The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-11-24

testings, etc, upon the Lords people
for the development of those who love
the Lord with all their heart, soul,
mind and strength. and their neighbors
as themselves, and for the demonstrat
ing Also of those who have been only
lukewarm in their love of the Lord
and of the brethren, those who have
been overcharged with the cares of
this life or with the deceitfulness Of
riches, and SO overtaken.
Much in harmony with Psalm 81,
our text indicates a need for the armor
of God, difficulty in withstanding the
assaults Of this evil day, and the few
ness Of those who will eventually
stand The Apostles exhortation is
that we take the whole armor-not
merely the shield of faith, not merely
the helmet of salvation, not merely the
breaStplate of righteousness, not mere
ly the Sword of the Spirit, not merely
the sandals of preparation, not merely
the girdle of Truth; but all of these.
We shall need all of these if we would
be able to withstand all the assaults
to be expected In this day.
Alas, how few seem to realize the,
Importance of this armor which God
has commended! Their difficulty is
the result of not knowing the time in
which they are living, net being suffi
GENTLY awake, not being sufficiently
Jealous to search the Scriptures and to
put on the armament therein provided
alone.
Why God Will Permit II.
st. Paul, writing to the Thessalo-
mans, foretold this evil day in which
we are living and in which so many
will fall because overcharged with the
cares of this life and the deceitfulness
of earthly riches. He tells us that the
trials of our day will come from the
great Adversary. not because God will
be unable to prevent Satan from bring
ing these receptions and tests, but be-
cause He wills to permit the Adver-
sary thus to prove and sift the pro-
fessed Church of our day. in order
that all may be confused, deceived
stumbled, who are not at heart loyal
to Him. After telling about the work
ings of Satan that are to be expected
with great power, signs and lying won
ders, and with all -deceivableness of
unrighteousness, the Apostle explains
that this is permitted because they
received not the love of the Truth. =
He adds, For this cause God shall
send them strong delusions, that they
should believe lie, that they all
should be condemned who believed not
the Truth. but had pleasure in un-
righteousness" untruth.-2 Thessa-
lonians 2:9-12
Many tell US that it makes no differ
ence what we believe-truth or false
hood-that it is by our works that the
Lord will determine our standing. But
the Scriptures forbid this thought, and
assure us that no one of the fallen race
can have works that would be pleasing
to God. In his words last quoted, the
Apostle corroborates all the teachings
of Scripture respecting the value Of the
Truth to Gods people. In this connec-
ton mark the Masters words, IKE
shall know the Truth, and the Truth
shall make you free" Mark also His
prayer to the Father. in behalf of His
followers, "Sanctify them through Thy
Truth; Thy Word is Truthf
The Lord has provided His Word
and from time to time has used instru-
mentalities for the unfolding of lis
meaning to those who are in the right
attitude of heart to receive it, But He
has also permitted errors. falsehoods
and lying wonders to stalk about
though never to the extent permitted
in this evil day. This is because now
He desires especially to use these err
rors to accomplish a testing. sitting
separating work amongst His profess
ed people, in order that the improper
faiths may BE- manifested and may be
destroyed, that the true faith may
shine the more brightly. and that ulti
mately the professors Of that faith may
be glorifed with their Redeemer in His
Messianic Kingdom.
Let Each Examine Himself.
In view of the Apostles words re-
specting the love of the Truth, it be-
hooves each one to examine himself to
determine whether he loves and serves
a creed of the Dark Ages or a denom-
nation and creed Of modern times, or
whether his love and devotion are sim
ply to the Truth presented to US in the
nfvfpa Word We nav daooixra othorc
and we may even to some extent de-
eeive ourselves; for, as the Prophet
declares, the heart is exceedingly de-
ceitfuI But we cannot deceive God.
If in the Lords Providence the
Truth comes to us, and we get some
glimpse of its beauty in contrast with
the hopelessness of error, a test is
upon us. If we reject the Truth be-
cause Of its unpopularity, and hold to
the abominable error because 1t is pop
other hand, If we receive the Truth
and rejoice in it, but because of its
unpopularity we hide the light under
a bushel, eoncealing 1t in order thus to
shield ourselves from the opposition of
darkness, we may be sure that our ac-
ton will be displeasing to the Lord,
who seeketh not such to be His Elect.
He puts His Word on a parity with
Himself. saying, HE that is ashamed
of Me and Ny Word, of him will be
ashamed when 1 come in the glory of
My Kingdom"
This is what St Paul refers to when
he speaks of those who received not
the Truth In the love of it. Whoever
receives the Truth in the love of 1t will
to the best of hts ability and judgment
show it to others at whatever the cost
may be. Thus he will be proving him
self to be a child of the Light. a child
of God; and he will be saved. But
whoever seeks to save his life-to save
earthly interests by hiding the light.
or failing to acknowledge it publicly
will surely find his course injurious to
himself
Like the Hypocrites of Old.
We have already pointed out that
the Scriptures Hken the influences al
work in our day undermining faith
consuming it, destroying it. to a pes
thence which is In the very lair and
which lays hold upon all whose sys
TENS are in condition to be inoculated
with the poison. | must elaborate this
point; for the evil influences by which
we are surrounded are so subtle, SO de
ceptive. so all-peryading. that the ma