The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1900-09-19
FALSE REFUGEES.


| 70 CnIulltOI. lut NlthNN dlf NAtNAA
to feel the necessity ola refuge for their
immortal souls. There are various sourc-
es from which fear springs mp in their
hearts, which makes them feel their need
OF place of safety. 1t onen springs
from guilty conscience-the direct op'
Grafton of the Spirit of the Lord making
them to feel the guilt of their sin, their
lost condition and need of being saved.
"Conscience makes towards of us ALL
When man is disturbed with guilt he
seeks a covering somewhere. lie must
find some opiate TO give him ease.
! thief OF an assassin may flee to distant
lands for fear of being apprehended. His
guilty conscience causes him TO imagine
that every man is on his track and that
every bush is an officer. He seeks TO find
relief from his siu-smitten conssiencc,
and TO forget the awful goadings of that
internal monitor. He tries to put time
and space between himself aud the place
whore the crime was committed, but it
does not remove the guilt that is upon
his conscience. Conscience follows him
everywhere, and guilt disturbs his COM
fort and peace. There is no place of con-
cealment from the eyes of the Lord. 1.-THE
eyes of the Lord are in every place, be-
holding the evil and the good,n
Again men are frequently aroused TO
feel their need of refuge through the
calamitous events of life. In coming
face 70 face with danger they see how
frail they are physically. AS death seems
about 10 usher them into eternity they
begin 10 think how they will stand in the
day ofjudgment
Then also there are those who are
awakened under the alarming influence
of the preached word. The word of God
in its purity is an effective instrumental
ity in awakening the lost. God has de-
signed through the"foolishnesso o, preach
| ing" TO convert them that believe. Many
| thousands have been awakened to take a
retrospective view e. ,neir life under the
faithful dispensing of the gospel OF the
have been so strongly moved upon by
the Spirit of the Lord to take their stand
and move TO the mercy seat, that they
have taken hold with both hands the
back of their seat to resist the drawings
of the Spirit of the Lord under the
preaching of the word. Frequently when
thus awakened men betake themselves
to false refugas-to refugees of lies.
Some seek refuge under partial ref
orma,on. They resolve that they will
do better and live differently. By sign
ing pledge, or, perhaps, by breaking off
the more outward expressions of sin,
they hope finally to gain heaven.
Some say they do not want TO plunge
into the question of religion as many do
who profess christianity, so they resolve
to do better in quiet, conservative way.
Doing better is well, but it will not an
swer before Almighty God. Many stop
when they feel little better. As soon as
a man moves out in the right direction a
man breaks Off the grosser sins of his life
his conscience will approve his actions
and the Spirit of God will endorse him as
far as he has gone, but it is only partial
reformation of life.
There are those who take upon them
selves a general regard for Christian NOR
ality-those who have been very wicked
and outspoken against the religion of
the Bible. In sense, the Spirit has
moved upon them and they eel their
guilt. They begin to lessen up in their
transgressions, and have general regard
for christianity. They will probably at
tend The religious services. Before they
had given the means of grace but trifling
consideration, but now, awakened under
the light of the Spirit OF God, they cease
to speak against it, but rather speak in
favor and give some consideration to re-
ligious matters.
Again, there are those who take upon
themselves mere outward profession Of
religion. The larger proportion seek
refuge behind tho pale Of the church.
There are those who imagine that if they
can only work themselves up to the point
where they can step out in public way
and represent themselves TO be followers
of Jesus, that they may have a warrant
of safety for the world to come. There
are very many who imagine thai the sal
walton of the gospel consists of only an
outward, bold profession of religion
before the world. A man may profess
religion before the world. man may
profess religion and not possess it. Jesus
spoke in emphatic ierms TO thescribes and
Pharise calling them hypocrites, and
comparing them to "white sepulchres." :"
They were beautiful on the outside,
but inwardly they were filled with dead
mems bones. There are those who have
been reared within the pale of the church.
} In their infancy they were carried TO its
alters and put through man-made cere-
monies. They have been confirmed and
baptised, which gives them church re-
latiOnshp. No matter bow wicked they
may have been in later years, they cling
to that as their hope of heaven. This
state of affairs may be largely accounted
for from the fact that the ministry of The
3 day is largely in backslidiug condition.
The popular ministers to-day are seek
ing TO gather numbers into the church,
and to carry TO conference report Of a
large increase in membership. They i'm
= agine the strength of the church consists
,. in the number that enter 1t. If they can
succeed in getting numbers they have
accomplished the end they had in view.
y, They say, "Come with us and we will dc
thee good" As result the church is filled
2 with men and women who have no
knowledge ofthe power of God to save
. from sin.
T'bo-a ara tIogo ,,.t,s, , 80. - III. Iii. !