Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-02-03

creatures as mas the God OF the Bible
the God OF Christianity. II is the Love
OF God which constrains us-draws us.
And His exceeding great and precious
promises work In our hearts both TO
will and to do His good pieasure.' And
this is the test His wisdom has pro-
ylded. Although Messiah will use co.
crciOn TO some extent during His reign
Of a thousand years. yet the Heavenly
| Father will not use coercion In respect
| to any of these sons whom He Is now
inviting. He seeketh such to worship
Him us worship Him In spirit and in
truth-such as need no coercion-such
as delight 10 know and To do the will
Of the Father In IIeaven-such as In
these respects are copies OF His Son.
the Redecmer.
The Marrow Way OF Sacrifice.
But. although God will not urge.
force or compel any TO be SONS on this
high plane Of the divine nature. He
does. to the contrary. set obstacles In
the way and make the way narrow"
in which lie invites these to follow
| their Leader. lie does this for the
very purpose Of hindering any from
coming except the class which He spe-
cially desires. His Message is through
Jesus. III any man will be My disci-
| pie. let him deny himself and take up
his cross and follow Me" Again the
Apostle expresses the Fathers terms.
| saying. II beseech you. brethren. by
the mercies Of God. that We present
your bodies living sacrifices. holy and
acceptable TO God. your reasonable
service" Again says the Master,
Strait Is the gate and narrow is the
way that leadeth unto life. and few
there be that find H."
Surely we cannot say that these
stringent restrictions are unreasonable.
How could we expect our gracious
Creator 10 want any except the most
loyal OF heart and most faithful and
obcdient 10 he associated with the
Lord of Life and Glory In His glorious
Kingdom work? This is the only call
Ing which God has yet opened TO hui
mainly, and not until this elect class
shall have been completed will the
worlds blessing be due 10 begin. II Is
ms understanding Of the Scriptures
that the time FOR making our calling
and election sure 10 this Kingdom
class is now very short. 1t therefore
behooves all who desire this glorious
relationship with Messiah 10 give all
diligence and 10 run with patience
the race set before us In the Gospel.
looking unto Jesus. the Author Of our
faith. until lie become the tinisher.
Tho Non elect Also Exhorted.
The wonderful blessings Of our day.
which make II so different from any
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 inst on he threshold
Of the New Observation-Disclosures the
Church (the elect sons Of Cod is about
complete-because 1.-The manifestation
grooming creation Is at hand-be.
cause Messiah's Kingdom glory IL
about 10 be ushered In. The blessings
OF the present are only n foreiaste OF
those glorious blessings for the world
OF mankind Oh. what compensations.
our loving God has provided for all the
lessons Of sin and sorrow. pain and
death. He has promised that the
former things shall be removed. nor
can the mind comprehend what the
glory Of the future things will be,
So then. to the patient, persevering.
civil Chinese. my message is an assur-
ance that Gods blessing Is nigh at
hand. For eighteen centuries lie has
been pouring out His Holy Spirit upon
these sanity ones. His servants and
handmaidcns, for their comfort and JOY
and preparation for the Kingdom glory.
The next thing In order is the pouring
out OF His spirit upon all flesh: that
will include your race and all the fam
ilies of the earth.
cannot hope that many Of you will
feel drawn TO become footstep follow
ers Of the lowly Nazarcne and even II
many OF you should SO desire. we have
the assurance OF the Scriptures that
the entire number will he but little
fiock:" but ! do set before Won the
glorious prospects OF human RcstItu-
tlon to all that was lost by Adam. TO
all that was redeemed at Calvary. !
admonish you that all development Of
character you may make ut the present
time means so much OF preparation and
advancement for the future. and that
all violation of conscience and antag-
onism TO the principles Of righteousness
will work to your disadvantage In the
future
Therefore. as the Scriptures enjoin,
Seek meekness. seek righteousness; il