The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-08-12

discount with the peopleY It would be
strange II matters were different
Jesus said. when the Son u Man
cometh. shall He ind faith upon the
earthr You are witnesses with me
that He has come and has found very
little faith.-2 Peter $50
''The Wise Shall Understand
Away back in the time Of the Prophet
Daniel. God declared that IN the Time
OF the End He would grant special
blessing upon Bible students. Daniel
l2.i-l0D And here we are. down In
the Time of the End! Many are run
ming TO and fro In automobiles, cleo
tric trans, steam railroads, etc. Knowl-
edge Is increasing everywhere. But
the worldiy.wise do not understand:
for these things Of Gods Word are
hidden from the wise and prudent, and
revealed unto babes-those not too wise
in matters pertaining TO this world.
Matt II 25) These accept the Word
of God and are guided by It. To these,
therefore, has come great blessing.
Our Lord also spoke about the end
Of the Gospel Age. His parable OF The
Ten Virgins refers not TO the world,
but TO the Church-the wise and the
foolish In the Church OF Christ. Mat
thew 25:1-t3) In the end Of the Age
all the virgins, all justified believers,
were ready TO meet Him. But the
Bridegroom tarried, and for a while
all the virgins slumbered and slept
Then came the Message, Behold the
Bridegroom Is herel All the viz
gins awakened The wise virgins had
oil in their vessels. They trimmed
their lamps psalm $1,000; they saw
the Truth and were prepared to follow
the Bridegroom in to the Marriage of
the Lamb.
But the foolish virgins did not have
the light. When they asked the wise
virgins for oil, the wise virgins declar-
ed that they could not spare it The
oil represents the Holy Spirit and the
enlightenment which 1t brings. The
foolish virgins go to buy when they
give time for study and Investigation
time taken from business, pleasure and
worldly affairs, that they may obtain
the oil which God is pleased that HIS
people should have. Those who do not
find time for investigation do not wish
to have the oil, the light. Although
they are true Christians, yet they are
not willing to pay the price and get
the oil Whoever Is now rejoicing In
the light Of Present Truth will testify
that 1t cost him something something
of worldly influence, time, attention,
thought-to have the oil and the light,
to make ready to go In to the Marriage.
How well the Master understood the
present situation! God wished the light
to cost something. To some OF olden
time our Lord said, "Sit down and
count the cost'-how much the light
will cost you-what discipleship will
cost. After having put your hand to
the pillow, do not look longingly back
to the things of the world. God Is not
pleased with such service. Whoever
prefers the world, the flesh and the
Devil may stay with them. During
the Millennial Age the Lord will deal
with that class, and will give them
mercy, blessings. But now He is call
ing for a special class that delight to
do the Fathers will, that do not need
to be urged, pushed and whipped.
They must have the spirit of the
Master. Of whom it is written: II de-
light to do Thy will, My God. Thy
Law is written in My heart
The Church Called, Not Compelled.
Should any of this class come under
a measure of difficulty, and tempo
rarily become weak in the doing of the
Lords will, He will give them the
necessary experiences, If their hearts
are right He will awaken them from
their lethargy, just as in the parable
all the foolish virgins were awakened.
God Is not seeking to deceive people
or to force them into the Kingdom.
During this Gospel Age He has merely
sent forth His Message to gather out
those who wished to respond God
has been taking out people for Ills
no force, no compulslon,
merely His Word We heard the call,
speaking peace through Jesus Christ
Our hearts responded, and we came
back into harmony with God. The
Word informed us that through the
death Of His Son God had made all
arrangements for covering our sins;
and that He was willing to receive us
Just as II we had not been sinners
willing to take us into His family and
make us His heirs, joint-heirs with
Jesus Christ our Lord.
But all this was merely the voice, the
Of God There was nothing |
to insist upon our becoming children
Of God; and If we were received into
His family It was because we willing
Iy, Intentionally, gave ourselves to Him.
All through the Gospel Age the Word
Of God has gone forth II He had sent
force, He could quickly have gathered
all that He desired After few mira