The record-union., 1891-09-28


| they have the true ring, and no shadow
| should be cast upon them because some
professed disciples proved to be counter
| felt.
And il is right to say for the encourage
| ment OF any who shrink from making a
confession of Christ, by uniting with the
church, lest they dishonor Him; it is
right to say for their encouragement, that
| Christ is not "a hard master" He re-
members that we are dust He it was
who told Peter beforehand of the trying
ordeal through which he was about to
pass, and yet He it was that was so gentle
| and pltlfuI with Peter after his disgrace
! ful fall And So while Christ expects us
to stumble and backslide, he is always as
! tender as nursing mother with the one
who comes in penitence for forgiveness
and takes them into his confidence and
love again as if they had not wandered.
| Christ wishes sincere, genuine effort in
the Christian life, and He sees to the rest.
l take it that the text not only has a les
son for the backslider, but for those who
know of Christ and His gospel, and yet
who do not avail themselves Of the ad-
vantages of this knowledge. 1t We're
| better for them not TO have known than,
knowing, to turn away from the benefits.
1t is a fair statement that the greater the
advantages the greater the opportunities
we fail to use, the greater is our guilt.
We say to the boys and girls Of this cOun
try: There is no excuse for you if you
grow up in ignorance. The schools are
not only excellent, but they are free, and
it is your privilege to have the full benefits
of them"
It often occurs that rich man offers to
establish his son in business or to give
him a full, thorough education, and the
son, preterring sport, turns away from
| both. Now in any case, the more favor
able the opportunity abused or the greater
/
for the one committing such folly.
Take an actual case as told me by the
man himself. ~ young man had every
advantage of education, was fitted to
practice an honorable and lucrative pro-
fession and was launched upon the world
with plenty Of money. Instead of going
to work, instead of putting in practice the
knowledge acquired, he wandered over
the world like an adventurer, spending
his money in pleasure. Finally, when
out Of money and in a strange land and
far from home, misfortune and sickness
come to him, he wakes up to see his folly
and to discover that even good men have
little sympathy with one who has abused
all his opportunities.
Now, God has been like a loving father
to many, who have been as negligent Of
all that he has done for them as has the
young man mentioned. God has given
them all their bodily powers and endow-
ments, and has made every provision for
their improvement. He offers to take a
peculiar interest in them, even to bring
them as near to himself as sons. and to
plan for them as only an infinitely wise
and loving father can do. He sent his
Son to tell men of these offers, and to
urge them to embrace them. That Son
not only told OF them, but made provi-
sion TO have the news carried far and
wide to every land. And in carrying out
| hn 10 oil 1a hot woo,
promised, that Son gave up his life as a
| ransom.
The church was established and in
| trusted with the great and good mission
| of carrying the glad tidings.
Many of those who have, for long
years, had all the advantages of the
| church; who have heard the tidingS over
and over again, and who have been sur
rounded by its holy influences, have not
appropriated the good news to them
selves, and have failed to avail them
selves of the advantages offered.
1t were better for them never to have
had all these advantages than having had
! them to neglect them.
! The child that has been so situated that
! it could not have the advantages of school
! is not to be blamed for growing up in
! ignorance.
| The man who has been prevented by
! ill-health or misfortune from acquiring
money is not to be blamed for his poverty
And so the one who has never heard of
! Christ, who by his situation in dark,
| heather land, could not know OF Christ,
| such an one will not be cenSured for not
embracing Christ.
In this land, where the very steeples as
| they point heavenward leave men with
| out excuse; in this land, with not only it's
! countless churches and Sabbath-schools,
| but with its millions of printed gospel
| DnpGS1ppS that Spatfprp6 ike altiIpn
| leaves, there is only culpability for the
one who grows up without the advant-
ages of the gospel.
When all shall stand before the iudg-
ment-seat of Christ, those who have had
the advantages of the gospel and have
neglected them Will have a seYerer con-
demnatiOn than those who have not had
such advantages. Indeed, as has been
the opportunity thrown away, so will be
the increased decree of condemnation.
Indeed, men have reasoned on this ac-
count that it were better not to send the
! gospel to the heathen world. But send
! ing the gospel to those without it does not
necessarily bring any into condemnation.
| And because some Will reject it's benefits,
| is no reason that others should be de-
prived of them.
While it is better never to have known
than to reject, yet there is no such neces-
sary alternative. Men need not reject.
crease guilt, but remorse.
How often do we hear:
! "Of all sad words of tongue or pen
The saddest are these, il might have been.''
During fair week among all those
| robbed, only read of one who acknowl-
edged that be only had himself to blame
for it. He said frankly that if he had
kept away from whisky and gambling he
would not have gotten into trouble.
to the evening of life, ''are down" finan-
cially and in every way. Life for them
Is bitter struggle and disappointment
| 1t were better had they never been born,
than to be what they have been,
| and their remorse is keener because OF
the consciousness they have of great ad-
vantages abused.
And so the one who has had Christian
parents and has been taught in Sabbath
school, and has sat under gospel preach
ing and listened to the elevating songs OF
the gospel, and to the prayers of good
men, will suffer a keener remorse if he
| abuses such advantages than one who
has not had them.
Now, / have word for myself and for
all who profess to be Christians. 1t is
that all of US may well ponder whether
! we are loyal to our vows. We may well
consider whether we are true to our en-
gagements. Some of us can say that we
are sincerely trying to serve Christ. We
may have to confess that our service is
not as full as it should be and yet we are
conscious of sincere effort.
But / fear that some who took the vows
upOn them cannot claim to be even try-
ing to follow Christ. If they confess to
the truth, think they will acknowledge
that they have no interest in Christ. or in
His cause. They will have to confess
that they have no interest in His service.
They have only the name of disciple
without the reality.