The Washington herald., 1915-02-01

II
OF the Lord Jesus Christ, must have
oeeh washed, and must have been ac2
Septed as having wills desirous OF
harmony with the Divine mind
therefore they may take pleasure in
an the trying experiences and dffi-
cuItles through which our Lord Jesus
causes them to pass as various parts
oi Ine process necessary to their CONS
pletion as Jehovah's Jewels. TO he
made up by the close of the Gospei
age and to be set in the gold Of the
DI'lhe nature, to reflect the beauties
Of the Divine character.
II Is III harmony with this thought thai
tne Apostle encourages US to rejoice IN
ulouIation, knowing that 1t is working
Out Ior US patience, experience, hope.
orotheriy kindness and Ioye-the facets
| essential TO the jewel in the ewes of Him
VINO Is shortly to gather His jewels, The
apostle again speaks of even the most
trying experiences Of the Christian lika
as night afltctions'' and Of the pressne
NE as but "a moment" saving s'OIr
ngnt ahliction, which is but for a mo-
ment' WoEketh for US a far more ex-
ceedlng and eternal weight Of gIory."-s
! Corinthians 4:l7.
The Wheel of Discipline.
The earthly lapidarist takes firm hold
upon the jewel which he has already
tested and proved to have the rsquisttS
1e"el quality. and. incasing it in a suit
able instrument, he presses it against q
lap wheel with just the required amount
OF pressure to effect the necessary shap.
ing and polishing The process requires
great skill; hence only skilled workmen
are employed IN this department
80 with the Lords jewels: their vaIua
S,'dSii Gepehds much on proper cutting, and this
g a. .
hands of our Lord Jesus of whom va
are assured that He Himself BASED
throuSh similar experiences of testing a
Ihe Fathers hands He knows Just what
pleasing and acceptable to the Father.
TO reflect and refract the light Of HiS
finished state.
A part Of our lesson Is to have faith in
TINS great Master Workman, whom the
ather has appointed to shape and pol
lsh US. we may require much more trim
ming on some sides Of our character than
on others; and often the disposition is to
draw back. to be not fully submissive to
rear 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 dis
clpnne' which has been cutting the Lords
Jewels Tor centuries, but II has not uns
derstood the necessity and the value Of
the process. 1t may have even caught an
occasional glimpse of the jewels, but not
10 any adyantage-not so as to be abla
to know the real merit of their characl
ters or the value OF the cutting and poll
ishing; for even the already finished,
slime from the grindwheeL But the
great, loving Lapidarist knows and has
explained 1t all to the jewels; and they
iI know In part now; and by faith are trustl
ing all the remainder.
The Lord knows Just how much pres&
sure TO apply-just how much friction II
neceSsary-and will not cause tribulation
S %nlen He cannot and viii not overrule
all things are working 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''-meekn pa
tience, gentleness, brotherly kindness
and love; that such experiences are es-
sential, and that without these they
could never be amongst the gathered
jewels.
"The Time Is at Hand" -
We are not to suppose that those who
are now pressed against the wheel OF
tribulation are thereby made miserable.
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 experiences and poll
pared with the longer discipline OF those
who will be dealt with during the Mil
lennial Age. 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 ara.
highly favored above all men.
The process OF seeking and polishing.
the jewels mas already been in progress.
for more than eighteen centuries: and
the Scriptures indicate that now the end
of the Age is upon us-the time for gath+s
ering 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 doors,
to prepare the world for the coming
blessings Of Messiah's Kingdom. Hence.
If we are to be amongst the acceptable.
jewels We have need to give diligence and
to cooperate with the great Masters
Workman, that the shaping and polishS
ing Of our hearts, our wills, may be per-:
fected quickly, and that We may be ready
to share a glorious part when He comeA
TO make up His Jewels -
Through the Prophet the Lord indicates
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-preS-.
ent time, while the polishing Of the jew
els progresses. Frequently the unfaith-
full and the worldly seem to have the adj
vantage; but after the polishing Of tha
jewels is completed. and they have been
set in the crown Of rejoicing at the end;
Of this Age, Then shall ye return. ana
discern between the righteous and the
wicked. between him that serveth God
and him that serveth Him not-"-Malachi.
Sis
Now. while evil predominates. II would.
he difficult by outward evidences to
Judge who are the Lords favored ones.s
Indeed. His living jewels seem to be less
favored and to have more trials and DIM
culties than do others. Consequently
amongst them are not found many great.
rich or wise but chiefly the poor OF this,
world rich In faith" But when these
shall have been giorihed with their Lord
in the Kingdom. there will be a general
change No longer will the wicked and
those who tempt God be found In pow.
er, influence and prosDerity. On the con-
Is declared propheticaliy. "In HIS Day
shall the righteous flourish and "evil-s
doers shall be cut OF "-PsaIn ~: ia.