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VOL.
XXXV
BROOKLYN,
KY.,
JULY
15,
1914
No.
14
OUR
HOPE-"AN
ANCHOR
TO
THE
SOUL"
"Let
us
hold
fast
the
profession
of
our
faith
without
wavering;
for
he
is
faithful
that
promised.'
'-Hebrews
10
:23.
N
early
all
that
God
has
given
us
as
new
creatures
is
by
faith
or
hope.
When
we
become
followers
of
Jesus
and
take
up
our
cross
to
follow
him,
a
sacrifice
is
involved,
if
the
step
be
taken
intelligently-along
the
lines
of
divine
instruc
tion
and
invitation.
No
one
would
voluntarily
undertake
to
sacrifice
unless
he
had
a
hope
or
a
conviction
of
some
blessing
that
would
result
or
of
some
reward
that
would
come
to
him
as
the
outcome
of
that
sacrifice.
In
every
proper
action
there
must
be
a
motive
or
object.
The
fact
that
the
church
has
been
invited
to
follow
Jesus
indicates
that
there
was
some
thing
in
his
course
which
brought
the
blessing
and
favor
of
God-some
special
reward;
and
that
if
we
will
follow
him,
we
shall
share
that
same
blessing
and
reward-glory,
honor
and
immortality.
So
when
we
take
up
our
cross
to
walk
in
our
Master's
footsteps,
it
implies
that
we
are
inspired
with
the
hope
of
thus
sharing
in
the
glory
and
honor
conferred
upon
him.
The
character
of
our
God
assures
us
that
any
offer
coming
to
us
from
him
with
rigid
conditions
attached,
must
be
infinitely
worthy
of
our
acceptance;
and
the
"exceeding
great
and
precious
promises"
accompanying
this
offer
assure
us
of
his
assistance
and
sustaining
power.
So
by
availing
ourselves
of
his
strength
and
of
his
aid,
we
shall
be
able
to
meet
all
the
conditions
and
to
attain
the
glorious
reward
set
before
us.
Hence
our
faith
has
a
strong
a1](l
sure
founilation
upon
which
to
rest;
"fnith
can
surely
trust
him.
come
wh'lt
may."
INWARD
FAITH-OUTWARD
CONFESSION
'Ve
exercise
faith
in
the
heart
hefore
we
make
an
outward
profession-before
we
confess
the
Lord
with
our
mouth.
And
we
have
no
right
to
confess
him
with
our
mouth
until
we
have
helieved
"unto
righteousness";
for
"'Yith
the
heart
man
be
lieveth
unto
righteousness,
and
with
the
mouth
confession
is
maile
unto
salvation."
(Romans
10
:10)
So
we
have
the
declaration
of
the
Lord
that
he
will
not
consider
that
we
have
a
proper
faith
or
hope
unless
we
confess
it.
He
has
declared
that
if
we
refuse
or
fail
to
confess
him
before
men,
he
will
ac
count
us
unworthy
to
he
confeS'Scd
before
the
Father
and
the
holy
angC'ls.
There
is,
then,
no
salvation
without
a
confession
of
the
Lord;
the
two
are
inseparable.
It
is
in
vain
that
any
entertain
a
hope
of
being
accepteil
of
the
Lord
ana
of
,vinning
his
final
approval
who
hides
his
light
under
a
bushel
and
shrinks
from
the
reproach
of
the
cross.
'
,
No
cross,
no
crown,"
is
the
Lord's
inflexible
decision.
A
II
who
have
rrceived
the
truth
in
the
love
of
it
will
be
glad
to
let
their
light
shine
to
the
glory
of
God
and
the
blessing
of
othrrs.
If
the
glorious
message
of
the
Lord
has
filled
our
own
hearts
and
hlesseil
our
lives.·
we
shall
rejoice
to
Carry
the
living
water
to
other
thirsty
sOlds.
If
the
gooil
seeil
lws
founc1
our
hE'arts
fruitful
soil.
it
will
surely
germinate
and
hring
forth
fruitage
to
the
glory
of
our
Go,l.
