The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-07-12
GET RIGHT.
IF THE HEART is NOT RIGHT
ALL IS WRONG.
Practical Sermon by an Able
Divine---Acts 8:21, Thy Heart
is not Right in the Sight Of
God"

Divine---Acts 8:21, Thy Heart
is not Right in the Sight Of
God"
BY B. FAY MILLS.
Sing it 'er and Ger again,
Christ reeeiveth sinful men.
The choir sang as if nothing were
truer than this. The congregation
listened as though it were new mes
sage. There are sermons i'll these
opening songs. Simple melodies-but
mighty truths. This is the secret.
Men want the truth-they give their
ears gladly to the simple strains.
No need to say there was a filled
church, an eager, listening multitude,
chorus after chorus of sweet Gospel
song-all this and more, for the in
fiuence of the great work is deepening.
Men are talking of it on the streets !;
family groups speak of it in the quiet
home circle young men discuss it as
they stand in groups; even the boys
and girls begin to think and speak
of it.
At eight O'Clock the Rev. DR.. Will
liams asked the Rev. Mr.. Dewey to
lead in prayer. "Nearer, My God,
to Thee" was sung by the congrega-
ton. Acts 8:21, was the text of the
Rev. Mr.. Mills's sermon "Thy
heart is not right in the sight of God. |"
If the heart is wrong all is wrong.
AS man thinketh in his heart, so is
he." "Man looketh on the outward
appearance, but God looketh on the
heart" The heart, in the Bible, ex-
presses the attitude and purpose of a
man. If the purpose is wrong, then
condemnation rests on the life.
Mr.. Mills spoke of the various kinds
of hearts that are not right in Gods
sight. He brought the secret sins to
light !; he exposed the fallacy of many
minds and lives.
The atheistic heart is not right.
There are no intellectual atheists
to-day. Some may deny the divinity
of Christ, and some may say they do
not know about God but man must
be God himself to affirm there is no
God. He must know all things to say
that. 1t is terrible thing to wish
that there were no God and to act as
if there were none. The only atheist
is the practical atheist who has no
place in the purpose of his life for
God.
The idolatrous heart is not right.
You do not bow down to wood and
stone ; if were to add gold, should
not be so sure. An idolater is any
one who breaks the first command
ment.
To put God frst-this is right to
put God second, this is practical
idolatry. An old whaling captain,
who was asked to give his heart to
God, said, 81 have no heart +; but il
you dig down to where the heart used
to be, you would find whale" What
is there in your heart, my brother, in
place of God
A man said: 81 desire to give up
my life, my friends to God" "Why
not your business ?" some one inquired
Because the Lord does not want it. y
That's practical idolatry.
The unbelieving heart is not right
Anyone is unrighteous who does moi
know Christ when he sees him. He il
the touchstone of character. Some
people say they believe in practical
Righteousness. There is no other kind
It's not a fine spun theory that car
not be worked out. And Christ is
the only manifestation of practica
righteousness that the world has evel
seen, for he is the manifestation o1
love. You must be morally blind i
you look on Christ and do no.
believe in him. The very heart of the
conversation with Nicodemus was
"This is the condemnation that light
is come into the world and men love
darkness rather than light; for he thai
doeth the truth cometh to the light
The trout lives in clear water because
it is trout, and the founder lives ir
mud because it is a founder. Belle
is not condition merely it is an
evidence of a mans salvation fol
when man believes in Christ, it i:
because he sees in him what he ha:
felt as best within himself; he sees ir
Christ what he ought to be, what he
may be, and what, by the grace o
God, he will be.
That heart is not right toward Coo
that is not right toward its tellow-men
The law Of Moses was, Glove God
and love your neighbor as yourself
Christ's law is, Glove your enemy
and love one another, as l have loved
you" He laid down his life for hi
enemies. Any man who is dishonest
swindles another, who oppresses the
weak, who cherishes malicious thoughts
is not a follower of Christ, for he ha
not his Spirit. This unwlllingness ,e
forgive is great evil.
A lady expressed her desire to be &
Christian; but she could not fine
peace. Have you had quarrel will
any one?' she was asked. "Yes,
she replied, "and | can't forgive tha
woman "Is it a case of can't o
won't?" "Well, won't, anyway
She was reasoned with. Showed he
misery and sin and at last said' I"
would, but l can't" "Then, let u
tell it to Cod She did SO, and eve
while she prayed, power came, ant
the love of God swept the blac
passion from her heart, 'and, as
looked at her," added Mr.. Mills, {"
r saw through her eyes vision of so,
e in Heaven"
81 met young lady on the ,rai
o,ca ,pd acked her II she waS