Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-09-18
[OrigiRal.t
DO WE LOVE JESUS !?

True and genuine religion does not consist
in impractical theories and intangible vaga-
ries. 1t consists of certain fundamental prin-
ciples which are to be understood by the in
tellect and put into practice in our every day
actions. No doubt some persons think that
they have embraced the Lord Jesus Christ
when they have joined the church. This
may be true or it may not. Joining the
church and loving Jesus are two things that
are not necessarily inseparable. When it
is possible, all who love Jesus join the church ;
but it is to be feared that all that join the
church do not love Jesus.
Since the destiny of our immortal souls de-
pends upon loving Jesus, it is important that
we make the effort to discover whether we
love him or not. There are within the reach
of us all, means of testing this thing. If we
are not able to determine it. with infallible
certainty, we can come to satisfactory con-
clusion. The first evidence of loving Jesus
is joining the church. Processing Christ be-
fore the world is one evidence of gracious
change. 1t is simply declaring that we have
experienced a change of heart and have gone
to Jesus to be saved from our sins. Some
times, no doubt, individuals are not convert
ed when they make profession of religion,
but are converted afterwards; but the usual
order is that conversion takes place first, and
then profession as legitimate consequence.
So soon as conversion is produced in the soul
by the Holy Spirit, profession Of religion is
made by the lips A bare profession does not
settle the question whether we love Jesus or
not. There are, however, tests by which we
can try our profession of what kind it is. True
religion consists in great deal more than
simple profession or, rather a profession of
religion embraces more than simply joining
the church. One test Of the genuineness Of
our profession is our love for the brethren.
Christ loves all his people, and all his people
love each other. The word brethren, with
some professed Christians means no more
than members of the same congregation, or
the same denomination. This is not its scrip
tural Specification. All who love Jesus are
brethren. 1t is good evidence that we love
Jesus if we love all who love him, it matters
not by what name they are called, nor what
may be their circumstances or condition in
this world.
But love is powerful thing. 1t leads us
to do and die. There is no danger which the
lover will not encounter; there is no sacrifice
which he will not gladly make, and no suffer-
ing which he will not endure with fortitude.
If we would know whether we love Jesus or
not, let us ask ourselves what dangers we
would encounter for him; what sacrifices we
have made and are willing to make for him !;
what suferings we have endured and are still
ready to endure for him. Many professed
Christians are like the Ephramites armed
and carrying bows they turn back in the day of
battle. By profession they are on the Lords
side, but their hearts are set on something
else. The lover glories in the object Of his
affection. To him it is all the world Paul
gloried in the cross. To the true child of
God, Jesus Christ is the chiefest among ten
thousand-He is altogether lovely. His lov-
ing kindness is better than life itself, and His
frown dreaded more than perditiop.
Whether we love Jesus or not is matter
of consciousness. The mother is conscious
that she loves her child, and the child that it
loves its mother. While the mind Of each
remains sane, no logic in the world could prove
the reverse 1t would be impossible to con.
vince mother that she does not loveher child.
She knows she does love it. The affections
of her heart are wrapped around it, and she
and it are bound up together in the bundle Of
life. The relation between Christ and his
people is more intimate than that between a
mother and child.
Baa 1t is so little we spend in religion, and
co ,,or,, ,uob upop oursa1vna an little to the