The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-27
RELIGIOUS READING.
nBE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY"

Is there no getting to heaven without hu-
mility2 No. Cannot the proud be saved?
No. Is lowliness essential to true piety2
Yes. Is the human heart naturally proud?
Yes. Why are men 80 slow in learning Gods
will2 Because they are no more like little
children.--Wby are they 80 averse to saliva
ton by the righteousness Of Christi Because
they are 80 puffed up with conceit Of their
own goodness. Why do so many 60 to hell?
Because they will not humble themselves un-
der the mighty hand Of God. Why must we
preach humility, seeing it Is an unpopular
doctrine? Because God resisteth the proud,
and giveth grace to the humble.
Nothing in Christianity Is more opposed by
carnal men than humbleness Of mind. 1t was
SO from the beginning. "The philosophers
thought humility to be the opposite OF mag
much the same light. 1t is the opposite Of
pride. 1t IL "the peculiar glow Of Christians
and the parent and nurse of our graces. It
preserves In US the light of faith and the heat
Of love. 1t begets modesty in prosperity, and
patience In adversely. It Is the root Of grat-
itude and obedience" The feigned humility
OF a hypocrite hides his pretended good quail
tiles; but the genuine lowliness Of true
Christian hides even itself. 1t has no secret
method Of display
This virtue adorns all who possess it. Re-
q veil and covered her beauty and Jewels
Moses face shone not the less brightly, be-
cause he wist 1t not. Eventhe appearance
OF this virtue is often put on by cunning men.
In all virtues the reality Is better than the
semblance. Gold Is better than any OF its
counterfeits.
Christ said, sWhosoever shall exalt himself
shall be abased; and he that shall humble
himself shall be exalted"
In studying Gods word, nothing Is more
necessary than humbleness OF mind. with
the lowIy Is wisdom" "The meek will ne
teach his way" "God knoweth the proud
afar off," "Be not wise in your own eyes"
"Seest thou q man wise in his own conceit?
there Is more hope Of fool than Of him. In
seeking to become wise, all the proud become
fools. The mysteries Of salvation are revealed
unto babes, but hid from the wise and pru-
dent. He who prays much, will learn much
of the mysteries OF salvation. But the proud
will not offer humble prayer. He thinks he
already sees, and why should he cry. "Open
thou mine eyes, that may behold wondrous
things out Of thy law?" II you would learn
of Christ, bow your neck, and take his yoke
upon you.
The most difficult thing in mans salvation
Is sufficiently to abase his pride. he natural
ly trusts in himself that he is righteous. He
When Harvey said, "The most difficult
thing in religion Is to get rid of sinful SELF"
he went as far as unrenewed nature ever
goes. But when the boor peasant said to him
1.-THE most difficult thing in religion is to get
rid OF righteous SELF" he spoke like one
taught Of God. Strangely, wickedly, univer-
sally unrenewed men follow those who do
not submit themselves into the righteousness
of God. but 20 about to establish their own
righteousness. The last thing a convicted
sinner does, is to consent to be saved by the
merits of Jesus Christ. Yet is there no other
way Of escaping tho wrath to come, or OF lay.
ing hold on eternal life Oh, that all men
thus believed. Would you grow In strength
know your weakness; would you gain Wis
dom, know your folly; would you gain
righteousness, know your own guilt and
helplessness, and the g,orious fullness and
suficiency there are in Christ. "Be clothed
with humility" and you will cast away the
filthy rags Of your own Righteousness. and
gladly accept the spotless, seamless robe
offered you by the Lord Christ. Jesus is the
way. the truth, and the life; no man cometh
unto the father but by him.-"Wben men
are cast down, then shalt thou say, There Is
lifting up; and he shall save the humble
person."
All doctrinal statements, all usages,
thoughts, and notions Wnlcn eAait the crea.
ture, are false and wicked. And all views OF
Christ which make him mere helper and
not the sole author Of salvation-an auxil-
iary, but not the well-spring Of life, are false
and wicked. Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth.
Humble thyself and accept Of Jesus Christ.
Without him you arc nottingham do moth
ing-can hope for nothing.-American Mes
Ben9er.