The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-08-02


if all men arc to be saved, irrespective
Of moral character, then Heaven will
be no better than this world; for the
murderer, the drunkard, the liar, the
gambler and the robbcr will be there.
Yea, men and women of every grade Of
crime aud pollution will be there. So
wo conclude that Heaven will be 4 poor
place after all, if men arc to be saved
without change of heart in this life,
and this cannot be done without an in-
,crest in tho blood Of Christ, for Paul
says "thc blood Of Jesus Christ, Ills
Son, cleanscth US from all SIM" The
Elder said to St John on the Isle of
Putmos, "Thcse arc they who come
out Of great tribulatiOn, have washed
their robes and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb" So if tho blood Of
Christ is to wash from any an all sin,
there is nothing left to DO clcanscd in
the grave, or by penal suffering, or
purgatorial fires, as supposed by the
He'll Redcmptionist. So we SEQ no
comfort in this dangerous system Of
universal salvation.
Again, the Journalists believe in 4
system Of rituals md ceremonies, such
as the Holy kiss, Washing of Feet,
Water Baptism by certain prescribed
mode, confirmation by tue laying on Of
hands, Pricst.Craft, and such like,
rhe friends of this system suppose that
this is religion, forgetting that the
Apostle Paul says "that tho kingdom
Of God is not meat and drink and divers
washiuss, but joy and peace in the Holy
Ghost" They deny tho power and
spirit Of religion aud while they have
name to live they really arc spiritually
dead. They risk their hope Of Heaven
on mere form Of godliness, or upon
their own good WORKS. Such was the
case Of a prominent gentleman who died
recently in ono Of our large cities. He
was q member Of a wealthy city church,
where Formally aboundcd. By his in-
dustry and economy, he had accumula.
ted eleven million dollars. On his
dcath.bed no regretted life spent in
nero Formally and getting, and
said to tho pastor of bis church, "all
that l have would I give for q single
hope Of Heaven" but it was too late
he died without hopc-refusing to be
comforted by his friends. So We SEQ
that dull Formally docs not bring joy
or peace or comfort, neither in life or
death, and VIC therefore conclude that
all who arc not united to Christ by
saving faith are unhappy in this life,
and Of course they must DO unhappy in
the world to come.
This brings US to notice in the second
place that all those who arc united to
Christ by faith arc greatly comf5rtcd.
First, What is is saving fui,h? It
is the oct Of tho mind and heart, by
which We receive Christ as our present
and all sufficient Saviour. Tho act by
which VIC receive Him in all of His
Offices. as Prophet. Priest and King.
Paul says this Faith is tho substance
Of things hoped for-the evidence Of
things not seen; for by it tho elders
obtained good report" Faith is not
absolutely the gift ofGod, rs some sup
pose; for Paul says "by grace arc 20
saved through faith. and that not of
yoursclvcs-it is the gift of God"
That is. grace is the gift of God, and
faith is the instrument through which
We receive this grace or favor; that
tina. is the gift Of God to tho creature.
Tho act Of believing is the act Of the in
dividual; for God believes for no man.
Now this reception Of Christ gives joy
and peace in the Holy Ghost. The
Apostle says, "whom having not seen
ye believe, in whom, thong u now yc
sec him not, yet believing 20 rejoice
with joy uuspcakablc and full Of glory"
This is the joy of pardoucd sins. Docs
tho condemned criminal experience
joy and comfort in his heart whom the
Governor Of his State grants him q full
and free pardon ? If SO. then the soul
that is laboring under the condemns.
ton Of the Divine law must experience
sweetest comfort when his case passes
tho court of Heaven; when he is
granted full and free pardon by the
Governor of the Universe. 1t is here
that the believing pcniteut can look up
through his burning tears, for the first
tiuic, and behold the face Of God in
peace, and cxclaim, Abba, Father, my
Lord and my God. Hero no realizes
that "beiug justified by faith, he has
peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ" This is tho spirit Of adoption
by which ho passes from darkness to
light; by which he is brought from
death unto life. "'rhc spirit bearing
witness with his spirit that he IS a child
Of God" Oh what ecstacy of joy per-
vades tho new born soul us it passes
through tho regencrating process.
Here he eau apply the sentiments Of the
poet, and sing in his heart, II AIN free,
| am frec-savcd by the Blood Of tho
Lamb" No wonder tho first words
that escape his lips arc "Glory to God
iu tn, highest" Then follows COM
muuion aud fellowship with God the
Father, with Christ the Son, and Holy
Spirit-thrCc in one. Oh how sweet
this fellowship. to hold audience with