The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1893-09-29
The Necessity.
By REV. B. +. ROBERTS,

By REV. b. T. ROBERTS.
Many things msy be important, but
they are not absolutely necessary. We
may be saved. and believe with Ar
minus, or believe with Calvin. A
saint may have been baptized by i'm
mersion or baptized by sprinkling.
We may keep Gods commandments
in church governed by bishops. or in
a church governed by its own members.
We may believe too much or we may
believe too little.
For all who would gain Heaven, one
thing is necessary-Holness. What
ever creed we may subscribe to, what
ever form Of church government we
may adopt, it still remains an unal-
terable truth. Without Holiness No
Man Shall See the Lord.-Heb. xii,
IA. This. then. is the one thing needful.
There can be no substitute for holiness.
Wealth may add to your importance in
the eyes Of your fellowmen, but if you
are holy, though you are as poor as
Lazarus, angels will, when you die carry
you to the Paradise of God. Though
you may be as rich as Dives, and may
roll in luxury while you live, and when
you die be buried with splendor, and
have pronounced over your decaving
body the highest eulogiums by hireling
yet if you are unholy, your
eternal portion will be without the Heav
emily city.
He must be holy who would associate
with holy God, and holy angels, and
with the spirits of just men made per-
feet. All who surround Gods throne
are arrayed in white robes, which wealth
cannot buy. Why do you not, then,
make that of the first importance which
will be of the first importance to you to
all eternity? Why do you take so much
pains to secure the gold that perishes,
and so little pains to secure the gold
tried in the fire. which will make you
rich forever?
If holiness is your one necessity then
you should make all your business bend
to the great object of making you per-
sonally holy. You should see to it
that everv bargain you make, whether
it adds to your profit or your loss, does
not detract from your uprightness of
character. Whether the times are hard
or easy-wbeather the crops fail or are
abundant, you may still be laying up
for yourselves treasures in Heaven. To
this end you should makeevery' business
interest subservient.
If you need to be holy more than you
need to be learned, then you should
make all your studies and all your read
ing tend in the direction of making you
more devout, and humble and faithful.
John Wesley was man of varied learn
ing. But early in his religious expert
ence he resolved that he would be 'sa
man of one book" He did not mean by
this that he would read no other-but |
that he would study nothing but what |
would help him better to understand and |
explain and illustrate the Holy Scrip |
lures. This should be the course of |
everyone Who would be holy. When
you find that the effect upon your mind |
If anything you are reading, is to make
rou less rrayful and less conscientious,
ay it aside forever, however entertain
ng it might otherwise be. You can
grow in the knowledge Of truth, and at
he same time grow In grace. There is
plenty Of reading to employ all the time
you can devote to 1t, that will be help
instead Of hindrance to you in the
livine life. Let such have not merely
7our preference, but also your exclusive
attention.
nyou would be holy, you should
listen to that preaching which stirs you |
,p to follow holiness. Good people are |
too careless about the charac-
er Of the preaching to which they lis
en-. II a preacher is popular and elo-
Luent, they inquire no farther. He may
'e superficial, and even unsound in
doctrine. Yet If the multitude run after
lin, too many who would be saints, bid
i'm Godspeed. Yet such . course is
'lainly contrary to the teaching Of Christ
nd the apostles. Though . preacher
nay draw crowds, and receive . large
alary, yet II he is not with Christ, In
romoting holiness, he is against him.
Ton should not, therefore, give him your
nlluence nor support. Wherefore do ye