The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-02-13
written for The Republican,
NO. w.

NO. w,
The religion of the Lord Jesus
iaChrlst marks his followers so distinct
Fly and plainly, that they may be
tknown and recognized at a glace.
according to the teachings of Gods
word. this must necessarily be so.
hen man is converted and the
2race of God fills his heart, he is a
new creature in Christ Jesus. Old
|thlngs with him have passed away
lstSd all things become new. With a
new heart, come new aspirations,
new thoughts and new desires. In
wing the individual new heart
uDd sets his mark upon him and that
mark he will carry just so long as he
remains in the service OF God. There
may be, and there doubtless are, those
VINO do not wish to be very distinct
+ fnarkeo. They are willing to go
SO church once on the abbat day
and they are willing that their names
may be on the church register, but
theyare not willing to take any active
parttn the religious services of the
churcl, because if they should take II
decidtd stand like that, why ofcourse,
that would deprive them of the cir.
Gus, the theatre, the ballroom, the
card iable and similar worldly
amusements.
These are what some persons call
half hearted christians. We do not
believe there are any half-heal ted
christians. The word of God declares,
"he that is not for me is against me,
and he that gathereth not with me
scattereth abroad" Either we are
the followers of the master or we are
mere Worldlings. mo servant can
serve two masters" "Ye cannot
serve God and mammon." Whilst
thousands have tried to serve God
and hold fast to the world and its so
called pleasures, no single individual
has ever succeeded in doing so. If
we do not show forth in our lives the
religion we profess, then we may rest
assured, the profession is about all we
have, and that is utterly worthless.
But says one, 1--WE are not to Judge
our neighbor, and although he may
not do just what pleases US, yet his
heart may be all right" The ques-
tion is not whether anybody pleaSes
anybody else, but whether as chr :
tlans, we all please God. 1t is not
our province to Judge ary, but we
know that "a good treebringeth forth
good fruit BY their fruits ye shall
know them" "Men do not gather
grapes of thOrns nor figs of thiStles." "
If we would be consistent christians
we must be distinctly marked. We
must be living epiStles, known and
read of all men. Wherefore come
out from among them and he ye sep
arate, saith the Lord, and touch not
the unclean thing" How often dn
we hear world y people say, "there is
no necessity for me to join the chur, h,
/ am just as good, or better, than
many of your professors" The fail
ures of professors will not help the
ungodly, but it would appal the
church to-day, if we could know bow
many church members there are whO
are trying to hold fast to the world,
aud who are anxious that their re-
ligion may not mark them and there
by spoil their pleasure. May the
spirit of the living God so enlighten
us that we may realize there is no
middle ground, no half way chris
tans, and that we must he wholly
the Lords or we are doomed and viii
perish at last. My all who name the
name of the Lord Jesus be enabled to
say, "On Christ, the solid rock stand ;
all other ground is sinking sand"
HOREM.