The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-04-19

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other saws =. | know that my Redeemer
livcth." One has no vital connection
with the great life giving power OF the
inverse: "a did the negroes III the
c.dsn t.u.c tncc assume Tie name d
their mas er-;he other proud 0. his
right as It Christian freeman, assumes
nothing but the world points him out
as a Christian and recognizes in him
the Son Of the Highest. All these
differences exist between these classes
and the half has not been told. But
let US see what should be the charac-
teristic Of a man with religion. Ac-
cOrdin@ to the most approved etymoio-
giste, religion i Il holding back-a bond
or tie, something which, when man IL
tempted by sin and evil holds him back
from its cOmmi>e iOn-sOmethlug which,
when unpleasant duties are me: face to
face and human nature, weak and SIN
full, is about to yield to its avoidance,
binds him to its performancc-somc-
thing which. III order that a man may
possess it, possesses him. It must be
an active principle and never a sleepy
sentiment. In every great event IN
the worlds history we may find Illus
tratiOns Of this truth.
When Saul Of Tareuo was on his way
to Damascus doing duty as a persecu-
tor, when the strange light shOne round
about him and blindness smote his
eyes a sudden conviction seized him
| and how wonderful! the change, lie
| had thought lie was doing God service !;
but he laid aside his opinions and his
! whole life thereafter was manifesto
| ton Of the conviction then expressed
in the anxious inquiry, What wilt
| Thou have me do" When the question
| Of slavery or emancipation held the at
tentiOn Of all the thinkers Of this ma
| ton, who defended his opinions as to
| the validity and right OF slayehOldIn9
i'll more logical, yea, more scrlpturai
language than the gifted Alexander
McCainc-and yet how weak were his
efforts when we think of William Lloyd
Garrison. McCaine is forgotten, al
most unknOwn-but Garrison while
he is spurned by his enemies, is EonoreC
by the world. This is the difference
One held an opinion-the other, his
convictions bound him. Luther saw
the people Of his day held in slavery
by the church of Rome who arrogautly
sold her indulgencies, the people be
lieying that the church could save
that its dominion was proper and b,
right. His religion bound him to sa,
that there can be no forgiveness eX
cept by faith in Christ.
From the darkness Of the churcl
ofthat day broke forth the first brightra,
hcralding the dawn Of religious free
DOM Thence the star Of liberty witt
lcngthening beam shot across to tn
hills of England and there full man,
q frozen bosom lighted. till Cromwel
inspired by the same hope held to &C
count the English throne for religion
independence. But Great Britain wa
too small to absorb the growing light
beyond the cliffs Of Scotland ana tn
rocky walls Of Wales on the heav
ing bosom of the ocean. the light cam
cleaning. and westward still unit
Americas shores reflected the ray
Here it blaZed under the influence c
tn" Revolutionary fathers and StiI
mere with Wesley and Sneethen. I'll
HOW, we proudly boast that we worshi
u-.,!er our own vine and fig tree, &C
c0rding to the dictates of our own con
sciences and no man dare modest us o
make Us afraid. But with us it ca
not stop; for the church born in tina
distant day has become Il giant, who's
!nu@ arms are reaching Westward
>tHl. across the Pacific ocean into ia
pan, and still Westward until it rcaC he
the very Fast, cncircling the worl
shall hear" Of salvation only through
faith i'll Christ. But if a mans faitl
: determines his religion and faith il
; Christ is the criterion of the Christia
religion and there are two kinds c
these, which Of them all is true-whc
is the best for humanity-and is tina
which is best here, best hereafter
: We allow the evolution of the questio
/ to make its own answer. If we hay
} in us living principle we must b
active. There can be no action with
. vitality. He. who pleads for conscl
yatlsm or who is conservative. has II
7 living principle else there would be II
need to conserve. Further, q conser
: vatiye church or church member mus
5 fail; for it having no vitality, has Il
) power OF propagation or reproduction
| and can only conserve lifeless branc
| from some other pruning. The yer
: idea ofconservatism presupposes decay
which must be inconsistent with an
: notion of life. Hence we can mot avoi
= the conclusion that he who does nc
act in accordance with the life givn
= principle. has no life in him. dor :.
3 their fruits We shall know them. ;
} Christ tells us, He that believcth i
l me hath everlasting life There ca
1 be no evidence to men that spirituf
5 life begins with physical death for.
/ it be true, the witnesses are all in al
5 other realm; and we can not hear the
4 testimony, and such propositio
f leaves US nothing but doubt and III
certainty. Whatever knowledge w
. may have of the future state has bee
t revealed to us. and the only evidenC
/ we can have of 4 spiritual life hereaftt
D.. Is to be born of the spirit here-tl
i. evidence to the world of the spiritu:
= birth is a spiritual life. Now to live
+ spiritual life we must be spiritual
C minded; and Romans SO says :. f,
: to be carnally minded is death, but
e be spiritually minded is life" No
i if man be led by the spirit what nee
1 has he of conservatism? Allarcumer
e shows without possibility of denial i
: spiritual az we'll as physical operation
L that, conservatism Is no part of IL
: plan of life. If peaches should ripe
- on the trees all the year round. wi
, would undertake any canning. b,
5 when they fall Off and the living COZ
d nectlon is broken. they must deca'
V and other processes must be used
c preserve them; and so in the Christia
V life. He who does not follow II
0 teachings of the spirit-he needs to |
= conservative. He who does. no mo-
: has such need, than good peache
: growing on a live tree, need preservin!
p The conservative church member is
= a live Christian lust as insipid as n