Sanctification.
BY MRS. R. S.
A father, while making provision for his children, whether rich or poor, will naturally expect love and obedience from them in return; and an unkind or disobedient act in them must be a cause of great sorrow to the father's heart, yet it is very seldom that he will go so far as to turn the child away from his door.
So with our Heavenly Father. He has done all for us that can be done; He has laid up an eternal Inheritance for us; He has prepared for us "many mansions," and preserves for us a crown "that fadeth not away," and now requires of us humble obedience, full submission to His holy will.
He not only commands us to repent and believe, but to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus.
If we wish to follow any one we must either see the person or the way in which he has walked; let us then find the foot-prints of Jesus, that we may walk therein and live.
While on earth, His whole life was spent in doing good; He was found among the needy and poor, the afflicted and sorrowing, relieving their afflictions, soothing their sorrow or quieting their fears. He was never found among the giddy and gay, in the halls of revelry and mirth. He was ever ready to weep with those who wept, and to rejoice with those who rejoiced in the truth. Was there a bereaved mother or disconsolate sister weeping over their dead? Christ was there to join His tears and comfort them. Did they need any of His assistance? He was ever ready to give it. Was any afflicted with sore disease? He was ready to heal them; none ever came to Him in vain; He upbraided never, and sent none empty away. He shunned none for their poverty and favored none for their wealth. He was never presumptuous or proud. When tempted by Satan to exert His power for His own benefit, He refused, and silenced the tempter with the scathing rebuke: "Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written, thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God."
Thus in all things our Saviour was bearing His cross; tempted by Satan; hated and scorned by false friends; persecuted by enemies; and finally, dying for the sins of the world.
This, dear Christian, was the path trodden by our Saviour. And remember, He was a sanctified Saviour. "Him hath the Father sanctified," etc.
He has not only left His foot-prints for us to follow, but He has also left a rule for us to walk by, that, being in the light, we may walk in the light.
The first commandment given is: "Thou shalt LOVE;" and the second commandment is: "Thou shalt LOVE. Love is the fulfilling of the law." This is the power that puts the whole Christian life in action. This love must be toward God, with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to our neighbor as ourself. As impossible as this may appear to the "carnal mind," yet to the child of God it is very possible. What can be more possible than for a child to love his father and his own brothers and sisters! Although, as children, they may not all agree in everything, they will have different sentiments, different opinions, and different ways of acting. They will still be united in their love to their parents and their love to each other. They will not, by any means, do anything to injure each other, but will do all they can to assist each other; neither will they be first to expose one another's faults, but will practice that "charity that covereth a multitude of sins."