lngs toward themg To what extent DO
we send them word that We think OF
them kindly, generouslyi And when
the appropriate time comes and Il n
proper for something TO be said can
We not take lesson from the Redeem
er's loving forbcarance and gentleness
IN His merely asking the erring one n