Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-10

! theory. The doctrines OF mans de-
pravity and Christ's stonement and
Gods sovereignty are theoretically re-
ceived by them. But alasl there they
stop. 1t is only the shell of Christian
itg, Containing no evangelical life.
They stand looking ever into Heaven
and admire its beauty and its song. and
are so pleased with the looks, from
the outside that shef can not Sc rs
auced TO enter They could make 3
better argument for the truth than TO-
900 Christians who have in their hearts
received il. II ayiiogisms and dilem-
Mas and sound propositions and logical
deductions could save their souls
they would be-, among the best
of Christians. They could e9rreet-
lr define Repentance and faith and
the atonement while they have never
felt one sorrow, for sin nor exercised a
moments confidence In the great sat-
riflce They ase almost immovabie in
their position. We can not present any
thing about the religion OF. Christ that
they do not know. The SsvieBt de-
scr'5ed The fate of such a one in His
parable: "And that servant which
knew his Lords will and prepaid not
himself neither did according to His
will, shall be beaten with many
stripes" Theories in religion have a
beauty of their own, but if they result
in no warmth of Christian life it is
the beauty of born blende and fe1dSpar.
Do not call such GOODNESS and hardness
religion. The river of life never freezes
IcicleS never hang on the caves of
Heaven. S6undness of intellectual Be-
lief is beautiful cloak, we'll woven and
well cut but in the hour when God
shall demand our souls it will not of
itself be sufficient to hide our iniquities.
My friends, can it be that have been
unkind. and torn frem you some hope
Upon which you %eFe resting for time
and eternity? Verify, l would be un-
kind if, having taken away your cloak,
did not offer you something better.
This is cold world and you want some
thing to wrap around your spirit. Christ
offers you a robe to-day. He wove it
Himself and He will now with His own
hand prepare it just to fit your soul
The righteousness He offers is like the
coat He used to wear about Judea, with
out seam from top to bottom. There is
a day of doom. Coward would be if 1
did not dare to tell you this. 1t shall
be day of unutterab1e disappointment
to those who have trusted in their off,
cial dignity, in their elegant manners,
in their outward morality. in their sound
ness of intellectual belief But see a
soul standing before God who once was
thoroughly defiled. Yet look at him
and you can not find single transgres-
sion anywhere about him. How is this?
you ask. Was he not once a Sabbath
breaker, blasphemer, robber, per-
Christ hath cleansed him, Christ hath
lifted him up. Christ hath rent off his
rags. Christ hath clothed him in a
spotless robe of righteousness. That is
the reason why you can not sec his
former degradation. This glorious
hope in Christ's name is proffered to-
day. Wandering and Maynard soul, is
not this salvation worth coming for,
worth striving for? Do you wonder that
80 many with bitter weeping have be-
sought it and with a very enthusiasm Of
sorrow cried for divine compassioni
Do you wonder at the earnestness of
hose who stand in pulpits beseeching
men to be reconciled to God? Nay, do
you wonder at the importantly of the
Holy Ghost who now striveth with thy
soul? In many of the palaces of Europe !
he walls are mosaic. Fragments of |
shells and glass are arranged by artists
md aggregated into pictorial splendor.
What, made out of broken shells and |
broken glass! o, yes; God grant that
1y the Transforming power of His spirit |
We may all be made part of the eternal
palaces, our broken and fragmentary
natures polished and shaped and lifted
Up to make a part of the everlasting |
plendOrS of the heavenly temple!
For sinners, Lord. Thou cam'st to bleed,
And Pm n sinner vile indeed.
Lord. l believe Thy grace is free;
d maOnify Thy Orape in ma