The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-03-28

~ ~ dSdlusI dAAAdAfts
imperial oppres-
sion and conse-
~ quent rebellion.
victorious armies
and subjugated people, prisoners of
u and confscatiOn of property. This
Is the stage scenery into which
energies the worlds first great hero.
He is living a quiet, pastoral life on
the hills Of Hebron. Tidings are
brought TO him of the ruthless. devas-
tating onsweep of the victorious Che
%dorlaoner. carrying away captive the
Inhabitants Of the plains. Among them
Is Lot, the nephew of Abram, who had
gone to live In the wicked city of
Sodom. But why should Abram o.
Germ himself? Is not Lots present fate
the result of his choice? Did he not
prefer the gay. fashionable city life
to the humble tent of Abram? II serves
him right Let him suffer the eonse-
q~uences Why should Abram risk any
thing for one so foolish and per-
verse.
Abram does not reason that way.
He rises to the need and becomes the
hero of a great exploit. Gathering
around him a mere handful of sery-
ants, 31S. he arms them for battle. Hot
on the trail of the %yictors, he over
takes them under the cover of dark
ness. Confident Of safety, they never
dream of an avenging enemy. Abrams
little band, like Gideon's 300. over
came the proud. boosting conquerors.
rescued the captives and recovered
the spoil.
|. The Separated Life Is Victorious.
Lot had been living In Sodom. He
was all tangled up in the world of pol
itics. society and religion that surged
around him. He accepted its empty
honors, married his daughters to its
sons, and suffered in silence the filthy
conversation around him. Faith at
low ebb, testimony gone. compromised
with sinners, he was weak and coward
ly-a fit prey for the vicious assault of
satanic power, carried away captive. a
defeated Christian Of the long ago..
Far up on the hilltops is the man of
1oAf SEldA 0lCA ADAI aAA tx NAAdi=lC
ments Of earth. He is shut up to God.
His supreme pleasure, .companionship
with the Eternal. Faith grows strong.
Courage fills his soul. He is longing
for exploits. His is the strength of
ten. He is Gods hero. This is but the
naturalization of the spiritual. God
has purposed that all His warriors
ehanTl 10 hzrCna Alas rnnn- arn not
willing TO pay the price-they are
weakened by the lure and glitter of
the world. Spiritual victories only
crow the daring of the separated.
Would you be a victor? "Come We out
from among them and touch not the
unclean thing" Victory lies not alone
In unbroken defensive. but in glorious
offensive. Armies of the enemy de-
stroyed. captives reclaimed and goods
restored. What a record more than
c%onquerors through Him that loved
u.s." How this experience rebukes
those who step down into the world to
elevate II. Go TO the theater. the ball
room and the card party-mix with
men and you viii win them, is the
modern slogan. Did Lot saw Sodom?
The Sunday school teacher who shared
worldly pleasures with the young Ia
dies Of his class was not wanted as a
spiritual guide when conviction Of sin
distressed them. IT'S ever SO. We
must be separate TO save-only com
panions of Christ conquer the cap
tors.
II. The Separated Life Is Independent.
The victor has always claimed the
spoil. The king of Sodom would be-
o upon Abram all the wealth Of the
conquest, but this prince Of God has a
higher principle Of action. He refuses
even so much as a shoe lace, lest the
king Of Sodom should boast: 81 have
made Abram rich" What a rebuke to
modern church methods in raising
money. The friendly citizen. no mat
ter how unfriendly TO God. is entreated
to help finance the movement. The
community Is enticed TO buy cast-off
goods at q rummage sale, enrich the
treasury at dinners and suppers-help
meet the bills In an endless variety Of
pay as you enter" The world be-
comes the business partner Of the
church-thousands Of ill-gotten dollars
DENY the a-ll-suficiency of God TO SUP
ply every need. Faith grows weak,
testimony is Impaired. conquest falls
through unholy alliance. Nothing has
so robbed the modern church of
spiritual power as such a compromise.
Can you conceive Of the early Chris
tians having a bazaar in Corinth. or
selling tickets for an entertainment
in Ephesus? Would they take up a
subscription In Rome with Nero to
head the list2 Has there been any an
nulment of the principles TINT guided
them? The church is still "A called
out people" Her power is In insula-
ton and isolation. The upper room Is
above the world. Let the members of
Abrams clan gather there. resolved to
be independent of every unholy ALI
ance, separated unto faith and God.
Incompatible.