The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-05-17
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
LETTERS TO AN INQUIRER.
BY REV. H. H. HAYES.

BY REV. ii. H. HALVES
No. 7.
Ny Dear Sir,-When you cay, Il do not
feel that 1 am Christian, you doubtless
refer to what you consider the want of pro-
per eVidences-rather, evidences which you
think needful. Does it not occur to you,
that here also you may be mistaken? Ger
taiuly no one can rightly feel that he is a
Christian, who is not. But what does the
Christian feel? If you could see his heart,
you would discover there such feelings as
a. Conviction of SIN. He never gets rid
of this. He never feels it as much as he
should. Every day, even to the end Of life,
he feels " In me, that is, in my flesh, dwell
eth no good thing" Every day he has need
to pray" God be merciful to me a sinner"
(2) Helplessness against Sin. "FOr the
good that would, l do not; but the evil
which would not, that do"
g. True and continued desire to be deliv-
cred from the guilt and power of sin. so
Wretched man that l am; who shall deliver
me from the body of this death" 1t is hate
full, troublesome, and gives sorrow.
a. Repentance for SIN. Not necessarily
tears, and strong emotions. Rather, clear
views of sinfulness; sincere regret over it;
earnest resolves and efforts to renounce it.
(5) Warfare against Sin. "FOr l de-
light in the law of God, after the inward man.
But see another law in my members, var
ring against the law Of my mind" Every
day the battle must be renewed. He says
"Fight on my soul, till death
Shall bring thee to thy God"
(6.) Inability to do as he would. "FOr
the flesh Iusteth against the Spirit, aud the
Spirit against the flesh; and these are con-
trary, the one to the other; so that ye can
not do the things that ye would" Yet he
continues trying.
(7.) Hs has no hope, no goodness, no
strengthen himself. Without Christ, he is
utterly lost and undone. Il am crucided
with Christ; nevertheless 1 live; yet not l,
but Christ hyeth in me; and the life which
now live in the flesh l live by the faith Of
the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Him
self for me" he has neither hope nor de-
pendence outside of this. Such are some Of,
and the chief of the Christian feelings. A
Christian will End it hard to get beyond be-
ing described as rspsnting sinner following
Jesus.
Now ask, is here too exalted comics.
sion for you to make? Are these feelings
to which you cannot attain? Are they not
your precise feelings this moment? Rap
turous exercises are seldom known to the
great majority of Christians. God has not
asked them. They are not faith. Why then
do you think you must have them in order to
feel like Christian? Away with "imagi-
nations" Bring "every thought unto cap
tivity to the obedience of Christ" Ifyou can
only begin with, " Lord I believe; help thou
mine unbelief," so are Christian faith and
dependence expressed. From this beginning
you are to grow, until by the grace and
Spirit of your Lord, you can die saying,
know whom have believed" In that hour
you will believe less in yourself than you
ever did, and Christ will be more "all and
in alp than He ever was. Begin therefore
by trusting Christ. Continue, by trusting
Christ. End, by trusting Christ. When
you obey Gods call in so doing, you have
the only right possible, to feel that you are
a Christian. Get rid of the notion that a
Christian is a good and holy man. He is
simply sinner IN the hands of has Saviour.
Can you not be such as that? The sick man
is in his physicians hands to be cured. The
sinner is in the hands of Christ, the Great
Physician, to be saved from and cured of san.
Can you not rest here? If the act be need
ed, get down on your knees, and give your
self to Jesus Christ. You have need to take
a decisive step, more than to receive further
signs of Gods presence with you. Conclude
the whole matter here then =
siNo more, my God, boast no more
OF all the duties have done;
quit the hopes l held before,
10 trust the merits Of thy Son."