The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-07-15

not reached the mark of perfect lovA
that they have not ouly not learned to
love their enemies. but not learned to
love those who are striving TO walk
IN the footsteps Of Christ, How our
Lords words slft and test our very
inncrmost thoughts
Following the Masters Steps.
On the other hand, we are not 30
much astonished that we should be de-
episcd by nature we were childrcn
or wrath, even as others OF Adams
family, and we had no pre-eminence
above any others of humanity. but Il
surely does surprise us 90 learn that
our Lord Jesus should he despisedl We
remember the record that lie was per
feet perfect 10 that extent that He
could say. "iIe that hath seen Me hath
seen the Father" No human being
can see n spirit being. But since Adam.
who was created perfect was In the
Image and likeness Of God, whoever
would see a perfect human being would
see the earthly representative OF tho
Heavenly Father.
Since our Lord Jesus was perfect
man while on earth, In full harmony
with the Father, whoever saw Him
saw the Father In the only way I'm
which 1t was possible for humanity
! ever TO see God. As the Apostle says,
mo man hath seen God az any time:
the Only Begotten Son, who il In the
bosom OF the Father He hath revealed
Him"-our Lord has made the Father
known to us. Hence the Church. IN
seeing Jesus, were becoming acquaInt-
cd with the Father We can very well
perceive, then, the purport Of our
Lords words that whoever despiscd
Him would be despising the Father
who had sent Him.
To us II seems a very different mat
ter when He said, "Ile that despiseth
you desplscth Me-" How poorly we
represent our Lord How imperfect
our representation Of Him, II is very
wonderful that our Lord should con-
slider MS as His members IN any such
way as this. II implies that He con
fers upon us great honor, especially
when we consider how imperfect we
are. ''There Is none righteous, no, not
one; hence for our Lord to say that
whoever receives one of His little ones
Is receiving Him, and that whoever
despises one Of His little ones Is des-
pising Him, seems very wonderful.
Herein Is an important lesson for us.
As we realize, then, that We are
down near TO the close OF the Gospel
Age and that the time Is Mt hand for
the rendering Of our accounts, let us
be faithful In confessing the Lord, His
Truth and the brethren. Then when
Joy, we shall hear His "Well done.
good and faithful servant, Thou hast
been faithful over a few things; will
make thee ruler over many things.
Enter thou into the JOY Of thy L0rdf' .
Love For the Brethren.
The Lords will concerning all His
followers Is that they should love one
another as He loved them. st. John
as Jesus loved the Church and laid
down His life for the Church. SO also
His followers should lay down their
lives for the brethren. q John 3;f6)
If this Is the standard which our Lord
has set for His people. how sorely dis
appointed will some be who have IL
nored this requirement! If, instead Of
loving the brethren and laying down
their lives for them, some have said
all manner Of evil against them, what
then? Then those who do those things
are surely false brethren!
1t Is well that Christians note care
fully the insidious canker which gnsws
at the root of brotberly love, which
tends to poison the disposition and to
bring forth the evil fruitage Of anger,
malice, hatred. envy and strife. The
wrong spirit Is a growth, a develop
ment. Apparently, In some cases, the
spirit Of PRIDE the spirit Of sectarian-
Ism. the spirit Of ambition, are the
eading incentives to the wrong course.
which, IL permitted TO affect the heart.
produce false breathren, prosecuting
brethren, heady, high-minded, blind to
he real spirit of the Master.
Whoever would be found worthy to
,e forever with the Lord TO share His
glory and be associated with Him In
lis future work must be transformed
n character, must be renewed In heart,
must become not only pure In heart
Intention, but 80 far as possible pure
n word and deed.
Oh, how much the true followers OF
esus should seek TO impress upon
themselves the great lesson that love
Ices no III to his neighbor, that love
, sympathetic suffereth long and is
ind, Is not pulled up. vaunteth not
tself, seeketh not its own interest and
Welfare merely, but the interest and
Welfare Of others!
The supreme test Of our loyalty ~
iod Is our love for Him; and this love
manifested by our desire to do those
lings acceptable to Him n John 2:3)
here Is little that we can do for the
mighty. He ~ so great and we are