The Raymer enterprise., 1914-02-19

anu dl Tue same tlIue Ieluseu " uo
ruled by it themselves. Jesus de-
mands new publicity (v. p of serv-
ice and in the presence of this vast
crowd denounces this hypocrisy as be-
ing sin. He also says plainly that what
they had been saying in darkness will
be proclaimed from the housetops.
Our Lord compares hypocrisy with
leaven in that it is the product of cor
ruption, 1t works secretly, it infects
the whole mass. $50 hypocrisy will
effect our whole life and conduct)
This leaven is a sour spreading cor
ruption that changes the whole eharac-
ter of a man. 1t cannot be hid. No
amount of care can effectually cove
our deceit. We may. for time, hide
our sin from men, but God knows and
in due time will publish it abroad ".
81; |. Tim 5:24
Warned by Jesus.
n. The fear of death, w. 4, I. Such
publicity will and always has led to
persecution, and so Jesus calls his
disciples to courage, charging them
that they fear not those who have
power over the body, but rather to
fear him whose power Is over the
soul. Notice the manner of address,
my friends, fear not" Intimacy and
courage are suggested. Look up the
many times the Scriptures admonish
US not to fear, ]. John AIS. Satan and
man (v. 81 have power over the body.
but they cannot touch the soul. The
Christian. however, needs not to fear
man or Satan. lisa. 51:12, Rom. S:31,
for the angel of Jehovah (the Lord
Jesus) encamps about them that fear
Jehovah Cps. 34:7. Paul tells us that
to depart from this life is again, Phil.
1:21; ii. Cor. SIS. We have, therefore.
no cause to fear the death Of the body.
One only, God, has the power after
death, to cast the soul into hell ly. 81.
He it is who gives us a suggestion OF
awful consciousness Of the soul, and OF
the body as we'll, when they are In
hell, Matt. 1928. Jesus has warned
US and we are to warn others that they
avoid that which was prepared, not for
man, but Off the devil and his angels,
Matt. 25:41. Is there a hell? Yes!
Else Jesus was deceived or has de-
liberately deceived US. ( Thank God,
however, that as a man is of more
value than a sparrow, SO God has pre-
pared better things for those who
place their faith in his son.
~. The fear Of making an open con-
fession, w. 8-12. With such tender.
beautiful assurance of Gods care over
us 1t would seem unnecessary for
Jesus to admonish his followers about
confessing him before the world. Yet
such is the persistent hardness and
the natural tim!dity of the human
heart that the Master, in mercy. warns
his followers, Rom. 1913, 10. Our
Lord looks beyond his disciples to the
dispensation Of the Spirit and de-
clared that men. speaking against him
would be forgiven, but that those who
slander, detract and heap vituperation
upon the Spirit would commit sin, a
blasphemy, which could not be for.
given. Moreover, in that dispense.
tipn of the Spirit. no matter how much
men might suffer. or be in danger
they would be taught BY that Spirit
what they ought to say, w. II, IL.
The one who commits this sin. de-
liherately attributes to the Devil what
he knows to be the work of the Spirit
Matt. 12:22.32. 1t is a deliberate
choice of darkness and the heart is SC
hardened as to preclude repentance
There is no desire for repentance
Those whom Jesus calls to proclaim
the truth concerning the Kingdom ol
God may depend upon a cooperation
Of the Holy Spirit which will make
them fearless Of all opposition. The
death Of the body Is but an incident
As we receive the Comforter and
come to know the God Of all comfor,
we begin to sense our value to him IN
carrying out his enterprises and the
mystery Of his condescending grace
There 10 no warrant for undertaking
work for Christ without adequate
preparation, but there 10 sufficient war
rant for fully trusting him In ever
emergency.