The record-union., 1891-09-28
TRUE CHRISTIAN LIFE.
Rev. R. M. Stevenson Discourses on
the Subject.
The Responsibility Resting on Those
Who Have Been Forewarned,
and Hence Forearmed.

At the First Presbyterian Church Rev
r. NJ. Stevenson, the pastor, yesterday
preached an eloquent and able sermon
from the following text: 'For it were
better for them not to have known the
way Of righteousness than, after knowing
1t, to turn back from the holy command
ment delivered unto them" q Peter H.,
2l.)
To me, said the reverend speaker, the
chapter where this text is found is one oi
the saddest III the whole scriptures.
There are pictures in 1t that are revolving,
and from which pure, refined nature
would gladly turn away; but when we
remember that an infinitely holy God
caused the drawing of these pictures and
ordered the awful sentences written
which we find here, we may know that
sit is for our learning" Further we can
recognize the truth of the statements and
the sad truth of the pictures. The
fact that | can bring myself to present
the truths which l do to-day is evidence
of their exceeding importance, as it seems
to me.
l ask your attention to the following
proposition: The person who volun-
tarilY assumes a responsibility occupies
an altogether different position from
what he did before he assumed it. For
instance, young man OF a good liter
ary and law education, Of bright pros
poets, married music teacher in the
State Normal School of Nebraska.
Now we all are ready to say: Yes, the
responsibility resting upon him after he
took those marriage vows was altogether
different from what it was before" He
support, comfort and love of that woman
and of their children.
Eight or nine children resulted from
that marriage, but that father took TO
drink, went TO the gutter, embeZZled
money, and fled from justice, leaving
his bondsmen to pay his obligations.
That man tried TO impose on me ten
days ago, or such matter, and he did
successfully impose on a number. He is
going over this State imposing on every
one he can. He is an outcaSt, wandereT
on the face of the earth.
Who can ever tell what that wife and
those children suffered in the years OF
this mans drunkenness and crime? The
elimination of his cruelty manifested
itself in driving them out of the house at
the point OF weapon. Think OF the
awful responsibility which that man
bears, because he has been SO glaringly
false to the vows he took!
And there have been many circum-
stances which have greatly added to his
responsibility. When he had committed
crime and suffered the penalty he pro
fessed reformation. The church took
him up and contided in him. The com
munity restored him to confidence anC
gave him position of honor.
His obligations were now greater thar
ever. For him to abuse such kindness
would be nothing less than ignOminy
lut that Is inst what he did do
That man is responsible for crushing
the woman whom be vowed to love
cherish and protect" He is responsible
for the dishonOr cast upon his own chill
dren. No words can express the degree
Of that mans falseneSs and disgrace. AL
OF US kindle with Indignation at knowI
edge Oft.
Shall any one doubt then the proposition
that the person who voluntarily assumes
q responsibility occupies an altogether
different position from what he did before
he assumed ii?
But we recognize this fact in all the
affairs Of life. 1t may be very foolish
thing to go security" and often is, bu
once having placed your signature to Sc
cure note, the only honorable course
for you to pursue is to meet the RESPONSE
bility if it becomes necessary.
Indeed, a man only has recognized
standing as business man and il all his
the proposition laid down.
Shall the church of God take a lowe
ground than is recognized by the world
1t cannot do it and be true TO the word O
God, and to its own highest welfare.
any man assumes a responsibility il
connection with the Church of Jesus
Christ then he is in honor bound to NEE
that responsibility.
1t is a fitting question then to ask. wha
responsibilities do we assume when W.
identity ourselves with the disciples 0
Jesus Christ?
1t is certainly understood that we &C
Cept Jesus Christ as our Savior, teacher
leader and friend. II is understood tina
we promise to live as nearly like Chris
did as we are able, striving daily anC
seeking divine help. 1t is understood
that we Will take much interest in tn,
advancement of His cause, being Willing
TO give what time and energy, though
and money that we can.
We all know that when we stand uT
and unite with any branch of Christ
body we are expected to assume thes
and kindred obligations.
What OF the persons then, who, having
voluntarily assumed such obligations
afterward ignore them, cease to NANTES
any interest in the church, abandon it
services, and act as if they had no respon
sibility TO the church?
this. They become profane and drunken
and grossly immoral in every respect
They justify the writer of the text in tht
picture of the context, that of a sow re
turning to her wallow, to say nothing O
the revolving picture that just pre-
cedes 1t.
If men of the world hold in dishono
those who are untrue to their obligations
shall the Church of God take a lowe
ground?
Had it not been better for such person
never to have named the name of Christ
Aye, infinitely better!
Just as it had been better for that maj
never to have married than TO do so anC
bring his wife into misery and disgrace
Just as IL were better never TO ''go Secur
ity'' than TO do so and then prove false
so it were better for one never to profes
70 be a Christian than to do so and be un
true.
Such persons not only dishonor Chris
and shame his people by being untrue t
their vows, but ~ by misrepresentin
Christ.
They create a false impression. 1t is a
if they said eve have tried Christ an
his gospel and there is nothing in him o
IN his gospel" And yet they go on bear
ing the name of his disciple. They ar
like a piece of counterfeit money-havin
the name without the value. If one VIII
has proiessed TO be a disciple of Chris
discovers afterward that he made a mis-
take, that after all he is not, if such an on
would come to the officers of the churci
and say, 81 have made mistake / an
not disciple of Christ, and do not wis
TO sail under false colOrs by protesting l.
be what am nOt,n that would be honor
able and manly, but to allow their name
TO remain among the names of Christ
disciples is both unmanly and dishonora
BILE.
And this is the place to say that as it j
dishonorable to knowingly circulat