The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-15
Mlisfellallp
Is Christ in me 4?

A great question. have just heard it
discussed in a sermon, clearly showing that
Christ in man implies, l. That He is the OBJ
ject Of mans thoughts. 2. That He is the
object of mans affections, 3. That He is
the authority of mans conscience. 4. That
He is the hope Of mans soul.
Man here spoken Of is Christian man
a good arrangement and we'll illustrated,
thoroughly discussed and directly applied
Very well now what shall the hearer say
What fruit shall the seed bear, good or bad,
much or little? Shall 20 away now and
forget Of what manner Of man l am? No;
will not; will sit down in this quiet even
ing hour, and put the question directly to my
heart: Is Christ in me? How shall | an
swer? Does my heart condemn me while l
say yes? Then, will God who is greater
than my heart condemn me also? If my
heart condemns ne not, then have | conf
dencc toward God, and shall not be ashamed
before him at his coming. But how is it
Does my heart condemn me? Come direct
ly to the point. But ho" dare you say you
love Christ? In the strength of Christ !
say it, and by the testimony of the Spirit
He who knows no sin has said to my heart
" Go in peace, thy sins are forgiven thee
He will never deceive me He cannot.
love His cause His people, His work. DO
not love Him? 1t was not thus with me
once why now, if Christ dwells not in me
Christ is the authority Of my conscience
too. war sometimes with myself; yes
always; but with Christ will not war;
cannot. My soul repels the thought at once
What am /, that | should contend will
Christ, who gave His life for mine? Wh'
am I, that can withhold any portion Of m,
being or interests from Him who has pur
chased immortality for me!
And is He not the Joy Of my heart, too
The hope of my soul? Yes; praise iii
name. Other hope, or foundation tor hope
have [ none; [ renounce them all. Chris
is the hope of my soul, and my joy forever
But is it light always? Always while
walk in it. Did not the preacher say, tina
it was the plan and will of God, for goo
reasons, that His people should dwoIl PAL
Of the time in darkness? True, he did sa
so, but was he right How then will ne g
along with the word Of God in its tes'imon
on that point, when it says that God
, LIGHT. and in Him is no darkness at all.
we sa that we have fellowship with Hin
and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not tn
truth. If we walk in the light as lie is
the light We have fellowship one with al
, other, and the blood of Christ, HIS Sol
= cleauseth us from all sin 2" Does this pas
age indicate that we are doomed to walk
darkness? Far from it; its teaching is o2
actly opposite as to duty and privilege.
!, Then may walk il the |ight-th's dlVlf
light and reject this cold, human theology
n Christian darkness as accessory to tr'
experience. Cloudy days may come--da,
of trial, temptation and sorrow, but days
darkness. nj ghts rather. do not belong nece
sari V to Chris ian's experience. We q
the children of light, and Of the day, al
not of darsness or Of night.
But | have wandered, and must come bac
Is Christ in me? My heart responds,
Lord, thou kcowest that [ love thee. lie
; ct me ever remain. May no cloud gath
about my path, that may not pass away
reveal brighter day before me. May n
soul be true to itself, and to Christ. May
sin of heart or life stain the garments OF
j soul, or destroy my confidence in the Lo'
my glory. ooz
S August 4th, 1861.