Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-11-14
&eadiua fut the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED By
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
IOTIBIHdI
SPIRITUAL INDIFFERENCE.

REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[ohgina]
SPIRITUAL INDIFFERENCE.
The Old Testament Scriptures contain the
most interesting and the most instructive his
tory that is to be found. 1t is interesting be.
cause it relates facts which can be found in no
other book and it is instructive, because it
gives a correct account of the tendencies of
the human family. Human nature can be
learned most correctly and most thoroughly
from the Bible. In the Scriptures, man, in
all the tendencies of his mind, both socially
and religiously, is most vividly presented to
view. The seed of Abraham are selected as a
type of the whole of Adams race AS Abra-
hams seed acted socially, so act all men SINH
larly situated.
The New Testament Church is shadowed
forth in the ancient Jews. AS the chosen
people of God did in the days of the prophets,
so do the members of the church of the pres
ent day act. Minor differences can be point
ed out as existing between the ancient Jews
and the members of the Christian Church.
All Jews had hereditary right, in come
sense, to all the political, social and religious
privileges of the Old Testament Dispensation.
Such is not the case with us now. We are
not all hereditary members of the New Testa-
ment Church; but we are all invited to enter
- o,J o,;or oil ;te rr;,;Ioros
In two respects, members of the New Tes.
lament Church resemble the ancient Jews.
Whoever has read, with care, the Old Testa-
ment, has discovered that the Jews were
prone, on the one hand, to become idolators !;
and on the other hand to fall into a state of
spiritual Indifference. The same is true of
the members of the Christian Church. The
simple ceremonies established in the Church
by Christ and his Apostles, are laid aside, and
a pompous service introduced. AS the Jews,
in the days of Samuel, gave evidence of their
inclinations to idolatry by clamoring for a
king, that they might be like the nations by
which they were surrounded, so the members
of the New Testament Church show their
idolatrous proclivties by making the public
worship of God consist in pomp and pageant
ry. .:
The other tendency of the Jews was to in
difference. They said, and they thought too,
that they were Abraham's seed, and they
would be saved let what might come of the
Gentiles. The prophet Amoz, says these per-
sons we're Eat ease in Zion." They folded
their arms and said to their souls, "peace,
peace" Just so it is to-day in the Christian
Church. In every Christian congregation in
the land, irrespective of denominations, there
are members who, to all human appearances,
are "at ease in Zion." The only evidence
that they exhibit of Christianity, is that they
have nominal connection with the Church,
and contribute of their means to the support
If the gospel ordinances.
These persons join the Church and then
all into state of spiritual indifference.
They make the whole of religion to consist in
IN empty profession. One good act is made
% comprehend the whole of Christian duty.
The beginning is made to embrace the mid
lie and the end. 1t should ever be remem-
oered that we are commanded to grow in
grace, To grow in grace, we must use the
means of divine appointment. The CON-
nand to love God supremely, and serve him
levoutly, has never been abrogated. 1t new
,r will be repealed. 1t is binding upon the
.ansomed in heaven.
Who, it may be asked, are at ease in
Zion? Who are the spiritually Indifferent ?
All who are expecting to get to heaven be-
cause they are members of the Church "are
It ease in Zion.' These are the persons that
ire not troubled as other men-pious men.
Their sins of commission give them little un-
asiness, and their sins of omission less.
They never lament over their short comings
md failures in duty. These persons are to
he church of God, dead weight. They
ire neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm.
Their religion consists in an empty profession,
md life of spiritual Indifference. They
lip through the world smoothly, and it may
,e noiselessly; but it is the stiffness of death.
They are at ease in Zion, or spiritually in
different, who think much and about many
hings, but think little about sin and saliva
ion. Others they may regard as heinous
and in danger of being lost, but
hey never spend moment in thinking about
heir own spiritual condition and prospects
or another world. Whatever they may think
about others, they regard themselves on the
:oad that leads to heaven.
They are at ease in Zion who have exalted
Notions of their piety. No persons ever
thought they had so much piety as did the
P Pharisees, and no people ever had less. They
we're spiritually indifferent. They thought
hey had done all that was necessary, and sat
lown to enjoy ease. They thought they had
! large amount of piety, but our Saviour
;ells US that they were great sinners. In fine,
every one is spiritually Indifferent, who is
not intensely anxious about the salvation of
MS immortal soul. He who neglects his tenn.
poral affairs, courts poverty; he who squan-
lers his estate in riotous living, must come
10 want; and he who lives life of spiritual
must reap, in eternity, a harvest of
despair.
RULES FOR Holy L1FE.-1. Too much
desire to please men, nightly prejudices the
pleasing of God.
2. Too great earnestness and vehemency,
and too greedy delight in bodily works and
external things, scatter and lose the tranquil
;tv and calmness of the mind,