Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-11-22

H. w. A. they may be en-
IkA AsTA ployed profitably
Ibs1E ~ "a in the experience
of every individu-
al Christian believer In the present
time God Is refining and purifying
every one of us who is truly his
through faith in his dear son; and
the close Of the old year and the open
mg of a new one. Is a good time to
consider some OF the ways in which
he does IT,
l. He retines us by the example Of
that son. He sets him before US In
his word as one who was always we'll
pleasing in his sight Obedient to his
earthly parents. faithful as a work
man at his bench. content In poverty
and obscurity, meek and lowly in
heart. kind and tender TO his fellow
men, reviled. but reviling not again.
trustful, hopeful, loving holy always
and without sin-as we gaze upon him
In his inspired portraiture in the Cos
pels how We long to be like him. if
we posses his spirit at all. what a
A~-'A'AAto HAb PAi II ms POHCA A4A1iC -
IN the story of his lifei
2. He refnes US by his providences.
| How wisely, how patiently, and how
| lovingly God deals with US every one,
and how universally is it true as David
I said, that his "gentleness' makes us
| great e Samuel 22:3G). Whom the
/ Lord loveth he chasteneth" (Heb.
] ht.t frly II. IL,
has meant to all who have served him
/ Jacob Moses, David, Daniel, Paul,
| But these are joyous provi-
dences as well as grievous ones, and
they are refining and purifying too. 1t
was the great draught of dishes which
Peter did not expect, that caused him
TO cry out: Depart from NE. for am
sinful man. Oh Lord" luke $50.
What do you know of This experience?
Can you look back over the past year,
and say the goodness Oh God leadeth
ne to repentance? tRcmans 2:4).
.. He rehnes US by ms word. We
recall the testimony OF the psalmist.
THY word have l hid in my heart,
that | might not sin against Thee"
psalm 119:1D. The microscopy
prayer of Christ for his disciples.
'Sanctify them through thy truth. thy
word is truth" tJohn l7:lO. The
teaching of Paul 10 the Romans, where
he says (6:17, 49, God be thanked.
that ye were the servants of sin. but
yet have obeyed from the heart that
form of doctrine which was delivered
you. Being then made free from sin,
ye became the servants OF righteous
ness" Where could we finu clearer
statement of the refining power of the
word of God? First, by nature, we
were servants of sin. Then. we heard
the word of God, the form of octrine. a"
as Paul calls it, the message OF the
gospel This We obcyed, We believed
in him OF whom it spake. and we be-
gan to inquire about his will and to
seek TO do it, Immediately thereupon,
and in so far. we became free from
sin. No longer did it continue TO hold
the old power over US. but instead we
became servants of righteousa ."
Like our holy exemplar, we could say,
Il delight to 90 thy will. oh. Goa."
A. He retines us by his spirit. The
holy spirit is a divine person. the
same as the father and the son, and
he dwells within every true believer in
Jesus Christ IF any man have not
the spirit of Christ, he is none OF
his" (Romans so. His Office work in
the believer is to sanctify him. to
lead and guide him into all truth. and
&c take the things Of Christ and show
them unto him John 1913, I'd OF
course, this means that he uses the
Bible. the word Of God and hence the
necessity that in all our reading and
study of that word, We be continually
in prayer for the spirits aid But,
oh, what wonders he works in such
a case, BE not dccsived": SAYS
Paul to the Christians at Cornith,
neither fOrnicators, nor idolators. nor
adulterers, nor effeminate. nor abusers
of themselves with mankind, nor
thieves, nor covetous. nor drunkards
nor revilers. nor extortioners. shall in.
herit the kingdom Of God AnG such
, were some Of you; but ye are washed
but ye are sanctified, but ye are iusti
fed in the name of the Lord Jesus
and by the spirit OF our God" q Cor
G:9-1D.- What a testimony, and vel
how often has It been repeated in the
history Of the saints from that day
. until this! Verify, God is a refinel
and purifier Let us trust him. Lei
us obey his word. Let US follow the
example Of Jesus Christ. and wall
even as he walked" Let US yield our
selves TO his spirit, that he may b,
glorified in US. Let the year that i!
just ahead OF US. if we live. and II III,
Lord tarries. be one in which
! our gold sh.H shine out with a richie
glow,
AS il mirrors a Form above
| | Who bends DER the Ere. unseen by Us
, With look of meNab.e love"