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VOL.
XXVII
ALLEGHE~Y,
P
A.,
JANUARY
1,
1906
No.1
THOUGHTS
FOR
THE
NEW
YEAR
Lord
that
you
consider
yourselves
entirely
his,
and
that
it
is
still
your
purpose
to
keep
your
all
upon
the
altar
of
sacrifice
durmg
this
new
year
and
until
it
is
wholly
consumed
in
his
service.
Then
let
us
proceed
with
studious
rare
from
day
to
day
to
pay
these,
our
vows
of
full
consecration,
unto
the
Most
High.
As
we
look
back
and
with
sorrow
view
the
imperfections
of
even
our
best
efforts,
and
then
forward
and
see
the
lion-like
difficulties
that
seem
to
obstruct
our
onward
course,
we
will
need
greatly
to
reinforce
Our
waning
courage
with
the
spe
cial
promises
of
divine
grace
to
help
in
every
time
of
need.
We
have
the
blessed
assurance
that
'I
the
Lord
will
give
strength
unto
his
people."
"Call
upon
me
in
the
day
of
trouble,"
he
says,
"and
I
will
deliver
thee,
and
thou
shalt
glorify
me.
J
,
As
soldiers
under
our
great
Captain,
we
have
enlisted
in
no
uncertain
struggle,
except
Our
own
faint-heartedness
or
un·
faithfulness
should
make
it
so.
We
lire
fully
supplied
with
the
whole
armor
of
God,
and
will
be
amply
protected
against
all
the
fiery
darts
of
the
adversary
if
we
accept
it
and
care
fully
buckle
it
on;
we
are
forewarned
of
all
the
snares
and
dangers
that
beset
our
onward
way,
so
that
we
may
avoid
an,]
over.come
them;
we
are
fully
informed
as
to
the
policy
and
course
of
the
Captain
under
whose
banner
we
have
enlisted,
and
of
the
part
we
are
to
take
under
his
ll'ading.
We
have
his
constant
presence
with
us,
even
to
the
end
of
our
course.
His
inspiring
voice
may
always
be
heard
above
the
clash
and
d:n
of
Lattle-Fear
not,
it
is
your
Father's
good
pleasure
to
give
you
the
kingdom
I
Be
of
good
cheer;
I
'have
overcome!
Let
not
your
heart
be
troubled,
neither
let
it
be
afraid
I
Greater
is
he
that
is
for
you
than
all
they
that
be
against
you.
If
we
are
weak
and
incline
to
faintheartedness
we
have
only
to
remember
the
blessed
promise,
"The
Lord
will
give
strength
unto
his
peoplc;
"
and
by
our
faithfulness
in
tht'
service
we
shall
glorify
God
And
he
will
deliver
us
gloriously
from
all
our
fol's,
L'oth
~
('011
rmd
unseen.
HOW
SHALL
WE
PAY
OUR
VOWS?
This
is
an
important
question
with
all
the
trn1y
ronsC'
cratrd,
and
one
surely
of
paramount
importanre.
L0t
u"
ron
sider,
then,
that
when
we
consecrated
ourselves
fully
to
the
Lord,
we
tht'reby
signified
that
we
would
hold
nothing
hark
"THOU
SPREADEST
MY
TABLE
IN
THE
MIDST
OF
for
self.
That
consecration
included
all
our
possession:;!,
our
ENEMIES"
time,
our
physical
energies
and
our
mental
attainments.
Ani!
Spiritually,
we
have
feasted
on
the
bounties
of
divine
it
implies
the
sacrifice
of
all
our
former
earthly
ambitions,
favor;
while
in
things
temporal,
under
whatsoever
circum-
hopes
and
aims,
so
that
we
should
no
longer
pursne
them
to
any
stances
we
have
been
placed,
having
the
assurance
that
all
t'xtent.
This,
and
nothing
less,
is
what
our
vow
of
full
ron~e-
things
work
together
for
good
to
them
that
love
God,
we
havt'
cration
sig-nifies.
But
it
signifit's,
further,
that
these
ros~('ss;ons
realized
that
~odliness
with
contentment
is
great
gain,
having
or
personal
qualifications,
which
the
Lord
terms
talmts,
nre
promise
of
the
life
that
now
is
[so
long
as
God
wills
to
have
not
only
to
he
released
from
the
sl'rvice
of
the
worloly
amhi·
llS
remain
here
1,
and
also
of
that
which
is
to
come.
