The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-12-02

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N his disavowal eH.
IDENTIFY has to do
with the perfec
tion which will come in the future. II
may seem to some unnecessary that
a man should disavow this final per.
fection since he is evidently not yet
raised from the dead; but the human
mind is capable of very strange things,
and this same apostle Paul speaks Of
some in his day who taught that the
resurrection is past already On
some such basis, It seems, that teach.
ers arose who declared that even now
we may reach the perfection which be.
longs to the resurrection state The
apostle is clearly against such a doc
trine.
Bishop Moule, one OF the most saint
" men the modern church has pro
duced, in commenting upon this pas
sage says: "As far as my own obser
vation goes. such views q. g. OF per-
fection) are not uncommonly attended
In those who hold them, by. a certain
oblivion to personal shortcomings and
inconsistencies: by an observation OF
consciousness, and OF conscience
more or less marked. towards the sin
fulness OF ordinary. everyday viola
tions OF the law of holiness In respect
OF meekness, humbeness of mind. long
suffering. sympathy. and other quiet
graces."
Indeed, the saints OF all the ages
unite with Paul in declaring that they
are not already perfect. The apostle
after suffering many things for
Chrlst's sake so that he bore In bis
body the marks OF the Lord Jesus,
writes OF himself as chief Of sinners
John Bunyan although he spent twelvcN
years In Bedford jail for his Lord
calls hi7 life story Grace Astounding
to the Chief OF Sinners" When John
Wesley thought he was dying, he re-
viewed his labors OF sixty years, but
could find no peg upon which to hang
any hope OF salvation; he could only
repeat the sentiment OF the hymn,
the chief OF sinners am.
But Jesus died for me.
The same spirit was manifested by0
Charles Spurgeon, who said during the|
serious Illness. that II he got well he
would have many things to preach
but Just at that time four words were
enough for him, Jesus died for me.
DIR. A. J. Gordon was man OF SUCH
sanity character that his very faceN
gave evidence OF the indwelling Light
A servant girl who met him at thf
door one daY told her mistress tha1
she did not know his name. but be
had the face OF all angel. Yet wherN
he came to his last hours. his express
sions of unworthiness and OF absolute
dependence upon the mercy and grace
of God were so affecting, that his famt
lily could not bear to remain in thf
room. These men all agree in sayingt
"Not as though had already attainedH
either were already perfect"
But the other portion OF our tex1
speaks OF a sense In which we may
be perfect. The context shows thaV
the apostle is using the figure of a runt
ner in race. He has not yet AZ
tanned the prize. but forgetting ing
things which are behind and reachini
forth unto those which are before n
presses toward the mark. II is thif
attitude to which the word perfect
is applied. The man has laid asidq
the weights and the easily besettinf
sin; he is not content with what h3
has attained, but forgetting that whic!
Is behind. he presses with nec1
stretched forth and every musci7
strained, to the goal. II will be see1
at once that this sort of perfection u
very imperfect and is in no sense
fnality. It only prepares us to ~
made perfect In the day of Christ
coming. Nevertheless we are boun9
by the grace of Christ to fulfill lmi
ideal and not to put him to shame
Two matters are involved In the ei
hortation to be 'thus minded" FirsI
of all II we feel like the apostle w
will have the lowly estimate OF ou1
selves OF which we have spoken tnY
feeling that we have not attalne1
Very far from Christian perfection
pride; on the contrary, humility IS ~
; very essence. Again. II we are pei
feet in the sense of which the aposliI
speaks, we will emulate him
pressing forward for the prize OF nn1
glory. This Is the very opposite \
compacency as to our attainment.
: is said thar Thorwaldsen once we1
: because he was satisfied with q sta'u|
he had made. Alas" he said. u sna]
never improve now. for have reacnel
my ideal" How ought they to u
aroused whv. because they have cop'|
I to Christ ana are living with SOM
consistency, are satisfied! Life mani
4 tests itself by growth and he who
! not growing may we'll examin n
self to see whether he be In IN
i How good II is that the aposq
0 on TO assure us that III in u ~
ye be otherwise minded. God
Z veal even this unto you" May
Q us grace to walk 10 this ligH EY