The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-04-29

by almost every tongue, and still b. desti-
tute of that preparation Of heart which Is
essential TO bring us into fellowship and
communion with heaven and the favor
of our heavenly Father.
3rd. 1t does not necessarily include a
change in our views of the truth OF
christianity. We may fully believe that
this bible is q revelation from heaven ;
that Jesus Christ was born Of the Virgin
Mary-that he tabernacled in the flesh
for thrtythree years-that he died amid
earth's convulsions upon the cross-that
he was consigned to a rocky sepulchre-
that he burst the barriers of the tomb on
the morning Of the ,hird day--that he
ascendei on high from Mount Olivet
and now intercedes at the right hand OF
the Father, for the purchase Of his blood,
even while in our sins, and trampling
under foot the authority OF the Prince of
life. And even after the scales fall from
our eyes, and we discover Jesus Christ
in all his loveliness, no change may be
wrought in our minds in relation to these
historical truths.
4h. 1t does not consist in an outward
reform. We may reform all our outward
acts before the world, polish our exterior
until we appear like whited sepulchres,
yet within be full of dead mems bones
and all uncleanness. There is yet a
depth of corruption that has not been
reached-a fountain which has not
been cleansed, and bitter enmity to-
ward God which has not yet been sub
dued. Reforming our outward charac-
ter is very much like polishing an old
garment to give it the appearance Of a
new one, but with all the polish it is
still the same old garment. With all our
fair exterior, if the same corrupt heart
beats within we are the same morally in
the eyes of Jehovah. The Incorporate
man may leave the intoxicating cup the
Sabbath breaker may cease to violate
Gods holy day the prolane may cease
to take the name of God in vain the
dishonest man become honorable in his
deal, and still have no moral fitness for
heaven, or the society of the redeemed
5h. This preparation does not consist
in resolutions and promises we may re-
solve and leresolve, promise and repromisa
that We will enter upon this preparation
and still violate our resolutions and prom
ises. Perhaps as we have stood by the
bedside of friend rs he departed this life
in the triumphs OF faith, or listened to
the word of life as il has fallen from the
lips of Gods servants, or been perusing
the language Of the sacred Scripture, we
hhave promised God that we would en-
ter into a new course of liie-that we
would direct our footsteps heavenward,
and still We are rlodding along to-day in
violation Of this promise in the same old
course, But you may be ready to ask
in what this preparation does consist.
In carrying these resolutions and prom
ises into execution, taking Christ aud his
word. accepting Of him as our wisdom,
righteousness, sanctiication and relemg
ton, or in other words il is having a
new heart created within us by the pow
er and agency Of the Holy Spirit, whose
a painting after holiness and to lift tie in
spiration OF the soul heayenward. This
is in harmony with the teachings Of our
Savior himself. Verify, verify, | say
unto thee, accept man be born of wa
ter and the spirit, he cannot enter into
the kingdom of God. That which is
born of the flesh is flesh, and that which
is born OF the spirit is spirit. Marvel
not that | say unto thee ye must be born
again" "As many as received him to
them gave he power TO become the sons
Of God, even TO them that believe in his
name, which were born not of blood nor
the will of the flesh, nor the will of man,
but OF God "Not that we have any new
powers OF mind created in the work OF re-
gelertion, but such is the change
wrought by the agency of the divine
spirit. that our affections are placed on
new objects, objects which are heavenly
and divine. The Apostle fully express
es this when he says Itany man be in
Christ he is new creature. old things
have passed away, behold all things have
become new
The understanding perceives new truth,
tho viii receives a new bias the atlec-
ton embrace new objects; the heart is
impressed with new feelings, and the
wnole soul cast in new mould. The
preparation must commence in the heart,
Tor out Of the heart are the issues Of lile
A relish for holiness must be created in
our souls. before we shall delight in ho-
" things and discover loyeliness in the
society of heaven. Without This, ii mat.
ters not how lovely the world in which
we are placed, how pure the society in
which we move, and how sweet the songs
which fal! upon our ears, unless there is
corresponding fitness on our part, there
will be 10 real happiness, consequently
no real happiness, We would be
very much in spiritual point of view,
a. a man who has lost his appetite in a
bun ming fever, rs he lies wasting away
upon his couch, his friends may place
before him food, all the dainies which
can be provided by human skill, sill he
manifests no disposition 70 eat--what Is
tho trouble Not in the provisions. o!
the dainties provided, but in his appetite
to relish wholesome food. This is equally
true Of the moral man An appetite mus
be created for the things Of the kingdom