Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-02-02
Readina fnr the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[Original.J
CHRISTIANS.

The first name which was given to the fol-
lowers of Jesus Christ, was disciples. This
was very appropriate name, since it means
learner, pupil, scholar. Some time after
the conversion of Paul the name Christian be-
gan to he applied to the followers of the Sa-
viour. We are told that "the disciples were
called Christians first, at Antioch" This was
probably about forty years after the resurrec-
ton of the Saviour. We are not informed
how the name originated. Whether it was
given to the disciples by divine appointment,
or whether the disciples so named themselves,
or whether it was given them by their enemies
as term of reprOach, arequestiOnS which can
not be positively answered. The probability
is that they were so called by those who were
not disciples. 1t may be simply to distinguish
them from others, or it may have been term
of reproach. BE this as it may, the name was
well chosen, and conveys to the mind definite
idea of those to whom it is correctly applied,
and hence, may be said to be of divine origin.
The suhix ion means pertaining to, or belong
ing to. Thus the word American means per-
tanning to America, and the word Baconian
denotes pertaining to Bacon. Weunderstand
a Newtonian to be one who pertains to New
ton, OF follower of Newton. A Christian,
then, is, by correct analogy, one who pertains
to, or is follower of Christ.
At present, the word is used in a two-fold
sense In it's wide and unrestricted sense, it is
used to denote all those who live in civilized
countries. In this sense, it embraces all the
human family, who are neither Jews nor bar
barians. In its proper sense, it is limited to
those who are, in reality, the followers of Jesus
Christ, as distinguished from all others of the
human family. All who live in England, Ire
land, Scotland and America are called Chris
tians, but they are not all followers of Jesus
Christ. They are not all his disciples. They
do not learn of him. lie is not claimed by all
these people as their teacher.
Again, all the members of the visible Church
are called Christians but all are not true
Christians No doubt, there are in the visible
church, many hypocrites many who are with
out God and without any well founded hope.
There must be some test by which the true dis
ciple, the real Christian, can be distinguished
from the mere nominal professor. This is an
we are gold and not dross, wheat and not
chaff ?
We cannot make this discovery by our bodi-
ly senses We can tell an Irishman by his
brogue, a Frenchman by his GESTURES and an
African by the color of his skin, but we cannot
thus discover the Christian. 1t is true that by
the walk and conversation of an individual
we may have satisfactory evidence that he is a
follower of Jesus, but we may be deceived.
We cannot see the heart.
There are some things which all true Christ
ians believe, and some things that they all do.
No matter what may be their nationality, or
what their worldly circumstances, or positions
in society, there is a wonderful likeness in
them all. Their moral and religious features
IRE very similar. No matter what may be
their vernacular dialect, the language of their
hearts and consciences is the same. All true
Christians believe in the existence of one and
Of only one living and true God. Their God
is not the god of the Deist, but the God that is
revealed in creation and providence and in the
Bible. In one word, the God of the Christian
is the God that is revealed in the Bible.
All Christians believe that God made man
upright, without sin, or any inclination to sin,
but man being left to the freedom of his own
will, sinned against God, and became liable to
Gods wrath and curse, both in this life and
that which is to come. All Christians believe
that God, out of his own mere good pleasure,
and in the exercise of His infinite wisdom, de-
viSed plan by which he could, in accordance
with the strictest justice, save sinners from
the curse of the violated law. All Christians
believe the plan of salvation which God de-
vised is plainly revealed in the Scriptures. All
Christians believe that there are three persons
in the God-head, and that Jesus Christ, the
second person of the God-head, is the Saviour,
and the only Saviour of sinners. All Christ
ians believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God
and that He took upon Himself human nature
and so became both God and man-twO ma
lures in one person, and as Goldman, lie obey
ed, suffered and died, not merely for the good
of sinners, but in the rOOm-in the place-Of
sinners. All true Christians believe that, in
order to be saved, the sinner must, absolutely
must, have faith in Jesus Christ, and in Him
alone.
In addition to the above, all true Christians
believe that the sinner is regenerated by the
Holy Spirit, and by the Holy Spirit enabled to
die daily unto sin, and live Cody life. In
one word, all true Christians believe that the
salvation of the sinner, from beginning to end,
is all of grace Grace begins it, grace carries
it on, and grace finishes it. In their mode of
explaining some of these primary or funda-
mental principles of Christianity, Christians
may differ, but all Christians believe them.
There are some things that all Christians
do. They all follow Jesus Christ. They obey
Him. Obedience lies at the foundation of
practical discipleship. Like the Psalmist, true
Christians always set the Lord before their
face. What lie commands is right, and what
lie forbids is sin. The effort of their lives is
to do us lie did and refrain from doing every
thing which lie forbids.
All true Christians make All honest effort to
keep the commandments. This they attempt,
not relying upon themselves, but relying upon
Divine Grace. Every true Christian feels his
weakness, and in all his acts is conscious of
his absolute dependence upon Jesus Christ for
ability, both to think and do. Christians,
drawn by the irresistible power of Divine
grace, join themselves to the Lord They
come out from the world and place themselves
fairly and openly on the Lords side.
TIE CONSULTATIONS OF GoD.-llave you
ever seen, or, perhaps, made one of a party of
people who are going to explore some dark
deep cavern-the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky,
or the Catacombs of Rome? They all stand
out in the sunlight, and the attendants, who
know the journey they are going to make, pass