Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-10-07
Is Hc a Christian?
By T. g. ARTHUR.


The question reached my ear as |
sat convcrsing with a friend, and |
paused in the sentence was uttering. to
note the answer.
oh yes; he is a Christian" was
the reply
Il am rcioiced to hear you say So
was not aware of it before said the
other
Yes; he has passed from death unto
life. Last week, in the JOY of his new
birth, he united himself to the Church.
and is now in fellowship with the
saints"
What a blessed chsngc!"
Blessed indeed Another soul
saved; another added to the graf com
pany Of those who have washed their
robes. and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb. There is ioy in
heaven on his account"
"Of whom are they speaking" ]
asked. turning to rny friend.
"Of Fletcher Gray, ] believe was
replied.
Few men stool more in need OF
Christian graces. said /. If he is,
indeed, numbered with the saints,
there is cause for rejoicing"
by their fruits We shall know them, -
responded my friend. Il will believe
his claim to the title OF Christian,
when see the fruit in good living.
If he has truly passed from death
unto life, as they say, he will work
the works of righteousness. ~ swec;
1 fountain will not send forth bitter wa
trrs."
NY friend but expressed my own
sentiments in this, and all like cases
have learned to put small trust in
"pTofcssion;" to look past the Sunday
and Prayer Meeting piety of people
and to estimate religious quality by
the standard of the Apostle James
There must bc genuine love OF the
neighbor, before there can be love o!
God; for neighborly love is the ground
in which that higher and purer love
takes root. 1t is all in vain to talk oi
love as a mere ideal thing. Love is al
active principle, and according to its
quality, works. II the love be heaven
", it will show itself in good deeds tC
the neighbor; but, if internal, in acts
Of scltishncss that disregard the neigh
bcr.
Il will observe this Mr.. Gray
said !. as | walked homeward from
the company, land see neither the re
port touching him be true If he is
indeed. Christian as they affirm
the Christian grsces of meckness ant
charity will blossom in his life, and
make all the air around him fragrant
Opportunity soon came. Fletcher
Gray was Storekeeper, and his lif,
in the world was. consequently, oper
to the observation of all men. He wa:
likewise husband and father. Hi,
relations were, therefore, of a charac
ter to give, daily. test of his true
quality.
1t was only the day after that l hap
pened to NEE, Mr. Gray, under circum
stances favorable TO observation. H
came into the store Of rnerchan. will
whom / was trapsacting some bust
ness. and asked the price of certain
goods in the market. There was
marked change in the expression o
his countenance and in the tones Of hi
voice The former had sober. al
most solemn expression; tho latter wa
subdued, even to plaintiycness.
But. in little while. these pcculi
ari,ies gradually disappeared, and tn
aforetime Mr.. Gray stood there un
changed-unchanged. not only in ap
pearance. bu. in character. Their
was nothing Of the 'yea." .yea." an
may" may" spirit in his bargain
making. but an eager wordy effort t
gain an advantage in the trade. ! nc
ticed. that. in the face of an asserva
tion that only five per cent. over cos
vas asked for a certain article. he sti