The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-29

There Is q sense In which sinners may be con
vertcd more than once. The need to rctur1,
| to the Saviour whom they have greatly aric,cd
and denied. They need TO do the FIRST works
We are not taught here. or clswhcre in tn.
| Bible that any true child OF God may become a
| a child Of the devil. II ever that could he tue
| 1t was true in the ease OF Simon Peter. Indeed
/ Jesus rcbukcd him on one occasion with bitter.
biining words: "Gc thee behind Me, satan,
| thou art an oiicnsc unto me-"
| But yet st. Peter was Christian for We
have Christs own word for IL that Ills ,lcciplc',
faith had not failed and would not fail. There
| Is not much comfort IN tlic doc,rnc that one
may br child Of God today. and child oi
the deyol tomorrow, and thus alternate ones re
| ationship TO oir Heavenly Father. 30 not
| find any such doctrine either In Holy Scripture
or in right reason But rcconvcrsion in the
sense Of u return to Christ and rruon.c,ra
| ton to His saviour was prime necessity Oh
| the part of Simon Peter, and ii Is prime ne.
ccssiiy on the part OF many protesting Chris.
tians today.
Thcic arc multitude. of Clrist's disciples who
must rehcw their allegiance to Him before they
cen br "f much us IN fighting the Lords bat.
tics. or in the building Of Gods kingdom. A,r
dlew did !, great service 20 tie church OF Cod
when he found his brother Simon AMI brought
him 10 jesus. Br Simon never WIS so true
to his Saviour as hc was after his second con.
version.
ro bring sinners to Christ in the first instance
j. work iha. must never be neglected. II l.
Chiis,ly woik. But to use every means in our
power to restore wanderers. and TO reclaim back.
sdcrs. and TO arouse and icvivity those profess.
ing Christians WHO are IN a state OF spiritual
c,nla, this, too. is Christly work, and II must
not be neglected
THE CHRISTIANS OBLIGATION.
"Whcn thou are converted. strengthen thy
brethren" The church Of Christ has good rca.
son to THANH her King and Head for ihc recon-
version OF Simon Peter. lie carried out Chris,'s
brethren. See linn and hear him in the day of
rcntccost! Soc him and hear him before tn.
Sanhcdrim. Read his life and letters and note
his fidelity to Christ. and how boldly, and how
constantly, and how successfully he preached
the ylorioii, Gospel of the blessed God.
When a soul is converted first last. it is the
delight Of that soul to cling to Christ. and to
work for Christ. and TO proclaim witt renewed
zeal and fervor, the riches of His redceming
love. 1t is the Psamist who says: "ltcstorc
unto mo the joy of thy salvation, and quicken
me by thy Spirit; then will teach trLnsgrcss
ors thy ways. and sinners shall he converted
urto thee"
Tie declaration is true that as in the case of
David and of ST. peter. so there is in the case
of all trouc Christians, One who at this mo-
ment. is offering His prayer that their faith may
not fail hut that they may come off Victorious
And when our spirits are revived II will seem
not only duty but pleasure and privilege
to support those whose faith has faltered in the
hour Of temptation: for those who have known
what it is to he tried themselves. are hc,tcr
prepared to sympathizc with and to strengthen
others.