Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-09

grace upon his heart Miracles were adj
dressed TO the understanding of men, and
sometimes compelled assent TO truth by
their Overwhelming testimony, bat they
were never intended to convert sinners.
This Belongs to the grace of God. This
is the office of the Spirit, so that Paul's
conversion may be considered as pat
tern and an example to those who shall
hereafter believe. ~
Now, wish you to observe that the
very language of Scripture in defining
this great moral change was verified in
him. The figures which illustrate it were
realized; the fruits it produces were
brought forth; the evidences that anthem
ticate it were all embodied in it, con-
sciously to himself, visibly to others. He
vas a new creature. Old things did pass
away, and all things became new. The
whole current of his affections was
changed; sin had no more dominion over
him; he was crucifed unto the world, and
the world unto him. He denied himself;
ne bore the cross; he lived in the flesh by
faith in the Son of God, who loved him
and gave himself for him. True, the
man did appear in the Christian. There
wasthe same intellect, enterprise, resistless
energy, heroism but how exalted and
refined, how changed, in their use and
development and appropriation
This man makes his first appearance in
history st scene of blood, holding the
raiment of them who slew the martyr
Stephen Look at him 4! bold, stern, no
pity in his eye, hate in his heart, his ran
corous maliguity gloating in the groans,
and wounds, and death, of his victim.
Now, see this same man, and yet not the
same, prisoner on his defense
before Agrippa, bold, fearless, up
right. Converging his argument into
one startling interrogatory, he said, ''King
Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? l
know that thou belieYest;" and Agripps,
surprised and COMPOUNDED, said, "Almost
thou persuadest me to be christian"
Oh, how the grace of God beams and
burns in the answer, 81 would 10 God
that not only thou, but all that hear me
this day, were not only almost, but alto
eether such as am, except these bonds. "
ask no companionship in prisons and
prosecutions; the Lord spare you ali
these; but would that you were par
takers with me in the peace and comfort
aud hope of the gospel.
have laid stress upon Paul's CONVEX
sion, its depth, universally, entireness,
not merely because it is significant fact
in the history of christianity, but because
it IS the key to his whole character; its
radiance spreads all over his apostleship.
1t gives tone and direction to his life, ex-
plains his principles, accounts for his firm
ness, and constitutes him a type and
standard to the church to the end of time.
Fidelity to souls and to God compe's
me t. say that, in these days, people get
religion too easily-religion, so called. |
am awfully afraid it is no religion at all;
at least q religion outside of saving
power, divine communion and Christ
likeness. Conversion never goes any
deeper than conviction for sin. The
heat may be punctured and not broken.
The spirit may relent and stop short of
cUnTiIion. A shallow repentance will
lead to q superficial experience, irregular
and unreliable, and even church member
ship under these circumstances will be
merely a sentimental association sacred
only by contrast, having no authority of
law over the conscience, and no con-
| straining sense Of responsibility in view
of its duties and its services. l would
not take single example even from
the Scriptures and make it the standard
OF an arbitrary judgment. | concede
great variety and diversity in The manner
in which men are enlightened and re-
newed. do not propose to measure the
tears of Penitence or count the signs of
Cody sorrow, or define or regulate the
expression of religious feeling. do not
mean to exaggerate the time, or the place,
or the means, or the circumstances OF
conversion; but l do insist upon re-
ality, and reality that verifes itself,
| harmOnizing with the didsctic teachings
| and pictorial representations of the bible.
There must be disgust with sin, the abne-
cation of self, separation from the world,
sn eye single to the glory of God, thirst
for religious knowledge, az absorbing de-
sire for purity OF heart, yeaTning zeal
for the salvation of mankind. These
things are not the ornamental tTappiDgs,
! but the essential attributes of Christian
character. They are not the monopoly
of the favored few, but the common her
itsge of all tue believers. They are not
| limited to the. apostolic age, nor are they
recorded of the early Christians SIS excep-
! tional things. They inhere in the very
nature of religion, identify It's celestial
| origin, and were intended to be eXempli-
fed in every age, By every generation.
What estimate, then, shall we put upon
that religious profession which leaves
the subject unchanged in will and taste
and affection and association, which
! allows unlimited community with the
world In It's fashionable fOllies, its pride
and its pursuits, which sacrifices indie
pendence and principle and conscience
upon the altar of the worlds opinion,
which sub1rdinates the holy claims of
our blessed Christianity to the behests of
an artificial civilization, which would
rather grieve the Spirit than brave the
taunt of a class or clique, which would
rather forfeit the favor of God aud com.
promise integrity than dare to be singu-
lar The great blunGcr Of modem times
is that most people protesting religion
neither propose or desire to be
very religious or eminent in their
usefulness and their labor, but satisfy
themselves with such variety of piety
as may serve TO pass them reputably
through the world and perhaps safely into
heaven at last. The premium on the
policy of this mode of insurance is very
cheap and liberal in the community; but
l tell you to day that it is as delusive a.
it is cheap; it as ensnaTing as it islibersl;
it is as worthless as it is accommodating
Why, brethren, am neither a crOakel
nor fogy, but fear me thu. the church
is cOlludiGg and compromising With the
world 10 the undoing of both parties.
The world is counting the church to give
responsibility to her follie', and thu
church is abating her testimony and mod,
flying her example, as though che toe
was ready for the uucOngenial marriage.
She is parting with her Christian liberty,
the liberty to please God and to do gooG
in defiance of times and seasons and max
inns and customs, and all for mess o.
pOttage, and is becoming herself the vic
tim of a debasing and calling seIVitude t
that imperious JeZebel called fashion.
l tell you that our young people, and
! dldE. ultsSs Jul OlO pSJiJ4g bOOS III HAL
places, are getting away from the doc
trines of the Bible aud the experience o
the fathers. Nlethodsm is intended to b.
Gods witness of a simple hearty wor
ship, living, spiritual, felt ex
perience, o holy, self-sscrilicing IA
borious activity. These things sre vita
10 christianity; they are never cut 0
place, never unreasonable, never los
their adaptation, always necessary. All
l have heard about civilization and pro
gress and changes in society and refine
ment, and the demands of the age, an
} perhaps these may modify, here an
there, what js simply prudential in tn
policy of the church; but their uUhsllowe
| hands should never be allowed to tOucl
the Ark of the Covenant, either to TAX
out or to put in. The morals of christi
anity DeYer alter; the grace of God is es
| santially the same in its effects and de
| sign and demands. The principles of
soul saving piety are immutGble, and jus