The Newtown bee., 1900-09-07
earnestness is the want of deep convic-

SoA AAOSsAS5S Ao SAAS V0Ao OA "OOR SOAVAS- tions,-convictions of truth and duty. A man without convictions is unstable and unreliable. A man who doesn't know what he believes is worse in the hour of trial than he who believes er- roneouely. You can't tell whether the former is friend or foe, while you know where and how to find the latter even though he be on the wrong side. You can fight one who is an open foe, but you can't fight man when you don't know whether he is friend or foe. There is no such thing as earnestness without deep convictions. A man must be fully con- vinced of the right of cause, he must have firm convictions as to the impor- tance of it's principles before he can give all his powers to promote the success of the cause. Deep, firmly set convictions form the backbone of character. One's convictions largely determine his earnest ness and conduct, for when one has deep convictions he will be earnest In their support, and his conduct will be the out. growth of this earnestness. Men give time, money, reputation and all to sup. port their political convictions. Men
 who had deep convictions as to the
 supreme authority of the Federal govern.
 ment sacrificed their lives and their sons
 lives to support those convictions. Men
 went to war few months ago because
 they were deeply convinced that Uncle
 Sam was duty bound to break the arm of Spanish oppression and tyranny in Cuba. say that
 ONES CONVICTIONS DETERMINE HIS EARNEsTNEss
 and conduct. And this is the true, the manly way. Those without deep con- victions have nothing to become enthusi- astic and earnest over. Know. nothing ism, inactivity, loose conduct and moral apathy are largely due to want of deep convictions. The religious inactivity of many church members, their want of earnestness is partly due to this same cause.
 To have deep religious convictions is to have the first great secret of Christian earnestness. If you would be earnest for God you must have deep convictions of truth and duty. The Bible and it's great doctrines must be firmly believed in. The Bible is Gods message to man. It points out the way from earth to heaven. It reveals the secret of freedom from the bondage of the law of sin and death. It is mans only unfailing chart by which he can safely and surely guide himself o'er life's sea. It is the inspired, authoritative revelation of the will and law of God. We must have deep con. victions az to the great realities of Gods word. We must know and believe. The spirit of the Bible must enter into the heart of the believer. The word must be absorbed. The Bible must be diligently studied in prayer and faith. There can be no continued earnestness for God without this. There cannot be any great and weighty convictions without this.
 We must have deep convictions of the immediate necessity and the certain pos. sibility of salvation ID JeEus Christ. We must know that there is no other name given among men whereby we can be saved. We must know that it is the su- preme work of each child of God to car ry the Gospel to dying men. The des- tiny of immortal souls is left to our keep ing. The character of earth, heaven and he'll will be affected by the way we discharge our duty. There must be deep conviction of our tremendous duty to God and man; duty to God because He demands 1t of us; duty to man because men are perishing for want of Christ, and we are to lead men to Christ. Study Gods message to you, pray nightly un- to heaven, seize upon the eternal truth of God, let deep, powerful convictions mas- ter your soul and you will be on fire for God, you will be filled with the spirit of divine earnestness. In this age of the higher criticism, of doubt, of uncertainty, of selfishness, the church needs deep con- victions of the great fundamental doc. trines and truths of christianity; indi- viduals need deep, penetrating convic- lions. This is the first great secret of for Christ. THE ONE WRo HAS DEEP CONVICTIONS himself to the support of these convictions. This is logical and it l