Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-19

Why Is 1t that everybody does not see
this? Is it not plain? Does it not COM
mend itself to all reasonable, good people?
Is it not exactly what the Master meant?
Yes, and no. That is the answer which q
hundred reasonable, good people must this
moment be making. Good people, excel
lent examples for the best of us, diligent in
all charitable work, as regular and atten-
tive in their places as any member of the
vestry; and yet they have Fever completed
their part of the sacrament of baptism.
They have never Joined the church. Year
by year the opportunity comes, but it passes
by, and these good people have not stirred.
There are sermons and sermons and SER
mons, all courteously and patiently lis
tened to. but not believed, not taken to
heart. Nothing is done. They are not
persuaded. Why?
There is no lack Of possible explanations
of a reluctance to join the church.
One Very Good Reason.
One good reason for not joining the church
is unrepented sin. You cannot always tell
what people are by looking at their faces.
If one who seems to be living good life
has some secret and shameful sin, still per-
sisted in, still loved, hidden away behind
it, he has 4 sufficient reason for not uniting
with the church. We want all the sinners
that we can persuade to come in. That IS
what the church is for. But we want them
to leave the love of sin outside. You can't
take that in with you. Leave it outside,
and we will give you welcome. If
that is why you stay outside-be-
cause you are not willing to part company
with that sin-you are in the right place
where you are, and you must stay there.
You must stay outside forever. Are you
content to do that?
Another excellent reason for not joining
the church is general Indifference to re-
ligion. There are people-there is no deny
ing lt-who do not care particularly for re-
ligious things. They are good deal more
anxious tor their stomach than they are for
their soul. They value their head more
than their heart. They have an idea that
this life is going on forever; that day after
day, world without end, they will buy
and sell, and eat and drink, and get up in
the morning and go to bed again at night as
serenely as the sun. Death is q fable to
frighten children; judgment is myth; and
the notion that there will be another life,
which will depend upon their religious Iiv-
ing in this LIE, Is but fond delusion. How
any human being who has the gilt of reason
able thinking can persuade himself that all
the worthier side of life is simply not worth
while, is perfectly amazing. But men and
women do so persuade themselves, and set
their faces down toward the ground, and
shut their eyes to all the tragedies daily en-
acted about them, and live without prayer,
without any serious thoughts, intent upon
ideals which they share with their dogs and
horses. Such people are in their place out
side the church. There are already enough
Indifferent people in the church. We want
no more.
To Slip in Under Emotion.
1t is possible that some people stay out
side because they are waiting for some e1-
traordinary invitation to come in. They
are looking to be Converted" They are
expecting 'change of heart" There are
two conceptions of religion which are held
by religious people. One is that religion is
chiefly feeling; the other is that religion is
chiefly living. One of these conceptions of
religion emphasizes the emotions; the other
emphasizes the will. Neither of these
can be let out OF religion. But the will
comes first. God will do his part, but you
must do your part first You must plant be-
fore God will give the increase. Change your
mind-that is what the word ''repent"
means in the Greek OF the Gospels. Change
your will, and there wills be change in
your heart. Give vour will to Christ, aId
you will give Him your heart at the same
time. The first step in religion is to follow
the best religious light you see, and to set
about doing that nearest duty which is plain
to YOU. And you remember how it was
with the lepers in the story of the miracle
'as they went, they were cleansed."
1t Is Duty to Join.
Is there such duty? Does Christ really
oclr 1 oil hot Ha aaiH nh
being baptized. That means joining the
church, as plain as words can make it. He
founded church. Is there any doubt about
that? Here is u way OF entrance, the gate
Of baptism, and this gate must swing into
something. Nothing can be palmer than
that Christ not only founded the church,
but that He made that foundation one of the
very chief occupations of His ministry. His
great work was not preaching, nor making
missionary journeys, nor writing volumes
of theology. What was it? 1t was the
careful training of little company of men
who should be the first officers of this society.
He set aptism rs the service OF initiation
into this society. On the night before His
cruci61ion he ordained special service of
commemoration to be used at the meetings of
this society, saving, "Do this in remem-
brance of Me-" He promised His blessed
presence with this society until the end of
the world. Under the name of the king
dom OF Heaven" He was forever talking
about it, and making ready for it. And
here it is. Here is the church. Was all
this preparation foolishness? This church,
which Christ founded, is it after all of SO
little value that it makes no difference to
you whether you belong to it or not?
"Whoever shall confess Me before men
him will confess before My Father which
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of eonfessing Christ before men. Every
good word and good deed may, indeed, be a
confession of Christ also. But not GER
tainly. They may be confession of
Buddha, or of Benjamin franklin. They
are confession of some moral master. But
who is it? Christ? Then say so. Let US
be sure about it. Set yourself plainly on
His side Let your good lie count for Him.
That is the confession of Christ.
Showing the Coiors.
Christ wants everybody who is on His side
to show his uplifted hand; TO make that al
Iegiance of his perfectly plain. And there
is no way that know OF by which this con-
fession of allegiance may be so naturally
and unmistakably made as by joining the
church. If you are really on His side, you
are not ashamed to say SO, are You? Nor
afraid? You must see how He sets value
upon such an act as this open declaration,
You would not be satisfied in any hostile or
Indifferent company to have your friends
content themselves with silent affection, lift
ing no voice in your defeuse. That would
not be genuine friendship. 1t is not enough,
in political campaign, to have silent
opinion. Which side are you on? Here,
choose q ballot, cast in your vote, enroll
yourself upon this side or that. 1t is not
sufficient. i'll day of war, that a citizen
shoald be silently patriotic. Everybody
~ mn IL reilly nn thu rirht side In snch