Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1888-04-27
TINE PERFECTION OF CHRISTIANITY.


Outlines of discourse delivered at
Rowland, KY, April ~, 1888, by DR. {.
Kendrick. Of California. and published /.
by request OF the elders Of the Rowland .
church:
THE PRELUDE.
4 young man who had been for some
time a prodigll, or straying sheep from
the fold made confession oi his wander
inys and renewed his vows to live achrls-
tian life. 4 call was made for others to
DO the same, and warnings were given to
keep Others from going astray; especially
did the speaker dwell on TIA" sin and fol-
ly Of the popular dancing habit He said
the dancing spirit was not the worship
ing spirit that no one would like to die
in a ballroom: that, however those with
the dancing spirit might try To justify 1t,
or plead its innocence, they could not
feel So on dying bed; that death was
the honest hour and the time Ia try
mems souls, that the lovers of the dance
and of all worldly pleasures were blind
ed hy that love, and scarcely to bc rea-
soned with; that the ease was plain ~
sunlight, viz: that the spirit of the dance
was not the spiri, OF Christ and that no
one with the spirit Of Christ desired tobe
in the ballroom. or could enjoy IL; that
the humble heart aud true spirit was IN
the house of the Lord and at the feet of
Jesus; and that only with this heart and
this spirit could one worship God ac-
cep,ably, even in His holy temple.
There was much feeling, and, We pre-
sumo. many holy resolves 10 drink more
deeply into the true spirit oi christian
ity.
ruE DISCOURSE.
James chapter was read before pray
er aud brief comments offered. especial
lv on verses - and -: "Bc ycdocrs Of the
word" and The perfect law of liberty
Then came ierycnt prayer brief, hut
earnest. for the things needed on the oc-
casion-not for everything Then the
song.
The speaker then said: There are two
WAYS Of proving the perfection ot the
christian system:
]. To show that the New Testament
claims perfection for il.
>. To examine the system itself, mega
lively and positively, and see whether II
has any evil in il, or whether il lacks any
good thing.
On the first. verse ~ of the lesson
reads, "Thc perfect law oi liberty The
law Of Moses constrained people and
death was the penalty of disols'dience
the law was mo, OF faith, but he whodo
eth these things shall live by them'-ol
save his natural life; Gal. 3l2. But I'll,
christian system il law Of liberty, io
the present; it compcls no one; It cx
hausts the tcrrors of hell aud the gloric'
at heaven and all the exceeding grca
aud precious promises" of the gospel, Il
persuade men Ia he willing, hut ahso
lutely would not accept an unwillin;
service. Jesus wept over the sin an'
folly of Jerusalem, and said, "lIow otter
would have gathered YOU together a.
hen gathcrcth her brood under he
wings, but W. would not Yet lie woul'
no, compel them. He said: Behold
stand at the door Loi the heart an,
knock. and il any man willopen the doc
will come in and sup with him and h
with Me But man must open thu
door Jesus will no, break il down
And the invitation is. "The spirit an,
the bride say come; let him that hearctl
say come; let him that Is athirs
come, and whatsoever will let him take q
the water Of life freely God Is eve
willing and waiting to he gracious, an
the preparations on the part OF the sin
ncr are all in his being willing; God b.
the gospel works in him will To do Iii
pleasure; Phil. PIP; and when the SHINE
/, willing he ought to come. His will
the qualification; itincludes faith, repent
ance and II change OF heart, and henc
the Invitation is strictly correct who
socyer will" ii he wills to serve Go,
he does not will To serve the devil, an,
is changed 50 long rs sinners prefer +
sin they are not fit to come. Examin
Yourselves aud determine for voursclvc
whether you prefer or will to serv'
sin or holiness.
The perfection and glory OF the chris
tan system appears in the absolute free
dom of the human will. Every man ha
in his own hands the destiny OF his soul
lie may 90 to hell ii h. will, or he ma!
30 TO heaven il he will; God will not con
strain him, nor will he allow Satan t.
bind him in indissoluble bones AM
drag him to ruin contrary to His will
What fearful responsibility! Nor cal
one escape it!
There are but are but two classes:
/. The unconverted, or wicked-th
unwilling.
2. The converted, or willing and ODE
dent"
Psalms 1877 says; "The law OF tn
Lord is perfect, converting the SOUL
the sinner, of course, since the willing d
not need conversion.
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