Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-03-20
CONSEQUENCES OF DENYING
THE SPIRITS INFLUENCES.


estimation of u certain class of religious lev
cllels, whatever is ancient is erroneous. Ii
is their glory to have no tiysl principles,
sever learning, they are never able 10 come
to the know ledge Of the TRUTH
Amidst variety Of discoveries, with
which TREY would surprise tho religious
world, one is, "Fhat no other influence than
what the word Of God has on the mind, is
necessary to the conversion Of u sinner
Supernatural influence is enthusiasm. the
day of miracles is past, the Spirit, = They
seem, in short, pretty nearly in the same
predcalncnt as those of ol J, who had not
80 much as heard whether there was any
HOLY, G!ps." But as Christians have gen
.xraly b ,cn in the habit Of considering d.
vine influence as indspensably necessary 10
give tie word of God itself success, and as
>tni. discovery brands them as enthusiasts,
on this account it may not BE- improper to
examines some Of the consequences OF CIV.
ing Up this enTtsusrss4n--or, in other Words
Of deny ing Divine influences. And,
|. Tbs sentiment depr;ves the Holy
spirit Of his office in the economy OF Rc'
,dcmp,ion; he is supposed to entertain the
.Asanc eEsc towards the reprobate as towards
The ransomnd of the Lori. For oil the
work tais sentiment leaves him 20 DO, Is,
to inspire the sacred wri IS to exert their
own mighty energy on the mind. NV
here is nothing done for unbe!:evers, at
leas', for al, who have access to the word OF
Col. Those who were satisfied with tie
good old way, believed / 10 be tae office ct
the Holy Ghos', no, only 70 inspire Ia, So.
cred writer's. but 10 convince Of Sill, TO open
the eyes Of their mind, % change The heart,
and make the Lords people wiling in The
day OF his powc., Sc. Bat if he s>ntIlne::
IN question bc trur, the covenant. Offices Ct
,se'Huy Sarit are mere fiction.
.. THIS modern sentiment renders mar
the cause othis orn saNraion, directly con
'rary to the whole tenor Of Gods wo.d; Tor
ii not God but himself lhat makes him 10
dlfr from others. Of what avail are all
i,c blessings revealed in the go pei, oiwhat
avail IS the inspiration of the sacred oraces,
.uA-ss men believe their con!cnts! Now
iia,h is no; the gift ofGod, if q man be-
!cvcs without Divine influence, the grand
turning point in his salvation is in himself.
lie does tha, olhimselfwhout which, all
lie fathcr. the Son, and Holy Spiri', have
done, would be absolutely in vain : he gives
perfection and efficacy 10 their work.
This much seems plain, that on these prin.
ciplcs, the reason why cxe man goes to
heaven rather than another, is not because
Col has done moro for one than for the
other, bu that ihe former has done more for
himself; aud thus the whole glory Of mans
salvation belongs 10 himself! This scnii-
.mcnt is libel on the whole word of'God !
3. his contrary 10 the experience ot an
>cient belerers, whose characters are recor.
ded in the word of truth. 1t is contrary to
their hurnliating confessions. "ln me. that
tis in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.
tContrary 10 their fervcnt prayers "Cre-
ne within me clean heart Q God, and re.
new ,ish, spirit within me-" Contrary; 20
their grateful acknowledgements: "By the
grace of God, am what l am" If this
grace stle,i, mean what it will) were no: dis.
-tingulshi 6, the apostle speaks nonsense;
US ii he could he distinguished by what was
no distinction. Contrary TO their thanks
givings both in the church militant and tri.
umplian;-all ascribing glory 10 God ana ic
th Lamb.
4. THIS sentiment inrolres a nun'1eT o.
,a6surdIies : and whatever is fairly proved
absurd is thereby proved untrue. Now, 10
contemplate it in any point Of view: say,
that guilty depraycd sinners need no Divine
influences to render The word of God eltec.
tual to their salvation, but that this IS entire
ly in their own power. Then, it follows,
thai villa, God intended most etiectaally to
humble the pride OF man, is adapted only 10
,,cke ish it. I, follows also, that after all Je.
sus Chrisl has done for the salvation OF sin.
ners it is very possible ,ha, not single soul
will be saved and highly improbable, If not,
in the nature Of things, impossible. that any
will. 1t follows that the strongest Prtjud'-
ces conquer themselves that the
most vicious habils either mor'ify them
selves. or implant principles which
are destructive Of themselves, to which
the sinner g wholly aVers": nnd all
snis in s1le II >',,idnce mi rtiacnce o
Sa;au. uhoSe doaaIn!oa mou,4 be Heretl
oyHrlnrow9.
Take aLo;her view Of The subject. Say
;.le SPA, ard he sord are Identical. TINS
woH1 prove. that there were no brIevers
prior to Mo es, the first sacred wr!ter.--
! But sce what tn sentiment will u.ake OF
4 multitude Of Scripture passages. "Ihat
ch is born Of the word Is the word The
words speak @n.o you, they are the word,
aed u,ey are life. Your father shal! give
hi. hsly word (Which thcy possessed before)