The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-19
TRUST In CHRIST ALONE.
PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE OF THE
APOSTLE PAUL IN RELIGION.
A Truth Of Universal Application and
of Infinite Importance-Synops Of a
Discourse by the Rev. DR.. w. q.
Boggs on Sunday.

The Rev. Dr. Boggs, who has been alb
sent for two Sundays on duty connected
with the University OF Georgia, preached
to a full house at the Second Presbyterian
Church Sunday on the theme, ''Paul Re-
nouncing Self-Righteousness to Trust in
X Christ Alone" DR.. Boggs took for his
text Phil. ill.,, 40, and said:
~ We have here in the form OF personal
experience a truth OF universal application
and OF infinite Importance. That truth is
that fallen man, man the sinner, can never
by his own personal merits restore himself
to fellowship with God; the pardon OF our
sins and the acceptance of our persons
with God must be attained in some other
way.
To appreciate the force OF this argument
from experience we must recall the rela-
tons which existed between Paul and the
converts at Philippi He was the founder
OF the church; they were his children in
the gospel. He had lived and labored
among them. They knew him well and
loved him as a father. They were eye.wit-
nesses OF his blameless life and of his tire
less zeal. This letter of Paul to-them
bears every trace OF uninterrupted aflec-
ton and OF their tender care OF him. He
reminds them that at a certain crisis of
his life, as prisoner at Rome, they alone,
.- OF all the churches that he had founded,
sent him remttances of money and sup.
r--plied him with comforts. For these con-
verts, therefore, no argument could be
stronger than the personal experience of
him who had been Gods instrument in
their salvation. To have himSay, so en-
phatically, that for himself, paul, the
aged" the prisoner Of Christ, the founder
OF churches, the inspired apostle, there was
absolutely no hope save in Christ cruel
fied-to say this Of himself was to say it
with emphasis for them and for all men of
our sinful race. Let us, therefore, exam
inc into Pauls personal experience that
we, too, may feel the force of that argu-
ment which he bases upon ii 10 dssuade
other men from trusting in self
In the matter Of their acceptance with
God men are prone TO rely chiefly. upon
one or other OF two things or else upon
both of these together One OF these
things is religious ordinances; the other is
their moral virtues. Paul here testifes
that he had both qualifications, so 20
speak, in the highest degree, and yet that
he had rejected both OF them from being
any part of hope before God in order that
he might fly TO crucitied Savior and find
refuge in him alone.
|. And FIRST MS TO religious ordinances,
Paul testities that he could have boosted
more than other men-"Crcumcised the
eighth day, OF the stock OF Israel, of the
tribe Of Benjamin, Hebrew Of the He
brews, as touching the law a Pharisee"-
the rites and ceremonies OF religion had
been complied with from his birth. lie
had not only observed those written by
Gods authority, but also endless doctrines
prescribed by tradition. lie was Ritual.
list Of Ritualists. II ordinances, II
diyincly appointed sacraments, il self.m-
posed deyotions could ever save man,
then Paul might confidently rely ON them.
A member in full communion OF Gods
Church-ihe Hebrew Church, the Church
OF Abraham, OF Moses, OF David, of Isaiah,
OF Jesus the Christ-yes, the very church
OF which our Lord was a member, so ac-
knowledged by being circumcised on the
eighth day, rs was Pdul-so acknowledged
when his Hebrew mother brought him in
her arms TO the temple and made her
offering according TO the laws OF Moses
20 acknowledged by his lifelong habit Of
going to the sanctuary year by year to
unite with his brethren in deyolions.
Paul was a member in good standing OF
that very church in which the Lord Jesus
had lived and died. lie had enjoyed all its
ordinances, deyotions and sacraments.
And yet he rcnouuces oil Tor Christ.
Let MS be sure that we understand the
Apostle. lie did not despisc or neglect
those ordinances rs duties imposed by
Gods authority rs means Of grace ordained
for our good. just 30 soon as he had cx-
pcrienced Gods converting and pardoning
grace at Damascus. we read that he arose
and was baptized" (Gr. having stoodhp
he caused himself 10 be baptized). And
for all men he writes these words "lf
thou shalt confess with thy mouth the
Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine
heart that God hath raised Him from the
dead, thou shalt DO saved. For with the
heart man believcth unto righteousness
aud with the mouth confession Is made
unto salvation" As an Indispensable
duty public confession OF Christ must be
made. Paul, therefore, compiled unhesi-
taiingly for himself aud urged others 10
do NO. But in the matter OF his jusiilca.
ton, that Is 20 say, In the matter 81 his
pardon aud acceptance before God. Paul
refused to trust even 30 much Us
feathers weight 10 these indispensable du-
ties, aud rested wholly upon Christ.
q Other men look TO their morality for
justification rather than TO religious or
dinances. Paul declares by the inspifu-
ton Of God that In this respect also he
s-lnjoycd advantages over most men
"tOuching the righteousness which IL in
the law, blamcles." That Is 10 say, Paul
tcslides that before he was converted ho
was nm honorable, honest man. Such was
his natural disposition honest truthful
and sincere. Not sinlcss before God, Of
course, or he could have no need Of
Christ; but "blanciess" before men.
lie possessed the noblcst attributes OF our
unsnnclihed nature. But these noble
s.its did not deceive him, M they often do
nth others. The goodness OF fallen hui
man nature comes short Of the glory Of
God. lie renounccs, he abjurcs, he casts
II away ~ n vile and polluted thing. And
then. ~ n naked sinner, be wraps himself
up IN the spotlcS robe Of a sayior's
righteousness. With him. ~ with all Of
"hfst's people, Il WIS true that
The lest obedience az ny hands
nncs not appcnf boinr Thy throne
nut fiih cnn answer Thy demands
iiy pleading what my Lord has done"
2 The description Il not yet complete.
Paul not only TURNS away from the God-lp-