The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-02-09

itJ VI TOT righteousness at
the same time polishing them.
But even when the rough diamond
has been found, it would be of no val
ue except as it could be cut; indeed,
1t would be of less value than other
stones for many purposes. So it Is
with those whom Divine Grace finds
in the mire of sin. having nevertheless
will or character desiring righteous.
ness, truth. goodness, justice-the great
Lapidarist must really give them all
their value by His skill In shaping.
cutting and polishing them. Yet, on
the other hand. He could not cut, shape
or polish that which had not the es-
sential quality. or character, or win
for righteousness.
Those who are in the hands Of the
great Lapidarist and undergoing Bis
polishing process, must first have pass
ed through the previous experience OF
having been found of the Lord Jesus,
must have been washed, and must
have been accepted as having wills
DESTROYS of harmony with the Divine
mind. Therefore they may take pleas
ure In all the trying experiences and
difficulties through which q Lord Je-
sus causes them to pass as various
completion as Jehovah's jewels, to be
made up by the close of the Gospel
Age and to be set in the gold of the
Divine nature. to reflect the beauties Of
the Divine character.
1t is in harmony with this thought
that the Apostle encourages us to re-
joice in tribulation. knowing that it is
working out for us patience, expert
ence, hope, brotherly kindness and love
the facets essential to the jewel In
the eyes Of Him who is shortly to
gather His jewels. The Apostle again
speaks of even the most trying expert
ences Of the Christian life as light at
lictions," and OF the present life as
but "a moment" saying. Our light af-
fiction, which Is but for a moment,
worketh for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory"
The Wheel of Discipline.
The earthly lapidarist takes firm
hold upon the jewel which he has al
ready tested and proved to have the
requisite jewel quality; and, ~encasing
it in a suitable instrument, he presses
1t against a lap-wheel, with just the
required amount Of pressure to effect
the necessary shaping and polishing.
The process requires great skill; hence
only skilled workmen are employed In
this department.
So with the Lords jewels, their value
depends much on proper cutting; and
this is entrusted only to the skilled
hands of our Lord Jesus, of whom we
are assured that He Himself passed
through similar experiences of test
ings at the Fathers hands. He knows
just what we need to perfect us, that
we shall be pleasing and acceptable to
the Father, to reflect and refract the
light of His glory when it shall fall
upon us in our finished state.
A part of our lesson is to have faith
In this great Master Workman, whom
the Father has appointed to shape and
polish us. We may require much more
trimming on some sides of our char.
acter than on others; and often the dis
position is to draw back. to be not fully
submissive. to fear that the Lord has
abandoned us to trial But Infinite
Wisdom assures us that this is not so,
and that to draw back would leave us
unfit for the Kingdom"
The world has seen the wheel OF
discipline which has been cutting the
Lords jewels for centuries, but 1t has
not understood the necessity and the
value of the process. 1t may have
even caught an occasional glimpse Of
the jewels, but not to any advantage
not so as to be able to know the real
merit of their characters or the value
of the cutting and polishing; for even
the already finished facets are smeared
with the cement and slime from the
grindwheel. But the great, loving
Lapidarist knows and has explained 1t
all to the jewels; and they know in
part now, and by faith are trusting all
the remainder.
The Lord knows just how much
RACocuAC " dRRJ-Jocb INV m0(n
friction is necessary-and viii not
cause tribulation which He cannot and
will not overrule for our good. Being
thus assured that all things are work
ing together for good to them that love
God, His living jewels can rejoice In
tribulation, knowing that 1t is working
out in them the ~peaceable fruits of
righteousness meekness, patience,
gentleness, brotherly kindness and
love; that such experiences are essen
tial and that without these they could
never be amongst the gathered jewels.
1.-THE Time ls at Hand"
We are not to suppose that those
who are now pressed against the wheel
of tribulation are thereby made miser-
able. On the contrary, they realize a
Joy and peace which the world can
neither give nor take away. And when
we remember that their severe expe-
riences and p~olishings are but for a
moment" as compared with the longer
discipline of those who will be dealt
with during the Millennium; and that
in proportion to their trials they are
granted more grace and will receive a
reward exceedingly abundant, more
than they could ask or think-then we
can see that these jewels now being
prepared by the Lord are highly favor
ed above all men.
The process of seeking and polish
ing the jewels has already been In
progress for more than eighteen cen
turtles; and the Scriptures indicate that
now the end of the Age is upon US
the time for gathering these jewels
and setting them in the glory of the
Divine nature. The signs of the times
clearly indicate that the great Time
of Trouble with which the Gospel Age
is to end is even at the door. to pre-
pare the world for the coming bless
ings Of Messiah's Kingdom. Hence If
we r to be amongst the acceptable
jewels We have need to give diligence
and to cooperate with the great Mas
e r-Workman, that the shaping and
polishing Of our hearts, u wills, may
be perfected quickly, and that we may
be ready to share a glorious part when
He comes to make up His jewels.
Through the Prophet the Lord indi
Gates that as soon as His jewels shall
have been gathered, there will be "a
general change in His dealings with
the world. Our context shows how II
is at the present time, while the pol
ishfng of the jewels progresses. Ere
quently the unfaithful and the world
ly seem to have the advantage; but
after this polishing of the jewels is
completed. and they have been set in
the crown of rejoicing at the end of
this Age. ''Then shall ye return. and
discern between the righteous and the
pvicRad hofwaan him hot eorvofh God