Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-04-09

truth That is usually the attitude of
those who claim exemption from crit
icism because they are living accord
ing to the light they have. for they
are satisfied with imperfect knowl-
edge and are not seeking to know
more. Like Cornelius. the Lord will
not overlook them for their imperfect
faith II they are honestly seeking to
grow in grace and in the knowledge
of Gods goodness The grace and
, mercy of Jehovah toward man is an
cndl So subject. man cannot live long
enough to know it all. and when we
pass from this sphere of existence we
will find new Vistas of knowledge to
continue acquiring throughout eter-
nifty. If. like this Roman soldier. we
are seeking the light, we will find it,
even il Peter has to be Commis-
stoned to show us the way.
In a Receptive Mood.
Truth and grace and salvation are
denied only to those who do not want
them The offer of help is n standing
one to all mankind. but the individual
must be willing to receive before he
can be blessed There are rare in
stances of whore men have apparently
been taken ly violence and showed
into the Lords work. but we mus'
remember that this violence was only
to Jar them out of their self-sat istdc-
tion and awaken them to realiZa-
tion of their need Of divine guidance.
Even Paul, after his startling expert
ence, had to show a readiness to re-
ceiVe the truth before his commission
was given him. This man Cornelius
was ready and anxious for the mes
sage which Peter brought to him, and
he made no claims of righteousness
on the basis of his good works, but
accepted the gospel message without
reservation, and received the HOLY
Spirit We might have expected, as
an agent of Caesar and a citizen Of
the proud Roman empire, that TINS
man would have scorned to receive
instruction from this humble fisher
man of Genesaret and member OF a
despsed subject race. Had any such
/ spirit been in him, we do not believe
! that God would have sent special
messenger to preach to MIN. Man
cannot approach God with pride in
his heart. Salvation only comes after
there has been a humble and uncon-
ditional surrender. Many people we
have known have sought God ana
PRAYED for salvation. but they wanted
the blessing on their own terms and
their prayers never got anywhere
/ Man cannot accept this gift on condi
| tons of his own naming, nor WIN
/ any reservations. God makes all the
/ conditions and man must come 10
/ them. You cannot come into the
/ Kingdom under any promise OF eXemp-
/ ton from any of the requirements
that the Lord has laid down. Do not
think YOU can secretly make montal
reservations and that the Lord VIII
accept YOU on those terms BE like
| Cornelius ready and anxious, and
asking no questions, harboring nc
doubts. but ioyfuly accepting the
blessings of God on hH own terms.
Peter Taught q Lesson.
II is significant of the deep hold ra-
! cial and religious prejudice had upof
the mind of Peter that he had to have
I special preparation for this mission
He had been strictly observant of the
Mosaic requirements and thought 1t /
reflection on his integrity as a des-
cendant of Abraham that he should
be expected to eat of that which was
ceremonially unclean. Three times
was the vision given to him with the
admonition that the same authority
that had decreed what should be un
clean was able to make them clean
and that what the Lord had cleanse(
no man had the right to deem un'
clean. Peter still felt. whether ht
really believed 1t or not. that ne
could not afford to defile himself by
preaching Jesus to a Gentle and
much more was he Mortified at the
idea that one of the excluded pcopl'
should be baptized and received into