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Pride in the Young
163
do others good; when reviled, reviling not again; manifesting love
and compassion for the fallen race. He counted not His life dear, but
gave it up for us all. Follow Him from the lowly manger to the cross.
He was our example. He tells you that if you would be His disciple
you must take the cross, the despised cross, and follow Him. Can ye
drink of the cup? Can ye be baptized with the baptism?
Your actions testify that you are strangers to Christ. “Doth a
fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can
the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so
can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man
and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good
conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have
bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against
the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly,
sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion
and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and
good fruits
, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit
of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
Here are enumerated the fruits which are marked evidences
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that one who has been walking in the vigor of life has met with a
change—a change so marked as to be represented by death. From
living, active life, to death! What a striking figure! None need be
deceived here. If this transformation has not been experienced by
you, rest not. Seek the Lord with all your hearts. Make this the
all-important business of your lives.
You have an account to render for the good you might have done
during your life, had you been in the position in which God required
you to be, and which He has made ample provision that you might
occupy. But you have failed to glorify God upon the earth, and
to save souls around you, because you did not avail yourselves of
that grace and strength, wisdom and knowledge, which Christ has
provided for you. You knew His will, but did it not. There will have
to be a most manifest reformation in you both, or you will never
hear from Jesus: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
In the evening of June 12, after reading the foregoing to the
church, I was shown that while you are careless, proud, selfish,
and indifferent to the salvation of souls, death is doing its work.