Graham guardian., 1915-10-29

llHasl0R RQSStllJ A few generations
ago Christian peo-
pie were very earnest, very devoted to
the Lord, so far as we can judge from
their words. Gods name was taken
very reverently; songs of praise were
often sung; much was done In the way
Of Bible study. Then came time Of
increased prosperity amongst the world
ly Those who did not reverence God
got along better than did the more rev
erent. Then many began to say,
What profit Is 1t that we serve GOdT'
AS a consequence, as with the Jews
in MalaChi's day, there is now great
tendency to worldliness, and little at
tention Is paid to religion. which Is
only Of formal kind. Attend more
to business, to the lodge or to socie-
ty," people say; land you will get
along much better" This condition Is
general; and so, except amongst GER
tain class, there Is less piety today.
Those who serve God are being sep
arated from all denominations. He has
some encouragement for such, giving
them to see heights, depths, lengths
and breadths of His love never before
seen. These are not being blessed nee
essarily In outward things. Perhaps
as a whole they have less than have
the average persons Of the world. 1t
too many of the good things Of this
present life. Indeed, God has greatly
favored some Of them by removing
their earthly prosperity and giving
them greater knowledge OF His Word.
Tho True Vine and It's Pruning.
The Pastor then discussed Gods pc
culiar dealings with the Church of
Christ. Comparing Himself to vine
and His followers to the branches. our
Lord declared, Every branch in Me
that beareth fruit, the Father pruneth
it, that II may bring forth more fruit"
John 15:1-6) 1t is the tendency Of a
grape vine to spread In all directions
and to spend Its strength in producing
branches rather than grapes. There
fore whenever the vine dresser wishes
to produce better and more abundant
fruit, he cuts off much Of the branch
and thus forces the sap into the grapes.
SO the Heavenly Father prunes the
branches Of the True Vine, that they
may bring forth much fruit Those
branches that bear no fruit buds are
illustrative Of those professed Chris
tians that never produce the fruits Of
the Spirit of Christ. True Christians
will not think 1t strange nor be offend
ed when the Lord prunes of the tend
encies to go out after worldly things.
The tendrils Of our affections have
great tendency to cling to earthly OBJ
jects-family, home. business, etc Any
Of these things is liable to take. en-
ergy and affection from the one impor-
tant subject.
A sharp distinction should be made
God Is not the Father of unrepentant
sinners. Having discarded Adam and
his posterity during the reign Of Sin,
He has adopted a new family, which
began with our Lord Jesus, when He
was in the flesh, and which includes all
the members Of the New Creation. Be
yond a general supervision the Lord
Is not dealing with the world now, but
will do SO during the next Age. Now
He deals especially with the Elect, sons
OF God.-1 John 80: John 1:12.
These sons Of God have received
His spirit, the Spirit Of Christ. (Ro-
mans S:9) All who have been begot.
ten Of the Holy Spirit should bear the
fruits thereof - meekness, gentleness,
patience, brotherly kindness, love. (Ga-
latians 5;22. %; Peter 1911
Throughout the Gospel Age this class
have borne fruit.
Character Superior to Works.
These fruits OF the Spirit are more
than outward activities In the Lords
vineyard. God Is more desirous to see
how meek and loving His children are
than to note even great deeds of serv-
ice. Acceptable service for Him de-
pends very much upon our development
OF His Holy Spirit. II is not so much
the work as the humility and the low.
Ing zeal that counts. One might be
sick and unable to engage in active
service; but if he has the spirit Of
meekness and the proper desire to
serve the Lord, the Father looks at
that spirit or intention. The fruits Of
the Spirit manifest themselves In a
daily endeayOr to do Gods will In all
things.
At first one might have the activity
without the proper spirit We must
cultivate the Lords way and spirit,
which Is Love. When the heart be-
comes imbued with love, the spirit Of
the Truth, one forgets self and wishes
only to honor the Lord.
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