New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-09
DIR. sCUDDER on CONVERSION
HE SAYS 1T is SIMPLY A TURNING AWAY
FROM SIN.

Facing Which Way?" This was the subject Vi
the sermon of the Rev. John l.. Scuddet 10 VI.
First Congregational Church. Jersey |iV' 's'
evening His text was: He stesdfastly SET n's
face 70 90 I'M TO Jerusalem (St. Luke. TX. OBJ MT
scudder said he intended TO preach on conversion
and he selected this particular text because IL sue
gested by way Of parable the leading ioea III '
whole proceeding He said. In part:
The incident served to illustrate the prooo's VI
conversion for conversion when reduced TO us 'o"
est terms is simply a turning away from s'' anu
travelling in the opposite direction There are IN
the realms Of morals two diverse and antagon'suc
principles. One call good the other IL e'"'
They exact and eternal oppostes Tney u'o
the north and south poles OF the moral wor'o' o"o
Is the antpodes OF the other. so that when man
travels toward one he Is travelling away from the
other Conscience tells US that II sin lies north
holiness lies south, and that man who Is engaseu
in wrongdo!ng must turn away from IL oeiore "o
can do right In other words he must be con-
verted. Conversion involves the reshaping OF one
life and more than that II determines destiny
What difference does It make how man TURNS
to God so long he really turns! Theoiosica'
warfares have waged for centuries over this httie
word how II has been one or the chiet pohes vi
contention between the Armenian ana CaiVih'suc
systems One party claim that God turns man.
but notice they don't preach 1t much because II
man cannot turn himself what Is the use 10 ASK
him to repent? Cavinism Is fata!ism. but IL Is
diving out very fast in these days. because II pro-
ydes the sinner with the best excuse TO remain
impenitent The Bible commands man 10 turn
away from his SINS conscience declares 1t TO De MS
duty and he knows well enough he can turn IL he
will. and that settles the whole question. Man Is
a free self-acting being.
Some men turn TO God from a mere sense OF
duty Others from self-loathing sorrow Tor sih'
some are impeled by fear. others are attracted by
love Sorue of the motives belong to higher grades
than others but as they all lead up to the same
way the way of holiness, what matters IL when
path a man takes in reaching this one important
and indispensable thoroughfare tnat teImibates Ia
perfection? Conversion Ia moral act rather IMAM
an intellectual process. Ii IL a turning not IN d
mans belief but in his practice. 1t Is not asserting
TO this or that statement of doctrine II Is torsak
Ing sin, and by the grace OF Iou fh!i''s 0'e
character and life . A.,
The DAYS Of bigotry and animosity between the
sections OF the Church of Christ are rapidly pass.
ing away The denominations are waxing up OUT
ewes in the light Of a new day. We are all coming
to understand that our way Is not the only way
and that a man may be truly converted 10 God
even If he cannot subscribe to our particular lofm
Of belief ..,o
does not lie in the realm of feeling, but IN that OF
the will. No conversion can take place wlth9ut an
act of the will, without resolve TO 1orsake SIN
place without any special demonstration of emotion
There Is always steady breeze blowing the Cnris-
tan heavenward II the tide Of sin Is against him
and he feels himself going backward stern nrst an
ahead Sinful habits like heavy stones rolling
down a mountain side You can stop them II you
catch them early enough. The time to stop SHINING
is now To-day "a better than tomorrow, ana To-
is the accepted time and to-day is the day Of saliva