The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-08-07
9infulness Of Our Best
Deeds.

s
We are apt to think that there il
such difference between our open
sins and our religious exercises that
any defilement attaching to the lat
ter must be so uncomfortable in it.
self, ard 80 outweighed by the 81
credness Of the act performed, that
no particular account need be taken
of these sins. Gods estimate is very
different indeed. His eye sees the
sins Of our religious services in an.
other light, rs being no less heinous
th,n other iniquities, and needing
special forgiveness no less than they,
N IT merely our open transgression,
our scarlet and crimson sins, need
pardon, but our holy services, our
good words and deeds, our prayers,
our praises, our worship our break.
ing bread at the table OF the Lord.
In every one of these there is such
an amount 81 sin clcaving to and min
gled with (vsry act, and feeling, and
thought, ahd words, as to render
them in themselves SO miserably
defective = de6led as to be utterly
unscss 6she sight Of the Holy
One. Whd1 seeking God, we need
to have our way OF seeking and our
act ofseeking forgiven. When pray
ing for paidon, we need to have that
prayer itself forgiven. Each petition
bears witness against us. There is
such imperfection, such GOODNESS, such
Formally, such deafness, such wan
dering, such halt heartedncss, such a
want of everything that constitutes
prayer, that, were there not forgive
ness Tor the sins of our holy things,
we might as we'll cease to pray
When coming to Christ, we need
forgiveness for our own act OF com
ing, for the impure motives which
lead us 10 come, as well rs for tho
defective way in which we come
All this is provided for. There is for
giveness, not merely tor the sins w
bring to Christ, but for our way o
bringing them. This IS q pom
where many stumble. They say, tina
they know there is full pardon TO
them in Christ, and full provision =
he found in His for every want, bn
their difficulty Is about the comm:
to Him. They think that the act Q
coming should be as holy as possible
and that, unless it be SO, their &C
ceptancc is a very doubtful thing
They think that: if they could onl
come in right way, and from rlgl
motives, there would be no dang,
OF their success but with so niue
that is defective in their way Of con
ing, they doubt whether they ca
venture TO do more than merely HOP
the best. Now, this is just TO sa
that their acceptance depends in par
at least upon them se.ves-their con
ing Alright; whereas the gospel taxi
for granted that there is nothin
right about them, either about then
selves or their way Of coming, b.
that every thing about them an
done by them needs forgiveness
Such forgiveness is provided, and
is pre6gured by the high priest bea
ing the iniquity of our holy thing
Thus there is no place left for a,
such misgivings. Where IS the
room for single doubt to thru
itself? What point is there at viii.
God does not meet overy possib
doubt that can arise? There is i
room for saying, My sins are te
great to be forgiven. Neither
there any room for saying, My wa
OF coming to Christ is SO defectiv
my way Of seeking pardon is so sil
ful, that l am doubtful whether
shall be accepted. The full provisio
made for us III Christ is such as /
meet MS on NIL these points, and 9,
clude every shadow OF a doubt fror
whatever quarter it may arise. r
Christian Treasury.