The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-11
DRAWING TO A CLOSE.
Rev. Mr.. Nugent's Bible Reading
at the PentacoStaI.

Salem, Va, Sept. 0.-(Special)-The
last of the Pentecostal series of religious
meetings will be held here Sun
day in the Alabama street taberna-
Gle On Thursday night the Rev. j. H.
Smith preached on Paul and Silas and
the conversion Of the Philippian jailer.
Yesterday morning the question box was
opened and many questions answered by
Mr.. Smith. In the afternoon n testimo.
NAL service, with short talks, WAS held.
For the benefit of those who are interested
in the subject of conversion and the be-
stowal of the spirit, or Holy Ghost, we
give below synopsis of a.beautiful SER
mon preached Thursday afternoon by the
Rev. p. H. Nugent, of Richmond. 1t is
worth reading by both saint and sinner.
Mr.. Nugent spoke as follows:
The following Bible reading is given
to show that the gift of the Holy Ghost
is something distinct from remission of
sins, or conversion.
John 1:16.17. Gle shall give you
another comforter, that He may abide
with you forever; even the spirit of truth,
whom the world cannot receive, because
it seeth Him not neither knoweth Him;
bu: We know Him, for He dwelleth with
you and shall be in you
Notice the following particulars /.
The world cannot receive Him, e. the
Hold Spirit. 1t can receive Christ, other
wise it could not be saved. The spirit,
however, cannot, as thus mentioned, be re-
ceived by the world. =. AS the world can
not receive Him and yet he is promised
it follows that those who receive Him are
OF class not included in the world. If
not of the world, then they are those
who have torsaken it for Gods service
i.e., converted people. 3. The ground of
this reception acknowledge and obedi
ence, conditions which, when fulfilled
constitute the person II follower OF Christ
Notice that these conditions are already
fulfilled by those to whom He spoke d.
The people to whom He spoke had con
fessed Him as their Messiah and had left
all to follow Him. Could such be mere
worldlings and uncon, erted?
But the objection may be made ''all
this was before Pentacost. a t that time
the Spirit was poured out on all and ever
since then all necessarily partake Of The
gift.' Opposed to this is the experience
of many Christian workers, who witness
to the receiving of the Spirit after their
conversion. But we turn from this to-
scriptural incidents occurring after Pen
tacost Acts, S:12, LII. Philip went
down to Snmara and preached Christ
unto them. They believed what they
heard and both men and women were
baptized into the name of Christ. No
mention vet of the Spirit. Now ii the
generally accepted idea il correct wiz,
that the gift of the Spirit is given at con-
version) matters would have been left
there. But what is the true state OF the
case? When the apostles heard that the
Samaritans had received the word of
God they sent Peter and John to pray for
them that they might receive the Holy
Ghost. In verse II we are told of TIL s
reception. There can he no doubt that
this gift was received some days after
Gheir acceptance of Christ.
Again, Acts l0:2, 6, "A, we a-e told of
Cornelius that he was n devout Cor pious)
mar who feared God, prayed always and
gave much aims. A strange character
for wording, isn't it? The devil has
not many followers who could he thus de
scribed, has he? On the contrary Peter says
that all who fear God and work ighteous-
ness are accepted with Him (ver. 35). So
Cornelius was accepted of God. Was that
all? No; he Il told in vision TO send for
Peter for further information and the cut
come of it ali was that the Spirit was
poured out on all who heard the word.
So this God fearing, pious, charitable
man needed and received the Holy Ghost.
Have you?
Acts 1915. Paui found at Ephesus
some disciples to whom the question was
put, "Have we received the Holy Ghost
since We believed" No, they had not