Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-03-14
WHAT Tie ACT OF REcElvING CHRIST con-

!. L.: dilC! tiS " ''i''h'S - l'l " iJNi| '''-
tional persuasion, Or dogmatcal opinion |
concerning Chris for that is too slight Il !
thing to be accounted a receiving Of Chris:
but this receiving Of Christ.
Il. In general, to express it in WORD,
if possible, it may be called (ts one OF Or
THnownca commentators express u atlIu-
cial knowed gc; that is, such L knowledge o!
Chris as leads The scu ,o an assured con-
i:t;cnCC In him. Our ShorCr catcchism de-
fines faith 20 be receiving Of Chris, ami
resting on him for salvation. as he is Of
fcrcd in tic Gospel. And this resting is
rot 50 much different act from that ol re-
ccivin@: as it is a continuation OF The act
of receiving; for when VIC receive him fer
salvation, VIC continue Our receiving Of
him, or believing il him. The reception
i the rest bTun: and the resting Is the
reception continued. And, therefore. what
ever application Ct Chris: is imported in
resting on him, the same IS imported in re-
cciving Of him. And rs Chris. is offered
10 every one in particular, that hears TIC
gospc!; so it is jhc duty OF every one TO
receive the offer by applying to Christ him
slf, for his own particular good, benefit,
and salvation. could here lay before yoa
several terms or express IONS whereby tbs
faith, or receiving of Christ is held in Tie
scripture, but continc myself to tie tex.
Receiving Of Christ is going Oh: Of the
whole soul, to close with Cnrist lor complete
salvation 10 mans self as he IS Offered in
the Gospel: and SO the language OF fa:;h
!S, there is an offer made by God 10 me.
myself, and therefore | receive Christ for
salvation TO myself according to the otl;:r,
;nd that with my whole heart and soul;
sor with the hear: man bclcvcth unto right
cousncss; My heart trustcth in him, ard |
am helped,' said the PsalmiSt. Some make
1alth TO be only an act of the will, that they
may exclude from the nature of faith. that
persuasion which yet cannot be excluded.
In opposition to such, we assert that tath
:, IN act Of the whole soul: the understand
=, VII, and affections, according to the
':.>.ur and hence these and the Ike
-.s'r!p:ures, make faith to be an act OF the
soul, Psalm. lvii. l, % my God, my soul
r,Str,h in thee Psalm, xvi. 2, 80 my
soul, tnou has said unto the Lord, thou art
my Lord. o my soul, wait thou only up
on God, for my expectation is from him.
My soul maketh her boast in the Lord.
Ny soul thrstcth for the living Col. Re
tura to thy rest, O my soul All eminent
IMPRESSIONS of faith. Now, say, this re.
cciyng of Christ is the sous closing with
him; the souls going out towards him, or
going into him as offered, SO as to become
one with him. As YOU see how gratis arc
knit to the stock, so as 10 become one with
tire stock, and one in the sock, else 1t cam
not live in the vegetable manner, sol the soul
is bv faith knit and united to Christ, the roo.
to be one with him. and one in him; for true
faith to close with Christ, is no; merely 10
Aaye Christ without the man, but Christ
within him; and therefore the soul by faith
goes into Chris, so rs not on Y 10 unload
his debt, and leave his sin and guilt upon
him, but also to surrender himself into his
possession and propricy.
"But that may further opcn uo this act
of receiving Christ, would
-. And more particularly consider the
nature thereof in the following qualities O.
L:
81. This receiving Christ is a spiritual
act, in opposition TO natural acts done by
natural wit and strength: man may believe
that way with cradle faith, Il natural faith.
acommon faith, and believe unto pcrlition:
bu. will never believe to the saving Of the
soul. True Erith is 4 spiritual act, under
conduct of the spirit OF faith: and there
FIRE faith is called fruit Of the Spirit, Gal.
v. %; and of the power Of the spirit; even
the exceeding greatness Of lis mighty pow.
or, Eph. i. 10. 1t is fruit and effect Of
the day of Gods power, and the revelation
of his arm, Isa. Iii. l. It is the gift Of
God, and fruit of his free grace: and hence
we read of some that through grace be-
iieved, Ac;s xviii. -. The power Of the
spirit Of Chris, creates it where it is not:
and that same power Of the spirit cXcitcs it
where is. 1t spiritual ac:.
SO. This act of receiving Christ is a
Iudcors ac', in opposition to darkness
;,nd confusion. The man beng acted hy
the spirit of faith doth act judiciousls and
distinctly, as in matter Of the greatest
concern, with Judgment and understanding,
saving as John Vi. 6s, TO whom SHAH we
90, thou hast the words of eternal life? We
believe, and are sure that thou art that
Chris, ihe son Of the living God.'-Thc
man believes the promise, and the doctrine
IF grace and salvation so judciousIy, that
as his Judgment approves it as truth, so
shc will accepts il, as good; This is faith
ful saying and worthy of all acceptation,
shat Jesus Christ came into the world to |
save sinners, of whom | am the chief l !
Tim. i. 10.
IS. This act of receiving Chris;, is 4
warrantabc act, in opposition TO prcsumP- |