Sermon at Petaluma, California, Campground
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Christlike simplicity, the reviving, reformatory power of God will
come into your tents and enable you to pray in faith. Then you can ask
for the Lord’s richest blessings to rest upon the little company in your
tent.
If we work diligently upon the plan of addition, we shall not be
barren in a knowledge of Christ. We should, however, take heed to
ourselves, lest we fall because we do not cherish and cultivate the
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Christian graces. “He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot
see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
This scripture brings to view those who are in a divided state, those
who talk as they please, those who indulge appetite and passionate
speech, failing to take themselves in hand. Such persons have no
moral strength to carry out the principles that would bring to them, as
overcomers, the crown of life. They are like a man who has forgotten
that he has been purged from his old sins.
Only election in Scripture
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling
and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” This
is the only election that is spoken of in the Bible. Your election is
dependent on your course of action. If you will to make your election
sure, you can do so; if you will to make it uncertain by sinning while
professing to be righteous, you can do so. You can become angry, you
can be dishonest in trade, you can in other respects follow the course
of the ungodly. But will it pay? I ask you, Will it pay? Will you not
determine to make your calling and election sure, and not only for
yourself, but for your children? Will you not strive to bind up your
children with Christ?
If you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, you
will never fall; “for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abun-
dantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ.” This promise is an eternal life-insurance policy, and it is
offered to every one of us.
The apostle continues: “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put
you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and
be established in the present truth.“