Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-10-23
A DeplorabIe Condition (2)

In passing through this lfo ono is
likely to hear many things that arc not
always, and undor all circumstances
pleasant to hear, neither arc they always
true. But Christian people should have
their hearts and their tongues so conso-
Grated to tho Lord Jesus Christ that
whatever thoy say may do good, and
good only. Alas, that such is not always
the case, oven with many people who
claim to bo living on a plain of sinlcss
perfection!
neither do write this for revenge, for
Vengeance is of God''; He will repay,
and Ho will also adjust all wrongs. But
do feel that justice to tho cause of
Christ, to my own denomination and to
Christian friends of other denominations
calls upon mo to cmphatically contra
dict some public assertions recently made
by some members Of tho so.callod "holi-
ness movement"
A few nights ago 1, in company with
some friends, went to n tent meeting.
Ono of their mcmbcrs, Q suppose q
prcachc), in tcstifying, gavo his reason
for leaving tho Baptist and Methodist
churches. lie said that he left tho Bap-
tlst church because Jesus Christ had lott
1T; that he went out right after jesus
llo also said that he went into tho Moth
odist church in search of Christ, but had
failed to find Him there. Probably he
was mistaken in tho person who went
out, and on failing to find the ono who
had left the Baptist church, decided that
Jesus was not in the Methodist church
either. IT not mistaken, he must havo
been following, like Peter, "afar or"
Otherwise he would have known whethc or
Jesus was in the Methodist church or
not without going in. lie, with others
OF his persuasion, doubtless knows that
the church, under whatever name, is an
organized band of baptized believers in
tho Lord Jesus Christ. and that if, as hc
claimed, Jesus has left tho above named
churches, then lIo has left us alone. A
deplorable condition indccd
But from Hebrews 1895 wo learn that
the Lord, in speaking to Christians, has
said, 81 will never leave thee nor forsako
theo." Thank God for that little word
"nover," which means at no time. From
this | conclude that if Jesus has ever
been in tho Baptist or Methodist churches
IAN indisputablc fact, and one which this
man admits to bo true, for IIo could not
have gone out Of them had Ho not boon
in them), Ile is still in them to-day and
Will remain in them throughout al ages
to come; otherwise Ills assertion referred
to above would be falsc--a thing impos-
sible with God.
AS he took his seat somo one began
singing tho song, "My Sins arc all Taken
Away Almost every person under tho
tent seemed to engage in singing this
beautiful song. When the singing ceased
wc were at once told that many of us
had been lying to God in singing this
song. OF course they believed t Vt all
who were not members of thc'. band
were guilty Of this infamous charge,
while great many, If not all Of those
who do not believe in state OF sinless
perfection hcro on earth, havo, with
equally as much proprioty, tho same
belief concerning them.
ii is very probable, if not absolutely
true, that such language has never and
will never be means of drawing souls
to Christ. 1t rather has tendency to
drive them away, and is, therefore,
wrong.
Within a few minutes another song
was suggested by their ministers, and
with tho suggestion, ho stated, that
everybody, both saint and sinner, could
truthfully sing this song This latter
song vas tho old familiar hymn contain
ing the words: "He promised never to
This promise is to Christians, of course,
but he claimed it to be applicable to ali
classes, saying omphatcally that Jesus
would never leave even a sinner
would suggest that ho take n vaca-
ton and read his Bible, especially such
passages as Matthew 1921, Mark 3:20, 80,
Ephcsans 1:l0, Hebrews 1871 and Gcno,
sis 6:3. by so doing he will learn that
there is an objectionable SIM that Gods
spirit will not always strive with man,
but that there may como a time when
Jesus will cease to knock at tho sinners
heart and take his everlasting r. hit,
leaving him lost, lost, lost, for all mo
and eternity!
by spending few moments each day
in the study of these and other similar
passages ho will learn that it is false to
claim that Jesus will mover leave sin
ncr. If ho fully believes what ho clai med
that night, viz: "That Jesus will never
leave, oven a sinner," thcn / suggest
that he himself stop singing tho last
named song lost ho be found guilty of
tho samo accusation so Indignantly
thrust at us.
A man who is in tho habit of taking
refuge in glass house should DO very
careful not to throw stono calculated
to arouse a righteous indignation. (Epho-
SLAMS d:28.)
His refuge might got brokon.
j. G. HUFF.
Seneca, October 81.