Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-01-26
BELIEVES THE RIRLE

We are taught that the Bible is the
word of God. l believe this statement
is true. Then, when we read it God is
CaIhlng to US. l am glad He says "Be
ye Holy, for am Holy" This is the
highest point or standard the chris
tan can attain to in this life. To be
holy is to be like God. Not equal with
God. Similarity and. equality are not
the same. A child may be like its
father, but not equal to it's father. We
may be as pure as God is pure (John
3, 50 in quality but not in quantity.
Don't for moment think our spiri-
tual advancement stops when we
reach this point. It has just rightly
begun. The carnal mind, the old man
that hindered our spiritual advance
ment so much in our justified state is
now eradicated, so that all obstruc-
tions to our growth is removed. We
will continue to grow and develope in
the christian graces as long as we
live in this world, and l have my
doubts whether it will ever stop in the
next.
said holiness is the highest stan
daId OF the CHRISTIAN renglon, and
every professed chr1sUlan Will 1--we up
70 his Cneory. Ii his standard is low
ne will live down to it. Ii his stand
ara is high ne will live up to it, or is
Trying to live up to it. The lowest
Standard OF religion is SHINING reli-
gion; that is shining and repentlng, re-
penJlng and SHINING. There is such
thing as a SHINING religion but no
such thing as a shining christianity
1t is a greater abomination in the
sight Of God for professed christian
to sin than it is for an out-breaking
sinner to sin. When the former sins
he crucifies to himself the son of GOO
afresh and puts Him to an oper
shame. Heb. 6, 6 The outbreaklng
sinner cannot do this because he
knows nothing about the atonement
Christ made for our sins. There is
nothing that will blunt the moral ma
ture of professed christian any more
than a life of shining and repentlng
God wants US to quit shining; quir
this continual teasing Him to forgive
our sips. | know this is in exact har
mony with the teaching of the bible
No doubt some are ready to criticis'
this statement, but remember brother,
if you do, you are criticising th'
bible, not me. I care nothing fo.
criticisms when have the bible on m.
side. 1 know, am well aware that W,
will meet with many trials; man.
temptations, etc., in the christian lif'
but the most effectual weapons w
have-if properly wielded-that vii
enable US to overcome these hinder
-ances is patience that has her per
feet work. James 1, a. It will max
US more than match for the dew
and his constant force.
It is perfect patience that will en-
able US to rejoice when these fer
trials overtake US. 1, Peter A, IL. l
is that, that will enable US to coun
it all joy when we fall into diver
temptation, James l, 2. Well, let u
see how this will apply to US, an
how. Suppose you go home fror
church some Sunday, feeling happ
and your neighbors chickens have de
stroyed your nice garden that wa
doing SO well. Do you feel as thoug
you would like to kill the chickens an
give your neighbor piece of you
mind Or did you keep sweet and sa
bless the Lord, my garden is spoiled
Now you did not praise the Lord be
, cause your garden was destroyed, bu
because you had patience backed u
by Gods grace to overcome the tempt
alton.
It seems to me this is the grandes
experience the christian can have. Il
patience possess ye your SOULS" say
1 the inspired writer. When your neigh
Dor reviles you do you feel like revi
2 ing again? My bible says rejoice, b
exceedingly glad, leap for joy. Thi
means you are so rejoiced that yo
{ will jump around in a lively manner
You may think this statement eS
travagant but you will find it is tn
, bible way. 1 find many that take
very patiently, when buffeted for thei
faults, l Peter 2, 90 Remember ther
is no glory in this. But if you suffe
for we'll doing and take it patiently
this is acceptable with God, This
d the principal character of the sanct
n fed life It is through the earn;
t mind that our impatience is arouse'
Carnality is the great hindering caus
d to our spiritual advancement and
G sure to manifest itself in impatienc
You say you don't feel as others d
No matter what you claim, if yc
have never had it cleansed away;
Al is there, and will manifest itself
It some way Sometimes it will a
y cleverly and sweetly, other tim
k. ugly, etc. l just think Of moth
ali who had three children. She w
busily engaged when one of them b