Where-
tions.
etc
.•
but
that
they
lire
to
he
so
relt'aseil,
not
for
aimles~
fore,
we
can
and
do
most
heartilv
"offt'r
unto
God
thanks-
inactivity,
hut
for
the
purpose
of
beinl!;
utilizen
in
an
ol'Posite
giving."
And
s'hall
we
not
render
unto
him,
not
only
the
direction-in
the
service
of
Goel,
of
his
plan
and
of
his
chilo
praise
of
our
lips,
hilt
also
the
incense
of
truly
conserrated
dren.
lives.
throughout
the
year
upon
which
we
are
just
enterinl!!
In
the
parahll'
of
the
talents
(Matt.
2;;
:14-:10)
the
Lord
Dearly
beloved,
consl'crate
vourselves
anew
to
the
T-,ord
today
illustrated
very
clearly
how
we
are
expected
to
pay
our
vows
-not
in
the
sense
of
invalidating
the
consecratioD
made
onre
of
con~ecration
to
the
Most
HiQ'h.
He
says:
"It
is
like
a
man
for
all,
possibly
many
years
ago,
but
rather
in
the
sense
of
who,
intending
to
travel,
called
his
own
servants
and
delivE'rl'd
re-affirming
and
emphasizing
that
covenant.
Tell
the
dear
unto
them
his
goods.
And
to
one
he
gave
five
talents,
to
anothel
[3695]
(3-4)
The
dawn
of
another
new
year
is
properly
a
time
for
solemn
reflections,
both
retrospective
and
prospective.
In
the
retro
spect
how
abundant
is
the
cause
for
thanksgiving
I
We
who
have
been
blessed
with
the
richest
favors
of
divine
grace
in
that
knowledge
of
divine
truth
which
reveals
to
us
the
high
privilege
of
becoming
sons
and
heirs
of
God
and
joint-heirs
with
Jesus
Christ
to
an
inheritance
incorruptible,
undefiled
and
that
fadeth
not
away,
reserved
in
heaven
for
the
called
and
C'hosen
and
faithful
aecording
to
his
purpose,
have
a
never
failing
cause
for
deepest
gratitude.
Great
indeed
was
the
favor
which
revealed
to
us
the
hope
of
everlasting
life
as
justified,
human
sons
of
God-of
full
restitution
to
the
divine
favor
and
likeness,
as
was
at
first
possessed
by
our
father
Adam.
And
great
was
our
joy
when
first,
by
faith,
we
appropriated
this
precious
promise
and
realized
that
legally,
through
merit
of
the
precious
blood
of
Christ
shed
for
our
redemption,
we
had
passed
from
death
unto
life,
and
that
in
God's
appointed
time
the
everlasting
treasure
with
all
its
attendant
glory
and
bless
ing
would
be
ours.
But
beyond
even
this
are
the
II
exceedi'll,g
great
and
precious
promises"
to
those
of
this
justified
elass
who
have
been
called,
aecording
to
God's
purpose,
to
become
the
bride
and
joint-heir
of
his
dear
Son.
Then,
in
addition
to
all
these
blessings
of
bope
and
promise,
was
the
blessed
realization
during
all
the
year,
and
with
some
of
us
for
mahy
years
past,
that
though
we
walk
through
the
valley
of
the
shadow
of
death,
as
the
Psalmist
aptly
represents
the
present
life,
our
blessed
Shepherd's
rod
and
staff
have
been
Our
comfort
and
our
safeguard.
How
often
has
the
friendly
crook
of
the
Shepherd's
staff
stayed
us
from
wander
ing
oft'
into
bypaths
and
kept
us
in
the
narrow
way;
how
his
chastening
rod
has
from
time
to
time
aroused
us
from
dreamy
lethargy
and
urged
us
on
our
way.
And
at
such
times
we
ha"e
recalled
the
comforting
words:
"My
son,
despise
not
thou
the
cllastening
of
the
Lord,
nor
faint
when
thou
art
rebuked
of
him;
for
whom
the
Lord
loveth
he
chasteneth,
and
scourgeth
every
son
whom
he
receiveth.
If
ye
endure
rha~tening,
God
dealeth
with
you
as
with
SODS;
for
what
Bon
is
he
whom
the
father
chasteneth
not!
But
if
ve
be
without
rhastisement,
whereof
all
are
partakers,
then
ar~
ye
bastards
and
not
sons.'
'-Heb.
12
:5-8.
