The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-28

II,
He has taken infinite pains with His church,
giving to it apostles prophets evangelists, pas
tors and teachers, for the perfecting OF the
saints, for the work of the ministry. ami for the
edifying of the body of Christ 1t is the duty OF
Christ's ministers to fssd His church, to guide
it. to oversee it, and to fit it for glory. What
endearing names are given to the church, 1t is
called the Fold of Christ, the Flock of God.
the Body Of Christ. the Bride of Christ the
Temple of God, the Vineyard of the Lord, the
City Of the Living God. How dearly and how
tendery Christ loves his church, every member
of it. He knows the name of each.
He calleth them all by name and leadeth
them out He has craven their names in the
palms of His hands. What great sacrifices He
has made for His church, What gifts He has be-
slowed upon ner! What promises He has given
her! What wonders and miracles He has wrought
in her behalf! What victories He has won for
fore her! For her Christ lN%sd. and labored, and
suffered. and died. He gave himself for it, that
He might sanetify and cleanse it; that He might
present it TO himself glorious church, not hav
ing spot, or wrinkle or any such thing, but
that it should be tidy and without blemish.
These things being So it is very evident that
those who oppose the church or neglect its teach
ings or who reject its ordinances. occupy most
undesirable position. For to neglect the church
is to neglect Christ; to reject the church is to re-
ject Christ; to oppose the church is to oppose
Christ; to denounce the church is TO denounce
Christ. And if any man negects, or rejects, or
opposes Christ and yet hopes for salvation, he is
trusting to rope of sand, for without repent
ance, his ruin is inevitable. If these statements
concerning the church be true. and they are
Bible statements, then it follows that the
church of Christ has claims upon each one of US
that can scarcely be overestimated for it seems
that the church of God and only the
church of God Is to receive and to
enjoy the blessings of Christs redemption.
But by the church of Christ let US not for mo-
ment understand any one sect, or party or de-
nomination. Rather let us understand by it the
communion of saints. 1t includes ALL of every
name and in every place, who love the Lord
Jesus Christ in sincerity. From this fold of
Christ mono are shut out who have believed IN
Jesus Christ and who have repented of their
sins, and who are trying to live pure, clean,
the Lord Jesus Christ. let him be anathema.
That keeps all out of the fold who ought not to
be in it. 1t is evident. both from the Scriptures
and from our own observation, that one may be
in the church of Christ nomnay and yet out
of it really; and, on the other hand, that one
may be in the church really. and vet out of it
nomlnally. Here below in these earthly fields,
tares will be found among the wheat;
branches that withered, useless and dead
will, in sort of artificial way, be found now,
and then attached to the true vine. But there
is all the difference in the world between tares
and wheat, between a branch that re- simply tied
to tree and one that is growing out of the tree
and rightfully belongs to It. Hence, we ought
tachmen to this to that branch of the church of
Christ, for such an outward attachment will be
but poor passport to glory. If we would bring
forth fruit unto believers, we must derive our
safety, and nourishment, and strength from the
living vine There must be vital union be-
tween Christ and every member OF HIS church.
so that when He who is our life shall appear we
also may appear with Him in glory.
Let me ask, in conclusion, what valid canse
will any who have heard the gospel be able to
give for not identifying themselves with the
church of Christ? In this Christian land, in this
Christian age, and, let me add-rnost statements
to the contrary observation-disclosures this Chris
tan city, here where churches, aud Bibles, and
ministers, and warm hearted Christian people
are so numerous, wha. good reason can any one
Of our fellow citizens give for not being Christ
ians Or yet again, what good reason can these
give who regard themselves as Christians for not
attaching themselves to some enc of the many
branches of Christ's churcha Is it possible to be
disciple of Christ and yet Systematically and
persistently refuse to obey Christ! If He whom
l acknowledge as my Lord and master says to
me: Do this in remembrance of me- 1t He
pleads with me with infinite pathos, and with all
the tenderness of His great loving heart, shall
| resist His peadingl Shall / refuse to obey
Him, and yet call myself His disciples trow
not If Jesus has loved the church, and given
himself for it, if He offers me salvation, and
even pleads with me to accept it: if the door into
His fold stands wide OPEN and He, the good
She pherd, urges me to enter in; if He stands at
the door OF His church, and pleads with me to
enter in, and acknowledge Him as my Savior
and Lord--then who am /, and what am l. that
I should treat my Savior and His church as if
they had little or no claim upon my attention?
Can /, a sinful man, with Christs gospel ringing
in my ears, afford to ignore the claims which the
church of Christ have upon me?
Let US never forget that it is the mission of
Christ and of His church to save sinners. AS
Christian minister's as Christian people, let
us act if we believed this Let US attempt
great things for Christ and for His church.
Surely we love him. We love His cause We
love His kingdom. We love His people Not,
indeed as much might but still we do love
Him, and we esteem it our highest honor to be
members of His church and to be co-workers
with Him for the salvation of men. And if any
of US conscious Of being idlers
in His vineyard. of having strayed from
His fold; if have failed properly
to recognize His claims upon US, if hitherto we
have taken very little interest in church work
let us now confess our faults and from this good
hour let US pledge ourselves to do the frs. work,
and henceforth let us give TO religion. and to the
church, and especially to Christ himself. the
chief place in our affections. Let US all pom
der we'll these mighty and solemn words which
fell from Chrsts's own lips "Whosoever shall
confess me before men, him will i confess also
upon my Father which is in heaven, and who
soever shall deny me before men, him will also
deny before my Father which is in heaven"
Rev. DR.. Gilbert made an appeal to the un-
converted. especially detailing the influence of
Christ upon the young. its great help in building
character. Procrastinaton kept US from an i'm
mediate surrender to Christ Every one wanted
to wait for more favorable opportunity, and,
no doubt, the doctrine of the eleventh
hour repentance had much to do in
keeping many away from the church and
the acceptance Of the Savior. He said
on recent &c. occasion. in an audience Of goo he
..~--. al4 lnose Wnu r.o..-----,
they were fifteen years old, to devote themselves
Tkrsc ia 10 0v,tx Eyo
persons raised their hands; but In response to
the request for those who were leading Christian
lives all but fifty raised their hands Thus, in
that audience Of 300 only forty-five who prom
ised before they were fifteen years old to become
Christians, failed to carry out their intention.
Some years ago a man sixty years of
age moved by great emotion, gave his
hand to him in Joining the church
HeAtrembIed like an aspen leaf, and said he re-
GREETED he had lived so long out of the church.
This regret was mostly on account of the bad ex