We expect to die shouting, ‘THE LORD DOES PROVIDE!’”
VII.
A Peculiar People.
The elect, the Chosen of God, those who are ordained unto life eternal, are God’s peculiar people; they were in the past, they are now, and will be for all time to come. Hear the declaration of Holy Writ:
“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice, indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar people, or treasure, unto me above all people, for all the earth is mine.—Ex. 19:5. For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.—Deut. 14:2.” Then in 26th chapter and 18th verse the same thought is expressed: “And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be His peculiar people, as He hath promised thee, and that thou shouldst keep all His commandments.” The Psalmist caught the inspiration and gave thought and expression in like manner: “For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto Himself, and Israel for His peculiar people.”
Under the blazing light of the new dispensation, with a heart and tongue all on fire with love divine, and vision turned upon the redeemed of God, he declares what God would have us understand more perfectly that, “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
The condition rendering God’s people peculiar is of a twofold character—internal and external, and both internal and external are likewise of a twofold character, the positive and negative.
A person may be very peculiar, and yet be far away from God. There is much that is odd, very odd, yea, very peculiar, connected with some very good people which is no part of Christianity. A few years ago I had the pleasure of attending a Sabbath School Convention of the M. E. Church at Black River, N. Y. A part of the program was a discussion of this proposition:
“Shall we teach the peculiarities of Methodism in our Sabbath Schools?”
There was much said, but nothing that had any special bearing on the subject. Rev. Mr. D—— said that he had a right to speak on the subject, as he was a Methodist, of Methodists parents; two of his sisters married Methodist preachers; and beside he had two brothers that were Methodist preachers, and his father’s house was a home for Methodist preachers. He related many pleasant things that occurred among the preachers, and many peculiar things. He said there was one Bro. Lovice that was often at his home, a holy man. He really enjoyed holiness. At the table one day, mother, at the close of the meal, took the platter containing a custard pie, passed around the table and gave to each a piece. When she came to Brother Lovice, she said, “My dear brother, will you have a piece of pie?” He replied, “Yes, ma’am,” holding out both hands, and received his pie in that peculiar way. This he related, and then said, “I believe in the peculiarities of Methodism.” There are too many, I fear, who entertain similar views of the qualities that go to make up what constitute a peculiar people.
It is not eccentricity—though people lay much stress on that. It is not in being careless or indifferent, to any of the claims that God, or our neighbor has upon us; nor indifference in regard to our personal appearance. The dress question is one of great importance. God requires us to adorn our bodies in modest apparel. Now, to meet the conditions, some things are necessary: First—The color and quality of goods purchased. Secondly—The style or manner in which they are made. It is not for the glory of God to have your clothes cut and made so that all who see you would never mistrust your clothes were made for you, but for some person of a much larger make-up. There are some people who are real saints, but in their manner of dress, they have no respect for the “terms” modest or adorn. I maintain that the saints are the best-looking people the world has got, and they ought to dress the best. Thank God, some do! The material should be becoming, age, and condition in life, embraced in a thus saith the Lord. In the next place, garments should be made to fit. We should dress ourselves with care and neatness—not slovenly, or in a careless and untidy manner. Many seem to have no respect for the fitness of things, especially for how their clothes fit. We should be in a presentable condition: “adorned in modest apparel.” Many have lost measurably their influence for good by their untidy, and utter disrespect of God’s requirements in the matter of adornments.