In
h:umony
with
the
terms
of
our
consecration.
we
confess
to
men
that
we
haw
a
faith
th:1t
renchps
beyonil
the
present
life.
a
hope
thnt
"l'ntereth
into
thnt
within
the
veil."
whither
Christ.
onr
Forernnner,
has
entere,l
for
us.
We
confess
our
hOj)e
that
we
shall
have
a
part
in
his
resurrection;
that"
we
shall
he
changed
in
a
moment,
in
the
twinkling
of
an
eye."
and
likr
him
he
spirit
heini!'S.
see
him
:'IS
he
is
and
share
his
glory
ou
the
divine
pIanr.
We
confess
that
we
hope
with
him
to
he
instruments
in
the
Father's
hands,
bringing
life
and
joy
and
blessing
to
all
the
world
of
mankind,
the
living
and
the
ilead;
that
we
hope
to
uplift
them
from
death,
to
raise
them
from
all
the
sin
and
blight
and
sorrow
and
tears
that
have
op
pres!:'elt
them
for
these
six
thousand
years.
Truly
ours
is
a
Iyonilerful
hope!
Who
would
not
rejoice
to
trll
it!
If,
then.
we
have
this
faith,
this
hope,
and
are
prop('rly
confessing
it
before
men,
let
us
"holil
fast."
Tests
of
our
loyalty
will
continually
come.
The
flesh
will
be
inclined
to
rebel
strongly
at
times.
The
questions
will
present
themselves:
Are
you
willing
to
confess
Christ
~
Are
you
ashamed
to
own
his
name
before
the
world,
or
do
you
esteem
this
your
chiefe~t
honor1
There
will
be
temptations
to
become
discouraged.
Our
weaknesses
will
rise
up
before
us,
and
the
adversary
will
take
:>dvantage
of
these
circumstances
to
further
dishearten
us.
And
not
only
will
there
come
these
temptations
along
the
line
of
our
faith
and
hope,
but
there
will
come
certain
reproaches
and
persecutions,
permitted
for
the
purpose
of
proving
our
loyalty.
Ours
is
a
marvelous
calling,
and
only
heroic
souls
are
wanted
to
fill
the
places
in
this
elect
class-only
those
who
have
the
spirit
of
the
Master.
DANGER
OF
WITHHOLDING
THE
LIG1il'Jl
If
any
are
disloyal
or
weak,
and
fail
to
take
a
firm
stand
for
the
Lord
and
the
truth,
for
fear
that
they
will
be
dis-
esteemed
amongst
thrir
frllow-men,
or
for
any
other
reason,
it
will
prove
that
they
are
not
Y.'orthy
to
share
with
Christ
the
.rlories
of
his
throm'
as
mrmbrrs
of
his
body.
All
who
hope
to
bo
of
this
number
have
professed
his
name;
and
they
must
be
steildfast,
must
hold
fast
their
confidence
and
the
profession
of
their
faith
even
unto
the
end.
The
flesh
needs
to
he
dealt
'Yith
rigorously,
and
be
hrought
into
suhjection
and
hc>ld
there.
According
to
the
inclinations
of
the
fksh.
thr
Lonl's
children
would
wi~.h
to
refrain
from
what
would
hring
contumely
and
advrrse
criticism.
The
flrsh
would
prefer
to
keep
quirt,
where
the
speaking
forth
of
the
truth
might
hring
reproach
or
persecution
or
ostracism.
But
the
new
creature
would
feel
"a
burning
fire
shut
up
in
his
hones}'
if
he
were
to
withhold
the
message
of
truth
when
a
suitable
opportunity
was
granted,
and
he
wonld
find
that
he
must
be
faithful
and
let
his
light
shine.
Otherwise,
the
light
would
grow
feeble
and
would
finally
die
out
altogether,
nnil
he
would
be
in
utter
darkness.
And"
if
the
light
that
is
in
thee
hecome
ilarkness,
how
great
is
that
darkness!"
Let
us
not
grieve
the
holy
Spirit
of
God
which
is
within
us.
The
Loril
gives
us
a
solid
bnsis
for
our
hope,
for
our
faith.
It
is
a
hOfe
which
he
has
himself
inspired.
This
hope
is
backed
by
all
his
sure
promises
and
by
his
oath;
and
he
re
minds
ns
that
"he
is
faithful
that
jlromised."
