Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-01-11
HOW TO BE HAPPY.
The New Birth - Practical
Christian Living.

Prov. 5:22. 'His own iniauitie
shall take the wicked himself, an
he shall be holden with the cord
; of his sim" Many persons hav
= tried to break those cords and t
get free, sometimes by signin
pledges, and sometimes by maxim
good resolutions. Did they sue
ceed? No, failure every time, an,
there will be failure till you tax,
Jesus Christ who stands ready L
come to your aid just so soon a
you will permit Him. He cal
break these cords and make yol
free. He only is able to quicker
US to life. Friends, we canno
control ourselves, and the practi
cable, the only sensible thing fol
us to dc, is to submit to Him who
is able and willing to do it for us,
We venture to say that today il
is the judgment of every man who,
especially at this season of the
year, makes resolutions to reform,
that he ought to DO this. There
are very few indeed when spoken
to but say 81 intend to begin the
service of Jesus Christ at some
time" The mistake they make
is in not deciding to begin now.
Why delay? "The heart is de-
ceitful above all things, and des
perately wicked" and "the way
of the wicked seduceth him." 1t
is true, the way many are living is
seducing them, and if they contin-
ue it, where will it end? For sin
due time, their feet shall slide. 4"
They appear to stand now for a
season, but the time is coming
when, if they go on in the evil
way, their feet will slide beyond
recovery. These are Gods truths.
and the deceptions of the devil.
There are various reasons given
for not beginning the christian
life. II fear | cannot hold out"
God promises to hold you with his
right hand. When a man COM
mits himself to Jesus Christ, and
trusts in Hin, who is mightier
than sin or habit or satan, what
has he to fear? Christ is almighty.
He will give victory over every
SIM" Having begun a good
work in you, He will perform it,
until the day OF Jesus Christ"
Men think they will have to give
up a great deal and that there will
be a great many trials in the new
christian life of faith and trust
Provision is made for every emer-
gecny. "Lo, l am with you al
way" 81 will never leave you
nor forsake you" True christians
talk of christian life as
having many trials in it, but there
are not nearly SO many trials as
there are in the service of satan.
Christians who talk of self -deni-
al in their lives make a mistake.
Is it self-denial to give up a bad
thing for a good one? To give up
a guilty conscience, and to take a
conscience which is purged from
sin? To give away a sinful heart
aud sinful life, ard have a life
sealed with Christ is God? Why |
not be practical in regard to
this matter? We are sensible in
relation to any business enterprise
(water and water works, electric
lights, etc. but foolish in relation
to our duty to God. Instead of
trusting in resolutions made in
your own strength, bring your sim
ful hearts and your love of sin
right to the loving savior, and he
will implant within you a new ma
ture-give you that new birth from
above without which no man can
enter into the kingdom of God. A
man said 30 that Gold would give
me peace of conscience. | would
give all my money if | only had
peace OF soul" =" and there has come
Or will come such a time in the
history of each one, when they
will long for that peace of conscience
Jesus offers it to you today. No
what hold satan may have
bad upon you, enter heartily into
he service of Christ and live a
new life. To all who will do so
We can say Happy New Year, for
no one can be truly happy apar;
from Jusus Christ. VIOLET.
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