Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1924-04-17

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 it lisbeth, so is
everyone that is born of the Spirit.
I The essential thing to remember is
that which Peter states in his second
Epistle, chapter l, verse 4. eye might
be partakers of the divine nature, hay-
/ 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 a new nature, a
divine life impaired to the soul. The
words of John 1:12-13 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 it distinction Of character
from all other life, may be found in
what is known as the Beatitudes con-
tanned 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 His redemp-
tive work. Such an one would be
poor in spirit" that is, he would have
real sense Of his own insufficiency
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: Eye 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
salt is diminished in proportion to that
loss. If the salt loses it's SAVIOR, of
what use is it? 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.
1t 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
q 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
ties presented in these Beatitudes. The
operation Of salt for good depends upon
its sadness. The power Of the Chris
tian life for good depends upon its
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
may be arrested; the backslidsr may
be restored; but the loss incurred. both
TO oneself and others, during the period
Of drifting and carelessnesa, Is perma-
nent. In the day of reckoning such
one will suffer loss-not the loss Of
eternal life, which Is Gods free gift
but the loss of the reward that Is Of
fered TO faithfulness.