(Hebrews
]
0:
23)
It
is
as
yrt
a
promise
only;
it
is
all
of
faith.
We
havp
now
tnt
the
hrgptting
of
the
holy
Spirit
to
this
new
na
ture.
:md
the
sraling
of
the
same
Spirit,
"the
earnest
of
our
inhrritance."
(Ephesians
1
:13,
14)
But
we
have
learned
to
know
our
God
and
to
trust
his
faithfnl
Word.
We
have
proven
his
gracious
promises
in
many
a
time
of
stress
and
danger.
and
we
know
that
he
will
not
fail
us.
And"
he
that
hath
this
hO\le
in
him
nurifieth
himself,
even
as
he
is
pure."
OUR
ANCHOR
SURE
AND
STEADFAST
If
we
were
to
let
go
this
hope,
this
anchor
to
our
souls,
we
should
he
adrift
upon
a
shoreless
sea,
whose
mighty
hillows
would
sweep
us
down
to
eternal
death.
A
great
time
of
trouble
is
now
about
to
break
upon
the
whole
world,
and
any
of
the
Lon1
's
neople
whose
faith
nud
hope
are
not
firmly
anchored
to
the
nock
of
A
goes.
any
,yho
are
fparful
to
trust
his
promises,
will
be
oYCl'whplmed
in
the
storm.
Shall
this
be
our
experience~
"The
time
of
trouhle
nears,
'it
hastpth
greatly,'
E
'en
now
its
ripples
span
the
world-wide
sea;
Oh.
,
..
hen
its
W:lyes
are
swoll
'n
to
mountains
stately,
Will
the
resistless
billows
sweep
0
'er
me
~"
Some
of
the
Lord's
renl
childrrn
will
have
their
part
in
this
great
trouble-time;
yet
none
who
are
faithful,
who
are
ohc<1ient.
will
suffer
thus.
These
will
be
kept
in
perfect
safety
to
Ulr
end
of
their
course,
and
will,
we
believe,
be
gathered
"within
the
veil"
before
the
great
storm
brraks
in
its
fury.
Brcause
of
our
faith
in
the
Master,
hecanse
of
our
strong
con
fi<1ence
in
him.
our
knowledge
that
he
has
hren
an
ovprcomer,
am]
that
the
Father
has
rewarded
him
au<1
that
he
is
now
0111'
Ailvocate,
our
great
High
Priest,
who
"evrr
liveth
to
make
intercession
for
us,"
therefore
our
hrarts
have
good
courage.
We
know
that
he
will
shortly"
stand
up"
in
power
and
great
authority
to
estahlish
his
kingdom
and
to
exalt
all
his
faithful
to
reign
with
him
in
thnt
kingdom;
therefore
our
hope
is
firm;
it
is
indeed
an
anchor
to
our
souls.
We
are"
strong
in
the
Loril,
and
in
the
power
of
his
might."-Ephesians
6:10.
We
shall
never
lose
our
courage
if
we
keep
our
eyes
con
tinually
fixed
on
him,
and
our
hanil
closely
claspe,]
in
his.
God's
eternal
promises
are
the
fonnilation
npon
whiCH
all
that
we
hope,
eithpr
of
character,
or
of
coming
glory,
is
built.
And
what
a
strong
foundation!
Let
us
he
faithful
to
him
who
hath
called
us.
Let
us
hold
the
glorions
truth
not
only
in
the
letter,
but
also
in
the
spirit.
Let
us
hold
it
in
the
love
of
it
becanse
it
is
the
truth,
as
well
as
because
of
its
matchlps~
beauty
and
grandeur.
Let
us
ever
remember
the
importance
of
patient
endurance,
constancy,
that
we
may
drve!op
the
fruits
of
the
holy
Spirit,
that
we
may
take
joyfully
every
trial,
every
pprsecution,
every
difficulty,
which
our
God
in
his
infinite
wis,lom
and
love
may
permit
to
come
upon
us
for
our
testing
and
the
ripening
of
that
character
which
is
of
paramount
importance,
and
without
which
we
can
never
hope
to
s('e
our
Father's
face,
nor
partake
of
the
glory
to
whieh
we
have
been
callpd
with
Christ.
