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12
| Pn
STRENGTHEN Tl
Week N<
The church in Sard
Asia which were prese
int; iigure 01 seven gold
him ' that liveth and \
and is sent to one of "<
were symbolized under
Sardis had been a c<
one time the famous
Croesus. This message
(he church that had b<
ruptions engendered 1
tainted not only the s
For the judgment pron
message is directed to
charge, and its solemn
it is from him that he
seven stars?that is,
wnuu&u vvuuui me ciivi
sifts and graces upon
here speaks as the Sov
It is an appeal indire
source from which the;
and zeal for those th
abused, and to arouse
attendant evils into w
same time an appeal t
teaching the people the
life and service and tc
it was a critical time 1
Sardis, through their r
hast a name, that thou
truth. Their life had
ordinances of worship
them, and they probab
prosperous spiritual cc
being alive, but were
Hypocrites, while other
There was the sembla
vital piety was almost <
be vigilant against the
earnest in rendering pt
to severe self-examinat
fession, that they migh
tion and strengthen the
to die.
They knew sound do<
Spirit, the graces of fa
spiritual life and the ft
faith. They were sore
into Dractice. of tran
works. They had "re<
pealed to, to ' hold fast
they will not awake ai
to them as a thief, wit'
But In the midst of tl
numbness there were
finally be crowned with
exceptional purity. Th<
by the worldly lusts ai
addicted. Their Lord
wun mm in wnue, wni
and thus become his ct
heavenly life. "For t
themselves by faithfulr
"clothed in white raim
and glorified in the hei
The promise of their
not blot out his name
who had "a name to li
V
THE PRESBYTERIA*
ayer Meeting |
IE THINGS WHICH REMAIN,
avember 14. Rev. 3:1-6.
is was one of the seven churches of
nted in inspired vision to John under
[en candlesticks. The message is from
vas dead" and is "alive forevermore,"
Lhe angels of the seven churches" who
the figure of seven stars,
inter of power and wealth. It was at
capital of Lydia, the dominion of
3 is not to the city or populace, but to
Jen founded there. No doubt the corby
former profligacy remained, and
ocial but religious life of the church,
iounced is sweeping and severe. The
"the angel of the church," or pastor in
ity is enforced by the statement that
ith the seven Spirits of God, and the
it was from the glorified Redeemer,
ne Spirit, as the bestower of precious
the church, was communicated. He
ereign liuler and Judge of his Church,
ctly to the people to be mindful of the
y were to derive wisdom and strength
dngs which they bad neglected and
themselves from the lethargy and its
hich they had fallen. It was at the
o the pastor to renew his diligence in
ir duty, to seek to revive their spiritual
> abandon his own spiritual inertness,
when their L.ord said to the people of
ninister, "I know thy works that thou
livest and art dead." They professed
not been eaten out by heresy. The
were regularly administered among
ly regarded themselves as being in a
ndition. They had the reputation of
dead. Perhaps some were outright
r wptp in n ctnto nf cnlritual
ince of a Christian congregation, out
extinct. They are called to awake and
devices of the enemy, to be active and
>rsonal service, and betake themselves
ion as to the genuineness of their prot
be qualified to see their real destitus
things that remained and were ready
Jtrine; their dependence on the Divine
ith, hope and love as characteristic of
ict that service is the fruit of a living
ly in need of putting their knowledge
slating their dead faith Into living
:eived and heard"; they are now apand
repent.' They are warned that if
id he vigilant, their Lord would come
hout warning.
his prevailing listlessness and spiritual
a few disciples whose names would
. distinguished honors because of their
ey had not dishonored their profession
id gross apathy to which others were
assured them that they should walk
ch was ihe emblem of purity and Joy,
losen companions in the felicity of the
hey were worthy," having approved
less in obedience and service. To be
ent" signifies to be forever sanctified
Eivenlv estate.
Lord to the "few names" was, "I will
out of the book of life," though many
ve and were dead" would be rejected.
