Evening journal., 1916-01-29


fcuit places in life. Any plan OF sal
walton worthy Of God and beneficial
10 man must be broad enough in its
purposes to meet the needs Of all
classes and conditions Of society not
only the favorably. but also the un-1
favorably situated.
There are many who are attempting
to excuse themselves from living
Christian life. They say, Il find my
self possessed with certain unfortun-
ate tendencies. And since | had no
mart in bringing myself into TINS
world and endowing my nature win
this evil inheritance, surely a Just
and loving God will not call me 70
an account for matters over which i
have no control" Still others add the
objection that their surroundings IN
business or the home or society are
not conducive to the development Of
Christian character, and for this rea-
son they ought not to be expected TO
assume such great responsibilities
and be Judged by such high standards.
II must be evident TO all that our
Heavenly Father is not satisfied with
evil heredity and unfavorable envir-
onment II is a part OF the great plan
of Gods dealing with man, without
violating the important factor OF free
choice. He is striving to improve
mans character and condition as
rapidly as possible To think that
our Creator would remain content
with this great load OF evil resting
upon the life OF man would be to
blot out the conception OF just and
loving Father from your mind ana
mine.
But i'm the meantime, while condi-
tions and characters are as they are
shall we be excused from living
Christian life? Yes; were IL not for
one thing: The fact OF Gods promise
and power as Indicated in His.
Word. III Corinthians xii: 9, MY
grace is sufficient for thee" So, no
matter how heavily in one side Of the
scales weighs down evil heredity or
evil environment. II you put this plain
promise Of Scripture in the other side.
The latter will go down and the
former will go mp every time.
So let us consider three things
about the grace Of God First, the
quality Of grace; second, the quantity
Of grace; and third, the directions OF
grace Grace has been well defined
as the free and unmerited favor OF
God. Some speak Of free grace You
miaht as we'll speak OF something
being free gratis for nothing
This is simply a piling up OF terms.
We have very little in this world like
unto the grace Of God. The nearest
in business is the three days OF grace
in which a man has TO pay note az
ter Il is due But let him ask his
bank TO discount a note. and they
win take out interest for the days Of
grace the same as the rest or the
time. Lowell has truly said
"Earth gels its price for what earth
gives us;
The beggar Is taxed for the corne'
TO die in.
The priest hath his fee who comes
and shrlves us.
We bargain for the graves we lie
in:
At she devils booth all things are
sold
Zach ounce Of dross costs its ounce
Of god
For a cap and bells our lives we pay,
Bubbles we buy with a whole souls
taskng;
'Tis heaven alone that is given away,
'Tis only God may be had for the
asking
The nearest approach we have on
earth 20 the divine grace is the re-
iation of the mother 10 the child. 1t
was not the wealth OF Pharaoh's s
daughter that prompted the faithful
care Of the nurse for the infant Moses
found by the rivers bank. Il was the
motive power Of mother love.
In q testimony service. man once
stated that Il took him forty years
10 learn three things about the grace
of God The first was that Il could
not be bought; the second that i
could be had free; and the third thai
II il could be bought. no one would
be able 10 pay what il was worth
LET MS note how true these facts are
Salvation cannot be bought becaus
we have nothing wherewith 20 pur
tNdne lts All We AdNt anu aA' HN
lOnzs 10 God what hast thou tina
thou hast not received?" Every goo'
and perfect gift is from above, an'
cometh down from the Father o
light A Christian must be Willing
TO acknowledge himself indebted 4
the God and Father Of our Lord Jesu
Christ for everything. n We woul'
attempt 10 compensate Him for Hi
favor. it would be endeavoring sim
ply tc pay Him with something tina
already belonged to Him. We arc
needy pensioners on His bounty AnS
II we could pay for salvation. who
could begin to offer a reasonable
compensation? II is not OF works
lest any man should boast n by oul
own efforts or merit we could gair
eternal blessings. it would make tho
soul even more proud and disobed ieni
than it already is. Gratitude is essen
tial for godliness. Since we have
nothing by which we could purchas,
salvation. and II we had it would b,
detriment rather than a benefit
God deals with up upon the only plan
that is left; 10 make His salvation
free gift.
And is not this His plan in an Hi
dealings with men? Whoever coul
80 EVEN IF
S YOU HAD a
A - II