The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-12-23
"Is He a. Christian?"
BY +. .. ARTHUR.
"Is he a Chris tian :"

|
"Oh! yes, he is q Christian" was the
reply. II
III am rejoiced to hear you say so,
was not aware Of it BEFORE" said the
other. ... ...,.a
eyes; he has passed from death unto life.
Last week, , in the Joy of his new birth, be
united himself to the Church, and Is now 10
fellowship with the saints 1" f
"Wbata blessed change -
"Blessed, indeed Another soul saved
another added to the great company who
have washed their robes, and made them
white in the blood Of the Lamb. There is
joy in Heaven on his account"
"Of ~hom are they speaking 7" I asked,
turning to my friend. .........
"Of Fletcher Gray. believe" was the
reply. ..
Sew men stood more in need Of Chris
tian graces," said /. "If he is indeed mum.
bered with the saints, there 10 cause for re.
joicing."
"By their fruits ye shall know them"
responded my friend. 81 will believe his
cloim to the title Of Christian when I see
the fruit in good living. II he has truly
passed from death unto life, as they say, he
will work the works of righteousness. A
sweet fountain will not send forth bitter
waters"
My friend but expressed my own senti-
ments in this and all like cases.
| have learned TO put small trust 10 "pro-
fessioD,"lo look past the Sunday and prayer
meeting piety of people, and to estimate re.
lisio us quality by the standard OF the apostle
James. There must be genuine love OF the
neiChbor, before there can be love of God;
for heighborly love is the ground in which
that higher and purer love takes root. 1t is
in vain to talk Of love as mere ideal thing.
Love is an active principle, and according
10 It's quality, works. 1.-THE love be heaven.
ly, it will chow itself in good deeds to lbe
neighbor but il internal, in acts Of selfish
ness that disregard the neighbor.
IL will observe this Mr.. Gray" said /, as
I walked homeward from the company, sand
see whether the report tuuehing him be true.
II he is, indeed, Christian, as they affirm,
the Christian graces of meekness and churi.
,y will blossom in his life, and make all the
air around him fragrant.
Opportunity soon came. Fletcher Gray
was store.keeper, and bis life In the worlt
was constantly open to the observation Of al
men. He was likewise husband and faith
er. His srelations ere, therefore, of a char
acter TO give daily test of his true quality
1t was only the day after that happened
10 meet MIR. Gray, under circumstances TO-
vorable to observation. He came into the
store OF merchant with whom was trans
acting some business, and asked the prics
. of certain goods in the market. There wa
a marked change in his countenance and il
the tones Of his voice. The former had
sober, and almost solemn expression; tn
latter was tubdued, even TO plaintiveness.
But, In q little while those peculiaritie
r, gradually disappeared, and the aforetim'
h Mr. Gray stood there unchanged unchang
ed not only in apr earanee, bot in character
'e There was nothing of the "yea, yea" ont
D. "nay, nay" spirit iahis bargain-making, bu
10 an eager wordy effort to gain an adyantag
In 10 the trade. noticed that, in the face Q
BY an observation that only FIVE per cent. owe
N cost was asked for certain article, he sti
Of endeavored to procure it at a lower 6gur
ed than was named by the seller, and fnali
,is crowded him down to the exact cost, know
d, ing, as he did, that the merchant had larg
be stock on hand, and could not we'll afford
Nv hold it over.
ne "He's sharper - said the merchan
CD turning towards me, as Gray left Ii
store. rs-,s-sssf
Of "He's Christian, they say" was my II
." mark. rrry,Fgrg4q rs~ ~ = a. ry7sET1T
"AChristian =" 's. g. @'e.- -'' ''--'
OF "Yes; don't you know that he has becon
e| religious ana joined the ChuEcn!
in "YOu are joking r. rraE .g
he "Not word of 1t. Didn't you obser'
1 bis subdued, meek aspect, when he can
red 10 I" .aasvotal ls. ,.ea5s slr t..&s5
su' "Why, yes now that you refer to It.
The do remember a certain peculiarly ,abo
iv- him. Become pious Joined the Church
ON Well. I'm sorry." 1uI 0oE
'ndl "For what !" ..-..
his lAa "Tot the injury II does d good cause.
na' y. The religion that makes q man a bet'
W husband, father, man Of business, lawy.
eI' doctor or preacher. ! reverence. for 1t
!" genuine, az the lives of those who accept
~, ~. do testify. But your ,bypocritical prefer
'Y'' ers scorn and execrate." s 'a
M len "It is, perhaps, most too strong langual
IVY this, as applied to Mr.. Gray" said J., d, i,
~ "What 10 . hypocriteSi" asked the M
- chant. .,.
lay IA man who puts on the semblance
~, ~ Christian virtues which be does not p
q. sess." .s.s .sss 10 ras,.
:" sand that ID what Mr. Gfay dces when
4 assumes to be religious. a trse Chtistl
on. 10 Just. Was be jnst when Be crowded s'it e.