Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-12-06

and strong wind
like that which
rends the mountains and breaks the
rock in pieces. The Holy Spirit is not
limited to any mode of operation. As
the wind bloweth where 1t listeth, so Is
everyone that Is born Of the Spirit.
The essential thing to remember Is
that which Peter states In his second
Epistle, chapter /, verse A. "Ye might
be partakers Of the divine nature, hav-
ing escaped the corruption that is In
the world through lust" Human ma
ture, as 1t has come to us from our
first parents is fallen and corrupt.
From the power Of this nature the
child Of God Is delivered by being
made a recipient Of new nature,
divine life impaired to the soul. The
words Of John :12-13 make this I'M
mistakably clear-"To as many as re-
ceived Him, to them gave He power to
become the sons Of God, even to them
that believe on His name: which were
born, not of blood. nor Of the will Of
the flesh, nor of the will Of man, but
Of God"
The elements entering into this life
and giving 1t distinction Of character
from all other life, may be found in
what is known as the Beatitudes con-
tained in the Sermon on the Mount. In
these Beatitudes Matt. 5:1-12) our
Lord gives picture Of the person who
should be the product OF Ills redemp-
tive work. Such an one would be
poor In spirit" that is, he would have
real sense of his own insufiiciency
and OF his need OF dependence on God.
He would mourn over the disordered
condition of the world through sin. He
would be meek, rather than self-as-
sertive. A hunger and thirst after
righteousness" would characterize him.
He would be "merciful" towards 9th
ers. He would be "pure Of heart" that
Is, his heart would be dominated by
| singleness and sincerity Of purpose in
| its attitude towards God. He would
be .peacemaker'', promoting peace
and avoiding all that causes friction
| and discord in the varied relationships
| Of life. Moreover he would be patient
and firm in any persecution that may
arise because Of the principles govern
ing his life. In this picture we have
the outstanding features Of the new
life, or the qualities that enter into 1t.
| To all who possess this life there
comes the message Of the text: I'VE are
the salt Of the earth" The purpose Of
salt is to preserve from decay and cor
ruption. Only through the influence
and power Of such life as pictured In
these Beatitudes is the world preserved
from moral and spiritual deterioration
| and decay.
| 1t is Of supreme Importance that the
qualities Of life which make the pos
SCISSORS thereof "the salt Of the earth"
be preserved. The loss Of any one Of
| them is serious, for the SAVIOR Of the
self is diminished In proportion to that
loss. If the salt loses its SAVIOR, OF
| what use Is it7 Let the Master Him
self answer: 1T is thenceforth good for
nothing, but to be cast out, and to be
| trodden under foot Of men," Such loss
may be considered as personal, univer-
! sal and permanent.
It Is personal In that the Christian
loses the richness and fullness Of life
which faith makes possible. The per-
sonal life Of the individual believer is
| impoverished by the loss Of any one OF
! the qualities mentioned in these Beati-
| tudes. For this reason. they must be
| read and pondered in order that Chris
tian experience may be reviewed and
| considered in the light Of them. De-
terioration of life is inevitable unless
a proper amount OF watchful care be
exercised. Such deterioration always
incurs personal and serious loss.
The loss Is universal, for others are
| blessed in proportion as the Christian
| maintains in full measure the quail
| ties presented in these Beatitudes. The
operation Of salt for good depends upon
It's sadness. The power Of the Chris
t,sp life for good depends upon it's
| Christ-likeness, that peculiar quality
without which 1t fails in Its God-given
mission and purpose.
In very real sense the loss Is also
permanent. Deterioration and decay
NAV be arrested; the backslider may
be restored ; but the loss incurred, both
TO oneself and others, during the period
Of drifting and carelessness, Is perina-
nent In the day of reckoning such a
one will suffer loss-not the loss OF
eternal life, which Is Gods free gift
hut the loss of the reward that Is Of
fered TO faithfuln2ss.