The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1889-04-13

The bible Tor the fountain head, i
the rivulet flowing therefrom, will /
possess the same sparkling purity, I
unless contaminated by streams of
human opinion that may b. allow
ed to flow into it.
The w0rl of God alone, everpnra
and wholeS lma, Should be thu
Christians constant food andnouf-
ishment. AS good, wholesome fool
gives strength anl vigor to tbs
physical man, 81 will the whole.
some teachings anl doctrines of,
the Bible give strength aud vigor
TO the spiritual mln. So then, in
order that the church may grow
strong and religions, and become
a tive in the work oi the Master,
she sholld be fed regularly and
Systematically upon sound doc.
trine, pure gospel truth.
AS the physical being mly be
come delicate, unhealthynnd spirit
less under the use of unwholesome
foo |, so may the Christian become
siclSly and delicate under the in.
huence of perverted scriptural
teaching. The teaching Of sound
doctrine is the life Of the church.
The people that have been blessed
with constant flow Of sound,
wholesome gospel truths from the
| pulpit, will generally be found to
be an active body of working
Christians. II twasunqlestionably
purposel in the divine economy,
that every Christian should reflect
the gospel Of Christ. "Ye are the
light Of the woeld;r NThe salt OF
: the earth" What a pity that 50
! much OF the salt has lost its savol
for the lack of proper teaching,
/ Every Christian should possess
the ability t, direct others in tho
way Of eternal life; but if he has
been taught doctrines foreign ii
the word of God, scriptdres warp
ed and twisted to suit human ideas
and human creeds, il would seen
natural for him TO very poorly ful
fill flat important mission whicl
should characterize the life 0fevery
| Christian. The "Word ii til,
sword Of the Spirit The minister
/ who has failed topreaeii s3unAdOc
trine to his people, feeding then
instead, upon rhetorical lectures
making his dise0urses for the mos
part, pastime entertainments, hai
not only fallen far below his call
ing, hut has failed to arm then
with the Christians only safe wea
pon Of Ofl'ense and defense, 'fIi
results of such ministry will no
only he fluitlesS for good, but vii
tend to increase the host Of cam
followers with which tile churcl
everywhere seems to bc, more o
less, encumbared. Neither is tin
minister at liberty t. teach half th
truth and leave the other half un
told. (iol makes no compromise
but delights to bless the wh0l
truth. The minister who has no
the moral courage ana G,fistiat
manhood to preach the whole trutl
: or any part Of it, because it mn
not conform to the creed or pleas
the fancy Of some dear friend % 0
E distinguished parsonage IN thrc0
: gregation. is unworthy the s;cre
Z trust confided TO him al an eli
Q bassadOr Of Christ.
AS sound doctrine, pnre gosp,
! truths, encourages the Christian
: brightens his Ilopesand cheers liii
on his way, 50 may unsound do
, trine discourage him, darken hi
hopes and fill his pathway wit
! gloom aud dependency. Suppos
; your pastor, after receiving 10
into the church and rejoicing wit
! you III that yon had professed {
be born Of God ana accepted III
, Son as your Savior, should tell 70
> the work was not yetcOinplete, an
, the question as to your eternal de
( tiny, was not and would not /
! finally settle |, until your carei
Z upon earth had ended; should t.
. yOm that it was all well enough
q believe in Christand recognize Hi
|, as the Savior Of the World, but
y be able finally to enter the porta
:, of heaven, you must be careful
> do your part, leaving the impre
Il sion upon your mind, natnrall
y that the matter of your souls sa
& walton was a kind of joint arrang
y ment in which Christ performed
;. part ofthc work and you the Otlle
\ In other words, that Christ HI
le half saved you, but TO besaged G
q tire You must do the rest y0urse
10 Attaching as much Importance
10 what yoii had TO do, as though
le had been set down in the gre
IS Council Of the Godhead before Il
Y world was, as an indispensal
~ part Of the plan Of sllvatio
y Preaching TO YOU to keep on +
ic the safe side, by attending strict
g to yonr doing. Hold ont faithi
" to the end as though your hop
le were based upon physical cad
nt rance. BE exceedingly carai
NJ how you live and act for after 4
70 even in the sunset Of your life, y
"a might make misstep and benl
~ bered among The lost at last.
~ yon think, my Christian friend, I'll
", you would find much comfort a
N encouragement in that kind
~ dOctrineg But after this disco