The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-12-07
PRACTICAL RELIGION,
A SERMON BY REV. CHAS. G..
FINNEY.

The Need of Practical Christian
ity as Exemplif1ed by the Life
and Teachings of Jesus Christ.
PART SIXTH.
Z. 1t is evident that the standard of
Christian living must be raised or the
world will never be converted. If
we had as many church members now
as there are families and scattered all
over the world, and a minister to
every five hundred souls, and every
child in Sabbath school and every
young person in Bible class, you
would have all the machinery you
want, but if the church contradict the
truth by their lives it never would pro-
duce a revival. They never will have
a revival in any place while the whole
church in effect testify against the
minister. Often it is the case that
where there is the most preaching
there is the least religion because the
church contradicts the preaching.
never knew means to fail of revival
where the Christians lived consistently.
One of the first things to do is to raise
the standard of religion, SO as to en-
body and hang out in the sight of all
men the truth of the gospel. Unless
ministers can get the church to wake
up and act as if religion was true and
back their testimony by their lives, in
vain will they attempt to promote a
revival.
Many churches are depending on
their ministers to do everything. When
he breaches they will say, "what a
great sermon that was. He is an ex-
cellent minister. Such preaching must
do good. We shall have revival
soon l do not doubt" And all the
while they are contradicting the
preachers by their lives. tell you, il
you are depending on preachers alone
to carry on the work they must fail.
If Jesus Christ were to come and
preach and the church contradicts it
he would fail 1t has been tried once.
Let an apostle rise from the dead OF
an angel come down from Heaven
and preach without the church to wit
ness for God, and ii would have nc
effect. The novelty might produce a
certain kind of effect for time, bu
as soon as the novelty was gone tht
preaching would have no saving effec
while contradicted by the witnesses.
4. Every Christian makes an i'm
preston by his conduct and witnesses
either for one side or the other. Hi
looks, dress, whole demeanor, make
a constant impression on one side O.
the other. He can not help testify fo'
or against religion. He is either gath
ering with Christ or scattering abroad
Every step you take you tread OF
chords that will vibrate to all eternity
Every time you move you touch key
whose sound will re-echo over all tht
hills and dales in Heaven, and through
all the dark caverns and vaults of hell
Every moment of your lives you are
exerting a tremendous influence tha
will tell on the immortal interests o
souls all around you. Are you ASLEEP
while your conduct is exerting such ar
inhuence7
Are you going to walk the street
Take care how you dress. What il
that on your head? What does tina
gaudy ribbon and those ornament!
upon your dress say to every one tha
meets you3 1t makes the impression
that we wish to be thought pretty
Take care. You might just as wei
write on your clothes, "no truth, nc
religion" 1t says, "give me dress
give me fashion, give me flattery, ano
1 am happy" The world understand:
this testimony as you walk the streets
You are " living epistles, known anc
read of all men," If you show pride
levity, bad temper, and the like, it is
like tearing open the wounds of the
Savior. How Christ must weep t
see professors of religion going abou
hanging up his cause to contempt a
the corners of the streets. Only le
the women adorn themselves in modes
apparel, with shame -facedness and so
briefly, not with broidered hair, O.
gold, or pearls, or costly array, bu
(which becometh women protesting
godliness) with good works only lie
them act consistently and their con
duct will tell on the world, Heaver
will rejoice and hell groan at their in
fuence. But, oh, let them displa,
vanity, try to be pretty, bow down t
the goddess of fashion, fill their ear
with ornaments and their fingers will
rings. Let them put feathers in thei
hats, and clasps upon their arms, lac
themselves up till they can hardl
breathe. Let them put on their rount
tires and walk mincing as they &c
and their influence is reversed. Heave1
puts on the robes OF mourning AM
hell may hold a jubilee.
| 5. 1t is easy to see why revival
do not prevail in a great city. Ho'
can they? Just look at Gods viii
nesses and see what they are testifyin
to. They seem to be agreed togethe
to tempt the spirit of the Lord and Ii
to the Holy Ghost. They make the
vows to God to consecrate themselve
wholly to him, and then 60 bowin
down at the shrine of fashion and the
wonder there are no revivals.
would be more than a miracle to s,av
a revival under such circumstance