The mirror., 1915-04-15

power OF God to the test. We have
1915 years to look back upon and
every moment of that time repre-
sents the saving power of Christ.
Then we have the historical records
of His teachings, and examples of
His power while among mankind
and beyond that time the testimony
of his prophets.
Just consider what an immense
advantage the doubtful ones have
today, over those of our forefathers
who put all their trust in God be-
fore he sent His Son into the world
to show His good works, and thus
not even leave a straw for the most
doubtful of us all to stand Hpon. as it
were.
Those of you have read your Bib
lie for profit rather than pastime, with
receptive minds, and considered the
story of Daniel for few moments,
here was boy without education or
training, placed in a much worse
position than even we are, for he
was only slave, yet he had an ideal
faith in God, and see how his pray
ers were answered. From q slave
to a king is wonderful height, yet
as we are all aware, who have read
the history, Daniel achieved this
great power and honor. But the
way was hard and many were the
obstacles he had to overcome before
he reached the summit of his climb.
Yet, just because he was possessed
of an unlimited amount Of faith in
the power of God, and was willing
to leave everything in His hands,
and always looked to Him for guild
ance, and at all times remembered
to give thanks to his God for m er-
cies granted and made his wants
known daily to Him; these reasons
were Daniels full explanation for
his success.
While we are not bond slaves to
any man, yet we are more or less
slaves of the devil. For until we
become follower of Christ and for
sake our present mode of life, which
is only one continuous search for
worldly pleasure and lust both bodily
and sensual, we can never be any
thing else but slaves, and of the very
lowest order. The reason for this
is very readily explained. Take
any slave in the days Of slavery and
if he had been given the same
chance to gain his temporal free
dom as we have to obtain our eter-
nal liberty, how long do you think
there would have been slaves? Yet
here are we. for the most part fair
ly well-educated and intelligent
community. and still we have not
the necessary amount of spunk"
to get up and openly declare our
selves for God, with God and of
God at all times, and in all places.
Oh, men, what a boundless gift
we can all secure for such q little
thing-just an acceptance. / pre-
sumo every inmate in this institu-
tion wants his freedom; now suppose
an announcement was made that to
secure your liberty all you had to
do was to go to the Warden and
make your wants known and he
would set you free. How many of
you would be here this time tomor-
rowf Not one! This is fact isn't
it? On the other hand. there is our
living Father waiting and wanting
to give us our eternal freedom from
all temptations, and full pardon
for our past transgressions that will
give us light heart and clear con-
science for the remainder of our
stay here-whether short or long
and for ever after, both in the pre-
sent world and that which is to
come, in the hereafter? And all
we have to do to obtain this won
derful gift, that has been purchased
for us by the blood of Our Saviour.