The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-05-07

Not every ono WHO docs not belong TO some
branch Uf thr tnrSlian Church Will rc lost.
While we briirT;n 1t rI1ni, wherever possible,
10 confess Christ before men according 10
rrcGgiZCd fprmula. yet there may, ANA III
some instances, DO arise c;:.r'S wherein licrul-
iar environments or circumstances nr"riid"
sur,l II privilege. Now, if these individualS
dies pilc the difficulties which have acted ns
barriers To- their formal connection with The
visible church. have sought and obtained
peace with God and maintained their inicg-
riiy to the end, dying, they will surely be
saved. But as already In inhiru, these are
rare cases, and IN what have said touching
this question, in al probability there Is not Il
crumD Of comfort for any one in this pres
cncc.
Again, not every enc whose name appears
on the clIurch'S register Will bc saved. While
we have no authority Tor cunSigninS all men
to perdllOn who die outside the pale q: Tie
church, we have no right 10 preach every one
in;O heaven whose name appears upon our
roll. Jesus says: "NoL every one That saith
unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
Kingdom of heaven; but lie that doclh the
will of my Father which is i'll heaven
In speaking OF the EtnesS which God re-
QuireS, much might be said, but the time
allotted will not suffice. In brief, the heart
and life must be brought tU accord with the
he has said: "b!esscd are the pure in heart,
for they shall sec God;'' and with reference 10
the life: "He hath showed thee, Q man what
Is good, and what doth the Lord require ol
to walk humbly with thy God?" Whatcver
contributes To heart purity aud righteous liy-
ing, we arc TO seek after with all the hcart,
and whatever wars against these interests,
we are To Shun as our greatest enemies. HAY
ing obtained heart purity through the Wash-
ing OF regeneration, IL is our high privilege
To walk with God, nnd do bis VIII upon
earth as the angels 10 That will in heaven.
Thus living, We shall have the consciousness
that we please God, and that lie Will take care
of that which We Lave co:umiilcd unto nm
against that day. Death cannot lake mat
man by surprise who lives SO TO speak, III
sight Of the Judgment scat of Chris.
In being always prepared lor death there Is
great profit every way. While 1t places no
bar to the lawful use Of those creatures whi:h
God las furnished for our happiness una
comfort, ii prepares lis for fuller enjoyment,
by taking from our hearts the anXi"us fears
which oitcn add their bitter ingredients to
the cup of life. IL clothes man with Il sense
Of security which makes him confident and
strong and brave in the battles Of life. II pre-
pares him for life. No man Is tit TO live, WHO
is not fit to die. These things, together win
the uncertainty OF life, make IL emlnently
fitting that we should make preparation TO-
day.
In view Of ali The circumstances surround
ing this OCCASION, there arc two questions
which ought to suggest themselves IN ca'h
one present: Can help anybody Ia ricl'r"
for death? Can prevent anybody from ma! =
ing this preparation? These, To my n!nu.arc
pertinent questions at all times, and are spec
men Uf:cn are. to face the question: Hi pciSuiiiI
responsibility, they find Il way, under nrii-
nary circumstances, OF und.lns questions
like these. They either shift responsibility
upon the shoulders of their fellows, or allo"
their sen, IL OF personal 0nli.HtiOn TO b4 swil-
lowed mp 10y the vote of IL majority, or the
action Ot Il community. But when IL catiis'
trophc like iht. present one bciallS Il cOtninun-
ity, these questions are not Sd easily set aside.
nor will they down ut oar bidding. young
man has suffered great bodily injury, even
the loss OF his life. Who is rr>p"llSiblc ior ~:
VIII it do to say the individual who fired the
fatal shot is cloi,e Responsible? WIlI 1t do to
say this community Is responsible in that II
has failed to create proper moral sentiment
or throw the proper safeguards around Our
young men. This Is all right SO far as IL goes.
The one who took life is responsible. lhls
community IS responsible for not wiping ont
those institutions Of wlckpdncSS whose Only
fruit Is evil and that continually. IniS Is all
true. But as individuals, how much have we
done in our personal contact with the young
men OF the community, TO foster that which
Is pure and good in them, and 10 save them
from the evils in their pah? How much
have we dOne-niay ask il to poison their
minds and lead them aStmy: How much
have we done by our voice ani vote TO put
down evil and raise the standard OF truth?
fnr one am tired Of this hon-conlnittn
evaSivc, or If you please, Indifferent way in
which wc deaf with these questions Whlch
are OF such vital consequence to our highest
interests.
The fathers and mothers, the christian p"o-
pie OF Abbevile, can, If they will, inan@urhtc
n better state Of affairs. God speed the day
when a brig hter day shall dawn upon rs.
Amen.