The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-02-02
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
OUGHT YOU TO JOIN THE CHURCH
LETTER 4.

My Dear FIieDd,-HaVing previously dis
posed of your objections to joining the church
now proceed in summary way to state
some positive reasons why you should take
that step.
First. Because all believers are required
by both the nature of christianity and the
words Of Christ, to declare their light and
love before all men. This is sh9wn by our
Saviour in His Sermon on the Mount, es.
pecially Matt. v: 1916, when Christians
are compared to salt and light as to their
converted and enlightened natures. There
He also requires "let your light SO shine
before men that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven" With your regard for the church
as an institution of Gcd, need not discuss
the application Of this principle to joining
the church. The sins and miseries Of this
world create also a loud demand that you
shall obey this benevolent order of your
Lord.
Second. In order to meet, as far as you
can, your responsibility to both God and man.
Christ requires that his friends shall cele-
brate his death in the orderly Observance Of
the Lords Supper. "ThiS do in remem-
brance of me-" You cannot now execute
this Injunction of our Lord, because you
have not made credible and public profession
Of your discipleship. But join the church in
an orderly. way, and you may "shOw the
Lords death till he come"
Your family, your friends, and your &C.
quaintances are travelling with you to eter-
nifty, and in the judgment day will bear wit
ness to your good or evil Influence over them.
They judge now more readily from your ex-
ample than your words. They conclude,
either that you are not at heart one Of
Christ's friends, OF that, being one of his
friends, yet not joining the church, you are
another proof that joining the church is
mere matter of indifference and choice. In
the former case your testimony is against
Yourself; in the latter against solemn ap-
pointment of Christ. Either is fearful to
now, and will be dreadful in the
judgment.
Third. To gain spiritual advantages. The
church as Christ's visible body has the
oraces, sacrament, etc. All its ordinances
are means of grace to the souls of believers.
Until you join this body you are outside Of
the proper means of spiritual growth and
and JOY. You have no reason
to suppose that you can be 80 good a man
or SO happy Christian outside of the church
s. in it, for the simple reason, that you are
iisobeyiug God, neglectipg duties, making
light of His ordinances, excluding yourself
from channels of divine grace, and setting q
bad example before the world. Whatever
you feel in your present posi-
lion is a natural result of turning away from
these health. giving channels, and the Spirits
againCt your unscriptural
course. And here l make appeal to your
,wn heart to know if you have not felt such
especially when you have
eeu Ohrist's friends celebrating his suffer
ngs and death ct the communion table?
There are also great advantages in the
act that ones position is deeidedvthat he
s openly committed to a cause. This helps
lim 70 maintain his integrity before men, to
curt more and more the enabling grace Of