The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-10-31
The Christian Name.

The disciples were called chris
tians in Antioch. Why? Even if
it were jest. there was reason
underlying it. Perhaps there were
two reasons.
In the first place, they had much
to say about Christ. de was in all
their thoughts, and out of the abun-
dance of their hearts their mouths
would speak. And because the
people ol Antioch heard the word
SO often upon their lips they framed
it into an epithet by which they
called them. Some of US are bear.
ing this sacred name to-day, Is
this the reason?
The other explanation ofthe name
is found, no doubt, in the fact that
the disciples initiated Christ in their
conduct. They not only talked
about Him, they not only said they
were trusting in Him for salvation
they tried to act like Him. Their
study always was to live so that He
should approve Of their lives. And
that is the main idea that the name
conveys. To be Christian, if the
word means anything. is to be like
Christie live as He lived, to work
as He worked, to suffer as He suffer
ed. 1t is not to be perfect as He.
was in any these respects, but to be
like him in all of them. In order
that we may be worthy to bear his
name, there must be a resemblance
to Him in our characters SO plain
that others shall recognize it and
take knowledge of us that we have
been with Jesus,
Brethren, this name by which we
are called is one of great significance.
God grant us all grace that we may
wear it worthily, that we may never
by our levity or our worldliness, or
our prayerlessness or our aneharity,
bring it into dishonor.
Do I speak to any one who has
shrunk, hitherto, from assuming this
name from vague notion that It
would be somehow beneath him to
bear it? Such notion ought not to
find a lurking-plaee in any mind.
When a man is called a Christian
the very highest praise has been
spoken. That word is the end or
encomiums. Ifit can be written on
your tombstone that you were
Christian, you viii nsed no other
epitath. When you say that a man
is Christian. it is involved in what
you may say that he is courteous,
refined, manly, dignifed. brave,
gentle, kind, noble-that everything
that makes character strong and
pure and sweet is illustrated in his
life. What is that glass which one
of the first Christian gentlemen
holds up TO US in which we see our
characters
Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things
are honest, whatsoever things are
just, whatsoever things are pure.
whatsoever things are lovely. what
-soever things are of good report, if
there be any virtue and if there be
any praise, think on these things"
It means all that to be Christian.
Is there another word that means
more.
2 You say that you know many
Christians who come far short of
this. Certainly that is because they
fall below the Christian standard
the mark Of the prize OF the high
calling Of God in Christ Jesus.
It is the highest calling, God |
help us to be vi e enough to choose
it. It is the noblest name. God
help US all to be good enough to
bear it.-Frona recent Sermon by
Rec. Washington Gadde,s.
When a fond son starts forward /
in life he sometimes turns round TO
earess his friends but mule never
turns round, lie il the only affec.
tionate one OF his species who can
strike out both WaYa. at once.