Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-04-12
Mistellameuns &eadiug.

Mistellaueun5 &eading.
For the Yorkvle Enquirer
THE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
SYNOPSIS OF ITS OPERATIONS IN YORK
| COUNTY.
Unity is strength. In the former days the
churches were more united in effort than
now. When the whole county was in one
circuit or charge, the officers and others met
together on quarterly-conference occasions,
| which were times of religious comfort and
edification, when, in connection with our
peculiar usages, the leading members, and
others as we'll, would relate their Christian
experience, to the edifcation of all. This
exercise alone, often, with the blessing of
God upon it, led sinners to Christ.
Twenty years ago, when l served the
churches in the county, as presiding elder,
there were two charges Yorkville station
and York circuit. The two charges, how
ever, met together on neutrality-suspicious.
occasions, and assisted each other in the
work, and it was good and pleasant for
brethren thus to dwell together in unity.
Also in those days camp-meetingswere held
at Concord and Philadelphia. These were eN-
ira times for the preaching Of the word, and
otherwise laboring for the salvation of souls.
Many were converted to God during these
annual cOnvOcations, who would not have
been otherwise reached. Other institutions
have their great occasions to impress the
,ntt 10
the olden dispensation the Church of God
had it's feast of tabernacles, which was a
sort of fcamp-meeting, for they dwelt in tents
for whole week. These occasions had a
tendency to cement them together in faith
and effort. They had had common dellv-
erance from common suffering, and were
now banded together under one head, as the
Church of God in theworld. So Methodism
had common origin and was united to-
gether, in it's early history, in common
suffering, and in a common labor Of lore,
which cemented it in a oneness of faith
and experience, and oneness Of practice.
Would that they could or would nov pray
publicly at church, also at home in their
families, and band together more fully in
spreading Scriptural holiness over these
lands.
Camp-meetings have ceased for the time.
And now, while we should look we'll to the
regular preaching of the word, and also to
the grand results of the Sabbath-school enter
prise, we should look beyond this to mutual
aid and unifcation, through protracted
meetings, when pastors might assist each
other, and so meet this demand for extra
labor for the salvation of the people.
While Methodism was born in a revival,
and has ever advocated the necessity of spe-
claI rev1vaT seasons IN the eCiIurcnes-1ndeed,
believing that revivals might be continu-
ous-yet she has ever been steadfast in doc
trine, so that to-day she is a unit in the
county, and, we may say as to that, in all
the world, she is one in doctrine. Her
twenty-five articles in the discipline, to-
gether with Wesley's Sermons and Wes-
ley's Notes on the New Testament, and
Watson's Institutes, set forth, in clear light,
our doctrinal views. These teachings we
regard as being strictly in accord with the
word of God, which is the infalL6le rule of
faith and practice. And yet it is proper to
set FORTH in tangible form, a system of faith
as pertaining to the church. In accordance
with this privilege and duty, we may say
that the Methodists of York and elsewhere,
believe and teach the universally of the
atonement made by Jesus Christ; that in it's
extent, it was made in good faith for all the
lost of Adams race. All having fallen in
Adam utterly, were redeemed in Christ.
The sacrifice of Christ derives infinite value
from his diri,ity, and, once for all, eXpiates
the sins of the whole world, making the
salvation of every human being possible,
and was so intended by God. Heb. 3: O..
'That he, by the grace Of God, should taste
death for every man." "And that he died
for aN" II. Cor. 5: Is.
Christ having died for all men, then all
men are placed in salvable condition.
And their salvation present and eternal,
hinges upon their acceptance or rejection of
Christ, according to the light they may
have, Christ being the true light, which
lighteth every man that cometh into the
world. Repentance and faith antedate JUS
tification or pardon. Regeneration follows,
but is simultaneous with Justification. JUS
titication is a work done for us. Regenera-
tion is work wrought in us by the Holy
Ghost, making us new creatures in Christ
Jesus. Regeneration is sanctifcation begun,
the fulness of which is attainable in this
life, through the blood of Christ. eff we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness." I. John 1929.
The witness of the Spirit is firmly held ;
also the possibility of falling from grace.
Peter fell and rose again. Paul never fell.
Hymeneus and Alexander made shipwreck
of the faith. What is shipwreclled is lost.
! Thus our people set forth a full atonement
by Christ, for all the world. Also, mans
utter fallen, sinful and helpless condition,
rendering that atonement necessary. And
as God can now be just and yet justify the
ungodly sinner upon covenant conditions,
such as repentance and faith, we, therefore,
urge upon our people, and upon aN, the ne
cessity Of repentance, faith, justification, re-
generation, the witness of the Spirit, and
sanctifcation. Also, give warning of the
possibility Of falling from grace.
This method of instruction has been
blessed of God in the salvation of many.
r. P. FRANKS.
| SCRIPT FIRsr-THEN PRINT.-A teacher
asks, "Why printing on states should not be
taught to small children since that is the
form which is first put before them." The
child should be taught to read script first
from the blackboard, and he should begin