River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1915-03-18


the blessings of the resurrection to the
perfection Of the spiritual nature.
Feasting While Fasting.
The unregenerate might not unreal
sonably gain the impression that if
this presentation be true, Christians
life would be very unhappy one
continually battling with himself, con-
tinually watching. practising self-de-
NAL and striving against the natural
tendencies Of sin. But such a cOnclu-
sion would be very erroneous; for real
II the Christian alone has the true Sc
cret of happy life. Even the worldly
recognize the fact that they need to
practise self restraint, and that whose
ever would SOW to the flesh and live
after the desires of his fallen nature
would be sure to go from bad to worse,
and end his career ignobly.
Hence we find noble men and noble
women amongst the unregenerate, not
begotten again of the Holy Spirit, but
nevertheless manifesting strong char
acters and great moderation in the
affairs of life. They practise such self
restraints, not toward God, but for
self-interest, learning by experience
and observation the necessity for this
if life would be made a blessing to
themselves or to others. Such charac-
ters should be, and are, highly respect
ed, honorable. But the unfayorably
born, unfavorably environed are not
so likely to reach noble standards as
are the better-bOrn, better environed.
Hence those who become Christians
of the true type have an advantage
every way over others. They do all as
unto the Lord Although they also per
ceive the advantages coming to them
selves along natural lines through self
restraints, they see and appreciate still
more the life everlasting beyond and
the Divine favor leading thereto. This
Message, coming to all who have ears
to hear it through the Bible, has a
power and gives encouragement, to the
weak rs well as to the strong, to the
naturally mean as well as to the no
bier. It assures them of Divine mercy
and interest in their Welfare-thdt
Gods love has provided a satisfaction
for His justice on behalf of all, so that
the merit of Christ, imputed to each
according to need, makes it possible to
respond to the Gospel Call-onward
and upward as New Creatures.
SO great is the joy the peace, the
happiness, which comes with the real
ization that we have been accepted
into Gods family and are joint-heirs
with His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
that nothing else can compare with It.
No wonder st. Paul describes such,
SAYING that to them "Old things have
passed away, and al things have be
come new! e Corinthians $40 In
stead of earthly hopes for earthly
wealth, name and fame, they have
Heavenly hopes for Heavenly riches
glory and honor. Instead of aSplra-
lions Of but a temporary kind for pO-
litical preferment and honor Of men,
these have before their minds Gods
promises eXceeding great and pre-
cious. These assure them that faith
fulness in present trials and Difficult
ties, and the proving of their loyalty
to God and the principles of His right
BUSINESS, will through Christ bring
them eventually to glory, honor and
immortality-to participation with Je-
sus in His Millennial Kingdom.
With such hopes, such prospects,
such promises. life is worth living; all
things are indeed new. Those attain
ing this vantage-ground can, with the
Apostle, count all earthly things COM
paratively valGeless. To these, fast
ings, self-denials, self-restraints, even
privations and prosecutions, have no
terror. They rejoice in these, assured
by the Bible that they are signs OF
their relationship to God, and that He
is dealing with them as with sons
whom He is educating, fitting, polish
ing and testing, preparatory to receiv-
ing them to the Heavenly glory.
This class have a charmed life, re-
CARELESS Of what the world may think.
Theirs is the peace of God which
passeth all unde rstanding; for they
have the Divine assurance that since
they have come into Gods family
through the appointed Doorway, the
Lord Jesus Christ, Cali things are
theirs, richly to enjoy; and again that
"all things shall work together for
good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to His
Purpose These realize that God,
having begun q good work in them. is
both able and willing to perfect it I'M
til the Day of Christ. philippians 1:6)
These are seeking to make their cali
ing and election sure; and SO great is
their appreciation and their increasing
knowledge that the trials and difficult
ties by the way-the Hastings, self
denials and oppositions of the Ad-
versary-aFe but light Affections, not
worthy to be compared with the glory
that shall be revealed in them.
Even the prayers of this class gradu-
ally change. No longer do they think
Of praying merely for food, raiment
and earthly things. Rather, they ac-
cept whatever may be Gods provi-