Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-06-26
&eaaiua fot the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED By
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
(Originnl J
GROW IN GRACE.

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strict propriety of speech, be called grace.
Everything we have and are, except sin, is
the gift of God. Usually, however, the word
grace is restricted in its application to those
rich and precious gifts which are included in
the redemption-purchase of Jesus Christ.
These are very numerous, comprehending
everything that is necessary to fit us for glory.
Whatever is bestowed upon us in this world
is grace, and the perfection or consummation
of grace is glory. Hence the Psalmist says:
"The Lord will give grace and glory"
1t must be remembered that though every
thing connected with the salvation of sinners,
from beginning to end, is of grace, still, God,
in his wisdom and matchless goodness, has
seen fit to make US eo.laborers with himself
in this great work. God has so ordered it
that every man has a work to do. This work
he must do himself No one of his fellows
can perform it for him, and God will not do
it. 1t is true that God promises assistance,
and is faithful in keeping this promise; but
more than this he does not propose to do.
No man can perform the work which God
has accomplished. God asks no man to un-
dertake it. No man can make an atonement
for sin. This God has done, and nothing can
so incense him as for any mortal to attempt
to atone for sin. The Jews, for rejecting the
righteousness of God and for going about to
establish their own righteousness. were driv-
en- from the land of their fathers, and made
to wander in every land without national
existence.
Jesus Christ furnishes, in his obedience and
death, all that the law of God requires, in
order to justification. The Holy Spirit creates
new heart. In all this the sinner is as the
clay in the hands of the potter. God COM
mands all men to repent. 1t is the duty OF
all men to repent No mau can be saved
without repentance. All men are command
ed to believe. It is the duty of all men to
believe. No man can be saved without faith.
Jesus Christ was exalted, by the right hand
of God, to be Prince and Saviour, to give
repentance and forgiveness of sins; (Acts,
5:31,) and faith is the gift of God. Phil.
l:29. Both faith and repentance are graces !;
but in their full development the individuals
upon whom they are bestowed are co-laborers
with God. When, then, we are commanded
to grow in grace, we are to understand that
we are commanded to CROWN repentance and
in faith. .-.
One of the ruinous delusions of the Wicked
One, is that there. is no growth in either faith
or repentance. This is the fatal theory which
multitudes reduce to practice. Some, we
know not how many, are so far victims of this
delusion, as to feel that they have discharged
their whole duty when they have, under a
temporary conviction of conscience, confessed
their sins and joined the: church. This one
act gave them relief. 1t banished all their
fears, scared their consciences, and enabled
them to fold their arms in ease. When the
minister of the gospel repeats these words,
"Repent ye and believe the gospel,"" these vic
tins of this delusion constantly say to them
selves, "That does not apply to me; am
child of God repented and believed the
gospel long ago; am done with repentance
and accepting of Jesus" That some reason
thus is clear to every one. There are not
few professed Christians who are just where
they we're at the time they made profession Of
religion. They have made no progress in the
divine life They are at ease in Zion.
That would be a strange farmer who would
plant his seed and then conclude that he had
no more to do but wait, patiently, until the
harvest period arrived. The analogy between
nature and grace, in some things, is very
striking The stately oak was once very
small. There was period in its history when
it could scarcely be discerned by the eye. The
man was once the little boy. There was q
period when there was none Of him. psalm
139: 16) only in the mind Of God. The
germ of this oak grew until it became state
y tree-the prince of the forest-and the
helpless, tiny babe, grew into a man. The
incipiency of the new creature in Christ Jesus
can be discovered only by God No man
can mark the line which separates between
an individuals being dead in trespasses and
sins and being quickened into life.
Ample provision has been made for the
growth of believers in grace, This is the
great work of the gospel. ministry. Jesus
told Peter to feed his lambs and feed his
sheep All things are so arranged and so
governed by the Redeemer, that they shall
work together for good of those who have
been brought out of the darkness of sin and
death, into the light and liberty of the gospel.
1t is the fixed purpose of God to prepare his
ransomed people for heaven. To prepare for
heaven, means nothing more, nor nothing less,
than to grow in grace.
That we may grow in grace, we must use
the divinely appointed means for this pur-
pose. We must read and study the Bible,
and diligently attend upon the preaching of
the gospel. Besides this, we must watch and
pray. No man can pray himself into heav-
en-. That is, there is no atoning merit in
prayer. True as this is, it is still true that
no sinner ever got into heaven without asking
admittance. "Seek and ye shall find ask
and We shall receive; knock and it shall be
opened unto you," is the order Of heaven. 1t
will not avail us anything to say, ave can
see no necessity for watching and praying,
since our salvation is all of grace" As we'll
might the husbandman say ut is Of no use
for me to plant and cultivate, since I cannot
make crop without rain and sunshine, and
a.xa. 4l,a c,,,, ond olonda rnssess no c0ntrol "