The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-03-24

thieves who are not caught: ana tnat
there are many, perhaps as morally
wrong, as evilly intentioned. who. for
fear of the consequences. never com
mitted the wrongs. We can even sup
pose that some of the Scrbes and
Pharisees and Doctors CT Divinity of
those days were in Gods sight much
worse than the impenitent tlief-mur-
derers at heart and in deed. Yet of
the latter st. Peter declared. 81 wot,
brethren. that through ignorance We
did it, as did also your rulers when
you crucified the Lord OF Glory. RE
pent We therefore and be converts. =
Acts 3:15:19.
An Earthly Paradise.
Ignorance, superstition and inherited
depravity all bore down upon the i'm
penitent thief to Il degree which we
are not capable of properly estimating.
The Lord will judge him-both thieves
all mankind. The penitent thief viii
unquestionably have twofold bless
ing: first, he will be blessed for his
penitent attitude of mind; second. he
will be blessed for bis faithfulness in
expressing that penitence and in show
ing mercy to our Lord in His distress.
Our Lord declared that even cup of
cold water given 10 the least of His
disciples shall lave its reward. Sure
ly it will be in harmony. then. that the
penitent thief will have reward for
his defense of the Master.
That reward will consist, first of all,
in the blessing of his own heart
through the action therein of the mer-
ciful sentiment. a reward will come
to him in proportion to the exigencies
of the occasion and the greatness of
the One whom he loved If the one
who favors righteous man will re-
ceive a righteous mans reward. and
the one who favors II prophet will re-
ceive Il prophets rewari. surely the
one who favored the Redeemer viii
receive Il special reward such as the
Redeemer might lie expected to grant
The penltent thief manifested not
only sympathy. but honesty. He said
to the other. who rallied ut the Lord.
DOSI IDOlI llOl tear tGOu. SttlilS luOu
art in the same condemnation? And
we indeed justly: for we receive the
due reward for our deeds; but this man
| hath done nothing amiss.'' duke
23:4O. 41) 1t is entirely in keeping
with the general teachings of the
Lords Word that the honest hearted
and the mer, lful shall have specia
blessings. Those blessings cannot
reach them in the grave. and it is not
| always that just returns reach the &c
serving in the present life. Virtue is
not always its own reward.
| Our Lord declares the truth on the
subject, assuring us that such shall be-
''recompensed at the resurres ton Of
the just" That is to say. when the
| just. the justified the Church. shall
| have been awakened in the First Res
direction. and when the Heavenly
| Kingdom shall have been established
amongst nlen and the general awak-
ening of the world from the sleep of
death shah gradually follow. then ev-
cry good and every evil word. every
good and every evil act. will be recon-
pensed-in Paradise.
Let us be glad and rejoice that the
Divine arrangement is Paradise
an earthly Paradise possible to every
| member of the race: and a Heavenly
Paradise. possible to every member of
the 50 1T begotten Church; and that
she s;ternative of Paradise is not eter-
nal torment. but everlasting destruc-
tion-the Second Death. Finally. ev-
cry creature in Heaven and earth shall
be heard saying. Blessing. h,i.4r. glory
and power be unto Him that stitch
upon the Throne. and to the Lamb for
ever and ever.