The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-12-30
FoR THE CENTRAL PREsBYrERIAN.
LEST I BE A CAsTAWAY."-1 Cor. tx 81
'N, N. B. EXAMINED, BY REV. H. H. HAVE.

In commenting upon :" N. NJ. ID arIlcle
beg him to be assured that l do so with al
kindness and respect His remarks are, il
the main, true. Yet lie has not made il
clear by any word in, or explanation OF the
passage in question, that what some of oul
Commentators have said is true, namely,
I" that Paul feared the end might show thai
he had no religion, and would be cast away
as unfit to enter heayeaA This cnly is tnt
Interpretation that l have combatted in former
articles. Whatever Paul may have said in
other places, he does not say this in l Cor
tx: p. As to the propriety and necessity
of selt-denials to prOUs Christian life, l hold
the doctrine fully. "Self-denials are the
very essence of running" This is truly
said, but has nothing to do with the case in
hand. But is it correct statement, that
Paul wished to teach the Corinthians, or any
others, "that their individual salvation de-
peuds upon thus running?" May it be said
with respect to any true Christians, Many
shall seek to enter in and shall not be able p
Is it true that they shall not be able, 4" be-
cause they do not keep the body under, and
bring it into subjection?' If this is true,
then Paul had every reason to fear the loss
of his soul, and all have to fear, though true
Christians. This makes salvation attainable
by works, which is not scriptural doctrine.
1t is true, that "if man is not being de-
livered from the power of sin now in his own
body, he ought to fear final perditiOn, though
he be never so much engaged in labOrs for
the good of others For in this case he
would rightly fear tk2t the Christian life was
not in him. But this Christ-hfe as the Di-
viine gift, not the result of works such as are
here spoken of. The works are the result,
not the cause of this life. The grace Is
given by God, and then we grow because it
has been given. So if we do not grow, the
evidence is against the presence of grace
This is the true doctrine, but not the subject
of which Paul spske in Cor. TX: 27 True
also that Paul knew better than most
Christians what he was being saved from. -
! But is It true that this aroused or "stimu
lated" fear thai Ae would at lass bo lost I
No His religious experience may have
been much like that OF other Christians
But is the fear of he'll, the thing which keeps
a Christian from sin ? Is it not rather she
Spirit of God who has put hatred of sin in
him-hatred of sin, and desire to be saved
from it because at as sie and displeasing to
Gods not this the real ground of our
striVings +? Paul had conAicts-Aesh against
Spirit, as we have. And it was necessary
to use the proper means to triumph. But
the fear of being lost was not the governing
motive. If Paul knew what he was saved
from, then he knew also that he was saved
The good work begun, will be completed.
More of this presently.
As for the quotation, ''let him that think
eth he standeth, take heed lest he fall" it
has no bearing upon this case in Cor. ix;
27. 1t can apply only to prOfessed Chris
tians, or to over, but not justly confident
people. 1t may also be used to inculcate
humility and carefulness in doubtful souls.
But it is not intended to Introduce suspicion
into true faith, nor to lead any true Chris
tian to torment himself with the fear of be.
ing lost. If Paul knew better than most
Christians what he was saved from, he also
knew better than most of us that he acds
saved. He does not speak dOubtfully on
this point. See Cor. vii: rs where ne
SAYS that he is "One that hath obtained
mercy of the Lord to be faithful" His tes-
timony in many other places is the same.
81 know ;" " l am persuaded, and many
other most emphatic declarations are COM
mon to him. He was not one to say 81
think" as we may be constrained to do.
But he had reached the assurance g know
and am persuaded" Yet was be our fellow
sufferer in the conflicts. He was solicitous
that the "evidence of his standing should not
be wanting" But this sOlicitous feeling was
not fear of being lost. Earnest, overcoming
desire to please God was the motive power
So it was not fear of being lost, which made
him endure, but fear of not hOaoring ham a0ht
had lovsd ham and called ham, and, says he
"made me free from the law of sin ant
death"
True also; "He knew that all true be
lievers will finally be saved" as he say
again and again. But the true believer does
not hold his hope " in proportion as he 6ndl
himself engaged in keeping under his body
} and bringing it into subjection.'" If SO
then few or any may hope. The only hope
and all the hopeis Christ Outside of Hin
r is no hope at all, nor in anything. Feel
, ings, emotions, self denials, works. Thes
sre no ground of hope. They may follow
the creation of hope by the Spirit, and shoulc
3 do 80. But an unbelieVer may build upOl
excepting under his body" and often doe
\ so. Yet he has no true hope of final saliva
e ton therefore. "How shall We apply tn
b truth, then, that believer will be saved 2
v By the fact that he is believer and that H
= whom he believes is true This is the life
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