The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-01-22

uon must wait also. for the same thing
for which He waits for the sons Of
God. Here Is matter which seems TO
have been for time hidden under the
rubbish Of the Dark Ages--thc fact
that God not only forcomained Jesus,
the great Son Of God. to be the worlds
Messiah, to deliver them from sin and
death. but that lie also foreoriaihed
the selection OF Il special class from
amongst mankind. 10 be the Redeem
YRS associates and joint-hcirs in His
Kingdom OF glory. honor and immor-
tality. Qlomans II. ~ II has required
the entire period from the time OF
Jesus death until now to call, to sane
tify, 10 prepare these subordinate sons
Of God.
We might have supposed that our
great loving Creator would have called
upon certain of the holy angels to be
associates with the Redeemer in the
glorious work OF His Kingdom. the up
lift of humanity. But not so; lie has
sent the invitation TO this high, Clo-
riOus station to our poor, fallen race.
Thus. additionally, has the God Of
Love manifested the exceeding riches
of His grace and His loving kindness
toward us In Christ Jesus. (Ephesans
II. ~ How wonderfully condescend-
ing!
Surely all Will admit with me that
no god of any people has ever mani
tested such a love and interest in hls
creatures as has the God of the Bible
the God of Christianity. 1t is the Love
of God which constrains us-draws us.
And His exceeding great and precious
promises work In our hearts both to
will ana to do His good pleasure And
this is the test His wisdom has pro-
yided Although Messiah will use co.
ercion TO some extent during His reign
of thousand years. yet the Heavenly
Father viii not use coercion In respect
to any Of these sons whom lie Is now
inviting. He scekcth such TO worship
Him as worship Him In spirit and in
truth-such as need no cOerclon-such
as delight to know and TO do the will
OF the Father in Heaven-such as in
these respects are copies Of His Son,
the Redcemer.
Tho Narrow Way OF Sacrifice.
But. although God will not urge,
force or compel any to be sons on this
high plane OF the divine nature. lie
does. TO the contrary, set obstacles in
the way and make the way marrow"
in which lie invites these to follow
their Leader. He does this for the
very purpose OF hindering any from
Foming except the class which ITe spe
RALLY desires. His Message is through
Jesus. "If any man will be My discl-
pie. let him deny himself and take up
his cross and follow Me-" Again the
Apostle expresses the Fathers terms,
saying, 81 bcseech you, brethren, by
tho mercics Of God. that ye present
your bodies living sacrifices, holy and
acceptable 20 God, your reasonable
service" Again says the Master,
strait IS the gate aud narrow is the
way that leadeth unto life, and few
there be that find It,"
Surely we cannot say that these
stringent restrictions are unreasonable
How could we expect our gracious
Creator TO want any except the most
loyal of heart ana most faithful and
obedent TO be associated with tie
Lord OF Life and Glory in His glorious
Kingdom work? This Is the only call.
ing which God has yet opened to hu-
manlty. and not until this elect class
shall have been completed will the
world's blessing be due to begin It Is
my understanding Of the Scriptures
that the time for making our calling
and election sure TO this Kingdom
class IS now very short. 1t therefore
behooves all who desire this glorious
relationship with Messiah TO give all
diligence" and TO run with patience
the race set before us" In the Gospel
looking unto Jesus. the Author Of our
faith, until He become the tlnisher.
The Non-e elect Also ENhorted,
The wonderful blessings Of our day,
which make II 50 different from aay
other Epoch In the worlds history,
have reached even here 10 China and
we now see what already appear TO
be the beginnings OF wonderful things.
Evidently Divine Power. within the
past century. has been lifting the veil,
because we are just ON the threshold
of the New Dlspensaiun- because the
Church uhe elect sons Of God IL about
complete because "lhe manifestation
Of the sons of God" for tho aid az tho
"groaning creation" Is nt hand be
cause Messiahs Kingdom glory Is
about TO be usheted in. The blessings
Of the present Gre only foreiaste OF