Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1916-06-16

sssAs 1888 ga 9G.
| IlPASTOR- RUSStllJl After illustrating
his text from ma
spends to sowing. not only in kind. but
in both quality and quantity, the speak
or demonstrated that the same princi-
pie applies on the spiritual plane.
Those are couseCrnted to God who
have received His Holy Spirit, His
mind. His disposition, in proportion
as they have lived close to Him, fol
lowing in their Masters footsteps.
According to tile measure in which
these SOW to the Spirit" will they
reap the character Of Christ, the fruit,
age Of the Holy Spirit.
The text suggests that the Lord wish.
es His people to SOW bOuntifully. but
to make sure that they are sowing the
right kind of seed. There is a principle
of justice running throughout the en-.
tire matter. God does not say. Never
mind what you do; will make it oil
right; for | know that you are imper-
feet" The principle constantly oper-
ates that whoever sOws good seed will
reap corresponding blessings, but who
ever sOws evil seed may expect to reap
corresponding injury. While Christ's
merit covers the Christians unwilling
mistakes. it does not make up for neg
igenCe. carelessnesS, Indifference as 10
the kind of seed Sown. Whatsoever q
man soweth, that shall he also reap"
Before those now children of God
had left the world, they found that
when they lived in accordance with
the will Of the fallen human nature
the things from which they expected
good results gave only disappoint-
ment; that anticipations were much
| better than the realization. They also
found that the following of their own
will generally yielded bad fruitage
They had sOwn wrong thoughts; and
: those, in turn, brought forth more OF
the same kind. Then wrong thoughts
brought forth wrong deeds; and In
. time the--wreng deeds developed a
wrong character. After they became
Gods children, the unholy charactef
had to be demolished and a righteous
character erected.
Proper Training Of Children.
The Pastor then emphasized the i'm
pOrtance of parental training of chill
dren. If mothers could only know
how much power they have in mould
ing their children's minds, how care
fully would they guard their own
mental conditions in order to bring
into the world noble, upright children
| II vicious passions control, If wrong
thoughts are harbored, the child viii
be born with these evil tendencies
and no matter how hard he may try
| in after years to develop noble char
acter, he must battle against these evi
tendencies throughout life. The IA
ther also has special responsibility
along this line. If he would have no
BILE offspring not only should he be
noble himself, but he should see that
| the mother has proper associations
environment. care and attention.
Peculiar responsibility in this direc
Nltll lCSlo hltpli Sul NE
they come to see the principles OF
Gods government, their minds should
| be filled with thoughts Of justice
| righteousness, love. These thoughts
should be reelected upon their children
who would thus be taught of God
Weakness, gcutleness, patience, long
suffering, kindness, love are traits that
parents should carefully cultivate
These are qualities of the Holy Spirit
| which God expects all His children 10
develop richly in heart and life.
Whatever wrong habits we may have
had before we became Christians, God
expects us to eradicate these as rapid
| Iy rs possible by His grace. AS beauty
Of character Is manifested by parents
| it will be noticed by the children; fuu
I children are very quick Of disCernment
ana generally have keen sense OF
| justice Seemingly much of the disre
spcct of parents prevalent today apd
| the neglect Of parents in their old
age result from parental neglect in ear,
| Her days Many parents are reaping
the harvest of their own failure to train
their children properly early in life.
Gods Children Carefully Trained.
What Is thus true Of children Is true
Of Christians as Gods children. Al
soon as we enter His family, He putt
us to school, daily to learn lessons 81
mcekness, patience, gentleneSs, broth
erly-kindness, love. Thus we become
like our Lord Jesus, who always 10
lighted to do the Fathers will 1t n
well for us as Christians to remember
that the responsibility Of our character
development rests with us God sup
plies the seed and tells us how to sos
v; but He does not sow it for US.