The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1917-08-10

$:**<::. $*<: s.: s. =====$$;:*3$$$8I John II our Lord
SAYS ''thine they
osE$:@$s: :$ were and thou
IS gavest them to
:=:3%E$ .;=$ :.ss4ds@;$SS me-" They do not
;%*=$.aA belong to them
E*:$**3$*$:sA ssss3SsSess$S| selves but to him
Ills own pecu-
liar property, for
they are his peculiar treasure. The
man of this world may rejoice in the
gift of gold and silver. but our Lord
rejoices in the gift from the Father of
those he is pleased to call his breth-
rem.
In the second place they are his own
by purchase. He has paid to the ut
tcrnOSt farthing and now can say to
them Eye are not your own, We are
bought with a price That price was
nothing less than his own precious
blood poured out on the cross of Cal
vary. He gave his life for his sheep.
He laid down his life as ransom for
them. He was the "merchantman
seeking goodly pearls who, when he
had found one pearl of great price,
went and sold all that he had and
bought it." The title to ownership of
every Christian is his. They are his
own peculiar property.
In the third place they are his by
their surrender. AS believers go on
in their Christian life learning more
and more of him, more and more do
they surrender themselves to him.
Some there are that try to withhold a
part of themselves from him. but they
are never happy, contented Christians.
The fullneSS Of blessing and of power
never comes until in fullneSs of sur
render the Christian yields himself I'M
TO the Lord. recognizing that he is
indeed the property of him who loved
him and gave himself for him. The
measure of the Christians daily peace
and power is the measure of that
Christians surrender to the owner
the Lord Jesus.
His Own Care.
Peter eXhOrtS the Christians to be
"casting all your care upon him for he
careth for you" This last sentence
might be Worded, 1T is his business
to care for YOU" and he will care for
each one of his own. AS they are his
property, purchased by such Il price,
he will guard them from all harm,
protect them from all evil and set
hedge round about them against all
that might injure them. Sometimes
hard things come into the Christians
experience. but these may be the only
way he can guard them from danger.
He had to guard David from coming
to the throne unprepared by allowing
many q hard experience to come to
him. If this should meet the eye of
some child of God passing through
deep waters, ii may be that the deep
waters are just the needed guard.
In the second place they are his own
peculiar care TO guide. How often
would they, like sheep, go astray but
for his care in guiding them. Some
times It's true, he leads them in paths
that look from the outside most unin-
viting. but once in those paths the
Christian discovers they lead beside
the still waters into pastures green
and fresh.
In the third place they are his own
peculiar care to provide for. His pro-
vision is new every morning and fresh
at eyentide. 1t is never old nor stale.
His own miss much that he provides
by being out of his place. He told
the ravens where to PLACE Elijah's food
and he told Elijah where to go. Eli
jah might have delayed. but the ravens
would have fulfilled their part. The
provision of course would become
stale and useless if Elijah was not
there to use it. He provides plentiful
ly for all his own, and if any of them
grow faint maybe they are missing his
provision which is piling up in his ap-
pointed place. If your place is at
home. do not be surprised if you miss
his provision by going to China. And
If his place for you is upon some for
eien field do not be surprised if you
find yourself with little spiritual vigOr
in America.
Ills Own Loved.
Having loved his own, he loves them
to the end. Christians sometimes are
tempted to think his love varies with
their own changing affections. But
he loves them always with the same
unNsaried love. Loves them in spite
of failure. as the history of Peter so
fully shows. Peter thought he would
he ready to lay down his life rather
than forSHke him. But how quickly
I,, 70 IN w tho nnpstinn
of Il stranger maid. How pitiful the
failure as the oathS slipped from his
lips, But did the Lords love weaken?
Nay, rather it burned, if possible. Il bit
brighter in his great heart and famed
out from his eyes. bringing Peter back
to the place of bitter tears through
which lac saw the path of return. In
the second place. he loves his own in
spite of all huCkWHrdneSS. Think of
him walking and talking with Philip
for three Years instructinG by example
and hy word all those days While he
was about his Fathers business. only
at the end to find that Philip had not
learned the first lesson. but must needs
say. Lord show Us the Father" not
knowing He tli&t ndln seen me laIl
seen the Father" How trying such
hackwardneSs is, but to the Great
Teacher it did not lessen in any de
gree his love. The tender passion by
which he held Philip WAS Just as deep
that moment when his bacllWardncSS
was revealed rs ever ii was. DO not
allow any hint that his love for You
grows cold when YOU discover how lit
tie progress You have made,