The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-02-16
For the Central Presbyterian.
Believers and the World

This is a subject of very great impor-
lance to the Church, and one that is too
much lost sight of by those who are the
most involved. 1t calls for serious rehec-
ton on the part of every believer, as he
should know the relations existing be-
tween himself and the world. There are
many, no doubt, whose spiritual life is
dwarted, Christian faith weakened, and
Joy depressed and who go all their life
time with hanging heads and doubling
hearts because they become so wrapped
up in the worlds follies and pleasures
that death only sewers the tie and plucks
them as brands from the burning. The
greatest peril lies in morbid indifer-
ence to the requirements of Gods word.
Therefore come out from among them,
and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and will
receive you" 2 Cor. vi: II.
With that word before him and even a
partial sense of his obligations as one who
has been purchased with the precious
blood of a crucifed Redeemer, believer
cannot go far astray in his duty to Christ,
and to his own and his neighbor's happi-
ness.
The world hated Christ. eff the world
hate you, ye know that it hated me before
it hated you" John XIV: Is. 1t hates
all who are Christ's. "And the world
hath hated them, because they are not of
the world, even as l am not of the world"
John xvii: IA. If Christ is hated by the
world, and believers, who are one in Him.
even as He and the Father are one, are
hated by it, how can they make any COM
promise with it-loving its riches and
honors, and its pleasures without losing
vast deal of the great and precious
privileges that are so lavishly bestowed
upon them by their heavenly Father?
There is way of being in the world
and not of it, as many faithful and happy
witnesses for Christ have found out to
their JOY. Would to God there were
more of them
AS Abraham was a stranger and pill
grim in a strange land, so are believers
in this world; they have no part nor lot
In this matter, but should be looking for
a e better country, that is, heavenly"
Now, if they are in reality looking for
that heavenly city, Whose builder and
maker is God, they have great incen-
tive to keep themselves free from worldly
entanglements, and will not make pro-
vision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts
thereof" but will "put on the armor of
light and walk honestly, as in the day"
This earthly warfare which every
Christian has to bear part in, is no idle
illusion, but stern reality, and requires
more than human efforts to gain the vic
tory and come off conqueror. a. For we
wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers.
against the rulers Of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in
high (heavenly) places" Eph. vi IL.
The ruler of this world is genuine
person, one who has transformed himself
into an angel Of light, the Esprit that
now worketh in the children of disobe-
dience.' He is one of no mean power,
but rules with vengeance that is bred
OF hell itself. AS "The prince of the
power Of the air" he is able to put many
a stumbling block in the pilgrims way ,
and it requires constant effort in the
power Of the Spirit Of the Lord to ward
off all his blows and escape his many