River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-08


sufferings? And what is the real object
OF these sufferings? Why should God de-
light to make US suffer before he would
give us place in the Kingdom?
The Bible answers these questions
satisfactorily. 1t admonishes that only
by trials and difficulties can character
be really developed; for character is
not merely preference for that which
is good. but fixed determination. a
loyalty to that which is right. God
seeketh such as have firm characters
to be His children ON the Divine plane
of the New Creation. He has great
work for them to do for the world of
mankind; and unless their own charac-
tiers We're properly formed crystallized
established. they would not be In
proper condition to be the rulers, in
structors and uplifters of the world
Then He has future work for them
to all eternity.
We can readily see that this class
must demonstrate their loyalty be-
yond peradventure, must show their
zeal for righteousness: as was written
of our Savior. Because Thou hast
loved righteousness and hated iniquity.
therefore God hath anointed Thee with
the oil of gladness above Thy fell
lows The fellows of Jesus are the
members of His Body. His elect
Church, of every nation and denomina-
ton. He is their Head
The Character to Be Formed.
The kind of character which God
seeks in His people is that which is
like His own. He seeks the fruits of
the Holy Spirit: meekness. gentleness.
patience. long suffering, brotherly
kindness. love. IF these things be in
you and abound, they will make you
that We shall be neither barren nor I'M
fruitful in the knowledge of the Lord.
and thus an entrance shall be minis
tered unto you abundantly into the
everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and
Savior. Jesus Christi Peter q. II.
The Cultivation of the Graces.
If everything were perfect in our
selves and surroundings. there would
be no real opportunity for cultivating
these fruits and graces of the Spirit
for developing and crystallizing char
acter and for showing our zeal for
right and opposition to wrong. God,
therefore. has taken advantage of the
existence Of sin, and of imperfection
in others and in ourselves. to use these
for the cultivat ton of the graces in our
hearts and the establishment of char
acter in us.
For instance, if there were nothing
to try our patience. how could we
grow in patience? IT, therefore, we
feel that we need more patience and
pray for it. let us expect the answer to
come in an increase of trials and diff
culties which would tend to increase
patience in our hearts and lives. If
we pray for more meekness we should
expect our prayers to be answered by
adverse conditions tending to show us
our weaknesses and make us more
teachable more humble
If we pray for more brotherly kind
ness. we should expect more trials and
difficulties from the brethren. testing
our love. patience brotherly kindness
And so by the cultivation of all these
various parts of love. we are gradually
growing into God-likeness Of character
becoming copies of Gods dear Son,
who is the express image of the Fa-
theirs person and His characteristic
ness; for God is Love!
These Things Shall Be Added.
The realities with Gods people are
these they seek, hunger, thirst. To
them the earthly things in comparison
have no value; for these were conSe
Grated, given up. at the very beginning
of the Christian way. But although
all earthly rights have been surrender
ed, and all their interests are Heaven
~, yet the Lords promise is that these
who seek first the Kingdom shall have
Ill other needed things added to them.
God will care for their temporal as
well as their Heavenly interests. And
to His praise be it said that He gen
orally gives them abundantly more
than they could have asked or thought.
Bread and water are the only things
guaranteed: but how often in the
Christians experiences many comforts
and luxuries are added. even though
not asked. and while he is seeking
with all his heart the interests and
blessings of the Kingdom! May these
Heavenly things more and more be our
portion. Let us look less and less at
the temporary things. and with the eye
of faith look more and more to the
things not seen, which are eternal, and
to the Church heavenly.-2 Corinthians
Alb.
o.: xx,;1l ~I,r ;v,L