Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-07-26
That only is true holiness uhieh ,1iH tedr Z
trials that God appoints.

That only is true holiness uhich uill lear tic
triaIsthat God appoints.
Such seeming graces as have never been
tried, or will not bear trial, ought not to pass
sor genuine. They will neither comfort
nea now, nor fit them for heaven at last.
q 1. All is not gold that gltters. Great
numbers Of persons in the protesting world
are deceived and destroyed by trusting to
snere apparent grace; they cannot deter
mine that they have true holiness unless
some trial be made Of If, and if L trial be
made which they cannot endure, the con-
clusion must be against them hence they
gropc in uncertainty, and finally stumble
where neither dclivcrancc nor mitigation can
reach them. Such was the miserable con-
dition, and such, probably, was the fate of
the Laodiceans mentioned in the text = they
imagined themselves rich, but were, in truth,
poor and wrctchcd; their fancicd gold had
never been tried III the fire. Reader, pass
not over this topic without some serious re-
flection in regard to your own spiritual state.
2. The promises of salvation are made
70 such holiness, such religion, rs will endure
trial: Blessed is the man that eHdureH
temptation for when he is tried he shall
receive the crown Of lie which God hath
promised to them that love him"
Not to him who sets out in the morning
with resolution and gaIantry, but to him
who holds out till the evening Of life, does
the promise apply, "He that endureth to the
end shall be saved" Hence, if any who
have sustained slight troubles shall after
wards faint and fail under severe trials, MI
their labors and their hopes will prove vain.
3. Every mans character must be scru-
tinized at the final Judgment; and if those
who pretend to religion cannot endure the
trials to which they are now exposed, how
can they bear the investigation to which
they will then be subjected! Surely, if we
have not such holiness rs will bear the Sc.
verest tests to which it can be brought III
this life, we can hardly hope it will sustan
the ordeal Of the last day. If we cannot
bear these lighter trials ii i little prosperity,
or light stroke Of adversely discover so
much fdseness, pride, and sclfishness in
the heart; if we cannot resist temptation,
but yield ourselves servants to sin; if we
can neither keep our hearts with God in
duties, nor mourn for our wandcrings from
him; If few SCOTS from wicked tongues.
or trials of persecution from the hands of
men cause us to faint in the way, and turn
back from following the Lord-what shall
we do when He comes, "whose fan is in
his hand, and who will thoroughly purge his
floor" and who will "try every mans work," !"
as by fire, I" Of what sort it is?'
4. True holiness is willing to be tried.
True saints greatly desire TO know their
condition, and choose to be searched and
proved; but false religion strives to avoid
the touchstone, and shrinks from scrutiny.
Saints wish to know the truth respecting
themselves, whatever it may be, while those
who prefer that their supposed grace should
not be tried, are secretly conscious Of its
talseness and Of their insinccrity.
o professor, if thy heart he right, thou
wilt wish to know the worst of thyslt'; and
when thou hast made the deepest search,
thou wilt still fear thou hast not been severe
enough; nothing will give thee more con-
tent than when thou feelest the word divi.
ding thy soul and spirit, thy joints and mar
row nothing so much comforts thee under
aifliclion as the discovery it makes of thy
heart. Thou wilt seem to feel with what
affection those words fell from the prophets
lips "Thou, o Lord, knowcst me, thou
hast seen me, and tried my heart towards
thee" o what refreshing sweetness will
stream through thy soul, when thou canst
make the like appeal to God, and with like
sincerity! And surely, with no such will
iingncss to have your graces tried, you can
have little evidence tha. they arc genuine
Fhrel.