The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-09-17

to the office we held, etc. That may
be true, but II the Master didn't
complain OF mistreatment, though He
was shamefully treated of His own
people, none Of His disciples ought to T
make any complaint, for we are not I
more than the Master.
But there are hypocrites in the |
church. and therefore we foresake
the church. But there are fewer to-
day than ever. And if they exist in
some local churches they will soon be
discovered. The Jewish church con-
tanned bundles Of hypocrites in the
days Of Christ but He did not forsake
the church for this reason. He was
faithful to church unto death. You
follow His example. But some for
sake church because of an unpopular
minister. He Is not an Apollos Or an
Demosthenees, nor Is he mixer He
| Is preaching too strongly and does not
please all. But the greatest preach
ers the world ever produced failed to
please all their members. And we
are made of the same stuff Besides
a true minister is more anxious to
please God than men. No true chris
tian should forsake the church on ac-I
count Of such small reasons, but
whatever the fault of the church
might be stand by her unto death,
whether you die before the church or
not. Be faithful to her teachings,
services and requirements as far as
in harmony with Gods word Had we
such members in the church, 1t would
command the worlds respect and
exert mighty influence for good in
the community.
4. The Master also commands faith
fulness to Biblical doctrines. We
live in an age of progress People
are progressing fast politically, scien-
itiflcally and doctrinally. The funda-
mental truths are seemingly changing
rapidly. Rationalistic critics are at
tempting to eliminate some of the
fundamental doctrines Of Christ and
they are arguing away some of the
oldest characters of the Bible.
4 False teachers are crossing the
country proclaiming and circulating
their erroneous doctrines. No won
der many simple minded christians
are led astray from the teachings Of
Jesus Christi.
The exhortation to faithfulness in
christian doctrines is therefore we'll
needed. We have abundant evidence
that Jesus Christ is real and there
fore what He taught about God, man,
salvation and life to come is also
real. Hold therefore fast to the doc
ltrines of Christ and the apostles; if
you throw them overheard you will
take leap into darkness.
5. Be faithful unto death because
of the glorious reward offered by the
Master.
There is of course present reward
that of good conscience, and
would rather enjoy good conscience
! land the approval of God than the
commentator and praise of men
But better reward than that awaits
the faithful disciples. Il shall give
crown of life said the Master
GduI udu ScSu a glimpse VI tLdI SioWh
and he describes it as glorious and in.
corruptible. The apostle J.hn has
igiven us a more comprehensive de-
scription of that crown in the seven
letters to the churches of Minor
! Asia. This crown Is symbol of sew
i eral things. "a A symbol of glor-
y ious life with Christ, for the right.
eous shall shine as the stars and as
1.-THE sun in his splendor. 10 A sym
boil of triumphant life, for Christ will
confess their names before the
Father and His angels. 90 A sym.
boil Of exaltation, for he shall Sit at
the right hand of my rather and
i reign with Me-some over ten cities
4 and others over five cities (4 a
2 symbol of a feast by life, for they
shall eat of the tree of life and drinl
t of the new wine In Gods kingdom.
r Is it not worth while to be faithful
!, unto death when such crown is laic
e I'D for us in heaven? Let therefore
: every member strive to fight the goot
a fight of faith until the Master says
|, ITS enough, come higher up and re
e iceive the crown of life. Enter tho,
! into the joy of thy Lord, because thol
:. hast been faithful unto DEATH
i