The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-03

uS"'i W 'io'oVo llS oDllghtlonS. sign
from God, embodyng divinely appointed
ordinance, Is lust as binding upon us as
sign, as 1t could be, ii 1t were moral pre-
cept. II has In 1t the authority OF Christ,
the Will oil God and the sanction OF tho
Holy Spirit.
To trihe with such a sign is dangerous
in the extreme.
1t seems the climax OF folly for Christian
people to spend their precious time dis
putting over the specific work to be accom-
plished by each OF the means ordained Of
God for mans salvation. The means are
a unit They cooperate together in the
most beautiful harmony. We cannot trace
the silent, secret works OF each, but we
know they are all faithfully and unialter-
ingly performing the part assigned them
by the Lord.
We know the sun, moon, planets, light,
heat, moisture, tides, clouds, soil and
many other things help to develop the
grain we make into bread with which our
hunger is appeased, but who among us can
tell just how each OF these industrious
agencies aid in this great work, or Just
what the specific function OF each may be?
Why should we try TO make the world
believe that baptism, ordained OF God and
put into this magnificent Christian system,
is important and can have no possible con.
nectlon with mans salvation2 II it is but
a mere figure, sign, the hand Omnipotent
made the figure-the skill and wisdom OF
the Infinite painted the signl
While no living man has tho right TO
say that every unbaptized man will be
lost, we may insist upon it that it is dan
gerous for the man who has heard the
word OF the Lord on this point TO triAe
with this institution.
Christ said: "lle that heareth my words
and doeth them not is like unto man
that built his house upon the sands" lie
speaks OF the man who hears, not OF the
man who does not hear lie who hears
and refuses to obey is the man in danger.
| II is the man who knows his Masters
will and doeth il not that is TO have tho
stripes. And he deserves them.
So far as this or that being absolutely
essential to the salvation OF every soul, /
have this to say: | know OF only one thing
in all that the Bible reveals essential to
the salvation OF every living soul. That
one thing is the mercy of God.
Without Gods mercy every soul OF US
must perish. But, thanks be to His name,
His mercy is boundless and cndureth Tor.
ever.
Before concluding, want to say that /,
Is my belief that all souls are not inhu-
enccd and saved by the same means, op.
Grating upon them in the same degree.
Some souls are saved almost entirely by
faith, others by hope, others by love, etc.
As there are some plants dependent
mostly upon light. others upon moisture
others upon q certain kind oil soil, so there
- A II.
others that develop more readily under
the influence Of divine love, while other.
may be influenced more by the ordinance,
OF the gospel. There are souls that ear
only be purified in the crucible OF suffer
ing.
God in His great love for us has left
nothing. absolutely nothing, out OF ia,
perfect plan that Is necessary TO the dc
yclopment OF every living soul.
Were We TO take singing out OF our wor.
ships hundreds OF souls would perish. /
the Lords supper should be discontinued
there arc thousands Of souls, that care h.
tic 81 nothing for music and singing, would
utterly starve for the bread ol lie
Some spirits live and develop almost en-.
tirely on truths aud facts and philosophy,
while others feast on principles and vir.
/
means OF grace, while others seldom pray,
but find their strength in daily doing.
SO baptism may be more helpful 10 some
souls than even prayer itself.
OF course all these are important aud
must be present Ia greater or less degree
In the development OF each soul
In all the forces and laws that contro
and develop physical life, as numerous n.
they are aud as marvellous In our eyes. the
great wisdom Of God is not clearly -
IL is only when we turn TO His law for the
development Of the soul that the manifold
wisdom and goodness OF God Is made q
appear. Daniel says IL is "by the church
the manifold wisdom OF Cod Is 10 be- ~,
vealcd. Well might Daniel oxclaim: "Thc
law OF the Lord Is perfect, converting the
soul" let VA all unite in urging this law
OF tho spirit OF life, this perfect law ol
liberty, upon the attention Of the people.
no matter what each law may be intended
10 accomplish. We know Paul said: "ThC
law OF the spirit OF life In Christ Jesus ha,
made me free from the law OF sin aud
death"
let Us urge upon all tho importance oil
obcying this law In al is requirements
because IL is Gods law, because IL |. I
perfect law, converting the soul, bocaus,
Il IL the law OF the spirit OF life.
May the Lord hasten the glad day wher
all his people will sec eye 20 eye and fac,
TO face. When they can all labor and TO-
joicc and weep together as one people, tina
the world may believe and be saved.