"Born of the Spirit;" or, Gems from the Book of LifeOsborne, Zenas
Religion
"Born of the Spirit;" or, Gems from the Book of Life
Osborne, Zenas
Free Methodist Church of North America; Osborne, Zenas
The cause lies in the fact, they were not weaned. The Psalmist
says, “Surely, I have behaved and quieted myself as a child that is
weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.” If you
want to spoil a child, indulge him in all that delights his fancy.
Our heavenly Father knows better than to indulge his children in all
their wants. He has promised to give us what we need--not all we
want. “My God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in
glory by Christ Jesus.” The best discipline that we get in this life,
is to learn to deny self. The direct route to glory lies along that
line. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross and follow me.” A radical cure is experienced in bearing
the cross. This will crucify us to self, and our longing to be rocked
and dandled at the expense of everybody. Bearing the cross, helping
the souls and bodies of men as they need, and as you are blessed with
means and opportunity will cause you to outgrow all of your infantile
notions. It is gloriously possible to be fully saved in this life; to
run the whole length of the Christian race with joy and gladness; go
on forced marches; yea, on the double quick, carrying heavy knapsacks
of sorrow and affliction, rejoicing evermore, and in everything
giving thanks.
XXV.
VICTORY.
It is impossible to have a victory, until we have had a fight. It
would be impossible to shout the shout of victory, unless it had been
fairly gained. In order to win a victory we must fight. The route
from earth to glory is through the battle field. “We must fight if we
would reign.” Thank God, we fight not against flesh and blood, but
against powers, against principalities, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Many a Christian warrior comes from the field of battle with an
inglorious defeat, because he fails to properly estimate the strength
of his enemy. Nations have suffered fearful defeats because they
failed to estimate the character and strength of their foes. When our
rebellion broke out, Lincoln called for 75,000 men to put it down. A
great many at the North said the 75,000 men could conquer the South
before breakfast; but Bull Run told another story. What a sight!
implements of war scattered all the way from Bull Run to Washington!
How many of Zion’s soldiers have started out, full of hope and
courage, giving promise of wonderful achievements, but alas! the very
first foe, the skirmish line, and perhaps that was no more than a
simple sneer from the devil, and defeat followed; like Ahab, pierced
between the joints of the harness, they were borne from the field of
battle on the litter of discouragement.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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