The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-09

but that Thou shouldst keep them from
evil" 1t is not needful to go to heaven
to become pure and righteous; what is
needful is for the dead or latent divinity
to be resurrected, and this may be done
while you read these lines,
Christ speaks of it as a second birth, and
offers it as a gift, without money and
without price" 1t is a drastic change; in
accepting the gift a person lis passed from
death unto life" 1t is a mighty force, and
renewed continually. 1.-The water that /
shall give him shall be in him a we'll of
water springing up into everlasting life"
Instead of the old rivulet of iniquity, out
of him shall flow sweetness and righteous
ness, like rivers of living water 1t is
joyous; on the day of Pentecost, when
this life was clearly manifested in many
persons at the same time, the disciples so
overlooked with gladness that other people
exclaimed: These persons are inspired
by a new kind of marvellous wine 1t is
endless; he hath everlasting life shall
never die" 1t is secure; they shall never
perish. neither shall any pluck them out of
my Fathers hand.'
The secret force of this blissful life is
sympathy with Christ as redeemer, lover
of mankind, friend of sinners, Savior of the
lost. To behold Him, as the God life, the
sample of what your life may be, shall be,
from this moment is-if you will ito so
believe and receive Him is to be resurrected
into life. 1t is the disposition of God come
to birth, activity and power in you, a hui
man creature. I'VE will come unto Him
and make our abode with such a man"
and he shall be filled with all the fullness
of God" 1t is your nature becoming a
voluntary medium of God; Il am the vine;
we are the branches"
The apostle Paul is very bold. In effect
he says: The evil is as dead in me as was
Christ when crucified; and the new nature
which now alone influences me is, as ii
were, Christ, a second time living in me as
He lived on earth"
8. How may this life be- received? BY
the voluntary exercise of will power and OF
faith. Every faculty we possess is the re-
suit of will choice. A child cannot talk OF
walk without will effort. Christ said ia
some: I'VE will not come unto me that We
might have life" The first birth was not
your act, but the second birth must be the
voluntary act of your whole being. The
swimming master puts his hand under the
boy, saying: II will hold you: strike out.
SWIM So God gives the power of life.
it is our act to live. He is crying: Arise
from the dead" 1t is your act, awakened
one, to arise into the life of eternal light.
And you do this by the exercise of faith.
Believing there is pure air outside, we open
the window or door to inhale it. We are
willing, and act in accordance with our be-
lieving will; we inbreathe. So, the moment
we will to be born again, to receive the di.
vine, ~forceful life, the same moment we
likewise receive. When we see and will.
we believe and appropriate. Unless we will
we cannot believe in Christ's meaning of
the word faith.
The other day a friend showed me q dis
honored check. When he went to the bank
the cashier had replied, mo funds" Blu
at your credit this moment is life, light.
liberty and love divine. Arise from thu
dead! This is the resurrection gospel 10
be preached to every creature; and this life
Is the only means by which christendom
shall reveal to the world the gracious right
eousness of an indwelling God.
Inspired by Him who is ready to ''shine
upon thee" may you-may we all-gra-
cioualy do our duty in our lot. after the
example of Christ, and so enter into the
world and in that which is to come.