The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1894-09-01
CHRISTIAN ASSURANCE.

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publishes the following written for the
Baptist Laynsan by Rev. J. B. Gambell:
In recent years there has come to
me, along with some personal experience
es, a deep feeling that the mass of US
are living in the low lands OF Chris
tian experience, joy, assurance and
strength. How little many OF us have
grown in grace! After ten, twenty,
thirty, forty years we need still to be
fed on milk. And, what Is worse, we
are care and burden when we ought
to be strong helpers Of the cause.
Isil want to make plea for Il better
lie, for that assurance and hope which
can make us happy aud useful. Let
me urge, first, that we often make a
mistake by settling down into the no.
tiOn that doubt and uncertainty are
the normal conditions OF Chris
ttan lie. Who has not heard doubts
10 spoken of as to carry the idea that
they are the outgrowth of grace?
What a mistake! They are shadows Of
our sins, thrown On our souls. AS
surance is the light Of God In the soul.
It is a holy confidence toward God,
hased On an apprehension of the pro-
visions of grace in. Christ.
But let me guard this definition
This holy confidence does not rest in
any logical reasoning, nor in any mere
intellectual perception Of the truth,
but in spiritual perception and accep-
tance of the truth. It is just at this
point that the ways of two kinds of peo-
pie part. There isa cold, we'll calcula-
ted, we'll argued, thoroughly demon
stluted kind of assumption that goes
under the name Of assurance, which is,
in spiritual quality, very distinct from
the true kind of assurance. Assurance,
like all other precious experiences
| and exercises, is a thing Of the. heart.
Iii is the hearts acceptance Of, and
response, to the world of truth, written
in the heart and in the Bible by the
same spirit of grace. And, by the way,
all experiences that are genuine are
the hearts arguments with the word.
Let Us hear God on this subject:
beloved, in our hearts condemn US
not then have we confidence toward
Cod |. John 1921. This puts it as it
Is. Let US who seek the precious
grace, know that we can only attain
it in spiritual way, and by ordering
our cause right before God.
Some special observations may be
hel pful to the further understanding of
the case:
|. Assurance, like all other graces,
does not flourish apart from the means
OF grace, such as hearing the word,
prayer, good works for necessary uses.
No one need think to make up Il case
for his salvation, like Il land deed, put
it to record and then expect, on the
strength of it, to enjoy perpetual as.
surance. There are many delusive
illustrations covering this point, which
leave out the spiritual element and
give for real assurance only the dry
bones OF n system, or to change the
figure, which shows us the channels OF
assurance, alas! in many cases, run dry
for the lack of the cooling waters OF
this most blessed grace. We do not
need to discount the doctrine of all-suffi.
cient Christ; but we do need to insist
upon q present, spiritual acceptance of
that doctrine as the source OF assur.
ance. A memory OF It, or an argument
for it, will not reach the end; II must
he a present experience. Read the
42nd Psalm and see there how David
struggled with himself and bemoaned
his state, Notwithstanding memories
and q mental conviction that better
times would come.
Who that has tried religion in an
earnest way but has had like cause to
lament the wide gap between the con-
clusions of his judgment and the ex-
periences Of his heart.
To enjoy assurance, we must actually
live In the use of that bread that came
down from heaven. To remember for
mer good dinners or to be able to anal
we al food products and explain their
qualities will mot keep the body in
health and comfort. We must eat.
The last time | sat and talked with that
profound man, A. H. Boothe, he told
me of an old brother somewhere in his
parts, who after long and joyous life
Of Christian activity, was put upon a
bed Of affliction. Many months passed
and he grew disconsolate. Doubt tor.
mented him. Brother Boothe was pass
ing his way and preached in the old
brothers house. The clouds poured
down showers Of grace. The old SER
want was lifted up and said, Brother
Boothe, I have just found out what has
been the matter with me. I needed
preaching. have just been lying here
starving" And that is what is the
matter with many, doubtless. They
are starving; some because they will
not 60 10 the place where their Fathers
table is spread, some because they can
not 60 and do not know how to feed
themselves, many because when they
do 60 they have set before them instead
OF bread from the Fathers hand, the
husks Of human speculation, or per-
chance the truth served dry without un-
ction or grace. Let us not deceive our.
selves into the notion that we can enjoy
assurance in neglect of the means Of
grace. God does not put premium on
our neglect.
2. have said that assurance is the
Joyous response of the heart to the
truth of God. 1t now remains to be
shown one reason why there is so little
assurance among many who regularly
attend on religious duties. We will let
God speak again. And take heed to
yourselves, lest at any time your hearts
be overcharged with .surfeiting, and
and cares of this life, and
50 that day come upon you unawares'-
al M