Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-03-20
THE SCHOOLFIELD MEETINGS.

DlRQC C1hH on any pItNiOuo oSSo7ioo'
but more did not get inside, as the
church could not hold any more than
have been attending for several nights.
The song service was very short. Mr..
Scheduled stated that service would be
held on Wednesday night as usual, and
that at that time he hoped to be able to
announce some plan of meetings by
which the men who wanted to attend
would have the opportunity, even if it
necessitated holding three meetings a
day. 1t is understood that the meeting
on Thursday night will be for men
only. After reading several requests
for prayer, prayer was offered, and
then Mr.. School6eld announced his
subject for the evening discourse, Con
version, what it is" The evidences OF
conversion as we End them in the
Word of God, leave you to decide
how many, or which you have and |
insist that if you are honest and in
earnest you will come to the light.
What do we mean by conversion? IL
is not only radical change of moral
character, but change of service from
Satan to God. 1t carries with it a
heart regenerated by the Holy Ghost,
for without this there can be no genuine
conversion. 1t gives one love for God
and His work. did not say for church
work but Gods work. All! you say,
but they are the same. / say no, but
they ought to he. There are many
who love the little organizations to
which they belong and are willing to
crush down any other to advance the
interests of their own. This is not
Gods work, it is partizanry, and par
tizanry is of the devil. There is an
other class of church work that don't
think the Lord has anything to do with,
such as church theatricals or church
charades. Some of you are smiling.
l think you must have been having
something of that sort around here.
Well, brother, it is of the devil, not of
God. Then comes the church oyster
supper and festival. Just imagine St.
Paul over freezer dipping ice cream
out and saying it is for the Lord. Don't
you see the absurdity of the thing?
/ grant you it is not wrong 10 itself,
but it is not the Lords work, and L
grant you that many good people en-
gage in questionable things at times,
but it is because they have mistaken
ideas. Doing the Lords work is visit
ing the sick and distressed and leading
sinners to Christ. Conversion involves
repentance. There is no genuine work
without repentance, which means |
cease to do evil, intend to do well
now. not only confess my sins, but
forsake them also. Conversion also in
wolves faith, for without it it is impossi-
BILE to please God. 1t is resting for sal
walton upon Christ. Receive, come,
look, submit. We try to take hold OF
Christ while we are holding on to sin.
You must let go of sin and grasp the
Saviour. Faith in Christ doesn't re-
uuire that we must understand every
thing in the Bible, but-we must believe
if. Repentance and faith being the
sinners part of conversion just so soon
as you comply with the terms regener-
alton occurs. Regeneration is instan-
taneous and is the work of the Holy
Ghost upon the heart as well as a
change of moral character. AS soon as
you surrender His Spirit takes up his
abode in your heart. While regenera-
ton is instantaneous yet it is a point we
often blunder over. Some times the
soul is conscious of the very moment;
sometimes tits not. Some people know
the exact spot where it occurred; some
do not. How it is done none can tell.
Our Lord used the wind to illustrate
the operations of the Holy Spirit upon
mans heart. We may also. We can
see the effects of the wind upon OBJ
jects and on persons. Sometimes it
blows very hard; at others it does not.
eve do not know whence it cometh or
whittier it goeth." We can see the op.
erations of the Holy Spirit upon those
around US, but We know not how it is
done. Conversion involves confession
of sin. Ifyou are unwilling to confess
tilt is because you don't believe, and the
man or woman who publicly refuses to
confess Christ may we'll doubt bis or
her standing with God. One of the
evidences of confession that 1 have al
ready touched on is peace. You were
under condemnation; you made the
surrender and the condemnation was
gone; you are no longer the servant
of sin; the burden is lifted. Another
evidence of conversion is, where for
merry you did not like to be with Gods
people, you now desire their company.
Another evidence is the inner con-
sciousness of the love of God shed in
your heart by the Holy Spirit, and you
can sing, 30 how love Jesus" Brother
have you that love in your heart to-
night? The most concise definition Of
the witness of the spirit was from DR..
Tillett's lips. You know what it is to
be under conviction. Now the witness
is, He convinces you that God for
Christ's sake saved you from that sin.
Another evidence is you hate sin and
love righteousness. At Greensboro
during meeting there was dear lit
tie child standing for some time with
her hand up for me to take. ] did not
see it until some one called nv atten-
ton to her. asked: what do you
want my child" She answered I am
converted. asked her what was con-
version and she said to love God, love
everybody and not to sin any more.
Another evidence is we become inter-
ested for the salvation of others, and
that is one of the most satisfactory e1.
ternal evidences that l know of. An.
other evidence is, our motives are
changed. Where we cared before for
the praise of men we now strive for the
praise of God. Another evidence is
consciousness. You ask me from the
emotional standpoint do feel the love
Of Christ in nv hearth I saw veg. If