Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-07-26

with emotion but how can ! believe that
these things are true! >. :,
Then the pastor explained 10 him, with
the Rible in his hand, The truths Of reveal.
! ton. He laid down as the basis OF his rea:
soning the great fact Of the resurrection OF
Jesus Christ, that fact which every reason
able man must admit, and which is con-
firn1ed by history. But. when The miracle
of the resurrection of Christ is well estab-
lished, all the rest follows, of course, and
the divinity of the gospel is settled upon the
most solid foundation.
The Lord was pleased to bless these ex-
plantations to Erdmann, who listened with
much attention and docility.
Yes, he exclaimed at last, yes, ao'Sh
to believe this; must believe II. But it
there is eternal life and eternal happiness,
tell me, how it is to be obtained. What
must do to make myself worthy to possess
it?
The pastor replied that there were only
two ways by which to enter heaven: the
law and grace. Ifby the law man under.
takes to make himself worthy TO obtain eter.
nal happiness, he must keep this law in al!
its sancti,y, its whole extent, its spirit as well
as letter, without failing in a single po'nt'
| without iransgressing sin;l time; tor one
fault subjects man to condemnation, as well
as thousands and thousands Of faults. Sal
va,ion canno, be acquired BY the law, un-
less by fulfilling this law perfectly eompls'ety
and constantly.
If you have obeyed in this manner,
the pastor added, you have right to eternal
life. But examine yourself very carefully.
oh L? no, no, said the sick man, have
not lived thus. And if things are as you tell
me, all my past life is wasted, and ! have
no hope of eternal life.
II am happy to see, continued the pas:
tor. that YOU understand at last that God
cannot be satisfied with mere outward acts,
/ with some marks Of obedience, but that he
demands an entire holy life. A law would
no longer be law, if it need only 10 be par
TALLY kept.
If you are righ, land my conscience
agrees with you(, I am lost! For there is
nothing good in my life, and cannot on
the brink of the grave make amends! :.
True; and you may add that, even It
you were young like ne and could live
without sin till death, this would not make
amends for your previous sins. All the
powers in the universe, cannot alter facts,
nor make them otherwise. But sins are
facts Of which Go / is witness.
How then can any be saved ? asked
the physician in anguish how can |, myself
be saved? cannot offer to God. see
plainly, the good qualities which have been
always commended in me have done
nothing for God have not kept his law.
Wha, can | offer him?
Offer him the merits and perfect
righteousness of his Son ; nothing else can
save you.
Il don't understand you explain your
self.
do you not know then that God has
provided for and effected himself the sal.
yation of sinners condemned by his law ?
Here the pastor preached to the old man
the good news Of redemption by Jesus
Christ. He explained to him the agony Of
Jesus in the garden Of Ge.hsemane (Luke
xxi. 80 and y, and spoke to him of the
ministry Of reconciliation with God accord.
ing to the declarations Of ST. Paul e Cor.
v. lA-2l). This doctrine Of the love OF
God towards bis lost creature penetrated
the conscience of the sick man and cala,ed
bis poignant anguish. A light flashed
across the darkness which had hitherto
covered the soul of Erdmann,; healing
balm was poured into his wounded heart.
-Ah! yes, he cried after long and
solemn silence, this is good news which you
tell me!
But new doubts soon rose in his mind,
and he asked in an anxious tone: What
can | do to believe on Jesus Christ. and to
be assured that God will pardon nay sins for
His sake?
This is the ,cork Of God, replied the pas.
tor, that we believe in Him whom he hath
sent. The change in your views, during
this interview, is his Dork. 1t is not | who
have made it; {; nor you. If the thing de-
pended on you, you would still indulge the
fatal security in which you have lived so
many years.
II believe il, but
Don't make the thing more difficult
than it is. God offers you 'sov his pardon,
and free salvation acquired by the Savior,
and he canno, deceive you. Pray that he
give you the faith which accepts salvation.
pray! My God, | know not how to
pray | never prayed!
You can easily pray. A person dey'
ing of hunger, or devoured with burning
thirst, can ask for bread or water, so you
can cry to God from the depth of your mis-.
cry, and this ,oiR be praying. God does not
expect ofyou. in order to your delverance,