There is a certain type of mentality, which assumes that unless one parrots the same old clichés that it has been duped into believing he cannot possibly believe in the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD -- therefore, MUST be an ARMENIAN. What such simple minded people fail to consider is that the doctrine of divine sovereignty was taught and believed LONG before the time of Calvin (or even Augustine, for that matter) and by people who totally rejected the Calvinistic - Augustinian interpretation. Divine sovereignty and Calvinism do NOT stand or fall together. How CAN two walk together except they be AGREED?
    The doctrine of God's sovereignty has clearly been perverted by such as reduce man to an irresponsible and helpless "robot" -- so far as moral responsibility is concerned. Certainly God HAS A RIGHT TO DO AS HE PIEASES!! Such was the right He EXERCISED when He made man in His own image and endued him with a "will" and the ability (and responsibility) to make moral decisions. But the assumption of "moral inability", based on the "spiritual incapacity" of fallen man, is an assumption that contra-

dicts the overwhelming tenor of the Scriptures.
    To argue a "moral inability", in the face of God's proclamation of LOVE for the whole world, the promise of His Son as "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world", and the provision that "whosoever will" may come, is nothing less than LIBEL against the character of the Most High. The insistence that God alone must DECIDE what few will be saved, while the multitudes are left in a state of helplessness to respond -- DECREED RIGHT INTO HELL -- makes the Biblical doctrine of Redemption look like a cheap scheme of hypocritical theatrics. Such mishandling of God's Word, and defamation of His holy character, will not go un-judged!!
    It is high time that men of God cease equating things that are not equal. (Spiritual incapacity does NOT mean or establish moral inability.) There is no need for such efforts to "harmonize" the seeming paradoxes that appear so often in the Scriptures. What IS required is an inward, spiritual illumination that comes only to one who is willing to cease "playing god" long enough to LET GOD BE GOD!! Who are

    It was Homer, the Greek poet, who first used this figure. It is one that we may borrow to bring before our minds the idea of an imaginary sphere filled with winged creatures -- varied as the birds and insects that fly in the heavens. Only, these winged creatures are WORDS -- fitly or unfitly spoken.
    Some of these creatures sit upon the swinging tree branches, singing. By their songs they soothe and rejoice the hearts of men. They are words of TRUTH and PURITY.
    Others of these winged creatures are as beautiful as the rainbow; though they flit to and fro they are useless; no heart is blessed, no life enriched, by the beautifully woven tapestry of sophistry or rhetoric.
    Still others, among these winged creatures, appear as vultures and carrion-flies, everyone recognizes them as words of slanderers - mere

gossips who speak carelessly or maliciously of their neighbors or brethren.
    Modern science has not yet invented a device for capturing words unfitly spoken -- idle words, hasty words, harsh, cruel, slanderous, humiliating or flattering words; all continue their mischievous and damaging flights -- never to be captured or cancelled; yet, certain to be faced in an inevitable judgment before God, (Matt. 12:36-37).
    It is not easy to give a clear definition of "idle words". Such a definition must certainly cover tattling, tale-bearing and back-biting wherein one makes himself the Devil's postman. It must also be broad enough to include such slang and vulgarity as inevitably leaves the smutty fingerprints of the devil on the surface and disposition of one's heart. It must include boasting -- a glorying in, and exaltation of self; and profanity -- the utterance of sacred names or things in a careless, trivial or angry mood.
    The "faith of Christ" is able to control one's tongue; His Word commands it, genuine Christian love requires it, and even men - of - the - world expect it of those who profess to be the ambassadors of a righteous God in the midst of a sinful world.
    What sort of winged creatures do YOU set in flight? Are they the sort you want to face in judgment?

    Our God is "a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He", (Deut. 32:4). He does not, and cannot, lie (Num. 23:19; Heb. 6:18) and we ought to be like Him. Truthfulness, in word and deed, ought to characterize the lives of those who profess to be His people. We ought never to be guilty of hypocrisy, deception, misrepresentation, double-dealing, prevarication or lying.
    A lie is a conscious falsehood, uttered with the intent of deception. It is of the devil, (Jn. 8:44). One may either speak or act a lie; both words and actions may become instruments of deception, (Pv. 6:13). Lying is an abomination in the sight of God (Psa. 101:7), and of all right-thinking men. Undermining truth, weakening character and harming others, it can never be justified on ANY ground.
    Jesus Christ was the very personification of truth and truthfulness. Never did He, voluntarily or involuntarily, misrepresent Himself, anyone else, or anything. No trace of insincerity, pretension, guile or hypocrisy can be found in anything He said or did, (I Pet. 2:22). He spoke exactly what He felt in His heart, and His words concerning others were always words of exact truth. He never attempted to make others look WORSE in an effort to make Himself look BETTER.
    Wouldn't it be wonderful if every minister of the Gospel were characterized by the same truthfulness as was perfectly exhibited in their Lord and Master? It would be MOST IMPRESSIVE!! -- E.G.

    The happiness that awaits the faithful in the Kingdom of God cannot be adequately described in the language of this world. Yet, the Word of God does give some idea of its blessedness.
    Assurance is given that the man of faith will ultimately be liberated from all annoyances, pains and sorrows. The saints of God will no longer face hunger or thirst, nor suffer from heat or cold.
    At last, we will be permitted to enter into PERFECT REST, (Heb. 4:9) -- liberated from every ill of body and soul. Our life-long conflict with sin will be ended, and we will be able to worship our adorable and worthy Lord without its hindrances.
    There is VICTORY AHEAD for such as commit their way fully unto the Lord. Therefore, let us not be weary in well doing; rather, let us rejoice in anticipation of that "Blessed Hope" that is ours of being conformed to the image of our dear Lord at His appearing in glory.
    Freed from every vestige of sin, perfected in body and soul, we shall soon live and reign with Him forevermore! Let us LOOK UP, and press onward. Our Redemption is drawing VERY NEAR!!

YOU to set in judgment on God's RIGHT to create man a "morally responsible" being -- endowing him both with moral ability and responsibility? (it is nothing short of RIDICULOUS to argue for "moral ability" toward everything BUT the Gospel of the Son of God!)
    The spiritually dead, fallen man retains the mental and moral ability (and responsibility; the two must stand or fall together) to:(1) HEAR and understand the basic message of the Gospel; (2) RECOGNIZE its reasonableness and

graciousness; (3) EXPERIENCE a conscience stricken sense of his need of a Saviour; and (4) RESPOND, gratefully and penitently, with heart and mind, as the Holy Spirit points him to the seeking Saviour -- instilling a desire after Him, creating a faith that can appropriate God's provision, implanting a new heart and illuminating the mind to discern spiritual truth.
    When this occurs (and it MUST occur if any man is ultimately to be saved), the SOVEREIGN GOD is honored in that the order He has designed has brought a wandering sinner home. It is NOT His will that ANY should perish; He desires that ALL MEN should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.
    Jesus once complained to some who rejected His word: "Ye WILL NOT come to me that ye might have life"; and, concerning Jerusalem, He said: "I WOULD ... but YE WOULD NOT".
    Why don't YOU come to the Sovereign Lord? He will PERMIT you to GO TO HELL if you fail to ACCEPT His universally adequate provision.

Said Justin Martyr:
     "By examining the tongue of a patient Physicians find out the diseases of the body, and Philosophers the diseases of the mind."
    What does yours reveal?