Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-29
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CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHA A N.
CHRIST,S TESTAMENT.
BY REV. G. H. WETERBE.

A testament is "a solemn, authentic in
strument, in writing, by which person de-
clares his will as to the disposal of his estate
and effects after his death. A testament is,
therefore, a PERSONS will. And a will i'm
plies in the first place that the person max
| inc it has property. 1t generally specifies
what the property consists of and some idea
of its value. 1t also declares in distinct
manner the names Of the persons to whom
the property is willed, and what the share
of each Now, our Saviour made testl-
ment, or will, which he authorized compe-
tent men to commit to writing. 1t is not
an instrument which he hastily drew up, or
thoughtessly framed but it was deliber-
ately planned and wisely and thoroughly
considered. 1t was based on the fact that ne
had large possessions in his own name and
right, which he was at liberty to dispose of
according to his own mind and purpose.
He has representedhimselfto tobe very rich
so rich that the human language is entirely
insufficient to adequately express the full
value of his possessions. Heauthorized one
of his agents to speak of his "unsearchable
riches" Those riches do not increase in
value. They are not like the worlds
"stocks," that are quoted at a certain rare
one day and something less another day /;
but they are Interchangeable in value forever
more.
These riches have been willed to certain
ones who are specified in the testament.
They have not been sold, but given away.
This testament is not like aprOmissOry note
which SAYS, "FOr value received" because
Christ's riches are not exchanged for any
thing of corresponding value, as matter Of
mere compensation. They are bequeathed
as a blessed bounty, benevolent benefac-
ton. Then, too, this will is solemn cove
nant on the part of Christ. He meantevery
syllable contained in the document. He
confirmed it with the most tdevoutsanctions,
even with his blood hence it is authentic.
| And it's authenticity is sustained by chosen
witnesses, whose characters are unimpeach-
able. No one has any good reason to doubt
the validity of this will. 1t is just as relia-
BILE and good as it processes to be. Men
have succeeded in breaking human wills !:
and although Christ's will has been "con-
tested" vet it's genuineness and strength
have grandly withstood every contest. Not
single heir shal lose fraction of the part
| to which he is entitled by virtue Of the pro-
visions of the will. He need have no fear
that he will not obtain all that he has been
promised in that will. The divine testatcr
is his own executor, and this iSan assurance
that every heir will receive their full share
of their deceased friends estate. AS yet,
however, the heirs, now living on earth,
have not entered into the full possession of
their inheritance. They have received some
advanced payments, which are foretaStes OF
what is held in reserve for them, when the
whole possession shall be delivered. And,
oh how unutterably blessed will the enjoy
ment Of that rich legacy be Infinite riches
are reserved in heaven for you, oh, heir OF
Christ Our Lord is heir of all the Father
possesses, and we, who are heirs, are joint
heirs with Christ Of all things eternal AMI
immortal.
Reader, are you an heir Of Christ : If not
you are not entitled to any of his possessions.
Remember that he has made his last will
and, therefore, he will not make another.
This is good enough for time and eternity.
THE New THEOLoGY.-Why do we want
a new theology at all? Does the old fail tt
reach the heart of man, to furnish peace to
the anxious one who accepts it, or eXalt the
Saviour whom it reveals? Or does the new,
SO far as it has been tried, prove a better
comforter of the soul in time of need, or
more powerful to win men to Christ: We
have no proofs that it is SO in either case
As of old, the gospel which our fathers
believed is proving itself all over the world
the power Of God unto salvation. In every
land men Of every cline and under every
condition are, by its means, being regenera'
ted and brought into the redeemed family CT
God. 'The. old, old story" gives birth tc
philanthrOpic and social reforms, such as
nothing short of it has ever awakened OF
attempted. The Bible is the very voice OF
God coming to us with all the force of a
plenary inspiration, such as admits of nC
change or modification as to its assertions OF
truth, commands millions of minds, and ac-
ceerates the cause Of liberty and true pro-
gress in all parts of the world. Christ, lifted
up on the accursed tree, bearing the sins OF
men, and revealing the character of God az
the .justifiers of sinners who believe in hi$
name, as holy and just as it is loving and
compassionate, still draws all men unto
him while systems destitute Of Il vicarous
sacrifice fail to save or attract the lost, and
only serve to fatter the pride and uphold
the self-righteousness of the human heart.
We want no other gospel than that which
Paul proclaimed and realized when he de"
clared, 81 am not ashamed of Christ, for ii
is the power Of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth, to the Jew first, and al
so to the Greek"
True, that gospel is not exhausted in any
set of doctrines formulated by man; it is in
eXhaustible, infinite in its fulness; the fur
ther we advance in it's study, the deepe1
and wider its glorious truths become III
their development of the wisdom and grace
God. But none the less are the foundations
firm, and the truths based upon them unal
terable and fixed for all time.-LondW!
Christian.
THE BIBLE.-It is no eXaggeration to say
that each great movement for good in the
Christian Church has cOincided with fresh
study of the Bible. 1t was SO with the
great fathers of the first ages, Origen and
the masters of Alexandria; it was so with Je-
rome and Augustine ; it was SO in the tenth,
the fourteenth and the sixteenth centuries.
At each crisis deeper investigation of Scrip
ture found new treasures which answered
to the wants of new society. And by
Gods help it will be so now. The power OF
the Bible is unchanged and inexhaustible.
Itspeaks with authority to societies and to
men; it speaks with authority because it
speaks with sympathy; because it speaks
with human voice, through men and to
men, in many fashions and in many parts.
Let US emphasize this thought. We COM
monty describe the Bible as a "Book." 1t
is a Book, one book; but it is more. The
first title which was given to it in the West
was BibliOthcc0 Dirinu; and it is indeed a
Divine Library, rich in every region of hui
man interest rich in every variety of hui
man record.-Professor lIestcoH.
BE HONORABLE.-BOys and young men
sometimes start out into life with the idea
that ones success depends on sharpness and
chicanery. They imagine if a man is able
to ''get the best of a bargain" no matter by
what deceit and meanness, he carries his
point, that his prosperity is assured. This
is great mistake. Enduring prosperity