The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-08-08

strong meat They must be worked
out In his own mind. IN his conduct
toward others, In his ministry Of spir-
itual truths to his family, In the
Church and before the world.
I'VE Are Gods Workmanship"
As we look into the starry sky and
learn that it contains approximately a
thousand millions Of worlds, and per-
haps many times that number, we are
amazed at Gods workmanship. But
still more wonderful is the angelic Gro
alton with it's various orders. Then
coming down to earthly life as we
know it, We see an infinite variety Of
sentient creatures. The grandest of
all IS man, even in his fallen condi-
ton. And we are amazed also at the
endless variety displayed In other earth
ly creations-fruits, flowers, etc. We
say to ourselves, How great Is our Gre
atOr, that from Bis storehouse Of Wis
dom and of Power all this Infinite vari.
ETY. should comet! .-s':
But it is when we learn of Gods
work In the Church as a New Creation
that we are more than ever amazed.
Divine grace, laying hold upon willing
hearts OF fallen men, first justifies
them through the merit of Christ, and
not by works, and then begins to work
in them for their own development al
a New Creation. We might we'll ask.
What are the agencies, what are the
tools, by which Divine grace operates
In this New Creation2 The answer Of
the Bible makes the matter all tina
more wonderful, for it reveals to us
that God works in us merely by His
promises and through our own minds
and our own wills. Thus st. Peter
declares, God hath given unto us eE-
ceeding great and precious promises,
that by these we might become par
takers of the divine nature."-II Peter
1, 4.
Christ Has Pre- eninenco.
This New Creation had its start I'm
our Redeemer. He who was 1.-The be-
ginning Of the creation of Cod" I'm
harmony with the Divine Plan, hum
bled Himself. laid aside His heavenly
glory and was made flesh-became the
Man Christ Jesus, that he, by the grace
was in conjunction with this redemp-
tive work, when He fully submitted
Himself In baptism at Jordan to do the
Fathers will, that the Father began to
work In Him as New Creature.
When Jesus gave Himself sacrifcial-
iy, when His sacrifice was accepted of
the Father, then to Him came the bar
getting Of the Holy Spirit as a New.
Creature, to be the Head OF the
Church which Is His Body" For three
and half years the promises Of the Old
Testament Scriptures Contained in
great measure in types and shadows}
worked in the Redeemer to will and to
do the Fathers pleasure. BE was found
faithful unto death-the New Creature
growing in grace and Divine favcc as
He took the various steps even to the
cross. When He cried, 'It is finished"
it signified that the sacrifice OF the
flesh was finished and that the de-
yelopment of the New Creature was
complete.
Then the work began In respect to
His Body, the Church, otherwise called
His Bride class. Divine energy has
since been working in the Church
since Pentecost Member aften men,
Der has been called and justified and
sanctiied, begotten Of the Holy Spirit
In each the work Of grace goes on.
Each, as our text declares, Is Gods
workmanship, developing in meekness,
gentleness, patience, long-suffertng,
Observation-Disclosures, love. All these
traits and qualities are being worked
In the mind.
. True, the flesh does, indeed, reflect
some OF the graces of the spirit-but
imperfectly. Gradually the new mind
gains control over the mortal body.
Gradually the light Of God shines out
In words and deeds, through the heart
Illuminated. 1t is God working.
Created For Good Works.
Our text declares that this New Gre
alton, Christ and the Church, are Gods
workmanship created in Christ Jesus
unto good toorkS-that good work may
be done by and through them. What
good work Is this which God designs
to accomplish through the Church
through Christ and His elect Bride 2
1t Is the good work of blessing the
non-elect world. 1t is the good work
which will progress from the time Of
the second coming Of Jesus and the es-
tabllshment Of His Kingdom for n
thousand years. 1t Is the good work
which will ultimately uplift or resur-
rect Adam and all his race from death,
ignorance. superstition, sin, If they are
willing-up to the full perfection of
human nature and Divine favor and
everlasting life. All others, unwilling,
disobedient, will be destroyed.