The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-05-31


ment. (c) Both may agree in desiring
the triumph of truth and righteousness
aud the suppression of vice and crime
the sinner because of the bearing of
these things upon self and friends or
because of desire to be thought re-
former-the Christian because these
are sinful and therefore ruinous, and
for love to God and humanity he
throws his soul into the fight against
all forms of evil The sinner oftes
INDUCES one form of sin and fights an
other. Herein he is distinguished.
The Chaistian is a lover Of all reform,
Id BY law of being, bad, as well as
good men must approve OF, and ad-
mire that which is good, though they
may still indulge sin. and may even
oppose good men because they are a
rebuke to their indulgences. When
the mind contemplates the character
OF God, it must approve of it. This
explains some passages in the Bible,
lisa. 5S:2, Ez. 1873. AS soon as good
men, or the preaching of the truth,
contradicts and reproves the sinner,
this otfends and annoys him and over
comes his natural respect for good
ness. Opinions and intellectual views
and judgments may agree, but mere
opinions or feeling does not constitute
regeneration, but heart submitted to
God and guided by truth does.
icy So we might speak of the natural
love for justice and other things.
Whatever the sinner does he does from
the standpoint of seltishness. 1t should
never be forgotten that the ''carnal
mind is not subject to the law of God,
NEITHER indeed can be- Until his
heart IS changed she can not please
Cod
8. What are evidences of true con-
version? How may know that am
Christian? (a) A Christian is gov
erned by the Word of God. The sim
ner by his impulses, desires, and graf
ifications. The truly regenerated man
uses his best judgment, and then goes
to god for confirmation, and does not
undertake until he is quite sure God is
pleased with his plans. The sinner
has not God in all his thoughts. He
is governed by selfshness, and pleases
self. s'There is therefore now no con-
demnation to them which are in Christ
Jesus, who who walk not after the
| flesh, desires, impulses, sensibilities,)
but after the Spirit Rom. 81. See
also Rom. S:4-S.
(b) The truly regenerated soul over
comes sin. This is the plain teaching
of the Scripture. "Whosoever is born
Of God, doth not commit sin. I John
80, l John 2:3-4, Rom. GIL, sc.
A SHINING Christian is a missioner and
contradiction of terms.'' Read what
the inspired John says in John 3:l-lO.
It is our privilege to live on the vic
tory side of sin, so that sin shall not
have dominion over US.
(c) A truly regenerated man denys
himself. eff any man will come after
me, let him deny himself and and take
up his cross and follow me-" Matt.
1924. Read also Titus 2:ll:l2. Self
denial consists in a total renouncia-
ton of salfshness in the heart-a ceas-
ing to live for self. All this is implied
in regeneration. Especially does the
true Christian deny his appetites and
passions. The sinner is such because
he is governed by these. They are his
masters and he bows down to them
and worships them. But the regen-
Grated ceases to live to crafty his lusts.
| a. l., - 20
passions and lusts.'' A self-indulgent
Christian is contradiction.
(d) He is moreover interested in and
stands committed to every effort to
reform and save mankind. ''Pure
religion and undefled before God and
the Father is this To visit the father
less and widows in their affection, and
to keep himself unspotted from the
world,' Jas. l:27)-purity of character
and active benevolence are here taught.
This is the teaching of Scripture. A
Christian, if he is one at all, must take
delight in every form of effort which
proposes to uplift and save mankind.
elf we love me feed my Sheep To
this end he is ready to deny himself
and for this he lives and moves and has
his being.
(e) The true Christian therefore
enjoys peace with God, Rom. ST., peace
with himself, and is at peace with
mankind. If There are two witnesses
to this experience. First, the Holy
Ghost bearing testimony with our
spirit, Rom. SIG, and secondly, our
own consciousness. 'sHe that believeth
on the Son Of God, hath the witness in
himself" l John $40. I'm glad we
need not be in darkness. Every one
may know whether he is consecrated
to God and the interests of His blessed
Gospel and Kingdom, or whether he is
given up to his own selfshness.
X
DR.. McCracken will deliver the ad.
dress next Sunday at 3 p. m.
The Misses Jennie and Bessie Shaw
will sing.
Hon. G. M. Cooke g Lecture at the
Y. M. G. A.
A fine audience faced Capt. Cooke
at the Y. NJ. c. A. Friday night, or
the occasion of his lecture before that
body. Mr.. Cooke was introduced in
well chosen words, by Mr.. T. T. Hicks
The lecture was full Of helpful thoughts
for the young, and abounded with fine
sentiments, and at times with humor
He urged the young men and women
to cultivate character, and to guard
against every form of dissipation either
of mind or sense which would enter.
fere with the highest development OF
the better nature. Among many other
good things he said: Don't neglect
your mind. Read good books. l was
surprised to find dust on the excellent