11-6 BEATIFIC VISION-THE NOBLE LIFE 311 But the noble deviseth noble things; and in noble things shall he continue. Is. 32: 8. If thou canst plan a noble deed And never flag till it succeeds, Though in the strife thy heart should bleed; Whatever obstacles control, Thine hour will come, go on true soul, Thou'lt win the prize, thou'lt reach the goal. -Charles Mackey. EXCEPT there be growth in the Christian life the most conclusive evidence of Christian life is wanting. Let us be as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day. This figure suggests the gradual increase of the light occasioned by the sun's rays according to atmospheric refractions. Do you know that you love God, his word, his house, his altar, his service, better than you did a month ago? If you are not advancing you are retrograding. It is absolutely impossible to remain long stationary. Growth in the Christian life must follow the laws of growth everywhere. Let the heart just now be horrest with itself in making a comparison in this way between the attainments of to-day and those of a month ago. They go from strength to strength; every one of them appeareth before God in Zion. For Jehovah God is a sun and shield: Jehovah will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. O Jehovah of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in Thee. Amen. Ps. 84: 7, II, 12. That thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim. 3: 15. Seize upon truth where'er 'tis found Amongst your friends, amongst your foes, On Christian or on heathen ground, The flower's divine where'er it grows. -Isaac Watts. HE church of Christ is to expect criticism. She must not shrink from it; indeed, she cannot help challenging it. She is a city set on a hill. The church does not fear criticism. Truth seeks the light, comes to the light, rejoices in the light. Error loves darkness, grows in darkness, and reluctantly comes into the light which at once reveals and rebukes its deformity. A true Christianity knows that correct knowledge and not gross ignorance is the mother of genuine devotion. A true Christianity welcomes truth from whatever quarter it comes and by whatever messenger it is brought. She submits all her premises, processes, and conclusions to the full sunlight of the most critical examination. She has absolutely nothing to conceal. Whoever discovers or declares truth, is of God, and is to be welcomed by his church. In this spirit let the church go forth and she will disarm all her critics. Oh continue Thy loving-kindness unto them that know Thee, and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Ps. 36: 10. Unto Thy name give glory, for Thy loving-kindness and for Thy truth's sake. Amen. Ps. 115: 1. IT preparation. F. B. MEYER Philadelphia Sincerely yours, T is through the Church that the Spoof God br about the Kingdom; by which w levelling up of human standards, to the ethics of the Sermon of the Behind the illusions and falsehoo world, the eternal kingdom is hidden, w That thou mayest know how men ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living Gr, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim. 3: 15. no antɗoя .0 NS1S2 aaiM 29 bateri£to Expatbasm. She must A&J, Doedys cannot help challengcity set on a hill. The church does not brdsks the light, comes to the light, in the light. Error loves darkness, grows in Wtr fours into the darkịch at d rebukes its deformity. A true Christianteptrech knowledge and not gross ignorance NOIJET of genuine ine devotion. A true Christianity welcomes tch from whatever quarter it comes and by 29282291 10 sit her premises, processes, and conclusions to the full sunlight bf svarbtuvien tamimo, se haut rothing to conceal. Whoever discovers or declares truth, is of God, and is to be welcomed by hisd3qhq spirit let the church go forth and she will disarm all her critics. arvoy VI919012 Oh continue Thy loving-kindness unto them that know Thee, and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Ps. 36: 10. Unto Thy name give glory, for Thy loving-kindness and for Thy truth's sake. Amen. Ps. 115: 1. IT is through the Church that the Spirit of God brings about the Kingdom; by which we understand the levelling up of human standards, ideals, aims and laws, to the ethics of the Sermon on the Mount. Behind the illusions and falsehoods of this visible world, the eternal kingdom is hidden, waiting for its apocalypse; and it falls to our province, by our witness and lives, to hasten its coming. Thy Kingdom come! |