p. 68 | GOD'S PECULIAR PEOPLE

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Mar 21, 1854

GOD'S PECULIAR PEOPLE.

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Titus ii, 11-14.

There has ever been a marked difference between the true people of God and an unbelieving world; they have ever been peculiar. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Lot and Abraham were peculiar in their day. Moses made a peculiar choice "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin." The history of Elijah and all the prophets is indeed peculiar—what an "example of suffering, afflictions and patience!" He who took man's nature, lived an example to the church, died for a lost world, and now lives in heaven to intercede for poor sinners, was so peculiar that the professedly pious of the age of his mission, could coolly say, "He hath a devil." And in pointing out the peculiar condition, trials and afflictions of his devoted followers he says: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." Matt. xxiv, 9.

In all his teachings we may learn that the prevailing spirit of this world is in direct opposition to the spirit of the gospel, and that in order to be saved, the Christian must pursue an entirely different course from that pursued by the world. This will make him peculiar.

"Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Luke xiii, 23, 24.

"For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because, strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matt. vii, 13, 14.

Of the multitude of professors, a few only are bending their lonely foot-steps in the narrow way to life, while the mass, hand in hand with the world, are rushing down the broad way to destruction. The plain truths of the gospel separate one from the world, and when received in the heart, they take away the love of worldly honors, pride and uncertain riches, elevate the affections, and place them on Christ, and the certain treasures of the Christian's eternal home.

He who has received Christ and his plain teachings, leaves the broad road of sin, turns round, and now walks the narrow path to life. He now loves what he once hated, and hates what he once loved. An entire change is wrought, and another course is pursued. Thank Heaven! Religion is something more than a cloak thrown over a cold, unsubdued heart. It will do something for a poor, selfish, hard-hearted, hell-deserving sinner; yes, it will do everything for him. By the aid of its matchless power, the old man with his deeds may be put off and the new man put on. All who thus put on Christ, and as they received the Lord, so walk in him, will be peculiar. We will now call attention to some of the peculiarities of God's people mentioned in the text at the head of this article.

1. "Looking for that blessed hope," the glorious appearing of Christ. It is not only the hope of the gospel, but it is the blessed hope. There are many hopes entertained by professors of Christianity, yet there is only one hope set before us in the gospel. It is the second advent of Christ. All that the Christian may hope of a bright, eternal future, hangs on the doctrine of the coming of the Lord. Without his second coming there can be no resurrection, and no restitution of all things to their Eden perfection and glory. The Great Restorer, at his first advent, shed his own blood to redeem us from our sins, and now stands to plead our cause and blot out sins; but he is coming to call the sleeping blood-washed throng from the tomb, change the living saints, and make all things new. Blessed hope, indeed! But notwithstanding the blessedness of this hope, taught on almost every page of the Book of God, but few professed Christians cherish it. The very time has come when men will not endure sound doctrine, but are, by their false teachers, turned from the truth to such fables as the world's conversion, return of the Jews, spiritual coming of Christ, at death or at conversion; no literal, but a spiritual resurrection; and the saints' eternal inheritance, not "under the whole heavens," [Dan. vii,] but "beyond the bounds of time and space!" In this day of fables, to embrace the tangible, the "blessed hope" of the gospel, makes one very peculiar.

One might suppose that the glorious appearing of Christ would be a theme of the greatest delight to the Christian, that he would be enraptured with the news of Christ's soon return. Certainly if he really loves his Lord, he would be glad to see him. But the majority of the church put off his coming, seem to be unhappy on hearing of his coming, scorn the idea of his coming soon, and many scoff at those who rejoice in his coming, so that those who are "looking for that blessed hope," are indeed, peculiar.

2. "Denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts" is another peculiarity of God's people who are looking for the glorious appearing of Christ. This is a pleasure-loving, pride-gratifying, self-indulging age. Pride must be gratified in fashionable and expensive dress, the appetite must be indulged with the rich dainties of the times, and the vain pleasures of the world must be pursued at the expense of the soul. They who "deny ungodliness and worldly lust," will be peculiar. Their dress will be plain (it may be neat without following all the fashions of the day) and they will "take heed" lest their hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, or gratifying the appetite, and feasting on rich and unhealthy food. In fact, they will deny themselves of what the world lusts after. They will live a life of scriptural self-denial and abstinence. For this they will be lightly esteemed and reproached by the world and ungodly professors. The prophet, looking forward to the perils of the last days, saw the condition of God's peculiar people, and has written: "And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth: and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey." Isa. lix, 14, 15.

3. To "live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world," is another distinguishing mark of God's peculiar people. They will not be seen in the seat of the scornful, nor join in the social circle of the proud and the gay, but will walk softly and mournfully before the Lord. The Master was a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. See him spending all night in prayer, then weeping at the grave of Lazarus. His true disciples will be at the foot of the cross. Their path will be strewed with tears, as they sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land, instead of joining the vain amusements of the day. Such will be pointed at as deluded and very peculiar. But, says the Apostle, "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God," &c 2 Pet. iii, 11, 12.

4. "Who gave himself for us," says Paul, "that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people," &c. Being redeemed from all iniquity, and purified, is another important distinguishing mark of that peculiar people who are looking for the "blessed hope."

Sin, or "iniquity" is the transgression of the law. From this, God's peculiar people will be redeemed and purified by the blood of Christ, in keeping the law of God. Hence, the third angel announces the fact:—"Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Those who step out from the beaten path of First-day-Keeping, and observe the fourth commandment, so that it may be said of them, "Here are they that keep [nine? no, all of] the commandments of God," is considered indeed peculiar. How singular is the eyes of the worldling, the proud and the gay, to retire from the hum of business, and rest and worship on the seventh day; and then on First-day commence the labors of the week, and toil on while church bells are ringing, and the proud and the gay are pressing their way to the place where God is professedly worshiped.

The Apostle's mirror is all-important in this work of special purification. He says: "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be an hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in the glass; for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James ii, 21-25.

Here the "perfect law of liberty," called in Chapter ii, 8, the "royal law," which is the ten commandments of the great God, is illustrated by a mirror. With the aid of a mirror a man may readily see the imperfections of his face, or his dress; so he that "looketh into the perfect law of liberty" may see the imperfections of his moral condition in the sight of Heaven; and if he continueth therein, and does all the commandments of that law, he will be "blessed in his deed." That law is the standard of moral character. Those who continue to look into it, and obey its righteous precepts, through the blood of a crucified Saviour, may be redeemed from all iniquity, and made pure, meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.

5. God's peculiar people are "zealous of good works." "Blessed are they that do his commandments," says the True Witness. "But be ye doers of the word," says James, "and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." "This man shall be blessed in his deed." "I will show thee my faith by my works." "Faith without works is dead." "And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. xxii, 12.

6. Another peculiar trait of those who are looking for the blessed hope, is, they are ZEALOUS of good works. They see much to do, and but little time to do it in. They are ready to sacrifice pleasure, ease and worldly treasures for the salvation of others around them. Jesus died for the ungodly, for his enemies. There was not one selfish act connected with his mission and ministry. All was pure benevolence. The real Christian actuated by the same

principle, zealously engaged in good works for the salvation of others is viewed by a selfish world as very peculiar.

We have noticed some of the peculiarities of the people of God who are being prepared for the coming and kingdom of Christ, and shall now leave the subject for the consideration of those who would be "redeemed from all iniquity," and be "without fault before the throne of God."