The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-10-17
THE CONVERTED MAN.

odooid bC CoHN cI Cto. IL rs Ill OItl
fashioned word, but stripped of
certain abuses and errors which have
been connected with it it has the
right rug
To be converted is simply to be
turned toward God. and the con-
verted man is one who deliberately
comes to the conclusion that it is
better to obey Gods laws than to
break them. With that definition
the word has peculiar signifi .ance.
Whether orthodox or heterodox, we
all admit that the mental struggle
which ends in the conviction that
faith in and submission to n superin-
tending Providence will produce
higher results than uncontrolled
seifishness is a struggle which every
man who lives ought TO make.
There is no room tor difference of
opinion on this subject, provided we
look at it in broad and generous
way.
My impr ssion is that the Church
has done the world a great injury by
introducing into that experience a
mysticism which drains from it all
philosophy and common sense.
If b man who is going wroDg-and
every one knows when he has gone
wrong and how far he has gone
s,ys to himself on some occasion,
This kind OF life is leading me into
the bramble bushes; | am losing nv
self-respect, and will face the other
way, and by Gods help keep it,"
that man has taken a step of infinite
Importance to himself, and it's happy
consequent es are not to be reckoned
Whether we are pagan or priest,
whatever theological views we enter
tain, we say heartily that he has
done we'll.
But if you tell a man that by
asserting to this or that belief he is
thereby and from that instant a
saved soul you make religion a very
cheap affair and import into it an
element which renders it even
ridiculous, for, after all, religion is
the sturdiest, the manifest and the
most straightforward thing in the
world There is no ntcromancy
about it, and if you put any into it
it ceases to be the kind OF religion
which hrist taught When [ heard
an evangelist say to kneeling
profiigate, into whose soul a breath
from heaven had entered, You be-
lieve that Christ died foryou? Then
you are saved" L shuddered. That
poor fellow had had a noble impulse
He wanted to unstrap the burden
from his shoulders and thereafter
look the stars in the face. But be
knew that no amount OF believing
"a III. 1 l.
new man OF him. The preacher was
telling him about something magi
cal, whereas he WAS only too well
aware that the dark life behind him
was an awful fact, and that if his
future was to b.. bright he must
buckle on the armor aud make a
terrible fight for honesty and honor
He went Ou5 into the ni2 hit, and
Heaven knows what has become OF
him.
There is no magic in the new birth,
but there is glory, peace, happiness
and final victory. Il is Encouraging
to a man to be- told that everything
will go well with him after his con
version, Tor that cannot be true until
the laws of the universe are repealed
anu II y Ou oCCCikO uIll III UIIdC
his last condition may be worse than
his first. 1t is safest to tell the
truth always.
Let me illustrate. You are sailing
your craft in dangerous seas and
among icebergs and ice foes. Sup
pose you awaken to the fact that
you are wasting yourself and i'm
perilliDg verything a man ought tc
aold d. ar. You say, 81 shall never
get to the other side on this course
will strike for the open sea- Yot
have certHiuly been coDvt rted, but
your conversion does not remov,
icebergs. You must get away from
them by carefully trimming your
sails and constant, watchful care
When at last you are in clear water
the voyage is still before you, and il
is folly to tell you that the friendly
winds will wait you to your journey
end and the waves will not rise III
against you. The lie Of the Chris
tian is a life of work, and will b,
until the churchyard gate swings OF
it's hinges.
But The change in y GU is something
wonderful; both the mental and tn,
spiritual change are favorable ant
stimulating. The consciousness thai
yon have taken Gods way to b,
your way works curious effects il
your soul. Your whole outlook i.
different, and the new man is quit,
unlike the old man The heart tha1
knows it is right is not like tn,
heart that knows it is wrong TIL,
ho !.
it's guest, whose daily benedictioI
inspires and ennobles.
Moreover, when q man has takeI
that step the whole spirit of th'
universe is with him. He is il
| accord with the nature Of things anC
feels Gods actual and literal pres
ence. The dear Lord said, 81 viii
come unto you," and He does come
Heaven becomes reality, ard thu
sp rits OF the departed lift him NJ
lest he stumble to his hurt.
1t is absolutely necessary for {
man to decide at some junctur,
what her he will sacrifice for the right
or simply live a selfish life. Ii thu
latter, he plays on harp will
broken strings; if the former, he is {
warrior with mailed armor, but still
a warrior. The fight is before him
| and he must do himself credit in tn,
battle. Do not persuade him thai
he has not hing to do, for he ha.
everything to do; but he will do i
with a new spirit and new courage
Our days are bu;densome ane
duties are heavy. Nothing cal
change that. But if you feel tha