The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-19

IN our literary. ulSCuoSlOn VIC SdHC
Thackeray's discussion Of a gentleman.
Have you ever sincerely thought it out
what it was to be a Christian? We
mean of the Bible type, and not a
pseudo specimen. What car be high
er and nobler and more generous? To
be a Christian means indeed a very
great deal-much more than millions
who profess it really understand or
believe. What is the Bibles defini-
ton? What is a Christian according
to the infallible standard and descrip-
ton? What is the character drawn
by the Divine penman and Tabled "a
Christian?" Search the Scriptures for
tie answer. We give a little of what
is said: He has "a new heart" H
is a new creation" He is risen with
fnrist." He is born of God" H
8inneth not" He has been renewed
in knowledge after the image of Him
that created him" He is "a son of
Cod. He is lied by the Spirit Of
God" He is can heir of God through
Christ" He lives "saparate' from
the wicked. He has knowledge Of God
for he is "begotten of Cod He has
'1ife through His name He hath
everlasting life" HE has put on the
new man which after God is created
in righteousness and true holiness
He is "sanctiied' and justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in
the Spirit Of Cod (Cor. vi, II, revised
yersion). These are a few of the ear
marks of a Christian as set forth in
the Eternal Truth. Nothing is higher.
Nay, nothing of earth can be so high
out of Christ. To be a son of God, is
to be higher in truth than any poten-
tate or statesman or soldier or man of
letters. We give two extracts. The
New York Observer, Presbyterian,
wisely says: ct may be stated as an
axiom that no man was ever made a
better Christian by being taught a
halfway Christianity"
Some one has written, whose eyes
have had Divine amounting, and whose
spiritual vision is clear, what we have
read with real interest as to what a
Christian is. We give only a little for
want of space:
what constitutes a Christian? An
important and practical question. Be-
ing q Christian requires something
more than a creed, however orthodox,
as many evil spirits are very sound
theologians; more than regularity in
attendance upon Gods ordinances, as
none were ever more punctll1ouS In
outward ~observances than the Scrlbes
and Pharisees whom the Saviour ana
themized; more than mere attachment
to the person, or the character, or the
ministry Of a preacher Of righteous
ness. as Herod gladly listened to the
ministrations of John the aptlst yet
received the sever judgment Of God;
more than a simple conviction of sin,
as Felix trembled unde a guilty con-
science; and more than a legal repen-
tance, as Judas mourned his crime
and it's consequences, yet died without
mercy and salvation.
ITO be a Christian according to the
gospel standard embraces as a prime
requisite an acceptance of Christ s
htonement as the sole ground of merit
before God and as the only hope of
salvation. This alone avails towards
the sinners justification. His
own strength is a broken reed; his
goodness u%navailing. He is a sinner
saved by grace. Nor can one be a
christian after the scriptural require
ment without making the will of
Christ the rule of his conduct. PauPs
first question upon his acceptance of
Jesus was, Lord, what wilt thou
have me to do?'"
1t is the doer and not the nearer
who is the Christian,