The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-18

introduce religion among His own crea-
lures that would prevent their having
good timer" That would interfere with
their innocent enjoyment OF this liiel 1t
is not sol 1t cannot bel 1t is utterly i'm
possible! God docs not contradict Him
self.
was led into more careful inquiry rs
to what the Christ does really require OF
His disciples and what restrictions He has
put upon their pleasure in the things of
this life. Are they of such n nature as to
make our earth life continual wall OF dis
appointment?
Why did our Divine Father bind us to
the earth by so 80 many chords II He did
not intend us TO be happy here, in the
hume lie has provided for us?
II Christ died for our peace, why should
lie make such demands upon us us would
render us miserable2 Have we not good
reason TO suspect this view Of religion is at
variance with the teaching OF the great
Master?
1t is my opinion, religion was designed
TO greatly increase our enjoyment and
pleasure upon earth. The poet was right
when he said;
"Hcliglon never was designed
To make our pleasures less"
Let Christ speak for Himself. Let Him
tell us just what we must do TO be His dis
ciples, and what we must leave undOne.
] would urge upon these young people to
get their religious instruction from Christ.
He will make your duty rs plain rs II Is
easy and fruitful.
First Of all we are kindly urged TO hear
Christ We cannot afford to pass this re-
quest idly by. IL is for your good and not
Ills own that He asks you to hear what
lie has TO say. He is now the most i'm
pOriant character before the world. His
influence is lar greater than that Of any
other being. You cannot afford not TO cx-
anime His claim before the world. II is
claimed that lie has the words OF eternal
life. And lie comes TO the world with
these words and asSsto be heard. No one
can think lie makes this demand upon us
from any other than the very purest mo.
uyes. lie Is the great prince OF moral aud
religious teachers, and Is 50 regarded by
all classes.
The wisdom, goodness, purity, life and
claims Of Christ, all unite with His love for
man, His reverence for God and Ills dovo-
Us TO hear when lie speaks.
In the second place lie requires US 10
BELIEVE
on III .. This requirement Is not made
with view 10 enhancing his own glory,
but for the purpose OF aiding Us TO purity
OF life and Goodness Of heart. Faith pu-
rifles the heart by taking Christ into the
soul. and 10 take Christ into the soul is 10
Gil Il with all wisdom, purity, goodness,
beauty and holiness. Can such heavenly
endowed guest, dwelling in your heart, de-
priyc you Of pleasure and peace, and
destroy your enjoyment Of this life? Mark
YOU, lie does not ask YOU 10 believe aughl
except Himself "llc that bclioycth ON mo
shall never see DEATH" are Ills words lie
does not ask you TO believe In set OF
formulated doctrines which you cannot
understand, but simply requires you TO
have faith In Him and follow Him. Your
faith has reached saving perfection when
YOU can, with all your heart, confess Him
rs possessed Of ''all authority In Heaven
aud In earth" When YOU believe Him TO be
Jesus, the Ch-ist, the Son OF the living God,
herr faith reaches lis climax. This Is saw
ing faith In all lis divine iullncss. "Christ
is all in ALL" In giving us Christ, lie
gives rs all things that pertain 10 life and
/ GodlincsA
In the third place, lie commands all
mon, everywhere, to
REPENT.
Surely no one can object 10 this request,
or command Of Christ. We all know il /.
far better for us 10 break away from sin
and cvil.doing, and not lot them have do.
dominion over us. II IA not an unjust OF
unreasonable request. This requirement
| can not stand in the way OF our having a
good iimo and enjoying life. Can We
have a good time aud live in sin? Is there
enjoyment 10 pure heart NJ il walks in
ways Of error2 Can We SOW 10 the wind
and reap the calm In place OF tho whirl.
| Wind2 Can We SOW to the flesh aud not
reap corrupuon3 Can We gather grapes OF
| thoms, In place OF tliisllcs? Can We draw
sweet water from n bitter fountain? Il II
too much, my young friends, that Christ
should plead with you 10 for.
slko tho highway Of sin aud
walk ever more In the nowery
paths Of yirtuc7 In the fourth place, llC
asks you when your heart is purified by
faith, TO
CONFESS
that faith 10 tho world. Again may say,
this l. not bccatisc lie is DESTROYS oil vain
vlory, but lilo knows Il " Ear better lol
you TO commit your vocal powers TO III,
holy service by public confession OF M.
name before the face OF friend and foe.
Besides, Ito confessed Ills love Tor YOU
when such confession meant death 10
Him. ~
viii this confession mako you less happy
In the life you new liver OF what real
pleasure eau tbs deprive your Can you
not With pleasure meet all these demand,
How can any Of these things interfere
with the 10y and Innocent pleasure OF this
In tho 1ith place lilo rcquircs you to be
buried with Hmm
% nAiTtsM
Docs dis mako demands upon YOU tina,
are inconsistent with pleasant. cheerful,
Dos II seem 10 you rather humlla,lns
and without fincss3 Docs Christ sccm 10
ask something 81 You mcply To humilinlc
you? DO YOU think that ali ordinancrs OF
The church should be oxpungcd from tho
Biblr2 But without ordinances how arr
We To Keep up Gus orgin.zaiion2
There IA not not society In this CITY
handed together for any purpose but ina,
has external Requirements OF positive In.
EiiuliOns
Take away these cx,Jrnals and they will
cfumblc 10 pieces
Cht.sl Is not lcss wise than man. lie
knew man; knew him iron the beginning,