The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-16

The righteous is more excellent thar
his neighbors. He is above them In
character, In condition, and in pros.
pect. He Is more happy. more wise
more honorable. more free, more safe
more afiiuent. He has much in hand
but ne has far more in hope. Hence
says the apostle to these Hebrews
"Ye have in heaven a better and ar
enduring substance"
But how came Christians to be pos
sessed OF property? They were orig
tnally destitute; they were by nature
poor even as others. For a time In
deed they were proudly deluded, and
said, II am rich and increased with
goods. and have need of nothing"
But when they were brought to a
knowledge of themselves, they con-
fessed with Paul, 'In me, that is, in
my flesh, dweileth no good thing
And they also now acknowledge that.
whatever they have gained, has not
been earned by their exertions, or
procured by their wort fIfness but was
provided for them by another, even
by him who said, fI will cause them
that love me TO inherit substance. and
j will I'LL their treasure" And the
way ye know. Yes, Christians, ye
know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ. that he was rich, yet for your
sakes he became poor, that We through
his poverty might be rich" Here you
see the iberality of his design: 1t was
not only to relieve you, but to enrich;
not only to clothe you, but to adorn:
not only to draw you from the dust
and the dunghilI. but to set you among
princes. even the princes of his peo-
pie. And now 'all things are yours"
You also see the responsiveness of the
medium: 1t Ia through his poverty
you are enriched. He was in the form
of God: but In this form he could not
h<z raAanunAe- GuO VI
sympAthtxtng friend. your example In
duty and suffering. He therefore
made himself OF no reputation. and
took upon him the form OF servant,
and was made In the likeness OF men;
and being found In fashion as q man,
he humbled himself and became ohe-
dent unto death, even the death OF
the cross" Thus he abased himself
that we might be exalted, and emp
tied himself of his glory that VIC
might be filled with all the fitness OF
God. And II such medium was ex~
pedsent and necessary, and the fact
itself IN the proof, what an idea must
we attach to the greatness and diff
Guilty OF our salvation: and what ought
We to think OF the Savtour's grace
But let US examine the wealth OF his
people. II La substance characterized
by three thtngs:
BY its residence. II rs substance in
Eeaven--the abode OK the glortded.
the habitntton OF angels, the dwelling
place of God himself Whether this In
either of the shining worlds over us.
or any other invisible to the eye, we
cannot determine. But said Jesus. II
go 70 prepare "a place for You; and IL
/ go and prepare a place for YOU, I
will come again, and receive you TO
myself. that whore ! am there ye
may be also" Since he Is there, our
hope liz said to be laid lip for us I'm
heaven: for we are blessed with all
spiritual blessings 'in heavenly places
in Christ And no wonder we have
our Conversation In heaven; for where
our, treasure IL. there will our heart be
also. - b.
BY ita pre-eminence. II is better
substance. Better than WHAT Better
than the goods which the Hebrews
had lost. and OF which the apostle
speaks in the words Immediately pre-