Richland beacon., 1878-11-16
spraying Sinners and Prayerles,
Saints"


been cngaged-we are not that p'e'
.un.ptiuus- bat that discussion has
suggested few thoughts 10 u1, OF
" hich We propU-e 10 give you The
L,n,it-if. peradvrnlurc, they may
claim Ia lee brhciical.
We viii premise these thoughts
with the remark, that We apprehcnd
that suu.c Of our readers VINO read
Ibis discussion in the Herald mi,ur-
,icr,tood Mr.. Marshall, and Gre, there
fore. likely to be either mi>lcd 10y or
to DO ali Injustice 10 ore or the otter OF
the dviues. both of whom are right
and bo'h wrong, in our opinion, 10
certain extent ; for one may cause
too little Importance 10 be placed III
prayer and too much III works, While
The argument of the other may have
the opposite etiect-not Of placing toe
much Importance in prayer Tor that Il
Impossible, but TOO little IN good
wei k>-boIh. Of course, uuinicntion-
al on their part.
but, to return, we do not under
stand Mr. Marshall to say that to-
tally prayerle,s saint is IA 'sslbliity
he i, too well ver,ed in the scrip
lures aud theology Ia ASSUME such a
position-but We understand hin to
mean those quiet, transformations, un-
assuming persons, VIII" 60 ABOUT do
( ing good, visiting the sick, relieving
! the distressed. and all the tine show
ing their faith by their works ot be-
/ nevU!euce; such saint as the good
Sumori;an was, or the publican. who
/ snUte upon bis breast anu said, IL ri,
/ tie meIcllul to me, IL sinner and bis
"praying sinners" we understand to
DC those who love to pray standing IN
the synagogues aud Oh the street cor
ners.
! But let Us not place too much i'm
por;anc, IN good Geeds, which are III
themselves right and con"rndu6ie I;
for we are told plainly that by the
deeds of the law eau no man bc juSti-
fed" and that we cannot be saved 10y
works, but by grace. through faith.
le; 10 man can 5e a good. consistent;
christian without giving some eviden-
ces Of his faith by his works Of be-
nevolcnce, but be will not 60 about
sounding bis own praise for having
done 50. His deeds OF bcnev"lence
are like the gentle dews that diStil'
upon the grass, the shrub, the Hover.
during the darkness of the night;
unseen by the eye of man, yet refresh
iny and lnvigorating the dropping
plants. His deeds are the fruits of
his faith, performed from sense OF
duty, without the hope Of earthly re-
ward but they cannot he entirely
conceari, for hy hi, fruits We are 1"
Judge him-nOt condemn a man for
our failure to see his good deeds, but
judge him worthy whose deeds We
do see.
Again, a man may be benevolent
aud Sci.erou, person; may have ali
The characteristics naturally that mar 4
the perfect gentleman and entiiie him
10 our esteem and commentator he
may deserve far more honor and praise
than his christian neighbour, and Vet
not be christian, because ne lacks
faith in Christ, without which it Is
impossible to be chris ian, aud with
out hich We are told ia he Bible il
IL. H..
SO, also, a selfish man may be q
christian after fashion. The old
man Adam may be 50 strong in hia
as to dwarf his christianity and make
him siarveling in the flock with
cred branch of the vine, but living
reproach to the religion be Processes
But We have no means, If his sordid
disposition prevents his producing
fruit, Of Judging him ~ be christian
and If be falls to De recognized as ,
christian he has only bis selfish dis
position and lack of faith to blame
for he staryes bis own soul ard pre-
vents its bearing fruit. Such person.
are more to be considered "prayerles.
saints" than those who are SO called
by Mr.. Marshall for the constantly
praying person cannot be SO wholly
selfish as to fail to show his faith Il
some extent by his works. Prayer
faith. hope and charity. and gooC
works. such as our Savior commendS
all 60 hand 10 hand. and are inseper
able, in the truly devout christian.
Hence. we do not disparage goot
works, but, as Paul would say, w
|, , magnify them. Still, We have d,
warrant in the Bible for claiming saint
hood or salvation solely on the r,erit
Of our good works or deeds of bcnev
olence. They are either the sponta
> neous growth of nutural goodnes
of heart or the fruits Of genuine fatI
in Christ. and have no saving meri
within themselves, if we are to believ
the Bible. aud no man eau deny u
this God given privilege or success
fully contradict the divine origin o
. profound wisdom and trutbfulness q
this our rule of faith and practice an,