Vou. XXVIT ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 1, 1906 THOUGHTS FOR The dawn of another new year is properly a time for solemn reflections, both retrospective and prospective. In the retrospect how abundant is the cause for thanksgiving! We who have been blessed with the richest favors of divine grace in that knowledge of divine truth which reveals to us the high privilege of becoming sons and heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for the called and chosen and faithful according to his purpose, have a neverfailing cause for deepest gratitude. Great indeed was the favor which revealed to us the hope of everlasting life as justified, human sons of God—of full restitution to the divine favor and likeness, as was at first possessed by our father Adam. And great was our joy when first, by faith, we appropriated this precious promise and realized that legally, through merit of the precious blood of Christ shed for our redemption, we had passed from death unto life, and that in God’s appointed time the everlasting treasure with all its attendant glory and blessing would be ours. But beyond even this are the ‘‘ exceeding great and precious promises’’ to those of this justified class who have been called, according to God’s purpose, to become the bride and joint-heir of his dear Son. Then, in addition to all these blessings of hope and promise, was the blessed realization during all the year, and with some of us for mahy years past, that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, as the Psalmist aptly represents the present life, our blessed Shepherd’s rod and staff have been our comfort and our safeguard. How often has the friendly crook of the Shepherd’s staff stayed us from wandering off into bypaths and kept us in the narrow way; how his chastening rod has from time to time aroused us from dreamy lethargy and urged us on our way. And at such times we have recalled the comforting words: ‘‘My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons.’’—Heb. 12:5-8. ‘‘THOU SPREADEST MY TABLE IN THE MIDST OF ENEMIES’’ Spiritually, we have feasted on the bounties of divine favor; while in things temporal, under whatsoever circumstances we have been placed, having the assurance that all things work together for good to them that love God, we have realized that godliness with contentment is great gain, having promise of the life that now is [so long as God wills to have us remain here], and also of that which is to come. Wherefore, we can and do most heartily ‘‘offer unto God thanksgiving.’’ And shall we not render unto him, not only the praise of our lips, but also the incense of truly consecrated lives, throughout the year upon which we are just entering? Dearly beloved, consecrate yourselves anew to the Lord today —not in the sense of invalidating the consecration made once for all, possibly many years ago, but rather in the sense of re-affirming and emphasizing that covenant. Tell the dear £3695] THE NEW YEAR Lord that you consider yourselves entirely his, and that it is still your purpose to keep your all upon the altar of sacrifice during this new year and until it is wholly consumed in his service. Then let us proceed with studious care from day to day to pay these, our vows of full consecration, unto the Most igh. As we look back and with sorrow view the imperfections of even our best efforts, aud then forward and see the lion-like difficulties that seem to obstruct our onward course, we will need greatly to reinforce our waning courage with the special promises of divine grace to help in every time of need. We have the blessed assurance that ‘‘the Lord will give strength unto his people.’’? ‘‘Call upon me in the day of trouble,’’ he says, ‘‘and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.’’ As soldiers under our great Captain, we have enlisted in no uncertain struggle, except our own faint-heartedness or unfaithfulness should make it so. We are fully supplied with the whole armor of God, and will be amply protected against all the fiery darts of the adversary if we accept it and carefully buckle it on; we are forewarned of all the snares and dangers that beset our onward way, so that we may avoid and overcome them; we are fully informed as to the policy and course of the Captain under whose banner we have enlisted, and of the part we are to take under his leading. We have his constant presence with us, even to the end of our course. His inspiring voice may always be heard above the clash and din of battle—Fear not, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom! Be of good cheer; I have overcome! Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid! Greater is he that is for you than all they that be against you. If we are weak and incline to faintheartedness we have only to remember the blessed promise, ‘‘The Lord will give strength unto his people;’’ and by our faithfulness in the service we shall glorify God and he will deliver us gloriously from all our foes, both :cen and unseen. HOW SHALL WE PAY OUE VOWS? This is an important question with al] the truly consecrated, and one surely of paramount importance. Tet us consider, then, that when we consecrated ourselves fully to the Lord, we thereby signified that we would hold nothing hack for self. That consecration ineluded all our possessions, our time, our physical energies and our mental attainments. And it implies the sacrifice of all our former carthly ambitions, hopes and aims, so that we should no longer pursue them to any extent. This, and nothing less, is what our vow of full consecration signifies. But it signifies, further, that these possessions or personal qualifications, which the Lord terms talents, are not only to he releaséd from the service of the worldly ambhitions, ete., but that they are to be so released, not for aimless inactivity, but for the purpose of being utilized in an opposite direction—in the service of God, of his plan and of his ehildren, In the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14-30) the Lord iflustrated very clearly how we are expected to pay our vows of consecration to the Most Hich. He says: ‘‘It is like 4 man who, intending to travel, called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, to anothe (3-4)
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