Middletown transcript., 1873-10-04

now secs tnut uc deserves 10 DC cast OUT
from the presence 6f.thc Lord and from
the glory Of bis power forever. on account
Of bis many and greatly aggravated trans
gressions.
Having seen aud felt the evil Of sin,
the renewed soul no longer delights in it.
but be hates j, with perfect hatred. The
natural bias Of the carnal mind to wards sin
is. in measure. removed, and tho soul
!. inclined to love and pursue holiness.
His will. which once determined his
thoughts. desires and actions in favor Of
sin. is now, in part. rec,ified. and he de-
lights in the law Of Gcd and seeks to be
coniormcd to the image Of God.
lIc is now willing to forsakc sin--to
deny himself ungodliness and worldly
lus,s--and desires to live soberly. right
eously and godly in this prescn. evil
world. and he longs for the time when he
shall be forever freed from the dominion
Of sin and made perfect in holiness.
The change which takes place at regcn-
Grafton extends not only to the under
standing and will. bu. to tho affections
also, The carnal mind makes the earth
its portion and loves the world as its su
preme good but when the sinner has
passed from death to life. he loves his
God supremcly. and exclaims, "Whom
have in heaven but Thee, and there is
none on earth desire beside Thee Thou
art the chiefcst among ten thousand and
altogether lovely" Eternal life. then.
consists in n renewal Of the soul in knowl-
edge. righteousness and true holiness; in
the implan,atiop of new and hely princi-
pies, which unfold themselves in the
thoughts. desires and affections Of the
soul
"a Faith in Christ is another essential
part Of eternal life "lle ,ha, bclicyeth
shall be saved /; he that bclieve,h not
shall be damned /" Faith il the necessary
result Of regeneration. When the sinner
is SO far enlightened as to perceive the
holiness and justice Of God aud the cx-
tent Of bis law, the evil Of sin, his own
vllcncss as sinner, and b;' utter iuabili-
ty to save himself then he has clear views
Of the infinite value of Chrisis righteous.
ness. Of the necessity Of his atonencnt
and of the impossibil,y Of sinners being
saved in any other way than By the grace
of God through his beloved sou
\ correct knowledge Of Christ. in his
person and Offices. is necessary TO the cx
ercise Of faith How (says the Apostle
shall they believe on Him Of whom they
have not heard " But there are many
who have heard Of Chris, with the out.
ward ear. who yet have no correct knowl.
| edge of him as Emmanuel. Tod with us
no experimental acquaintance with his
divine aud saving power aud no reliance
on him as The Saviour OF sinners
But when the sinner has been brought
to see his own wre,chcdness and the
spirit has shown him the things of .Jcsu.
he then checriully nsscnts to the Gospel
plan of salvation. and receives the Saw
Jour az freely offered. lie has such
| views Of the suitahleness of Christ as the
Rcdecmer. tina, his soul is willing to res,
on him for salvation aud determines to
know nothing but Jesus Christ end him
crucfed lie looks to his blood for
cleansing from the pollution of sin. to hi.
i righteousness for justification in the sigh
Of God and to his meri,s for title tc
/ everlasting life
3d Eternal life includes a continual
growth in grace, aud the progressive
sanctitcation of our nature. When God
reuews the soul of the sinner, he does not
forsake the work which is commenced
but carries il on till it is compete il
glory. The Holy spirit dw-lls in th,
heart Of tlv children Of God sanc,ifyinl
their minds comforting their soul,
amidst the tribulations of this life anl
gradually preparing them for tho heaven
ly inheritance which God has promised t,
bes,ow on all those who love the Lore
Jesus Christ
We have now considered the phras,
eternal life as applicable to grace in th,
heart Of the Christian in this world bu
j, is also uscd with reference to the g!cr,
and happiness Of saints in heaven. Th,
happiness of the heavenly world does no
differ in nature from that which the pco
Pile Of God enjoy on earth. bu, i, is diff
ferent in degree. IL consists in perfcc
freedom from sin There is no longer
law in the members warrng against th
Law in the mind. No more ha. the saiu
reason TO cry out. q. wretched ma
that | am. who shall deliver me from tn
body Of this death" No more shall th
child of God be guilty of offending hi
heavenly Father. Of forsaking his Saviou
or gricving the spirit of grace But hi
soul shall be perfectly holy. and shin
love aud serve God with ardor and zea
equal, If no. surprising tha, Of the hol
Angels. Being free from sin. the saiu
shall. consequently. be free from all til
effects Of sin. from all pain Of body an
distress of mind. God will wipe ava
all tears from their eyes. and there shnl
bc no more death. neither sorrow no
crying. neither shall there be any NOR
pain, for the former things are passc
away. In word, tho happiness of hcav
en-. or eternal life, consists in freedor
from all evil, and tho enjoyment Of a
these pleasures that arc at Gods rigt
hand.