The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-12-20
Am I a Christian.

The question is not DO I profess to be a
Christian? for there are thousands of people
in our churches who are so utterly destitute
of Christian character, as to present not
even look toward heaven. Said one of the
most eminent of our American pastors who
has gone to his rest 81 have preached to
this people nearly forty years as plainly and
as affectionately could, and now l great
ly fear that | shall not meet half of them in
heavenl" To be, or not to be, Christian !
is the point of practical interest. Am | a
new creature in Christ Jesus? made so by
the grace of God? Let US see.
To be Christian is to be like Christ. If
any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is
none of His. His spirit of meekness, and
gentleness, and patience, and forbearance,
and forgiveness and love, and self-sacri6ce,
which is the source of all real benevolence
these are the fruits, and hence the evil
dence of living union with Christ-of adop
tion through Christ into the family of God
In looking carefully into my own heart,
and at my past life, find | am so worldly
that have scarcely any resemblance to
Christ. am not meek, but irritables and
impatient, and selfish. l sometimes get
angry, and say bitter and cruel things against
my fellows. have been revengeful, when
Christ would have been forbearng and for
giving. l have sometimes given of my sub
stance to promote the ends of benevolence,
but it has been to save the speech of people,
rather than from any real interest in the
work sought to be accomplished.
AS scan myself carefully, cannot see
that 1 have any real devotion to Christ's
Kingdom. True, l go to church, and pay
the rent of seat in the sanctuary, but this
is more to save appearances, or because it is
respectable, or fashionable" than any
thing else. cannot say that 1 find any
pleasure in hearing the truth-indeed I
do not listen with sufficient care to know
what | have heard when the service is closed.
| have never felt that in my connection with
the Church, l had anything to do, or any
interest to sustain, or any sacrifices to make.
AS to prayer for the progress of the King
dom of God, it has not been my habit for
that or any other object. The enlighten-
ment and elevation, and salvation of man.
kind, is matter that have never meddled
with. So with the honor of religion and
the glory of God. confess the talk on this
and other like subjects is all Greek to me.
l have attended the social circles, the Mite
society, and have helped make up some
garments for the Chicago sufferers, but these
have been pastimes rather than otherwise.
Honesty requires that | admit that my re-
lgion has not been, and is not now, one of
devotion to Christ's Kingdom.
This soliloquy will answer the purpose of
an illustration of very much that goes under
the name of religion at the present day
The few points of practical interest alluded
to will naturally suggest many others, the
careful examination of which will help answer
the all-important question, A CHRIS
T1AN? Christian love is not a dead or dor
mant principle, but is in the heart one of
gushing sympathy, and living power in the
daily life 1t not only makes the spirit of
sacrifice, and brings all the powers of our
being into earnest work for Christ in His
vineyard, but at the same time it cultivates
all the graceS of the Spirit, and developes in
sweet union with Him a symmetrical and
beautiful character. Reader! put yourself
in my place and carefully canvass the ques-
ton AN IA CHRISTIAN?