Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-16
DISCUSSED BY

dwellS with them and the more they are
governed by the Holy Spirit.
In summary, we may speak OF Him as
the creative presence of God in the seen
and unseen universe, whose divine ener-
gieS are the source of all noble i'm
pulses and ideas In every realm of hui
man life, and specifically as the self
ievers who endeavor to obey His teach
lngs. But the New Testament also ex-
plicitly states that the Spirits redemp-
tive mission covers the race at large.
See st. Johns gospel, xvi8, and read
this entire chapter, since in 1t Jesus in
PRODUCES His successor.
@. Kindly explain the meaning of
qualification" also of "the Second
Blessing" also what became of Judas
and why the accounts of him in st.
Matthew, xxvii.6, and the first chapter
of the Acts differ?
Is there any assured place in Gods
plan for the repentant backslider?
A. /. Sanctif1catiorf is that divine
work effected by the Holy Spirit in be-
levers, by means of which they are
transformed after the likeness of their
Lord and more nearly resemble Him in
character and conduct. The root mean
ing Of the word Is to set apart, and in
this application it registers the Chris
tianS separation from sin and the lower
self, followed by his vital union with
Christ In life, word and deed.
2. The Second Blessing" is the name
given by certain Sects to vivid expe-
rience OF the presence of God in the
soul after its conversion. The New
Testament knows no such numerical
limitation. But it teaches that the
SWenty-second or any other number of
blessings are quite in order, and surely
the majority Of Christians need them.
3. Concerning the two New Testa-
ment accounts of the tragic end of
Judas, the one in st. Matthew is to be
accepted. Modern tranSlators bracket
the story In the Acts as of inferior i'm
portance. Their reconciliation is ap-
parently impossible.
4. Yes, there is always q place at the
Fathers table for every returning prod
igal. He is still a son longed for and
welcomed.
Q. 1. st. Johns Gospel (M2) says
that the Mary who anointed the
Savior's feet was the sister of Lazarus.
Was not this woman Mary Magdalene?
2. Did not st. Paul marry Narcissus
when he was young Saul of TarSuS,
and was he not widower at the time
of his conversion?
3. Where Is the best record of the
early life of this apostle?
A. l. The endeavor to identify Mary
OF. Bethany with Mary Magdalene has a
strange fascination for many readers
of the New Testament. You, like
them, also seem to believe that Mary
Magdalene was the woman who en-
tered the house of Simon the Pharisee
and there anointed the feet of Jesus.
I personally do not think that the
three persons in question have to be
thus confused. Mary of Bethany was
a village resident, a devotee and q
saint, who occupies a niche entirely her
own in the sacred history. Mary Mag
dalene hailed from city notorious for
its vice. The woman who was a sinner
was also city dweller and entered
the scene of our Lords ministry in its
earlier stages. There may have been
repetition quite in keeping with the
gratitude the anointers felt for what
Jesus had done for womanhood.
2. Though we have no definite infor-
nation, some scholars believe it prob
able that, in accordance with the Gus
tom of his race, st. Paul was married.
The Jews did not favor bachelorhood.
Yet it should be kept in mind that
prophets as eminent as Elijah, jeremiah
and John the Baptist were unmarried,
save to their vocation. There is no
evidence Of any kind that NarciSsus
was st. Paul's wife.
8. For an account Of his early years
read his extensive reference to himself
contained In many of his letters. No
New Testament writer so freely re-
vealed his close associations as did the
apostle to the GentilesJ