Bisbee daily review., 1912-01-23
METHODIST cHuRcH

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 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promises as some men count slaekless. but in long suffering reward, not wiling that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
 lsa. 30:tS And therefore will the Lord wait, tbat he may be gracious unto you
 Generally the prophecies are con sidered the promises of God. They are of two kinds. one definite as 10 time. as definite as day or night as to the exact time of fulfillment. The others are equally definite as to con dition. Of the latter. the first com ing of Jesus Christ, in Incarnation, IS one great example fulfilled, and the promised second coming is a secret with God alone, for not even the angels know the me or even the condition, but we are commanded 10 watch and wait, and we are encour- aged in doing this b. the promises that have been kept
 The Lord has promised to judge us. He mas given us His laws, bat He does not hasten Co punish men for yioat on, nor to cut them on rom the privilege of repentance. -
 II He were insistent and strict, 1T He demanded the pound of sesh athc moment it came que, if He cut us of from his service the minute We failed if He closed the door Of op- pCrtunity to us as soon as our im- lerections appeared. then certainly lie would not be slack.
 But when, as we find in the context from which our second text is taken, that this nation had become a past master in sin and unrighteousness and idolatry and licentiOusuess and ungodliness. had created for herself d moral sky darker than the prover- bial Egyptian darkness, that God flashed across that morally black and starless sky the illuminated and hopeful signal that He was waiting to be gracious 10 them, waiting to be good to them Not slack as men count aiackness. but slack thank God. not drawing the lne of the law tight, but letting it go slack. If He had drawn the line tight, ii He had given us justice. We would never have lived long enough to claim his mer- cy, but by the very force of the un- remitting J>w we would haze. been condemned
 Is there any one wlO Will go with Rra to the altar of the church and pray for justice, absolutely perfect just ce. Drly for what We deserve, for what is justly coming to us from the hand of God2. Not one. But once sthere, We have a common prayer, just one yord-Mercy.
 And 10 give us that mercy He has Teen ong suffering has suffered long uiany years. and endured or re- ,iectior or indifference or open rebel lion, given us another chance to say '-Msfcy. \ How glad We ought to be that fIs has not the disposition to scharge us for our inability, our insufiiciency, tat He does not give us our yellow slip every tine we deserve 1t, but endures us as a father. even loves us more than a father, and treats us, not s hired workers, but as son and daughter, and in lOngsunering. be cause He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should turn to Him.
 4 prayer.-Our Father. We thank thee that thou hast been slack, that th0u hast not drawn the line too tight, that thou hast not closed the Book. but that thou hast given us one more year to accept, Jesus Chris and be fruitful
 E. c. DECKER,
 Pastor First Methodist Church.