The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-11-08

w Nu' VI NiN
Held and even whole nations nre small
er than the dust OF the balance. Ills
lie is span, vapor which dlsap-
pears, n dream OF the night or tale
that Is told. Consider mans slnfulness.
He has gone as,ray from righteous
ness, there Is none that doeth good
and he rebels nt Gods restraint. His
sin Is not merely disease that should
awaken sympathy for the afflicted. II
Is that but II Is more. Sin is crime
and the sinner Is as criminal before
the bar Of eternal justice. convicted
OF wanton crime and condemned by
his own conscience. And sin Is rebel
Hon making the sinner 10 be not mere
ly diseased and involved as a criminal,
but n rebel and enemy Of God and his
government. Well may the heavens
be astonlshed rs they behold the In.
tense longing love OF God for such
man, so small and Insignificant yet so
sinful and rebelllous.
The Gift Of God for Man.
This text might well be used again
when we consider this. II would be
enough that God should search for
man rs he did for Adam. Enough that
he should be so interested in the sin.
ner's welfare as to give such signs as
he has In the flood, etc. A surprising
thing that he should trouble himself
to choose men who would teach the
race the ways of truth and upright
ness such as Moses. Abraham and
others. A wonder IL Is that he should
send his scers and prophets TO cal
men back from the way Of misery ant
death. But what cause for amaze
ment that he should so love the worlc
as to give his only begotten son, tc
suffer and die that men might be savet
from sin and Its consequences. Wei
may Il be said, "Be astonlshed, o y,
heavens, Mt this"
The Patience OF God With Man.
We must repeat this text when W,
think Of his patience. 1t would be NJ
surprising thing had God cut man of
completely as a cumberer of the
ground. But through the centuries ht
continues to invite the sinner to III,
bounteous supper Of salvation. He ha,
continued to plead with man to be
rcconcled to himself In spite OF re
buffs and Insults he has lmplored Uen
to leave the broad path that surely
leads to eternal death and take the
path that goes on to eternal life and
glory. In spite of mans turning deaf
ears TO him he continues 10 warn him
of his awful danger, trying In every
way to guard him from destruction un.
I'll It can be said that II the reader of
this ever finds himself in perditlon he
will find himself so not because of
God, but In spite Of all that God could
do to keep him out. And Gods pa
tlence with man never wearies or
wavers. AS II was In the days OF Noah,
so II Is now. God strives with man by
his spirit to the very limit Of life. II
any should read this whose life has
been continuous rejection Of Gods
goodness and offer of salvation. let
that one know that In spite Of every
thing that has gone, Gods patience Is
not run out or wearIed. "Be aston.
ished, O We heavens, at this"
The Rejection Of God by Man.
This Is the crownlng cause for Won
der. Is not God good? Then why re-
ject him2 Is he not true? Then why
reject him? Is he not just. or tender,
or gentle, or trustworthy What fault
has the unsaved reader to find In or
with God of the Bible2 There is no
fault In him. His friends and enemies
bear witness to this. He Is the living
and true God. All others are dead and
therefore useless Gods. Some want re-
ligion, some want power, some want
culture and so on. but true religion,
omnipotent power, real culture, etc,
are found only In the true. and the
true God is found only In Christ Jesus
the Lord. But though so freely offered
man continues to reject him. "Be as
tonished, o ye heavens, at this"
A man who falls overheard md
then resists the one who would rescue
him and refuses the safety offered goes
to his death suicide SO the man
who resists the Lord and refuses his
proffered salvation goes to his eternal
doom soul suicide "Be astonished.
n vp heavens nt this"