Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-11-25
ATTHE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
DO You Know That You are a Chris
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II is possible TO have the evidence of
this as of other things. It might damage
our claim TO have religion in the eyes of
many, il we were TO be very positive of
it, or very boastful in reference to it, Yet
ii seems TO Us that there are certain evil
dences that may be relied upon as afford
ing proof that we are disciples Of Christ
One of these is q love of Gods word.
This, we think, is at the foundation of
holy life. The true christian will desire
to know all he can about the religion he
processes. A study of the Bible Is the
best way of getting this knowledge If
want to know about other religions, /
study their sacred books. If ] want to
know about various societies, such for
instance, as the Masons or Odd Fellows.
give my time to the study of the books
they have published abont themselves.
And so if / want TO know about any place
or country. seek the books that have
been written upon them. Wanting to
know about the christian religion, seek
the book that teaches me about it, and ]
give my days and nights to its study.
There learn what am to believe, and
what am to do The christians delight
is in the law of the Lord, and in his law
doth he mediate day and night" Anoth-
er evidence of dicipleship is found in
love for Gods house The Psalmist was
glad when his friends said unto him,
Let US go into the house of the Lord"
So constant was the attachment of Anna,
that It is said of her that "she departed
not from the temple" AS his custom
was" is said of Christ in referance to GO
ing to the Synagogue. Paul tells the He
brews not to forsake the assembling of
themselves together for worship Said
an excellent man, when applying for ad-
mission to the church: Attendance at
church, which formerly l disliked, and
never performed except as duty, has
become to me pleasure, the anticipation
of which presents itself 10 me during the
whole week" Now il we have grow
ing love for the house of God, we have
another evidence that we are children
of God. So great has been the love of
some that when too feeble to walk to
church. they have been carried there.
Some when unable to walk the whole
distance and too poor to have convey
ance, have rested by the way, and then
continued their walk to Gods house. All
of US can remember some among our own
kindred who ceased not to go to the house
Of God until they were wholly unable to
go. Where we have seen such devotion
to the church, we have felt that there has
been the presence of the grace of God.
Another evidence of discipleship is found
in love of the Sabbath The christian
loves it because God has appointed it for
our spiritual and eternal good. He loves
ii because he has in it the time and the
opportunity as he has not on others day Of
the week to attend to religious duties. He
makes good use of the time and is not
satisfied at the close Of the day unless he
has made some progress in the divine
life-a Sabbath days journey homeward.
If we take delight in this day. because of
its religious opportunities, we have rea-
son to think that we are christians. But
if we are destitute of these evidences of
grace in the heart, then our condition is
deplorable beyond measure. Without
love for Gods truth. and Gods house,
and Gods day and Gods dear Son, who
came into the world to save us, we are
destitute of the evidence that we are
Gods children and of course are destitute
of fitness for heaven. Heaven cannot
be home for those who are without fit
ness for it,