Power of Example
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us? so shall we be separated, I and Thy people, from all the people
that are upon the face of the earth.”
How frequently ancient Israel rebelled, and how often they were
visited with judgments, and thousands slain, because they would not
heed the commands of God who had chosen them! The Israel of God
in these last days are in constant danger of mingling with the world
and losing all signs of being the chosen people of God. Read again
Titus 2:13-15
. We are here brought down to the last days, when God is
purifying unto Himself a peculiar people. Shall we provoke Him as did
ancient Israel? Shall we bring His wrath upon us by departing from
Him and mingling with the world, and following the abominations of
the nations around us?
The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for Himself; this conse-
cration to God and separation from the world is plainly and positively
enjoined in both the Old and the New Testament. There is a wall
of separation which the Lord Himself has established between the
things of the world and the things He has chosen out of the world and
sanctified unto Himself. The calling and character of God’s people are
peculiar, their prospects are peculiar, and these peculiarities distinguish
them from all other people. All of God’s people upon the earth are one
body, from the beginning to the end of time. They have one Head that
directs and governs the body. The same injunctions that rested upon
ancient Israel, rest upon God’s people now, to be separate from the
world. The great Head of the church has not changed. The experience
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of Christians in these days is much like the travels of ancient Israel.
Please read
1 Corinthians 10
, especially from the 6th to the 15th verse:
“Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not
lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as
were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and
drink, and rose up to play.... Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of
them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye,
as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they
are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world
are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest
he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common
to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted
above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to