Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-04-14
&taaima fur the 5Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BIT
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
fOriginal.l
THE ONLY NAY.

complished, while there are innumerable ways
by which its accomplishment may be prevent
ed. In the application of principle, differ
ent modes may be resorted to, but the princi.
pie remains the same, no matter what may be
the manner of application, and the result is
always the same. 1t is true that a wrong
application may be made of correct princi
pie. In this case, the result is always in har.
mony with the application, and ever at va
rance with the principle. 1t is possible to
lay down correct premise and reason incor-
rectIy, and it is possible 10 reason correctly
while the premise laid down is incorrect. In
both cases, the final conclusion is wrong.
In the every day affairs of life, men make
great blunders. They fight against fixed
principles, and failure is the final result; or
they attempt to make an improper applica.
ton of fixed principles and all their efforts
come to nothing
In nature, there are laws-fxed laws, which
must be observed by every man in all the 70
cations of life. These fixed laws no man can
control. They are unbending, and compliance
with them is mark of wisdom. These laws
are positive expressions of the will of God
and cannot be reversed or suspended, only by
that will. What is discoverab]e in nature
BY our senses, is revealed in the Scriptures as
existing in the scheme of redeeming grace
There is plan of salvation as we'll as plan
of creation and providence. By our senses
we are able to discover chat the world was
created in accordance with plan previously
devised. All things were made for a particu
lar purpose, and all things were so made as
to subserve that purpose No one will con
tend that the government of the world is con-
Quoted without plan. What is seen-dim
ly seen in creation and providence-is clearly
revealed IN the Scriptures. God has the same
object in saving sinners that he had in crea'
ting the world. That object is his own
glory.
The salvation Of the sinner is in accord.
apce with plan devised by divine wisdom
That plan is, as revealed in the criptures
very simple. Not that it is easily compre.
hended by the intellect. This it is not. 1t is
above reason, but not contrary to reason
The mind approves the plan as every way
adapted to the end proposed to be accom-,
plished In the plan of salvation, as revealed
in the Scriptures, God does all the work just
as he did in the creation of the world, and
does in its government. He is first, middle
and last in creation, providence and grace,
and the part-if part it may be called-which
s assigned to man to perform, is to obey. In
the remedial scheme, God commands all men
to believe. Now the way, and the onl ly way,
by which any of the human family can posi-
bly, become savipgly interested in this plan OF
salvation, of which God is the author and
6nisher, is by believing on Jesus Christ, whom
he has set forth as Precipitation for our
sins.
Men may attempt to secure the favor and
friendship of God in numberless ways, but in
no way can they obtain it, except by believing
on Jesus Christ, as he is offered in the gospel
This is the way God proposes to save sinners
and no other way will be recognized by him
This is the fixed law by which the plan is ex'
ecuted. Whoever complies with isarrange
ment, and obeys this law, will attain the end
aimed at, and whoever refuses to. obey this
fixed law must fail. There is no possibility
for any one either to work or pray himself in
to heaven. Whoever believes both works and
prays. He is constrained by the law of faitl
to work and pray; but God does not propose
to take any account of either our works OF
our prayers, if we do not believe. The plan
revealed by God is "believe and thou shall
be saved" The law is plainly stated and il
must be strictly obeyed, or there is no saliva
ton. Absolute dependence on Christ is re-
quired. He is jealous Saviour just as God
the Father, is a jealous God. He will do al
the work or he will do none He claims al
the honor, and will neither share the work o.
saving sinners nor the glory resulting there
from, with any one. He does not command
US to do anything by which we may merit the
favor of his father, nay, he will not permit US
to do anything which will merit either his OF
his fathers favor. Faith excludes merit. II
presupposes the absence of all merit in the
believer, and lodges all merit in Jesus Christ
the object of the believers faith.
The danger to which professed Christians
are constantly exposed is that, beguiled by the
wicked one, they may conclude that God
owes them something for what they have done
or are now doing. 1t is hard for US to con-
clude, in our minds, that there is no merit
either in our protesting religion, in our reli
gious acts or in our prayers. 1t is easy for
the devil to persuade US that we can pray
ourselves into the kingdom of glory. 1t is
very natural for US to lose sight of Christ and
fix our attention upon ourselves, and in this
way make up long account or claim in our
favor against God, which will balance any
charges he has against US.
To bring up what we are, or what we are
doing, or have done, as a set off against the
sins which we have committed is, of all ways,
the easiest way to lose our immortal souls.
This is not the way that God proposes to save
sinners. He does not propose to balance &C.