1917_The_Finished_Mystery_Text

have received the very highest blessing, the"Crown of life", the Divine nature. Gold is asymbol of Divinity. To receive a crown of goldis to be born of the spirit. All old-timeMethodists felt certain that they were "born ofthe spirit" when converted, no begetting orquickening being necessary. But here is pointedout that these good people had "as-it-were"crowns instead of real ones.And their faces were as the faces of men.—They were not "Born of the spirit" as theysupposed.Revelation 9:8.And they had hair as the hair of women.— "Ifa woman have long hair it is a glory to her: forher hair is given her for a covering." (1 Cor.11:15.) The Church's glory is her wedding robe,the robe of Christ's righteousness. It is to thecredit of old-time Methodists that they trustedfor salvation in the precious blood of Christ.And their teeth were as the teeth of lions.—Lions are able to chew and swallow almostanything. When the conference at Baltimore in1787 turned John Wesley's Superintendent into aBishop, the Methodist people swallowed it all;and to this day most of them really believe thattheir clergy are a Divinely appointed institution,despite the fraud perpetrated.— Joel. 1:4-6.Revelation 9:9.And they had breastplates.— "Breastplates ofrighteousness."— Eph. 6:14.As it were breastplates of iron.— An ironbreastplate would be a good one but an "as-itwere"breastplate would need examination. Itwas not uncommon for old-time Methodists todeceive themselves into thinking theyFM159had not sinned for years. Those who had suchbreastplates wore the "As-it-were" variety.And the sound of their wings.— When engagedin "getting the power".— Rev. 9:3.