Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-09-14
Am ] a Christian?

Mn q SuTioudu
No more important question can one ask
himself than this: Am really christian?
How sad will be the disappointment if af-
ter have been reckoned christian here,
and been so esteemed when dying, Ishould
tail OF acceptance and hear the sentence, 81
never knew your Who can comprehend
its import? Yet we are assured that many
will be thus disappointed. Shall be am
ong the number?
1t requires the utmost carefulness to Sc
cure that confidence of hope which gives
us the affirmative of the question. 1t will
not do to rely upon mere emotion or happy
impulse. One person may be sad and
gloomy and yet be christian; another may
be joyous and buoyant in hope and not
really know Christ. Feelings are changea-
bic, like the waves of the sea, coming and
going, rising and falling, and are apt to be
implicitly relied upon as evidence. We
should seek clearer title undlsturbed by
Sorrow
"a faith that shines more bright and clear
When tempests rage with doubt
That when in danger, knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt"
1t will not do to accept the prevailing
standard ofreligion without question:
There are toomany who, measuring them
selves by themselves, and comparing them
selves among themselves are not wise. -
The effect is, to lower the standard, dwarf
the mind, and content us with something
less than the reality.
1t will not do to rely on the mere form of
christianity. This grows into Journalism
which ignores the power and life of relig-
ion and contents itself with the vain show
of pomp and parade. There must be some
form while we live in the flesh but we must
not deny the power The life giving spirit
must be in it.
We should not forget that we are liable
to be deceived, and that our deception, how
ever far it may 90 here, will not avail us
anything hereafter. Every mans work
shall be made manifest; for the day shall
declare it, because it shall be revealed by
fire. and the fire shall try every mans
work of what sort it is" The inference is
plain that every man should subject him
self to such an examination as will reveal
hi, true character and give him the assur-
ance he needs. What will it avail to be in
the church or in the ministry without re-
. ligion? The Rev. Mr.. Earle relates the fol-
| lowing:
\ young man Of fine talent and promise,
after completing his studies, was settled
| over one Of our large churches. The peo-
| pie were delighted with their new pastor.
His education, his eloquencc, his devotion
to his work, and his theology even, were
all they could wish; his discourses were
listened to with great pleasure by large
congregations. But soon those who knew
Christ cNperimentally, and had power with
God in prayer, became satisfied that their
pastor was an unregencratcd man. All
was right except his heart. The church,
however, did not wish to part with him, or
to injure his influence. Accordingly they,
unknown to him, appointed day of fast
ing and prayer for his conversion. But as
they were assembling to humble themselves
before God for that purpose, the pastor saw
a brother who could never keep secret
passing by his study, and inquired of him
why 50 many Of the people were going into
the church. The plain, straightforward
reply was, eve are going to pray that God
will convert your soul, pastor"
This information deeply moved the heart
Of the pastor. He went to his room, fell
on his knees, and asked God to show him
his real condition. And there, in answer
to the prayers of his people and his own pc
titions, the Spirit revealed to him the start
ling truth that his heart was still unrenew-
ed and led him to give himself to Jesus
and obtain an experimental knowledge OF
the way Of salvation. From that day he
was all the church could desire.
We may know whether we are christians
or not by the following questions, which we
should see to it that we can answer in the
Affirmative:
l.. Have we made a complete surrender
of ourselves to God so that the will is in
subsection to him, and what we are and
what we possess are at his service?
,. Has the burden of our guilt been re.
moved? We do not ask when, for it mat
tiers not whether we know the time if We
know the facts. The question is, have om
sins been Cancelled by the blood of Christ
and the love Of God and of christians taker
their place, so that eve know that we hav,
passed from death unto life?"
8. Do we love the bible and the place Of
prayer, and seek the salvation of sinner.
and the perfecting of ourselves in the gra
r ces Oft the gospel? Can we say
Nearer, my God to thee, nearer to thee,
Fen though It be a cross that raise5h mel"
five can answer these questions in tn,
affirmative, the one with which we com
menced will be of easy solution.-HoTnja,
= STIR.