The Washington times., 1914-11-26

the raging elements of the restless
human sea: Peace. Be still"' And
there will be a great calm. The les
son learned in the trouble will be a
lasting one; and the blessed oppor-
tunities of Messiah's Kingdom, which
will be built upon the ashes of pres
ent Institutions, will bring everlast-
! ing life and Joy to all the willing and
obedient.
/ Those who see the war from this
viewpoint may indeed in everything
give thanks; rejoicing that the reign
rejoicing that Satan will soon be
bound for a thousand years! rejoic-
ing that Gods Kingdom will soon
come, and His will be done on earth
even as in Heaven! rejoicing that soon
the knowledge Of the true character
; of God will be universal: rejoicing
that then, in the light OF that knowl-
/ edge. every knee shall bow and every
/ tongue confess, to the glory OF God"
rejoicing still further, that any who
under all those; favorable conditions
will refuse to make a full surrender
! to the Lord. will be mercifully cut or
from life in the Second Death!
During Messiah's Reign of Right
eousness, all nations will be instruct
! ed, enlightened, blessed. Christs
i merit will then be applied on behalf
J Of the billions who have gone down
Hades. the grave. The Church will
constitute the First Resurrection.
All sharing in, it will attain life on
the spirit plane. Later, during the
Millennium. the world will return
from the tomb. every man In his
; ses will continue with them. in order
that the willing and obedient may
rise gradually toward perfection and
finally attain it. Meantime the earth
will be rejuvenated and become the
rpromised Paradise restored.
"Give Thanks, for He Is Good"
Looking down into the future. the
Psalmist exclaims, 20 give thanks unto
the Lord; for He is good for His mercy
, toward us that constitutes the ground
for Thanksgiving. 1t is true that praise
must come from thankful hearts and
that to be properly thankful one must
see more than is now visible to those
who have not the eve of faith and the
Divine revelation OF things to come. But
these very opportunities the Lords con-
secrated ones possess. As 1t Is written.
Blessed are your eyes for they see ;
and your ears. for they hear" But to the
grace Of God he has responsibility. To
possess the knowledge Of God and to dis
dain 1t is to receive the grace Of God In
vain.
Gods people not only give thanks for
future blessings received now by faith.
but additionally they appreciate bless
ings granted them In the present life.
and give thanks for these. The first Of
these is the knowledge o. Gods goodness
In releasing us by faith from sin and
it's penalty, so that without waiting for
actualities we can now rejoice In the
mercy which has Justified US through the
- f,A
upon this one and all Thanksgiving
should properly include thanks for our
justification by faith.
After our justification. we were in
Quoted into a still further grace or
privilege-that Of becoming members
ceptation Of this privilege we gain
the opportunity Of change Of ma
ture-from human to Divine q Peter
1:1. Our human nature justified.
cleansed. made acceptable to God as
a sacrifice through the merit Of Christ.
and glory. honor and Immortality.
oint-heirship with our Lord and
Head, II we faithfully make our sacri-
Ace (Romans 12:D. What cause we
have for Thanksgiving, What shall
we render unto the Lord for all His
benefits toward US?
The heart that has come into faith
union and communion with the Lord
learns something more every day re-
specting the Heavenly Fathers loving
item Of knowledge is new we'll
spring Of pleasure. He satisfieth the
longing soul" Blessed are they that
hunger and thirst after righteous
ness. for they shall be filled" These
are the experiences Of those ripe
Christians called upon by the Apostle
to thank God for everything and to
know that this IS the will Of God In
respect to all who are members OF the
Body of Christ.
Thanks Through Tears.
Let us not overlook the fact that our
text indicates that we are to give thanks
for our sorrows. our trials. our disap
pointments. as well as for our joys and
our pleasures for the word everything
Scripture TO this effect. The Apostle
elsewhere urges the members Of Christ
to rejoice in tribulation. because tribula-
ton works out additional patience. and
patience brings additional experience.
which in turn brings larger hope until
we are not ashamed OF our tribulations.
because thereby the love OF God is shed
abroad in our hearts-Romans ) IS 8 :35.
; The basis Of all rejoicing as respects
both the future and the present is faith
in the fact that there IL a God: that He
has a noble character: that His Wisdom
Justice. Love and Power are perfect and
are thoroughly co-ordinated: that these
attributes are all enlisted In the saliva |
ton of the world: that this salvation
began to be worked out by our Lord At
His First Advent that 1t is still work |
ing out in the selection Of HIS Church: : |
and that shortly It will begin to take |
practical shape in tho establishment OF
Christ's Millennial Kingdom. through !
which a blessing will extend TO every |
creature Of our race
Then let every man to the extent Of
his enlightenment appreciate and CON !
fess the Almighty God and give thanks
TO His name: for He is good. and His |
mercy endureth forever. Lot those who |
have tasted OF His grace continue TO |
grow in grace. knowledge. faith and |
likeness to our God. Let His |
saints. who are addressed In our text, |
more and more appreciate their won
derful privilege. their high calling Of
God in Christ Jesus-to be heirs Of God
and joint heirs with our LORD.
VALUABLE COUPON.
Trusting that you have been profited |
by the reading OF the above sermon. We |