The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-04-15


ed to ask. How does God regard the
conditions now prevailing in the
world? They are not only worse than
at any previous time. but still more
evil because of our increased light our
increased realization of the principles
of justice 1t would not seem to be
putting the matter too strongly to say
that from the Divine standpoint the
world is practically full of thieves. H.
centious persons and murderers.
Sins Made White as Snow.
What magic power is this that could
transform sinful heart and course Of
life into Il pure one? Education will
do it, says the Professor. But no.
Many college-bred men are as sinful as
others Looming the ministry or the
priesthood will do it." says another
But no, Proofs are abundant that sin
may be found in the monastery and
the pulpit rs well as in the pew and
in the ordinary walks of life.
Our text declares Gods reasonable
ness, and indicates that He has made
it possible for the sinner to escape
from his sins. The Prophet does not
tell the process by which Divine JUS
tice will clear the guilty. Bnt the
New Testament gives the explanation.
Christ has died. the Just for the I'M
just. Human sin, the penalty Of
which is death. the great Redeemer is
prepared to cancel for all those who
forsake sin, become pupils in His
School and are taught of God
At the present time Gods mercy in
the forgiveness Of sin is exercised to-
ward those only who hear of His re-
deeming Love. and are moved to faith.
repentance ard reformation. Nor is
this enough at the present time. Gods
call of this Gospel Age is for those
who not only desire to resist sin and
to escape from slavery to it, but who,
being made free. will enlist with all
their powers to oppose sin. under the
leadership of Jesus-under the banner
of the cross. To these comes the as
surance of passing from sin to right
eousness, from death to life, through
the Redeemer.
For these. all the back charges Of
condemnation to death on account Of
sin are set aside. A new page Of the
ledger of God is opened for them
Thenceforth the record of their past
is Cancelled through the blood of Christ
Their sins of scarlet are removed
Their hearts, figuratively speaking, are
as white as snow. They are pure in
heart, although they have the treasure
of this new heart in an imperfect body
The imperfections of their flesh. ever
present, will seek to assert themselves
but they as New Creatures and sons
of God through Christ are to resist
these steadfastly.
"Unspotted From the World"
Do you tell me that am setting too
high standard. and that the millions
who read my sermons weekly will be
discouraged instead Of being helped? !
answer that one with God is a majority;
and that the Scriptures call upon me
to "Cry aloud and spare not: I"
show My people their sinsl' There are
approximately four hundred millions of
nominal Christians in the world; yet
nowhere on earth are these sins to be
found in so rank a development, so
deep a crimson. as amongst the pro-
fessed followers of Christ.
God knows, the Bible declares, that
none can do perfectly But is this an
excuse for any of US? Should we not
do the best that we can to approximate
the Divine standard In our actions,
words and thoughts? What zoe can do
is what God requires of us. All the
remainder, as we have seen, has been
fully provided for In the Savior, and the
mercy and forgiveness which He can
properly bestow upon the willing and
obedient of heart, whose shortcomings
are merely those of hereditary weak
ness and unfavorable environment. 1t
is the purity of heart, of Intention, of
scilI, that constitutes saintship from
the Divine standpoint and not actual
perfection; for, as we read, There is
none righteous, no. not one Romans
$40.
1t is part of my duty, dear hearers,
as minister of God. to speak His
Word, to awaken the consciences of
all those with whom l have any infiu-
ence. 1t is my duty to lift high the
Royal Standard of perfection. that all
may see as in a mirror their own
shortcomings, and that, seeing these,
they may flee to the Master and lay
hold upon the grace of God provided
for all in Him. The Apostle speaks of
the Church class as keeping them
selves unspotted from the world.
From what we have seen, dear friends
the term world" includes nearly
everybody claiming to be a Christian.
The real Christians are few and far
between.
But | hold that many more would be
real Christians If the Truth were prop
erly presented to their minds In
stead, millions come under the delu-
sion that they are Christians. when
they have not taken even the first step
of repentance and reformation. And
of those who have repented and re-
formed. comparatively few have taken
the next step necessary to their Undue
ton into the family of God. The sec
ond step is the acceptance of the merit
of Christ's sacrifice as that which
atones for their sins. More than this.
to attain the full blessed privileges of
the Body of Christ, which is the
Church" of the ''First-borns (Ephe-
SLAMS 1:22, %; Hebrews 1929. 1t is
necessary to make a full conservation
of heart and life. time and talent, in.
tiuenee, everything. to the Lord-to be
His footstep followers.
This is the only call of this Gospel
Age. Only those who hear it and ac-
cept 1t enter into present opportunities
and full privileges of sonship. Only
these have opportunity of becoming
members Of the Royal Priesthood of
glory. members of 1.-The Bride. the
Lambs Wife" But others. as we have
seen, have a measure of responsibility
for their conduct, even If they do not
come to Christ: and each will receive
stripes in proportion as he has done
wrong. or blessings in proportion as he
has given even cup Of cold water to
one of the Lords faithful saints.
It Will Be Different BY and BY.
After the elect class of this Age
shall have been perfected In the First
Resurrection, Messiah's Kingdom will
be set up. For this we pray, ''Thy
Kingdom come; Thy will be done on
earth, even as it is done In Heaven"
Then matters will be different. No
longer will IL be nnssihIa for man To