Daily Republican., 1881-01-13
WHAT A CORREsPON SAYS
why I am a Christian and Cannot
be an InGde'; aud what Kegard
as the Right course for Chris.
tian Ministers and al Cnristia us
20 Pnrane Towards UubeIieyera.

| DO 81 AMssuO's @uo " uht neoA nj
~ the Right course for Ohri,
tian Ministers and al Cnristiau u
10 PursHe Towards Uubsiievers
| believe in my own conscious expe
rieDce and regard It as superior to al
outside apparent arguments or demon
strations.
The Bible 10 God calling us to tes
and prove His word--to come and knoy
that he Is God, "the Lord God, merci
full aud gracious, abundant in goodnes
and truth, keeping mercy for thousand
for giving iniquity and trsnsgrsssioi
and SIM"
This declaration is enforced by th,
equally positive assertion that II
"will by no means clear the guilty
Away from God | was In a state OF q
rest. felt conscious OF influence
within aud around drawing me down
ward, while DOW my trusting heart i
at rest, and | am conscious OF influence
drawing me away from sin and up
ward.
OF this different condition and stat
of feeling | am conscious, and in thi
consciousness have peace in believing
in God. | rest firmly, peacefully ant
hopefully in the belief that God is M,
father, Christ is my Saviour, and th'
Holy Spirit my guide and comforter.
also rest in the belief that He who hatl
'power over earth to forgive my sins,
in the exercise of the same grace an
power will perfect the good begul
work-preparing me for ali his right
eous will while am on earth, 80 tina
may here glOrify Him, and when IN,
brief time here is ended He will thel
receive me 10 Himself, that "may b.
like him," and "see Him as He is
Will not this satisfy the loDgings of m,
heart 7
Now, live by fsith-a consCiou
faith, tod givsn-then, by sight
"Him eye to eye there shall zee,
My iacs like His shall shine"
Regarding this from my own expe
rience as the "mors excellent way"
am fully satisfed-and dark ,chee rless
hopt less infidelity has 40 charms 70
ms.
Moreover my own consciousness har
monies with the experience OF thos
in whom l had implicit confidence. 1
father, who had numbered almost four
score years aud ten, could not recog
nize and enjoy the society OF earthly
friends, but on being questioned BY
me if he realized Christ as present sus
tanning and giving him the promised
support, replied with an exultant spir
1t, 81 am certain OF that" A son, VIII,
had numbered less than two score year
was stricken with fatal disease, ant
as soon as hn realized his sickness, wa
unto death and before it had been tolC
him by his ph ysician, said | am no
afraid to die, if Jesus calls me- it i
all right. Can inidelity do az much
Oh no! 1t ia only "ths glorious Gospe
of the blessed God" that briugsth elf
and immortality to light"
How grateful | (all christians
should be, and yet how humble. Nj
ground for boasting over others, i
through Gods iDfnits grace such iniu
ences have surrounded and such in
struotions and examples have been Civ.
en-, as have aided in securing this grea
geod. The spirit Of the Divine Master
should be cultivated, and, as We love
him, We should love the souls of such
as are far away in the darkness of their
unbelie!; and this love will lead us tC
ply and try and save such. How
Not by finding fault with and calling
them hard names; but by banishins
the spirit OF infidelity from our mindf
and hearts, and believing God will give
that We ask him for, pray for theiI
conversion from their fearful error. II
is "not by might, nor by pardon" but
by "LIis spirit" not by great efforts Il
overthrow nor by harsh and unchris.
tien words, but by msnifesting the spir
it and the yearning love OF Jesus wher
He prayed his father and our father
"Forpive them, for they know not whst
they Go." L. b. II.