The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-11-13
ward observances, not external church
but obedience to the divine

COnnCCClOn, OUT ODeulence TO the QlVln6
will. The teaching of our Lord him
self is explicit. He said he had found
greater faith in the heather centu.
rian, who had no membership in the
then visible church of God, than he
found in any within it. He even in.
cluded in the honor of personal rela.
tionship all who did the will of his
Father in heaven: "The same is my
brother, and sister, and mother
Such heartfelt desire to do the will of
God, itself admits into this church
membership. There needs no act of
our tellow-man. No ecclesiastical
rules can apply to it. The transaction
is between God and the soul only.
Yield your heart to God in loving
obedience, and in such act become
member of spiritual, universal church.
Christ is at the door. BY faith in Him
you enter the church through the door,
and no institution of man can close it
against you. He says: 81 have set be-
fore you an open door,a no man can
shut it." Everyone who thus spirit
ually enters into fellowship with Christ
enters into fellowship with Christ's
church. The second application of
the word church is to the visible, uni
versal company of those who profess
the essential qualifications of men,
bership with the invisible, spiritual
church. We here pronounce no opin-
ion on many questions that may arise
relating to the recognition of those ig-
norant of the way of salvation thus
revealed. We have only now to do
with those who, in answer to the ques-
ton, "What must do to be saved?'
accept the answer, ''Believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be
saved We speak of those who pro
fess and call themselves Christians"
All real Christians belong to the true,
spiritual church; all who profess to be
real Christians belong to the visible
church. The outward profession of
what constitutes the inward qualitica-
tion is the necessary condition of men,
bcrship. If so, nothing less and moth
ing more should be required of any
candidate. Nothing less. Do you
profess repentance toward God and
faith in our Lord Jesus Christ? Are
you sorry for sin, and anxious to for.
sake it? Do you trust in Christ fo1
pardon and acceptance with God? As
His true disciple, do you wish to be
taught His doctrines, to initiate His
example, and obey His command.
ments? If so, you are already mem.
Der Of his spiritual church. But dc
you also wish to become united with
His visible church? Then you mus,
confess this faith. The confession Of
it in Christ's appointed way makes you
a member of this household. What
are those appointed methods? His
own ordinances of baptism and the
Lords supper. Those who practice
infant baptism consider that the chile
of Christian parents is born into the
protesting church, and is, from the
first learner of the gospel, and tina
being a disciple it may receive the out
ward symbol. But in such cases til,
baptized person, in after years, is ex
pected in some way to confirm wha
was implied and hoped for in that rite
and personally to confess Christ. Thi
may or may not be done by word o
mouth, but it certainly ought to b,
done by the act which speaks loude
still, of partaking of the bread ant
wine in commemoration of the bod,
and blood OF Christ offered for US OF
the cross