J OF THE SOUTH.
| Young People's
THE GRACE OF THAN
Topic for Sunday, November 21:
ful Heart." Nehemiah 8:8-12.
DAILY READIN
Monday?Altars of thankfulness. ?
Tuesday?Cause for thankfulness.
Wednesday?A psalm of praise. Ps
Thursday?Thanksgiving in all thii
Friday?Thanksgiving in trouble.
Saturday?The eternal praise servii
Gratitude is in the heart. Thanks
One is feeling. The other is express
The expression is nothing without 1
is not complete without the expressio
Thankfulness is thanksgiving with
therefore the same as gratitude plus
It is rightly called a grace. Like o!
of life and of beauty, and in its fulln
It is the soul's recognition of wh
declaration of its appreciation and sei
with the gift.
Thankfulness is a multiplier. By
constantly reproducing the cause anc
and enjoy it again.
"Giving thanks always" is the wa
It does not tire of the act. The more
and the sweeter becomes the habit.
Appreciation of present blessings v
news and quickens the memory of tl
It therefore multiplies the grace as w
Living one's thanks is the happiest
them. Their genuineness is thereby
force is shown. They become a son
express themselves.
Not only always, but for all things,
express itself. It counts no blessinj
receive acknowledgement. Its perfun
nhoro anrl tnunhno 11
^ vvuv-uvo crci Tilling in It.
It recognizes the good that comes
no less than that which springs from
the grateful heart glories in tribulat
happy results which it brings to the
The grace of true thankfulness delii
ings. It does not hoard, with misei
deals out liberally what itself has
itself while it imparts to others. It r
The joy that comes from thus impi
a selfish joy. The pleasure which aril
is a pleasure which no one would ei
It is too much like the divine plan, w
in giving grace and glory.
Means may be used to cultivate th
As it comes first from God, he may b<
I* r* - *
ukicasc n. i-ruyer ior sucn a girt m
to his will, and may therefore be alw;
assurance of answer.
It may be cultivated by study or lni
methods and grounds of God's grace,
the character and goodness of God 1
heart be right, be affected with admir
to him.
It may be cultivated by habit. Ge
will make it easy and natural. Hab
spontaneity, while spontaneity withou
ing impulse, "rtie habit of doing a gc
spontaneity towards evil things.
There is always an element of won<3
'What is man that thou art mindful ol
tliflt tliAii rlaHoaf rpv^. ? J ?
VWU f.u.?,v?v "??" A tic WUUUCI
very soul to adoration and praise In
unto God for his unspeakable gift."
November 10, 1909.
* ttrnwammmimtK
Societies
numinniiimiiiininmmf!
KFULNESS.
The Blessing of a Thank
VaO.
Senesis 35:1-8.
Deuteronomy 8:2-10.
mlm 103:1-22.
lgs. Colossians 3:12-17.
Acts 16:22-34.
ce. Revelation 5:8-14.
giving is upon the lips,
ion.
the feeling. The feeling
n.
the heart in it. It is
expression.
ther graces, it is a thing
ess it is a gift,
tat it has received and
rise of obligation coming
the aid of memory it is
1 pnnhUntr Ann +a ;
iy of true thankfulness,
i it renders it the easier
/ith thanks for them relose
experienced before,
ell as the pleasure,
form into which to put
made manifest. Their
irce of new occasion to
does the grateful heart
5 or favor too small to
le fills the whole atmos
juiuiu viiiii iuia iiarasmp
i propoerity. With Paul
ion also because of the
believing soul.
5hts in sharing its bless ly
hand and heart, but
received, adding joy to
ecelves but to give,
arting can not be called
3es from giving pleasure
Ither decry or withhold,
hich finds its own glory
e grace of thankfulness.
i asked to give it and to
ust always be according
ays made with confident
telligent inquiry into the
The more one sees of
the more will he, if his
ation, love and gratitude
tting into the way of it
dt is no reflection upon
t habit may be but passtod
thing will lessen the
ler in the grateful heart.
' him r?r the onrt r\f man
r of God's love stirs the
the words, "Thanks be