The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-10-28
He reioices when he can kindle the pas.
sions for the destruction of those things
which are nrra and holy and of good

report. 1t is Satan who puts into the
minds of men ideas of inhdelity.
AS he, long ages ago, sought to usurp
the powers of God in Heaven, so he still
strives to drag Him from His throne in
the mind of man. Under various forms
has he endeavored to effect this object,
under principles which are consistent
with fallen human nature and agreeable
to appetite aud passion.
Can we wonder that, under these varl'
GUS forms, at different times, always,
however, with the same end in view, he
should have been successful in leading so
many astray
Alas, it is too true. Amid the bright.
ness of the Christian dispensation, while
the whole moral armament is blaze of
light, and earth should not have shadow
to rest upon her bosom, Satan succeeds
in closing the eyes of men and fortifying
their hearts against the truth of the gos-
pei of Christ. He succeeds in convincing
them that they shall not reap as they
SOW.
We ask now What are the conse-
quences of sacrificing this principle.
"Whatsoever man soweth, that shall he
also reap 2" The man who disbelieves it
attempts to mock God, for thus hath He
spoken. The man who disbelieyes it
charges God with insincerity, strives to
rob Him of His honor and to take away
His sovereignty. The man who disbe.
lieyes this principle fastens delusion on
his mind that will end in disappointment.
Oh, the awfulness of mistake like this !
Oh, the horror of self deception which
will end in disappointment and destruc.
tion and everlasting woe, where there
will be no eye to weep, where there will
be none to pity.
In some things men are all alike. So
far as mere external character and con-
duct is concerned, there is not often, to
the eye of the casual observer, marked
difference between them.
Alas alas they are not alike in all
things! Can you find two greater ex-
tremes than wisdom and folly?
Wisdom is one of the noblest gifts of
God one of the most Distinguishing
features of intellect; one Of the jewels of
our crown. 1t thinks correctly, judges
accurately, performs properly. Itsees its
end and attains it. It is knowledge pu.
rifed and exalted. It is the soul in &C.
tion. If you meet with it in politics,
while others are scheming and speculat.
ing, it saves the State. If you meet with
it in business, it amasses wealth, while
others are waiting for wind and tide. 1t
knows what it has to do and it does it; q
good banker, it uses every cent to adyan.
tage; good general, it makes ever SOL
dier available.
Folly is just the opposite. 1t has the
hope of an enthusiast, and the spirit of
sluggard. 1t erects castles in the air,
but never digs foundation on the earth.
1t dreams and never wakes. 1t has
Imagination without reason, and purpose
without execution.
These two extremes find their greatest
exempli6cation in man, especially in
connection with spiritual questions.
There are wise men in the world: men
who are sowing to the spirit, and will of
the spirit reap life everlasting These
men believe in God. They feel the honor
of their Saviour committed to them.
They live lives of self denial. They prey
without cessing. They watch uuceasing-
ly. They are laborious in doing good.
They have the altar in their family. They
take pains to instruct their children in
the ways of religion. They see that the
Sabbath is honored. They are often in
their closet. The wrestle with indwelling
sin. Every moment they sprinkle them
selves anew with atoning blood. They
love their brethren. They can bear
insults and endure reproacb for Christ's
sake. Their whole soul is in religion.
They press on from grace to grace, full of
assurance and happy in the promises.
There are foolish men in the world (;
men who are sowing to the flesh, and will
of the flesh reap corruption. They
deny the existence of God. They do not
believe in the coming of the judgment /;
or, if they profess to believe, they neg
lect the practice. The grace uf God may
have been received into their heart, the
tears of penitence may have flowed, the
joys of pardon may have been felt, but
these have gone. The lamp of faith is
out. The closet is vacant. TIE place at
the communion table is empty. They no
longer know religious struggle. They
put forth no mighty exertions to attain
Heaven. The grace of God is dead in
their hearts, and their souls will be as
certainly lost as the soul of the outbreak
ing sinner.
1t is but right in considering this sub
iect that we should ask ourselves this
question: To which of these two classes
do we belong2
There are many who are enlightened
by the Word of Truth, who are striving
to forsake sin, who believe in Jesus
Christ, who are servants Of the living
God. While thanking God earnestly for
your condition, remember that your work
is not yet done, and that the reaping
time has not yet come. As long as you
are in the world you are liable to temp
tation. Your safety depends on constant
prayer and watchfulness. Never, while
on earth, will you be safe from the
attacks of your sleepless and ceaseless
adversary. No more than the man
engaged in deadly conflict will be safe
until the last blow is struck and the con-
test ended. Watch, therefore, until the
harvest, that you may, by the grace Of
God, reap life everlasting.
There are others, not viciou,ly wicked,
not knowingly, perhaps, sowing to the
flesh, not desirous of reaping corruption,
not expecting to endure eternal torment,
and yet, if the Word of God be true, in
danger of such an end.
You sit week by week in the conse.
Grated church, you engage in its sacred
ordinances and services, you mingle with
the redeemed of God on earth, you may
come near the Heavenly Kingdom, and
yet you are in danger of being swept, as
it were, from the very port of Heaven
out into the ocean of everlasting woe.
And why3 Because you delay to take
Thu one step which will start you on the
safe road. Why not cast in your lot with
Gods people? Sow to the spirit and
reap life everlasting.
One final word in conclusion to those
who are Christians. 1t cannot but be a
matter of regret to you that SO many of
your fellow.men are still Sowing to the
flesh" and liable to "reap corruption"
Ask yourself the question now: cam |
in any way to blame for their conditionW
We cannot, in this enlightened age,
answer in the words of Cain, Gam l my
brothers. keeper9" We know that God,
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