The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-30

1 ing eventually, though not then; for he was Samaritan, an alien from the com | monwealth of Israel
 Another Crumb of Favor In his case. the healing was a crumh from the children's table; for the rich
 man had not yet died-God's favor had
 not yet uttered the fateful words. Your house is left unto you desolate" Nay, 1t was three and half years after Jesus death before the individual favor to the Jews terminated to such an extent as to permit the gospel to go to the Gentiles- Cornelius being the first accepted to fel- lowship with God.-Acts 10:1-4s.
 Had the returning one been Jew no doubt he would have been invited by Je-
 sus to become His follower. But because
 he was a Samaritan, Jesus merely said,
 Arise and go thy way; thy faith had
 made thee whole" Doubtless. when the
 time came for the opening of the door to the Gentiles. this grateful Samaritan
 was amongst those who gladly received the message and made a conseeration to God.
 We are not to understand that our Lords words, Thy faith hath made thee
 whole" meant that the mans faith aside from divine power made him whole; but that the power of God and the faith of the
 man co-operated for his healing. The nine others also had faith and were
 healed And as Jews under the law
 covenant. they might have had more
 grounds for asking forgiveness and heal
 ing than had the Samaritan
 Ten Healed-Where Were the Nine?
 Jesus called public attention to the fact that ten were healed, but that only one
 had returned to give glory to God. True, He had not asked them to come back and acknowledge the divine power that whought through Him. True, they did what He told them to dO-went and showed themselves to the priest-no more,
 going then about their business. The preaching of Jesus and the Apostles is in strong contrast with much of the preaching of evangelists. revivalists, etc. Never did Jesus and the Apostles urge worldly people to become disciples of
 Christ. They merely preached, or de- clared, certain great facts, and accepted those who were influenced by those facts They reasoned of six, of righteousness and of coming time of decision. or judgment. and left the matter with the individual conscience. They told that those who forsake sin and turn to God may have forgiveness and reconciliation through the merit of Christ's blood. They told of a high, or heavenly, call for all such penitents who would consecrate their lives wholly to the service of God. truth and righteousness. willing to endure hard
 ness as good soldiers.
 The point we make Is that, acordring to the Bible, no attempts were ever made by Jesus and His apostles to obtain re- cruits for the army of the Lord by a "hip- hip hurrah" process. We are not | criticising others, but merely calling at- | tention to facts which should have much l to do with the guidance of all of Gods people who seek to know and do His will. A Revival Is in Order l Many Christian people hold that we are | living today in time of crucial trial as respects those who have made cove nant with God. They believe that we are nearing the time when the church. the l body of Christ, will be received by the Lord in the resurrection change. As the apostle wrote, We must all be changed. ! in a moment. in the twinkling of an eye;'' | for flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God" and the call of the gos- pei age has been to the finding of those who are to constitute Jesus associates | in His Kingdom and glory.
 Of the Jews Jesus said, In the time of | testing in the end of their age. They knew not the time of their visitation Only the comparatively few were in the heart condition of nearness to God which enabled them to understand the character of the times and the change in progress. | The thought is that similar change Is upon us now, which is being discerned Iby those whose eyes of understanding are opened.
 The Samaritan in our lesson seems to represent a class of grateful followers of the Lord who seek to give Him golry In their words. thoughts and dooings. while the majority of those who have similarly received His facvor pursue the ambitions and pleasures of the present life. Neg iecting to take the path which the Master trod they will not reach the glory, honor and immortality which He attained and to which He has called this class. A lower place must be for them. In little while, according to the Bible the glories of the Kingdom will be revealed to an astorishsed world. but the glories of the present condition of affairs will fade away.
 The true wisdom that cometh from above was manifested by our Savior, who counted not His life dear unto Him. who freely made Himself of not reputation that He might do the Fathers will, and
 who is now highly exalted as reward.
 St. Paul expressed the same thought.
 saying that he counted all things but loss
 that he might win place fin the body of Christ-the church in glory beyond the veil. Great as will be the blessings of
 the millenial kingdom to the world. the blessings which the church will receive will be transcendently better.
 
 Give Both . Chance
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