Let
us
in
derd
"hold
fast
the
profession
of
ol1r
faith
without
waver
ing;
for
he
is
faithful
'1'ho
hath
promised."
Let
us
"hold
fast
the
confidence
and
the
rejoicing
of
the
hopr,
firm
unto
the
end."
Yea,"
we
desire
that
evrry
one
of
you
do
show
the
same
diligence
to
the
full
assurance
of
hope"
unto
death.
Hebrews
3:6;
10:23;
6:11.
[5497]
Vout. XXXV BROOKLYN, N. Y., JULY 15, 1914 OUR HOPE—“AN ANCHOR TO THE SOUL” ‘‘Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.’’—-Hebrews 10:23. Nearly all that God has given us as new creatures is by faith or hope. When we become followers of Jesus and take up our cross to follow him, a sacrifice is involved, if the step be taken intelligently—along the lines of divine instruction and invitation. No one would voluntarily undertake to sacrifice unless he had a hope or a conviction of some blessing that would result or of some reward that would come to him as the outcome of that sacrifice. In every proper action there must be a motive or object. The fact that the church has been invited to follow Jesus indicates that there was something in his course which brought the blessing and favor of God—some special reward; and that if we will follow him, we shall share that same blessing and reward—glory, honor and immortality. So when we take up our cross to walk in our Master’s footsteps, it implies that we are inspired with the hope of thus sharing in the glory and honor conferred upon him. The character of our God assures us that any offer coming to us from him with rigid conditions attached, must be infinitely worthy of our acceptance; and the ‘‘exceeding great and precious promises’’ accompanying this offer assure us of his assistance and sustaining power. So by availing ourselves of his strength and of his aid, we shall be able to meet all the conditions and to attain the glorious reward set before us. Hence our faith has a strong and sure foundation upon which to rest; ‘‘faith can surely trust him. come what may.’? INWARD FAITH—OUTWARD CONFESSION We exercise faith in the heart hefore we make an outward profession—before we confess the Lord with our mouth. And we have no right to confess him with our mouth until we have believed ‘‘unto rightcousness’’; for ‘‘with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.’’ (Romans 10:10) So we have the declaration of the Lord that he will not consider that we have a proper faith or hope unless we confess it. He has declared that if we refuse or fail to confess him before men, he will account us unworthy to be confessed before the Father and the holy angels. There is, then, no salvation without a confession of the Lord; the two are inseparable. It is in vain that any entertain a hope of being accepted of the Lord and of winning his final approval who hides his light under a bushel and shrinks from the reproach of the cross. ‘‘No cross, no crown,’’ is the Lord’s inflexible decision. All who have received the truth in the love of it will be glad to let their light shine to the glory of God and the blessing of others. If the glorious message of the Lord has filled our own hearts and blessed our lives. we shall rejoice to carry the living water to other thirsty souls. If the good seed has found our hearts fruitful soil. it will surely germinate and bring forth fruitage to the glory of our God. In harmony with the terms of our consecration, we confess to men that we have a faith that reaches beyond the present life, a hope that ‘‘entereth into that within the veil.’’ whither Christ, our Forerunner, has entered for us. We confess our hope that we shall have a part in his resurrection; that ‘‘we shall be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.’’ and like him he spirit heings. see him as he is and share his glory on the divine plane. We confess that we hope with him to be instruments in the Father’s hands, bringing life and joy and blessing to all the world of mankind, the living and the dead; that we hope to uplift them from death, to raise them from all the sin and blight and sorrow and tears that have oppressed them for these six thousand years. Truly ours is a wonderful hope! Who would not rejoice to tell it! If, then, we have this faith, this hope, and are properly confessing it before men, let us ‘‘hold fast.’’