Newspapers / Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / March 15, 1870, edition 1 / Page 7
Part of Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
■paeatguniMMimai ZION’S I. A N D M A R K S and realize liis sensible presence, in applying his sweet promises whereby we sup with him in the same eup of suftering, in .the same reproach, and in the same joys. “As ye are par takers of the suiferinga, so shall ye be also of the consolations.” 2d Cor. 1: 7. Dear aged sister White, I am not aware that we have ever met in this world. Jlay w^e often meet in our petitions at a “Throne of grace,” and thus “Grow in grace and in a know ledge of our l>ord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” I hope to hear from you tigain. Yours to serve in the gospel of Christ, W. M. MITCHELL. EDITORIAL. L. I. BODENHAMEIi, Editor. WILSON, N. C., MARCH 15, 18T0. Editor Zion’s Landmarks Please be kind enough to give your views, through the Landmarks, on third chapter and ninth verso of 1st John, which reads as follow^s “ Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin ; for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” A IJ3NE WAXDEEER. Jn the chapter in which the'itbove text stands, is set forth the children of God, and the children of the devil, and each characterized, so that the child of God may know himself, and otliers of the same parentage, from chihh’cn of the wicked one. (First.) The love of the children of God is not a natural love, but a love bestow ed upon them by the Father, entitling them to heirship with God, so as to be called the sons of God. John 3:1. Hence the text saith, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,” as if it should read, the soul that is born of God. For it is the soul that is born of God, if wo are the sons of God, and not the flesh. “That that is Ixirn of the flesh is flesh, and that that is born of the Spirit is Spirit.” Hence it is tlie soul ■that is born again ; and being born again, it is born of God, and in its second exis tence, partakes of the divine nature of God, of w'liom it is born- 2d Pet. 1 : 4. And being of the divine na-. lure of God, and His seed, or Spirit, remaining in the soul, it (the soul) cannot .sin, because it is born of God, and is in His divine image, “kept bv the power of God, tlirough faith, unto salvation.” And as God cannot sin, neither can the soul sin, that is born of God. For wt, being born of Adam, partook of his sinful nature, and could be none otherwise sinners; but now, being born of God, we are partakers of His divine na ture, and can be none otherwise but free from sin. Hence all the sin committed, that is alledged to the Christian, is only in the flesh, which, is another man; but the soul that is born of God, neither proposes, pro vides, assents, nor consents, to any violation of God’s law's, and as such is not charged in God’s account, for any act of the flesh. That is, thesin of thefk\sh is not imputed to thesoul. Hence David saith, “ Bl^ed is the man unto wdioin the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” Psalms 32: 2. St. P^ul, in making an extract from the Psalm ist, says, “Blessed is the man to w'hora the Lordwull not impute sin.” Rom. 4 : 8. Hence we see the riches of God’s grace, both in the imputation of righteousness to our souls, and in the non-imputation of sins; for it is as necessary to salvation, that no sin shall be imputed to our souls, as it is that the righteousness of Christ shall be imputed to our souls. For if any act of sin of ours, were imputed to our souls, it W'0,uld be some sh^h^ never was imputed to Christ, never imputed to Christ, no atone ment made for such sin; and if no atonement, no forgiveness ; and if no forgiveness, the wrath of God abideth. David in the flesh, evidently sinned, when he committed adultery with the wife of Uriah, for he says so:—: “Against thee, thee on) j, have I sin ned, and clone this great wickedness.” But David, in the Spirit, w'as a man after God’s own heart, and that sin * mit sin wilfully, and delight in it after it is committed, wdiilo the ohil- than G«xl, against their W'ill, and Tbhor themselves fill'doing the wrong. They that are bom of God, try w'ith all their power, to shun evil; the children of the devil seek evil, and avail themselves of opportunities to do evil. He that is born of God, loveth bis brother in deed, not only in woixl, and seeing him stand in need of worldly goods, if he has of such things, he is wdlling to bestow upon him. 17th verse. He that is of the devil hateth his brother, as did C.ain, and is a murderer. The life of the child of God is evidenced in this chapter, and the children of the devil. Now'judge ye yonrselves by the evi dences. Do you love God ? If so, keep His commandments. Do you love your brother ? If so, have yon proved it according to the evidences laid down, so ;us to satisfy your own heart; that yon liayc opeiuxl your bow'cls of compassion towards your suffering brethren, so as to pour out of your worldly goods, accoixBng to your abilities.’ If you have thus acted, you haye the eyidenee that you are born of God, But if to the con trary, yon have fared sumptuously yourself, and have spent your hun- llfreciS to be like the tvortcre^^tmtlT VvfTs’ of no use to you nor any one else, but an injury, and fuel for pride— and have suffered the gro'ins of your brethren to go unheeded, and have turned them from your door empty, do \'ou not fear that Christ will ask yon in that day, saying, “How, dw'cll- eth the love of God in you?” And I if so, what wilt thou answer Him? I Wilt thou then say, I joined the hureh, and when convenient X at- n• 1 f. ,1 r, 1 , Tended the davs of preaching, unless of David was ot tiie flesh, and was!, , ' \ ■ ^ -i . 1 , ,1 j, 1 1 • 1 • I it was when i was busy in my field charged to the flesh, and iiumshC'tl in ; ... ,, , ,, 1 ^ 11- i-iw. or store; I talked religion, and con- tlie flesh, lor God took his child ir'om him by death, to the great trouble of David ; but in all this the soul of David never sinned, because it was born of God, and stood as niueb. op posed to the crime in his own ])erson, as if it had been another guilty’- and he iiinocont, for he condemned tiie man to death, under the parable of Nathan, before the Prophet reveajyd. to him the secret, showing tliat the soul of David was averse to his con duct, and cUd not partake in it, and as such did not sin. But in the flesh we all sin, for it is Avritteii, “ For there is not a just man upon earth; that doeth good, and simieth not.” tended for not sav to the fliith. But will He Didst thou do reli gion, and didst thou live by faith,and did the faith tliat thou contended for move thee to a discharge of every good work, believing that ymu w'ould receive the blessing of faitli proven, by your works, tliough i'should co.me> cross handed.—Ed. The receipts of monies pgid to the Editor on his late tCjUr of appohiU ments, have bye-n, credited on the books, and will be acknowledged in the first April No, Also, some omis-- sions will be eorrectod. We thank the brethren and friends sns- Eccl. 7 : 20. But the children of the I foiTheir continued libei'ality in devil are manifest, in that they com-I taining the paper. AVe hope thatj m 63 none will neglect to notify’ us of mis takes or failures to credit, for fear of offending either Editor or Printer.— AYo try to bo earefnl, bnt are as lia ble to mistakes as other men. T'et, our desire i.s, to do full justice to all patrons. Therefore, we take it as a- kindness, not an offence, to receivt* notice of any’ omission on our part. -♦♦♦ Brethren and sisters are again solicited to w'rite for tlie paper.—• We sometimes have more than wa can insert for several numbers ; at other times ive have not a sufficient amount to fill up. We tliereforo invite all who have impressions, to write, and leave us to publish as rapidly as circumstances will admit. Afflictions, when sanctified, are real blessings; they work humility and wean from the world ; they teach us to pour out not our woiahs only, but our very souks, before God in prayer ; and create an ar dent desire after that inheritance in heaven which is incorruptible and immortal—after those mansions of peace where sorrow and sighingflee away'. * * ^ * Should you inquire what benefits accrue from afflictions? Many and precious. They tend to wean us from tliew’orld. When our patns are strewed with roses, when nothing but music and odors float around, how apt are we to be enam ored with our present condition, and forget the crown of glory, forget Jesus and everlasting ages! But aflliction, with a faithful, though harsh voice, rouses us from the sweet delusion. Affliction warns our hearts to arise and dejiart from the.se interior delights, because here is not our rest. True and lasting joys are not here to he found. The sweeping tempest and the beating rain teacl> the mariner to prize the haven where undisturbed repose waits his arrival. In like manner, disap- [lointraents, vexations, anxieties, crosses, teach us to long for those ha[)py mansions where all tears will be wiped aw;iy from the eyes, Rev. xxi, 4 ; ail anguish ban ished from the mind ; and nothing subsist hut the tuilness of joy, and pleasures forevermore.—Harvey, — © -o*—— —— Prise and value highly tlie holy Scriptures, the word of God, and say as David once did, when he wanted a sword and it was told him there was none lni,t tlie sword of Goliath, “None like that.” Satan will, it is feared, ere long make a diligent search tor arms. Do as David did: liide fhy sword—“Thy sword, have X hid in my heart that I m.iglit not sin against thee.”—■ Psa. cxix. IX., Get many pi'omises veady against thou he beset, and ,.liu.U hivie need, of them.— Ke:ich.
Zion’s Landmarks (Wilson, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 15, 1870, edition 1
7
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75