The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-01-14

hw, submit 10 Il with good grace, know
lag that hereunto they we're called.
x Be II NOTED that neither the coat no
Z the cloak was 70 be given up upon d.
mand merely. but only after the law
Z Justly Or unlustiy. had so decreed
K similarly with RESPECT 10 the compul
( sorry walking Of mile the Christian
( Is bet 10 submit himself 10 every whiu
u everybody. but. seeking 10 do tb,
( will ~ God, he l. 20 20 about his own
business, unless the opposition 70 hin
amount 10 compelling. And this com
Telling. under ordinary circumstances
would mean legal compelling. fol
the protection Of the laws OF the land
Ia which he lives may be sought ID
protect his rights and liberties. as 81
Paul appealed TO governors aud kings
Christians Live For the Future.
Christians are 10 love their enemies
Ia the same sense that God loves the
world sympa,hetically They are not
TO love their enemies In the sense OF
afectionate love and tenderness. such
as they bestow upon their families.
friends and loyable persons. Their
love for their enemies. MS defined by
Jesus. should be such as would lead
them to feed their bltterest enemy II
he were hungry, TO clothe him II he
were naked They should not pray
against their enemies. but for their
enemies In the sense OF wishing, desir-
ing. for them enlightenment and true
wisdom, which would turn them from
being enemies and evil-doers. TO make
Of them followers of Jesus or, at least,
well-doers.
Christians are not to lay up for them
selves treasures on earth; for they
have renowned the earth and all hopes
of future life upon earth. Their
walk in the footsteps Of Jesus signifies
that as He cast aside earthly ambi
lions. hopes and aims. so would they.
taking instead the Heavenly ambitions.
hopes and aims. In other words, they
live for the future. This will not hin
der them from the ordinary pursuits Of
life 10 the extent that may be neces-
sary in providing things honest in the
sight OF all men"-in providing for
their families. etc. But, with these
Christians, any overplus above life's
necessities represents so much oppor
tunity for serving the Lord and His
Cause; and in SO doing. these are lay
ing up treasure in Heaven-a future
reward
This does not signify that they must
live from hand TO mouth nor that,
If they have possessions, they must
rlotously distribute these TO others On
the contrary, they are to seek in all
things 10 have the mind of the Lord
to do Gods will. Gods mind is a
sound mind and these Christians, in
seeking TO do Gods will, are said to
have the spirit of sound mind"
This dictates that they should live
wisely and economically.
Christian Stewardship and Citizenship.
To these Christians, everything that
comes to them or that they possess by
nature Is considered thing of God,
because in becoming followers OF
Christ. they made a full conservation
Of their wills-their alto God. Hence
from that moment forward. these
Christians are stewards of Gods mer-
Ties stewards of their time, their tai
ants, their influence. their property. |
their all. According to the way they |
use their stewardship, investing their |
talents to the Masters praise. will be |
His commentator of them, as repre-
,ented in the parable. Whether many |
talents are possessed or few, the com
mendation is to those who have done |
we'll have been good and faithful in |
The use of their talents, not for self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT or show, or worldly |
lccumulations of treasure, but faithful
n the service of God, showing forth
Gods praises In the assisting of Others
iiu themselves 10 lHe huONiHS anu wv
ny OF the Divine will.
Christians are TO ''lend, hoping for
iothing In return" and not, as the
world. merely to be willing to do good
ind To lend to those who would do as
much or more In return. Christians
ire thus to Illustrate the fact that they
~, cbildron af tho HipbpSt that thpy |
rave been begotten of God. that they
nave His Holy Spirit and disposition
md that IL is shining out more and
more in their words and conduct as
hey grow in the character-likeness OF
he Lord Jesus Christ.
Christians are not to go to war.
Their fight Is not to be with carnal
Weapons. but with "the Sword of the
spirit, which Is the Word of God.
they have the most powerful weapon
.nown in the world for their warfare.
This does not signify that they may
lot put bolts and bars upon their doors
o prevent robbery. 1t does not signify
hat they may not call for police pro-
ection: for this is thing they pay for
n taxation and are entitled to accord
ne to the laws OF the world They
nay not claim Of their own nation any
hing that an alien might not claim:
,ut they may claim all that an alien
nay claim Indeed. Christians are
tyled aliens. strangers. foreigners, 50