The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1912-05-09

there is one Creator. and that Jesus is
His Son. is on account OF this knowl.
edge to be granted everlasting life.
Some think to be able to, make void
the various Scriptures which tell us
| of the necessity of. making our call
ing and election sure" by so running
us to obtain the prize. Il Corinthians
tx, 24)
Our Lords words do not refer to q
knowledge about God. but to knowl-
edge Of or personal acquaintance ,cith
God and His Son. And such an init
mate acquaintance Is not obtained
merely by an introduction, but by
| companionship; it signifies IN intimacy
Of aeauainta neeship,- familiarity.
| Everything in the Divine Word en-
| courages those who accept the Divine
| invitation to draw near to God, to
come into fellowship with Him.
| But this knowledge of God which
, VIII bring Il sanity few to salvation
on the highest plane stands related to
Gods Word-the teachings OF the Bible
for thus God\exalted His Word, by
making it the channel for spiritual re-
| freshment and personal acquaintance
J ship with Himself.
Thus Jesus prayed for us. His fol-
lowers, "Sanctify them through Thy
| Truth. Thy Word is Truth" Any
who neglect the Divine Word will fail
of the sanctifying power and thus fail
OF the /ultimate acquaintanceship with
God which alone will guarantee ever
lasting life. The reason why the Lord
has thus arranged the matter and mnde
| knowledge of the Scriptures essential,
! doubtless is that thus His faithful
! people may be benefited; and then
! alone receive the instruction which
will profit them alone. but would more
or less 1njure others. Thus it is written,
"fe shall know the Truth. and the
! Truth shall make you free"
| TO this class our Lord says today, as
He said to His Jewish followers eight
cen centuries ago. ITO you it Is given
to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom
or God, but to all outside these things
are spoken in parable and dark say
ings. that hearing they might not I'M
derstand and seeing they might not
| perceive" TO the outsiders-the Doc
tors Of Divinity-is not permitted the
Key of knowledge. Even so, Father.
| FOR so 1T seemeth good in Thy sight,
Matthew XII. IS. &c.
| What Constitutes tho key7
~-Ihe~Key OF knowledge consists of
| the faithful study of Gods Word. with
an honest purpose to know the things
| q CS,-
| This Implies 4 conservation Of heart,
for none others would really desire
that they might do the Divine will.
And thisimpiies- also faith incur
Lords promise that He that doeth the
will Of My Father shall know of the
| doctrine John vii. III 1t Is this con-
secrated. conscientious Bible study that
IS lacking today-that is being discour-
aged today by the great teachers and
Doctors Of Divinity.
| Everything calculated to help Bible
study. to get rid OF the darkness OF the
creeps and superstitions Of abe, past,
IS opposed-but not openly. The Doc
tors or Divinity Of our day. like those
! or Jesus day, are wise and act as
though they do know. But they do not
know; they oppose real Bible study
not openly, but secretly. for fear Of the
| people, MARK Xi. 81; Xii, ~ The
great religious leaders OF the Jews
were marked by our Lord as being less
conscientious. less honest, than the
masses OF the people. Concerning the
people we read that Jesus was moved
with compassion when He beheld the
multitude, that they were like sheep
without shepherd"
And is it not SO today also? Are not
many Of Gods people hungering and
thirsting for the Truth, and greatly
perplexed and discouraged because, 20.
ing time after time to the religious
leaders, they have received instead of
bread "a stone" instead Of q fish "a
serpent''-u false doctrine. devi11sh
misrepresentation Of the Almighty's
character and Plan in respect to hui
manity? These devilish doctrines OF
the Dark Ages st. Paul calls "doc-
tr1nes Of demons" because the demons,
the fallen angels, evidently have propa.
gated them. They are to be found
amongst all Of the heathens, but no
| where in any worse form nor as bad
as amongst Christians Of all denomina-
lions, Is there not therefore q great
responsibility resting upon every con,
scientious minister Of the Gospel, that
he should step out from amongst the
mass Of the Doctors Of Divinity, who
are hiding tho Key Of knowledge aud
misleading the Lords trusting sheep of
nominal Christendom?
Impossible to Deceive tho Worry Elect"
AS we have already shown they can.
not keep penned, nor keep asleep, nor
keep the knowledge from the sanity
ones who constitute 1.-The very elect"
Our Lord, speaking Of this time, said
that the receptions would be such that