The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-06-01
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Am I a Christian (?

How often, and with what trembling anxieties,
do many hearts continually ask this question
Some rest content with past experiences. They
remember time when they were thoughtless and
unconcerned but some sermon, some tract, some
providence of God, some word of earnest entreaty
led them to think concerning their souls, and after
a season of darkness and waiting, they tremblingly
INDUCED hope, appeared before the session, were
received into the church, and so considered them
selves Christians. They point indeed to time
when the divine light shone into their souls, and
their breasts thrilled with a new-found joy and
peace. Others, however, can point to no such
sweet moment "when first they saw the Lord; !"
they have felt no such ecstatic thrill; and they turn
away sad at heart, fearing lest they have hoped in
vain. True wisdom is not to look at the past but
at the present. ''As many are led by the Spirit
Of God, they are the sons of God" Whereas
once | was blind, ao1o / see.
Do you look upon God the Father with fear and
dread, as Sovereign and Judge, just and inexor
able, or do you behold Him as reconcied in Jesus
Christ, your Fdther whom you reverence and love
Is the Lord Jesus Christ anything more to you
than historical character? You believe there
was such being endowed with great powers, of
marvellous tenderness aud benevolence; you be-
lieve that He lived and suffered and died. But do
you believe that He is the Son of God, that He
died for sin, that He satisfied the law of God, that
he died for you? Do you rest upon Him, upon
Him only for salvation2 Are you trusting to your
self, your prayers, your good works, your life of
holiness, or do you discard all these grounds of
acceptance and cast yourself. on the arms of SOW.
ereign lover As you behold Him suffering do you
feel deep sorrow for SIM does your heart swell
with love that He has borne its curse, and do you,
without hesitation or reserve, devote yourself to
Him?
Do you hate sin? Not merely that which is
open and fragrant, but that which is hidden and
known only to yourself and God2 Do you abhor
yourself do you abhor the secret sins of the heart,
the desires uniformed, the wishes unexpressed, as
well as the purposes aud resolutions you may or
may not execute? Do you lament over sin, not
because it incurs Gods wrath, and secures His
punishment, but because it is displeasing and
abominable to Him2 Could you sin without fear
OF detection from Him, were there no hell, would
you yet hate sin because God hates it2
Do you love Gods wi2 Is the word rich
treasure to your Do you delight in reading and
Obeying His holy law? Is it perfunctory duty,
irksome and unpleasant or is it joy day after
day to ponder its precepts and treasure its prom
ises2
Are Gods people dear to you because they are
Gods peOple2 do not ask, do you love stran-
ger who is Christian more than child who is
not Christian. But is there something in the
Christian life and likeness to Christ that attracts
you, the more it is the copy of the Master2
These and similar tests are within the reach of
all. Some one or other may lead you to see that
you are one of Gods chosen ones. As the travel
Ter in the night cannot tell the exact moment when
day broke on the earth, but only sees and knows
the advancing light around him, so often God
children can only say with the blind man. iS much
kaOl0, once a0as blind, noa0 I see.
Reader, are you Christian? If you are not,
can you tell me a0hy? L.