New-York tribune., 1869-05-21

H. what arc We ~ Inn, more Than lie mere assent OF
the understanding TO the irntai TJTs re- Ts 0thongh such
an nelecual conviction OF the truJh IS lp p IncTciv
tno tno111tire G,lief WHO have practical or saNlhg
Sdb i'm Christ Thus the devils Deheyo anu anu - ON
Atigcnal conviction Of the ruth for how u possible
for men practically 10 embrace inc % T Tfrufi we
would that mon possessed more OF thls ro f,u
Hyo' b Jcrs ~ Cbrstiauity and become more clearly
convinced I'm their minds Of the truths rcYeaeu III t
uUIe,% I % is Suinentv adapted by the blessing OF Cod
to prenarc the soul for the practical ana cOul5l
nc 10 the truths OF revelation can never save Wy
Indeed the highest degree OF merely spccqe&o & o,d tbo
nav consist with tho deepest eumity against Gou anu o
most decided rejection, practically, OF tIe Gosp - Pnd
sad Offer OF salvation. Now have ye both seen ana
SAVING faith includes not only the assent OF the m
drsisrIiIr but uso the consent OF tho heart with
'6c heart man beleveth unto righteousness, and PhHp
said 10 the eunuch II thou beIoves with an my ne
6est theological definition. but think we may Obtain
clear idea Of the true nature or saving Iah Itol @ y
creek word from which IL derived one % m9annG il 81
which s TO persuade That5 the mind not oJ ass9&his &
the truth but persuaded 10 gct III {ieW ol I a. s @
point is vital, let me oileuy iHusIae IA a. ,S S
"COmo INTO me, all ye tnaJ are weary ana ana , y
plies assent to tna truth, believe that Christ is both
able and willing give rest TO the SoIi 1uI theh no
anentaI and iuoperatve But the true. practical be-
lever feeling conscious OF me WeaIlsome Dulocn Doi
ons invitation and promise. Behold, come to thee,
weary ana heavily laden for rest and az ne LOOKS 70
Christ relies upon His merit and ooules IN Hs WoIu,
his burden removed and his conscience is az rest OI
Which The ancient meusaycrs fed for protection when
pursued by the avengers OF blood The speculative be-
nom The vc1giug Justice Of the Almighty can only DO
found in Christ and yet never step does he take 70
hide hmscf beneath tho covert or lls cross but he
tre tbe urlctcal believer apprehouye Of the aycDgug
wrath Of Cod flies to Christ lor shelter ana as ne iaS7 @
hold upon tie hyrusoi the altar upon Wlcn ms saGt@Ic @
atOUiug blood she'd rJoices I'D lLe truth that ueIe
Is now no condemnation TO them which are IN Chlst
Jesus" once more. Chrst is sara 10 De l9 @
uuon which we are TO 6mid Tor eternal me- lne
sav it 5t is tIe only sure foundaton but ad-
miro It's wonderful adaptation TO the end for when ~
daion is; and yet, WITH all his speculative faith and
proicssed admiration Of IL LIE never builds upon IT, but
sandy foundation whichn The day oftal Will utterly DIS
appoint Dis hopes and oyerwne.n nm IN DESTRUCTION, Bat
tie true believer being earnestly deSlrOus OF salvation,
fbSt lail which is Jesus Christ goes practically
work and wisely builds bis house upon ti and so when
the rain a descend and the floods come aud the winds
blow end beat npon mat 4ouse II oi yI4et g iaH because
8. / viii merely add without enlaTslng that saving
Followed by conscientious obedience 10 the law Of God.
