The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-07-19
elf our gospel be hid it is hid to then

IF our gospel be hid it is hid to them
that are lost a sad reflection, when
We see the thousands of the brave and
fair in our day, who, in Christian lands,
have learned to look upon our venerable
Bible as no longer abreast of that eman-
cipation of thought demanded by our adj
vanced knowledge. Those who have
eyes can see, and they know that they
see, even if they are surrounded by blind
men who insist that the faculty of vision
is all delusion. The truths of religion
and morals have the quality that they
are often self-evidencing, and need only
to be presented to the proper organ to be
accepted. They are verified by the re-
alisations of consciousness. One may go
on weighing the Evidences of Christian
ity, and encounter difficulty after diff
Guilty, and remain perplexed by the never
ceasing doubts raised by "the newer crit
icism"-but there is profounder and ga
more excellent way" The truth of Chris
tianity rests on the facts of mans atti-
tude in this world-on the obvious facts
and wants of his own constitution. An
honest introspection must convince every
man that he is a sinner. Now there is
no other scheme ever proposed or con-
jectured that can provide an escape out
of this disastrous situation. He needs
some device Of reconciliation. an atone
ment for sin is necessary to avert the
punishment Of his sins. But no atone
ment can be conceived that does not in
volve the employment of Divine media
tor. No other sacrifice for sin would pos
sess the requisite value. Christ therefore
IS priori probably true. 1t commends
itself at once to our reason. And when
rescued from punishment howfshall the
pardoned sinner be qualified to enter
Heaven? He has still tailed to obey the
moral law; the law must be kept before
ne can claim the rewards of eternal life.
Provision is also made for this in Chris
tianity; Christ took our nature and kept
the law-we have not only his death, to
relieve us from the pains of hell, but his
obedience, to entitle us to the beatitudes
Of heaven. More than this: there is an
other difficulty to be met. We could not
with propriety, even after we were acquit
ted of guilt, and furnished with Christ's
imputed righteousness as meritorious
claim to heaven, enter the presence OF
the holy beings who inhabit that world,
with corrupt nature adhering to us.
We need also moral reformation in our
inmost nature-and for this Christianity
provides the Offices of the Holy Spirit
the new birth and the sanctifcation of
the believer. 1t is this wonderful and
complete provision for our whole case
that constitutes an irresistible appeal for
the truth of the system. On no other
imaginable plan, can man be presented
unbalanced and spotless at the bar of
holy God. No ancient or modern phil
osophy provided, and none will be de-
vlsed that can provide this. And if Chris
tlanlty Is not true, mans sin and sinful
ness remain inevitably, and his ruin can
not be repaired. And thus Christianity
appeals to man s consciousness for its We
racity-an appeal which is the deepest
that can be made to reason.
" If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them
that are lost them who do not see
the truth Of it because they are without
the spiritual sense to perceive what is as
plain as the sun in the heavens to purer
beings. If there is no vision, it is the
very fact of mans intense depravity
(Which is the fund mental truth Of Chris
tianity) which shuts out the light from
his heart.
" Ye DU not come unto me that ye
might have life" It's the depraved will
the logged opposition to the truth
which creates the intellectual scepticism
that affects to be unable to perceive that
Jesus Christ is the Son Of God.
CHINA began life with Babylonia, As