Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-02-21

you,will YOU be gu!lcSS, should you not
extend that remedy! VIII you let them
perish shall their blood be found inyour
skir;s
From the Edinburgh Christia. Magazine.
EINDRANCEs TO OUR HAVING RATIONAL
EVIDENCES FOR HEAVEN.
l. The great hindrance is a loose, un-
evenly, untender walk for as jumhled Wa
ter will not reflect the image of the sun, as
wafer that standeth still will do, so that ir.
regular walk will not bear that evidence of
grace which a strict holy life will do; John
xiv. 81. He that hath my command
meuts. and keepeth them, he it is that low.
eth me and ne that loveth me shall be
loved of my Father; | will love him, and
manifest myself to him." While violent
passions and temptations disturb, it is as
ihe troubled sea, dark and muddy. The
out.breakings Of corruption are as the m'sts
and fogs that darken the air.
.. Weakness of knowledge in the mat.
ters of religion. This has been very ev.
dent in some, who, when they have but got
their judgments informed from the Lords
word, have got their troubled conscences
eased. There are four things have very
bad influence here: Q.) Some weak per-
sons have notion, that assurance Of our
interest in Chris, and clear discerning Of
grace in the hear, is an extraordinary
hing: at leas', that is business Of insupe-
rable difficulty. SO that they never have
heart to attempt it. But pray, will We con-
slider. God calls all Christians 10 it, whether
weak or strong, 2 Pct. l. 10. "Glving
all diligence to make your calling and cleo.
ton sure" And he has appointed ordina.
nv means for it: John V. l9. "These
things have written unto you, that We may
believe on the name of the Son of God, that
We may know We have eternal lite" How,
then, can it be looked upon as an extraordi.
nary thing? and is it business Of insupc.
rable difficulty, to man that understands
the nature Of grace, to reflect upon and dis.
Germ the movings of his own soul within
him, and compare them with the word Is
it such hard business for mans own sPir.
it to discern ITSELF in its act'ngs and NOV.
ings? Cor. ii. IL. "For what man
knoweth the things of a man, save the spr.
it of man which is in him." (2.) Mistakes
as to the nature Of evidences for heaven.
1t is surprising to find the weakness ofsome,
otherwise not ignorant. who being asked
the grounds Of their hope of heaven and
evidences for eternal life, will tell you they
build on such scripture as this " Him that
cometh unto me, | will in no wise cast
om.-Christ died to save sinners" These
are foundation for the direct act of faith
but still the question remains, How knowye
that We are come to Christ, that Christ died
for you and the only answer to these ques-
tions must be fetched from some parts Of
the saving change the man finds TO be
wrought in him. g. The not knowing
the nature of true grace in the general. If
in time when much i'll money is going, a
person receives Il rurse Of good money,
that vet does not know the money, nor can
not discern betwixt good and counterfeit,
that man cannot be easy So, how is 1t
possible that man can have solid evidence
for heaven, that knows not how TO discern
betwixt true grace aud that which is coun-
terfeit? Is it a great defect IN many, 9TH
erwise knowing, they are at loss here.
Nav be they can tell YOU, that love to
Goi and a real desire after rlg righteousness is
a work of grace ; but their loss is, they.
cannot circums;antia'e that love and desire,
so as j. NAV be distinguished from hypocrl-
tcal love and desire after righteousness.
az The ratings Of foundations still upon
every new prevailing OF inIquitv, so that by
this means some are still kept unassured, tor
say they, Ifit be so, why am thus? But
why do ye think grace will be so soon rid
of its i'll neighbor? that is surely your
weakness, Psal. lxv. 3. lniquities prevail
against me-" Ifye labor to watch, and up.
on YOUR failures fec over to the blood Of
sprinkling, and lcok to Christ more for his
Shirt TO subdue sin. and be more sensible
Of your own weakness, and your need of
Christ and imputed righteousness, ye may
even draw evidences from that, Heb. VI. IL.
" That by two immutable things, whereby
it is impossible for God to lie, ye might
have strong consolation, who have fled for
refuge to lay hold of the hope set before
u.s."
8. Sloth and laziness. They cannot be
at the pains to call their heart to an account.
Alas how sad is it that many who dare
not willingly neglect their duties, live new
ertheess in the habitual neglect of self-ex-
animation and inquiry, by scripture marks,
into the state of their soul. They do not
make it their business to observe the way of
God towards them, nor the way Of their
,ow.rd Col They never set them.