Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-03-12
Readiua fur the Sabbath,
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATH AN.
(Orisinal.l
IMAGE OF GOD.

From the Scriptures we learn that man
was created in the image of God. So far as
we know, man was the only creature that
was brought into existence stamped with
the image of his maker. Other creatures
were made, we suppose, higher in the scale
of being than man, and other creatures may
have been created in the image of God, but
we do not know the fact. On this subject
God has made no revelation. we are not
able to mention everything which was be-
slowed upon man in creation, which gifts or
endowments constituted man like his max
er. 1t need scarcely be stated that the like
ness of man to his maker, whatever that
likeness was, or in whatever it consisted,
was moral likeness and not material
likeness This is clear, from the fact that
God is not a material, but spiritual being.
1t would, then, not be improper to say that
mans likeness to his maker was spiritual
likeness and not material likeness.
One way by which we may learn in what
the image of God, in which man was crea-
ted consisted, is by learning what is bestow-
ed upon him, in his fallen state, in order
that that image may be restored. In the
Scriptures, the restoration of this lost image
Of God is frequently considered. Here
again, it is never SO spoken of that we are
ence to our body, or the material part of our
existence, any further than that is affected
and controlled by, our spiritual existence.
From the declarations of Paul, we learn
that through Jesus Christ, knowledge, right
eousness and true holiness are restored to
believers, and this the apostle calls renew
ing the image of God. Or to quote the
language accurately: "Believers," says he,
shave put on the new man, which is re-
newed in knowledge, after the image of
him in which he was created" Again, the
same apostle says, "believers have put on
the new man, which, after God, is created
in righteousness and true holiness" Colo
slams iii: 10 and Ephesians iv:A From
these two passages of Scripture and from
many others that might be quoted, we are
safe in saying that the image of God, in
which man was created, consisted in knoWl-
edge, Righteousness and true holiness:
These three things do not embrace all that
is included in the restoration, hence we in
| fer that they do not embrace all that was
included in the image of God in which man
was made. We may venture to mention
one other thing, and that is faith. The re-
suit of this likeness or image of God in
which man was created was, on the part of
man, communion with God. -Four element
ary principles, faith, knowledge, righteous
ness and true holiness constituted in part, at
least, the image or likeness OF God IN which
man was created.
1t may strike some persons that faith is
not part of that likeness. n moments re-
Election will, we think, satisfy any one that
faith is an important part Of this likeness
and that without faith there can be no such
a thing as likeness, in any proper sense, en-
listing between God and man.
1t is not common to speak Of God as hav-
ing faith but, notwithstanding this fact, it
is certainly true that God has or exercises
faith. The same is true of each of the three
persons of the God-head. 1t is not claimed
that Gods faith is, in every respect, like the
faith of man, but it is the same in essence.
The simplest definition of faith, is belief
in testimony Now God, the father, eXer-
cises faith in himself in that he believes his
own testimony. Our Saviour says he is in
the father and the father is in him, and
from the connection we are forced to con-
clude that he means that he is in the father
and the father is in him, in a similar sense
to that in which his people are in him. If
then, we only knew how believers are in
Christ, we can form some idea of how the
father is in the son and the son in the faith
er. In the Scriptures we are taught that we
are united to Christ, or we are in Christ by
faith. Faith is anelementary principle OF
God. He always believed himself He al
ways believed in his own existence, in his
own attributes, and he exercised this faith
by necessity of his nature. Man fell when
out faith there can exist no union with God.
Nothing will supply the place of faith. In
fact, without faith in God there can be moth
ing in man that is pleasing to God, or like
God.
The sinner, dead in tresspasses and sins,
isby Gods spirit quickened into life. What
he lost in Adam is restored in Christ, and
that is faith in God. The moment an indi-
vidual accepts Jesus Christ, in the Scripture
| 80 ho q
GOd-the image of God in which he was
created is restored.
No doubt this is the reason that faith oc-
cupies so prominent place in the scheme of
redemption. Faith is followed by many
gifts and graces, but it is preceded only by
the divine purpose to regenerate the sinner,
dead in sin, and the act of quickening
into life by the Holy Spirit
"BUT TO MINIsTER."-It is a very COM
mon feeling that obligation is Il burden.
We say: How long will these cares press?
When will these calls cease? When will it
ever be that shall have my time to myself?
We do our duty as something that must be
done. We listen to the calls of charity, no.
ping each one will be the last. "N1y cares
never cease my tolls never end; my work
is never done," you say. Then you are a
happy man, if you are true man. We are
fined by the cares we encounter. The heav-
lest life is that which has not a burden to
lift. The most wearisome life is that which
has not care to trouble it. The most tired
spirit is that which has not a toll to occupy
it, The spirit which gives out the most
will increase the most,
We love to be ministered unto: we love
to be served we love to be honored. But
the blessing is in the ministering; the hon
or is in the service. 1t is not that the bless
ing will come when the ministering is done
or the honor be conferred when the service
is over. But ministerng is itself blessed
service is itself the foundation of honor.
The largest life is in the line Of the largest
service Obligation is our natural element,
duty is our native air. What we do
strengthens us more than what is done Tor
us. What we give enriches us more than
what we receive. What we do for men,
and not what we receive from them, will
determine our place in the kingdom of God
neS% Said Rev. Sam. P. Jones in recent
sermon: 81 hear fellows talkin' about the
looseness of members of the Church, and
Pm sorry to say we have got some awful
poor members, and they ought to be outside,
and them fellows outside who are always
watching and picking up the church are
welcome to them. We got them from that
side, and they may have them back if they
want them. But these outside fellows,
! when they want to abuse the church, they
pick out one of those mean members that
we got from their crowd, and they lay down
with him on the ground and measure and
get up and say, We'll, Pm just as long and
! Just as big as he is, and he is in the church