? Tests of our loyalty will continually come. The flesh will be inclined to rebel strongly at times. The questions will present themselves: Are you willing to confess Christ? Are you ashamed to own his name before the world, or do you esteem this your chiefest honor? There will be temptations to become discouraged. Our weaknesses will rise up before us, and the adversary will take advantage of these circumstances to further dishearten us. And not only will there come these temptations along the line of our faith and hope, but there will come certain reproaches and persecutions, permitted for the purpose of proving our loyalty. Ours is a marvelous calling, and only heroic souls are wanted to fill the places in this elect class—only those who have the spirit of the Master. DANGER OF WITHHOLDING THE LIGHT If any are disloyal or weak, and fail to. take a firm stand for the Lord and the truth, for fear that they will be dis [5497] esteemed amongst their fellow-men, or for any other reason, it will prove that they are not worthy to share with Christ the glories of his throne as members of his body. All who hope to he of this number have professed his name; and they must be steadfast, must hold fast their confidence and the profession of their faith even unto the end. The flesh needs to be dealt with rigorously, and be brought into subjection and held there. According to the inclinations of the flesh, the Lord’s children would wish to refrain from what would bring contumely and adverse criticism. The flesh would prefer to keep quict, where the speaking forth of the truth might bring reproach or persecution or ostracism. But the new creature would feel ‘‘a burning fire shut up in his bones’’ if he were to withhold the message of truth when a suitable opportunity was granted, and he wonld fiud that he must be faithful and let his light shine. Otherwise, the light would grow feeble and would finally dic out altogether, and he would be in utter darkness. And ‘‘if the light that is in thee heeome darkness, how great is that darkness! ’’ Let us not grieve the holy Spirit of God which is within us. The Lord gives us a solid basis for our hope, for our faith. It is a hope which he has himself inspired. This hope is backed by all his sure promises and by his oath; and he reminds us that ‘‘he is faithful that promised.’’ (Hebrews 10:23) It is as yet a promise only; it is all of faith. We have now but the begetting of the holy Spirit to this new nature, and the sealing of the same Spirit, ‘‘the earnest of our inheritanee.’’ (Ephesians 1:13, 14) But we have learned to know our God and to trust his faithful Word. We have proven his gracious promises in many a time of stress and danger, and we know that he will not fail us. And ‘‘he that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.’’ OUR ANCHOR SURE AND STEADFAST If we were to let go this hope, this anchor to our souls, we should he adrift upon a shoreless sea, whose mighty billows would sweep us down to eternal death. A great time of trouble is now about to break upon the whole world, and any of the Lord’s people whose faith and hope are not firmly anchored to the Rock of Ages, any who are fearful to trust his promises, will be overwhelmed in the storm. Shall this be our experience? ‘“The time of trouble nears, ‘it hastcth greatly,’ E’en now its ripples span the world-wide sea; Oh. when its waves are swoll’n to mountains stately, Will the resistless billows sweep o’er me?’’ Some of the Lord’s real children will have their part in this great trouble-time; yet none who are faithful, who are obedient. will suffer thus. These will be kept in perfect safety to the end of their course, and will, we believe, be gathered ‘within the veil’’ before the great storm breaks in its fury. Recause of our faith in the Master, hecause of our strong confidence in him. our knowledge that he has been an overcomer, and that the Father has rewarded him and that he is now our Advocate, our great High Priest, who ‘‘ever liveth to make intercession for us,’’ therefore our hearts have good courage. We know that he will shortly ‘‘stand up’’ in power and great authority to establish his kingdom and to exalt all his faithful to reign with him in that kingdom; therefore our hope is firm; it is indeed an anchor to our souls. We are ‘‘strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.’’—Ephesians 6:10. We shall never lose our courage if we keep our eyes continually fixed on him, and our hand closely clasped in his. God’s eternal promises are the foundation upon which all that we hope, either of character, or of coming glory, is built. And what a strong foundation! Let us be faithful to him who hath called us. Let us hold the glorious truth not only in the letter, but also in the spirit. Let us hold it in the love of it, because it is the truth, as well as because of its matchless beauty and grandeur. Let us ever remember the importance of patient endurance, constancy, that we may develop the fruits of the holy Spirit, that we may take joyfully cvery trial, every persecution, every difficulty, which our God in his infinite wisdom and love may permit to come upon us for our testing and the ripening of that character which is of paramount importance, and without which we can never hope to sce our Father’s face, nor partake of the glory to which we have been called with Christ. Let us indecd ‘‘hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful who hath promised.’’ Let us ‘‘hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope, firm unto the end.’’ Yea, ‘‘we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope’’ unto death.— Hebrews 3:6; 10:23; 6:11. (ar1-214)
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