The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-06

when they believed Philip preaching
h things concerning h gospel OF
Christ. they were baptized. both men
and women" Here the first and last
only are mentioned. but q Simon, the
c~orcere then gave up his old practice
or sorcery, there must have been re-
pentance On his part, II not ON that OF
all. and as to confession, the inference
is plain enough, when we read that
Philip preached Christ TO them. and IL
they believed and obeyed Christ they
have confessed him.
In the same chapter ii Is said OF h
Ethiopian Eunuch, that he confessed in
these words: II believe that Jesus
Christ IS the q OF God" n was
baptized. Here faith. confession and
baptism are named. but repentance Is
lacking. This Is no doubt explained by
the fact that repentance need not be
emphasized in his case. as he was not
guilty of the death OF Christ, as the
Jews on the day of Pentacost.
As regards the conversion OF Saul
(see Asts 9. %, and PSI the matter en-
phasized there is that he was baptized.
he said, Lord, what wilt thou have me
to do? And his subsequent writings
fully attest the fac that he was re-
pentant.
In the case OF the conversion OF Cor
nelius. after the Holy Ghost had fallen
on him and his household, in order to
convince h apostles that these Gen
tiles had equal rights with them. 1t
is said that Peter commanded them 20
be baptized in the name OF the Lord.
Here faith, repentance n confession
are not mentioned, but as Peter preach
ed Christ to them, he must have de-
clared the whole counsel of God. Ger
tainly they were not saved by baptism
alone.
Looking at these examples of con-
version, can we not see a wide diff
ference between the preaching Of these
apostles and that OF odern evange-
lists? The apostles recognized first
principles which saved men from the
guilt OF past sins. and in addition, cer-
tain requirements for those who had
entered upon the Christian life. They
never confused these matters. Sad to
say, many successful CD modern evan
gelists are wrestling the Word Of God
by setting before untaught and uncon-
verted sinners the requirements OF the
Christian life. being ignorant them
selves OF the first principles Of Christ.
or so mingling their teaching Of these
hat no nearer ever comes to a definite
n clear understanding. There is
much excellent Christian teaching to-
day, which, owing TO the imperfect un-
~derstanding of people ON the subject.
is only a mass OF ~generalities. The
Apostolic teaching was definite. We
are living under the same ~dispensation
as they: why not adopt heir teaching
verbatim ct literatim and thus avoid
the possibility of being wrong? Some
may say that the changed conditions
of civilization demand different meth
DDS Of p~reaching; but I am ready to
assert that the gospel OF Christ is
adapted to all times and all conditions
Of civilizations: that pentecostal results
would still follow p~entacostal preach
ing; that the simplicity of the gospel,
free from all theological weights and
~obscuritfes is still capable of working
wonders; and that se~nsationalism and
questionable methods of interesting
sinners, old and young, is an abomina-
ton, in that it removes from mems
sight the Christ, the founder, the great
central figure Of Christianity.
L. T. RIGHTSELL.