The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-31

npon them until they realized their sin. Paul,
looking back upon this first method that God
used, says: For If the word spoken
by angels was steadfast and every
transgresslon and disobedience received just
recompense of reward, how shall we escape If
we neglect so great salvation2 Heb, ii, 2, g. God
demanded not only that man should hear his
voice and obey his commands, but that he should
use the divinely-appoiEted means that he had
adopted in the way he directed in this work OF
religion. The religious sentiment of those days
was based upon definite principles. Prominent
among these was strict adherence to the ex-
pressed and known will of God. Sentiment was
not allowed to come in place of duty on obliga-
ton, and THUG grow to be the sum and Substance
OF religion. At no time in Gods economy and
in the reign of Christ were men permitted to
say, master, Master" and neglect to do the
things commanded In the dawn of revelation,
however, much, of necessity, was imperfect and
there was much permitted that to-day our CIVIL
common laws would not sanction.
Turning from the regulations of the old econ
omy to the reign of Christ we find an incom-
parably higher law than that of Moses, and a
much higher and broader grace Great liberties
are allowed, in that there are no petty regula-
tions minor rules, but there also no license,
but a kingdom of principles that define human
responsibility and accountability to God In
this new religious system there are also two de-
partments: 1.-THE things God has done for us and
the things we must do for ourselves" and these
must be done under Gods direction. Even now.
after years of training aud centuries Of ex-
perience. man is unable to know, without in
struction, what is for his redemption and what
is not Everything in this new economy is also
a precious gift from God. The gracious sending
of the Son, who broadens and widens the offer
of pardon. until, without tribal restriction it adj
dresses all men everywhere. Surely 1.-The grace
of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to
all men," His walk in our paths, that He might
become to us an high priest that could be
touched with a feeling of our in6rmities,
having been tempted in all points like as
we are, yet without SIM" The Offering of himself
on the tree that He might draw all men to HIM
self-that He might present to God without
spot, having redeemed us by His precious blood.
Our justification through the faith thus begotten
within MS, the holy spirit that animates US, the
eternal life by which we are SO richly endowed
and hemeans of our personal specification
these all of necessity came from the Father, and
are wonderful gifts to us. Surely and truly are
We saved by grace. In this we have the divine
means, and the divine state. and the divine
fruits OF this religious system God ordained
the means, created the state and gives the fruit.
We can accept it or reject it as we elect If we
accept these gifts the Son becomes our leader
and instructor, and to Him we must yield our
selves as obedient disciples. He is
willing and able 60 lead US away
from the cruel bondage of sin and to ''make us
moldinc of new character and how to use the
strong and blessed powers of the new life.
This system, like the old, is still system of
instruction. The instruction comes, however,
from the heart of Gods only begotten Son, and
is the perfect contamination of all divine teach
ing. IL is addressed to all classes alike None
are omitted by reason of q seeming unworthiness,
or because they have developed beyond their
need 1t comes to men that have been carefully
reared in the homes of devout parents In whose
very natures there is seen q natural endowment
of admirable traits and characteristics 1t comes
to the Unbalanced man, whose life has woven
into it many hurtful and vicious habits. 1t
comes to the lowest, the most degraded.
the lost This religious system is placed
before all these classes Of men with the same
revelations, duties, responsibilities and rigid
and inhexible standard of right There Is now
no accommodation to men. as hitherto, on &C
count of the hardness of their hearts," And
ali are invited, exhorted, yes commanded, to be
obedlent to the principles laid down by the Mas
ter, and to initiate His perfect life. If the first
few months, or even years, of some lives that
attempt to initiate Christ are to decide their
final acceptance or non acceptance, think that
all will agree that there s little hope for them.
Let us see, In such cases. what our Savior most
insists 0n-not only in such cases, but in all
cases. Is it not the old story of obedience and
the adoption, on the part of man, of the means
ton, redemption and acceptation9 We are
to come into the kingdom by taking
Christ Jesus as the way, the truth and
the life. In other words, we must
01tlO0. doc
triEe and the source of real life. He constantly
insists that He is the bread of life and the water
OF life, and. therefore, those that hunger and
thirst must accept Him, that they may be salts
fed. We openly confess our inability to satisfy
ourselves, and openly, therefore, profess faith in
Him. In plain view of all we are introduced
into Him, and become humble learners at His
feet while He washes away sins and re-
members our former transgressions no longer
Still, as we daily compare ourselves with the
f~1l- 81 g. = -
feel our weakness and plainly see our many
sins. The highest names on the pages of the
New Testament bear witness to our weakness as
men, and our need of continual confession, re-
pentance and the offering up of petit
tions for forgiveness and pardon.
The idea of right and wrong is Unborn. It may
never be developed and brought to maturity,
just as the stalk blade and corn is in every kerr
mel, though every kernel does not develop that
which it enfolds Men had evolved system of
morals long before the coming of our Savior,
but they did not know anything about the law of
pardon and divine forgiveness
In our religious system our Savior institutes
two institutions of pardon The first one is for
the known servants of sin, for those that have
not taken a single step Godward. Having be-
come the servants of righteousness and still
failing every day to attain to any great degree
imperfection, what is there in this system of our
Savior to keep alive the hope of final salvation2
| answer, the second institution of pardon.
John, more fully than any other apostle, unfolds
to us this means of pardon for Gods children
when they err. If we say that we have
no sin. we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in US. IL we con-
fess our sins, he is faithful and just to for
give us sins, and to cleanse us from all un-
righteousness John. i, g.. Confession and
suppcation are the next steps after obedience
in Gods system of restoration. We are asked in
our prayers to make confession of our trans
gressions. The Savior in giving to His disciples
amode prayer, directs that they should say: 'For-
give us our trespasses as we forgive those that
have trespassed against u.s. He tells us that men
ought never to faint; ought never to become so
discouraged that they will give up the use of
prayer. but that they ought always TO pray.
Man, in being reinstated in Gods favor, comes
back to all-yes believe, to more than Adam
ever possessed 1t is certain that we
enter into the divine fellowship lust
as our foreparents were in divine communion
Nho dn,,bf h,1f hot ~1;.