The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-07-01
WHY NOT A CHRISTIAN.

Sure enough. Why should not every sane
person he Christian? You admit of the
| infinite beauty of Christ's character and
| earthly career Of loving kindness; you ad-
NIT that He is just such friend as you need
YOU admit that there is no other Saviour
who can save your soul; and you admit
! that the closer you should live up to His
commandments the more beautiful. usefui
and noble your life would be. At some
time or other you probably intend to become
a Christian. There is perhaps promise
made to your common sense and your con-
science which you have not yet fulfilled. My
friend. you are losing time. Az promises
are not current Mt the gate Of Heaven. you
may loose your soul! Why have you not
given your heart and your life to Jesus
Christ long ago!
aThere have been obstacles in your way.
OF course there have: no road to success
il up hill. and n godly character costs some
thing. Jesus Christ opened up that pathway
for YOU at the infinite cost of GCthsemane's 8
anguish and bitter death on Calvary. lie
offers you no "free pass" over that road TO
eternal life; at the start you must repent OF
your sins, you must break with your old self
and with sinful habits; you must take up
YOUR cross and follow where Christ leads,
cost what 1t may. The best things are the
costliest; and Of all cheap things, a cheap re-
igion Is the most worthless. Grace on
Gods side is free: but godly character in
this world, and Heaven in the next world
cost repentance. faith, self-denial, some bat.
ties with temptation, and some tough climbs
up steep hills. Heaven Is not reached by
an elevator.
Among the obstacles that have held you
back, perhaps one was foolish fear OF rldi-
cule. Somebody might stare at you, or
laugh at you. The best people would not DO
this YOU acknowledge. Then why should
sneers of sinners to laugh you cue OF your
! soul? The sureSt way to live down laugh
is TO live up to Christ's commandments. A
Christian character Is always respected by
everybody whose respect iS worth having.
! Kick that silly obstacle out Of your way, as
Naaman kicked his false pride out Of his
way when he submitted to 60 and wash in
the Jordan, aud came back healed and
happy. -,
drance, YOU may have bcrOme disgusted
with some specimens of profesSed Christian
itv that YOU have come in contact with. and
have said to yourself, 81 do not care to be-
what they are So far you are right.
! Jesus Christ does not ask you to be what
certain weak. or cowardly, or mean, or utl-
worthy professors are. He asks you to trust
Him, and to copy Him, and to follow Him
not to fix our eyes on the morbid anatomy OF
some Door diseased feilow-creatu-p. Every
| truly good thing is counterfeited but nobody
ever issues a counterfeit on broken bank.
Don't be studying tie faults peoplc-what-
ever their profcss;on-who arc admitted fail
| ures. Study your own faults and your own
sins: and bear in mind that unless you are
born again" aid made over 10y converting
grace. YOU will share the same eternal con-
lcmnatiOn rs these people whom YOU so dis
like and desp:se. Fling that foolish excuse
out OF your way.
The frst taste Of Christ will make you
want to have more of Hin. His service vii!
give YOU the sweetest satisfaction heart can
| desire. Who ever regretted that he. or she,
was a true Christian? What man or woman
at the end Of life ever incurred that they had
followed Jesus-throagh Storm Or shine.
through good rer0rt or evil report-on TO
their dying hour?
In that great day how Insignificant shall
appea- the Offices Of honor, the wealth an5
comforts Of earthly life, comparei with the
crown which >hall be given to those who
have conquered souls for Christi Bishop
Simpson. ,
takes away from Christ Il lision that adds
ANYTHING to Christ, or religion that puts
sincerity in the pace Of Christ. all are alike
dangerous, al are TO be avoided, aud all nre
alike contrary 10 the doctrine OF the Scrip
lures.
Our pain and sorrow, endured with swee.
trust and submis ion, leave Us purified an'l
enriched, with more Of Christ i'll iIs. In
every burden that God lays upon Us there Is
SoS faL III