The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-08-18

depreciation of them, as given by Je-
sus and the Apostles. We ministers
will keep aloof from such Bible-study;
we will leave the impression that we
understand these prophecies perfectly
and we will keep watch upon the BIZ
Bile classes, but will interfere only
when we find some brother therein
who is inclined to delve after the doc
trines of Christ and the Apostles"
One minister, voicing this opposition
to Bible study, especially along the
lines of difference where it would be
of special valne. said, THE Church is
like a great hospital Everything like
doctrinal discussion must be banished
and excluded just as In hospital all
noise is forbidden, in order that the
patient may sleep; or just as in a
nursery all noise is excluded"
Alasl 1t is too true that the nominal
Church of Christ is like a hospital.
many of the patients in which are
blind, deaf. asleep and mentally con-
fused. But the trouble is that these
got into this condition because of a
neglect of healthful exercise; and the
keeping of them quiet will but turn the
present hospital into a cemetery.
What the churches of ali the denomi-
nations need is the Word of God-as
presented in the words of Jesus and
the Apostles. 1.-THE words that speak
unto you, they are spirit and they are
life" said the Master. The sin-sick
and lame, the blind. deaf and mentally
perplexed need to hear the voice of
Truth-"Wonde Words of Life
otherwise they will become more sick
and will perish as Christians, only to
become alive perhaps as "lovers of
pleasure more than lovers of God"
An Episcopal minister in our hearing
urged his congregation to simply rest.
and not to bother themselves about
their own future or that of others
The Holy Catholic Church. he said re-
sembled a ship, in which the members
should come as passengers to be car
ried to the Heavenly destination. They
need not examine the compass or the
chart or the machinery. All that they
need to do is to sit down and enjoy
the journey, trusting that their bap
tism and the Holy Spirit have given
them ticket to a proper destination.
Necessity For knowledge.
Knowledge of God, the Bible de.
clares, is indispensable for the attain.
ment of the great Prize of the High
Calling. Thus Jesus said. This is life
eternal, that they might know Thee.
the only true God. and Jesus Christ,
whom Thou hast sent" John 173D
We are not to understand this to sig
nifty that any one who has merely been
made acquainted with the fact that
there is one Creator. and that Jesus
Christ is His Son. is on account of this
knowledge to be granted everlasting
life. Some apparently think to be able
to make void the various Scriptures
which tell of the necessity of making
our calling and election sure" by so
running as to obtain the prize.
Our Lords words do not refer to a
knowledge about God. but to knowl-
edge of God and His Soma personal
acquaintance with them. And such an
intimate acquaintance is not obtained
merely by an introduction, but by com
partnership. 1t signifies an intimacy of
acquaintanceship, familiarity. Ev-
erything In the Divine Word encour-
ages those who accept the Divine in
vitation to draw near to God. to come
into fellowship with Him.
But this knowledge of God which
will bring a sanity few to salvation on
the highest plane stands related to
Gods Word-the teachings of the BIZ
BILE; for thus God exalted His Word.
by making it the channel for spiritual
refreshment and personal acquaintance
ship with Himself.
Thus Jesus prayed for US, His follow
ers, '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 mountaineering with
God which alone will guarantee ever
lasting life The reason why the Lord
has thus arranged the matter and
made knowledge of the Scriptures es-
sential is. doubtless, that thus His
faithful people may be benefited; and
they alone may receive the instruction
would more on less injure others. Thus
it is written, ''Yc shall know the Truth
and the Truth shall make you free"
To this class our Lord says today, us
He said to His Jewish followers eight
cen centuries ago, To you it is given to
know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of
God; but to all outside these things are
spoken in parallels and dark sayings.
that seeing they might see and not per
ceive, and hearing they might hear and
not understand. To the outsiders-the
Doctors of Diyinity-is not committed
the Key of Knowledge
What Constitutes the Key.
The Key of knowledge consists OF
the faithful study of the Word of God.
with an honest purpose to know the
things that are freely given unto us of
God. This implies a conservation of
heart; for none others would really
desire that they might do the Divine
will. This also implies faith in our
Lords promise that "if any man will
do Gods Will, he shall know of the
doctrine" Il is this consecrated, con
scientious Bible study that is lacking
today-that is being discouraged by the
great teachers and Doctors of Divinity
Everything designed to help Bible
study, to get rid of the darkness of the
creeds and superstitions of the past, is
opposed-but not openly. The Doctors
of Divinity of our day, like those of
Jesus day. are wise and act as though
they do know. But they do not know:
they oppose real Billie study-not open
ly, but secretly, ''for fear of the PEG
pie" Mark 1872: 12:12l The great
religious leaders of the Jews were
marked by our Lord as. being less con
sclentious. less honest. than the misses
of the people. Concerning the people
we read that Jesus was moved with
compassion when lie beheld the multi
tude, that they We're like sheep with
out shepherd
And is it not SO today also? Are not
many of the Lords people hungering
and thirsting for the Truth. and great
" perplexed and discouraged because.
going time after time to the religious
leaders, they have received n stone i'll
stead of bread, a serpent instead of Il
fish-have received IA false doctrine, a
devilish Misrepresentation Of Gods
Character and of His Plan respecting
humanity? These dcyiish doctrines of
the Dark Ages st. Paul calls doc
trines of demons: for the demons the