You perceive essential difference between speculative
and nrac.l. nitn The formers unpcrsuasive and III
operative tAe latter is influential aud productive
III. The connection between faith ana salvation
lam aware that mulutudes consider this condition or
term Of salvation unreasonable NlaJ connection is
What Detcsy IS there for believing in the Lord Jesus
Christ lin oi5er to our being savell Could not God for
hmehty I'm the exercise Of His sovereignty pardon and
nave "a o. P S Ts vSG FSus Is tners ie'n in & De4fS hat
i should be made ndi.pe1,sable, to s9ly1, lyts
ncredulity as being unphnos6plica aud Irrational, but
sometimes laugh it to scorn aud turn away nom 1t with
the Jews In the wilderness, when bitten by the flying
fiery serpcnts When multtudes Of them had been bitten
and were dying, God commanded Moses TO make ser
pcnt Of brass and erect II upon pole and to proclaim
ton as utterly unworthy OF credias utteIy unreasona
bic and absurd What! look to piece Of brass made
INTO INTO the snare 0l @ bcrc S he stween % Rosi6e 70
f1qt and Hr
~ piece OF brass to effect cure II you had proposed
" SOME mineral vegetable substance as remedy
We might have believed that IL possessed medicinal
qualities which would prove emctei0as But
La 20 @ ga1s@ seipSH to iO co Wen ns
sonabeness Of ms procedure or not IL Is the means a
pointed by God FOR your cure and you mNSl look or
pole the Divine proclamation is, Look and live, refuse
and die Thousands did refuse 20 look in their mere
duhty and perish Now 'as Moses lifted up the serpent
IN the wilderness even so must the Son OF Man be lifted
G h e gG9y4 RdRo IN H d might mot perish
the Cross of Calvary, is the Son of Cod and the gospel
shan be saved Nutitudes however in their vain phil
OsOphy and pride OF intellect refuse 20 look, and demand
It is enough that this is tho plan and this the term de
SatSo % LooE yo Sinners % To that St''qR Beed@s nna
dying Lamb OF God who was appointed thus 10
live; or turn away in unbeef, and perish forever You
nro free mem yCu can refuse 10 Deheye you VIII but
dreadful al,omatye-ceInal damnation! But so it is.
"He that bcieveh shall be saved, but ho that beeyoth
not shall De damUed" Here we might rest our cause
It's sufficient HAT God made tie exercise Of faith
in Jesus Christ an indispensable term Of salvation
whether can discover any reason for it or not Tie
revealed viii of God is itself the highest possible reason
and truly phosophic and pi0us mind will Tcvcrenty
acquiesCe 10 such But while insist upon it tnat
the command and promise Of the Almighty should them
selves ulce 10 induce our acOuiesce.Ce In this method
and term Of salvation, do COncede that
cannot perceive their excellence and moral fitness.
There Obvous why the Almighty has devised
this scheme Of redemption through the blood Of Jesus
t 9o VIZ ;.j, ~ - ~ siy,fI6n All fat we nov NV S T6 m
E MAT as this plan OF salvation has been devised v be
HlgIg~t al
Authority We ought reyerently 10 acquesce and i'm
". Whoever refuses or negoct5 practically to believe
the Gospel will De damned.
Let me inquire OF YOU NY hearers, have you practical
hithi Observe, do not ask whether You have hot
speculative belief In the truths revealed in the Gospel
respecting the person aud work OF the Lord Jesus But
have you practical falthf Has your faith been iuiu
ental and prOduCtiyei Has 10 led under "a
aon OF your CUNT and hepessIess to put your trust in
Christ as your only ana a.suhclent Redeemerf Has
your alth been accompanied by sincere repentance and
evidenced by an habtual obedience 10 the divine lawl
your faith be not thus practical 1t is bettcr than
body without suuit Is dead, being alone. Thousands
now IN peIdltOn VINO had as clear intellectual
YetOn OF tHe truth rs you nave and as strong specu
latye belief but they persisted because their belief
not OpeTavet never led them 70 make their peace with
God by an actual reliance upon the Savior for saliva
tiOn. Did you but truly believe the word Of God you
could not remain indifferent 10 your awful exposure to
the wrath OF lc Almighty, persist course Of sin
which you know must terminate IN everlasting misery
Yea, but for your practical iuhdely you would even
now pOsratC yourselves before the throne OF grace and
Iue with agony for mercy.
Believing such 10 come,
sueh drealu certainty Of endless pain,
Ssi SSi s'as sp' 3sssils eI.iss ss 1o oS 1s 00'
uIsesred aud o,erisap their own belief
Lotto tHe lake oi o'erDurlng tTet
"Tbey oil not 90 believe
Not one Of sl who lament and wall
OF Co; sse none hsi tb.ther goue Absurd.
10 calculate, compare, choose and reject
By nature taught sud sell, and every sense,
Could, wth full eredenee o. time 10 come,