The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-15
REMOVAL.

latEer numerical increase in church
membership than for any one year of two
decades past. If this were due to the
popular and easy methods by which GER
tain professional evangeiists seek to in
duct men into the kingdom of God. the
numbers would count nothing. They would
prove "a deiuSton and Ct snare. But
there has been much less OF this than for
merry. and growing disposition to re-
turn to the old Gospel methods of repent
ance and conversion. There has certainly
been no abatement of activity in any OF
the departments of church work. even
those of an eVanGeliStiC character. Mis-
sionary effort at home and abroad is en-
listing the conSecrated energy of thu
church as never before. 1t may be that
in cur broader schemes of Christian be-
nevoIence we are not giving as muck
attention as we should to direct personal
effort for the salvation Of souls.-Chris-
tian Advocate.
II believe in the forgiveness of sins
This familiar sentence, so often repeated
with no thought
THE FORGIVENESS nor application OF
OF SINS. its Importance, OF
as to it's connec-
ton with the life everlasting in the
sentence following this fact of the for.
gtyeness of sins was one of which
Luther was reminded while passing
through the long struggle of darkness
which ended in his spiritual life and
emancipation. It's suggestion from OLD
monk. in substance, was: You believe
this: you say you believe it: why not ape
ply it? Why not apply it to your owis
sins as well as to those of otherS?"
The suggestion touched the real point Oh
his difficulty. And it had its influence IL
producing the effect desired the light
and peace of Divine acceptance. As 4
forgiven sinner he could joyfulIy preach
to others of its reception; as to the man
ner in which it came and the biessedness
connected with its assurance. The con-
fession. as it had been used in old times.
a form OF dead words as afterwards re-
peated. was a living one: full of life TO
himself. as a proclamation of life and
peace 10 others.-Southeru Churchnan-
In concluding an article on the Pass,
over, the Religious Herald says: But tho
Passover as has ak
SIGNIFICANCE. OF ready been intimat.
THE PASSOVER, ed, was also II rrC-
phecy. 1t foreshaGG
owed Gods purpose To deliver from y
worse than Egyptian bondage Il people
for himself. All Gods early deitveranceA
were prophecies OF the ultimate reGemp
ton of those VINO tbsy I!ILl l'ttt !i!'is
than this, the Apostle Paul sees i'll this
sacrificial work OF Jesus Christ fuItIh
ment of the thought which was but
dirnly expressed in the paschaI lamb
Saws he: Christ. our Passover. IS sac
rificed FOR US" q Cor. '. u This Is
the blood of spriukIing that speaketh
better things There is, therefore now
no condemnation to them that are ia
Christ Jesus He that eateth my dest.
add 0rinketh my blood" says the Lord.
hath everlasting life; for my flesh is
meat indeed, and my blood IS drink in
deco
Let US not. then. think of the blood
on the door-post as OF some magic spell
which kept the death angel from the
door Rather let us think Of it as a mark
of obetlfent hearts within-of the fact OF
oneness between God and his people. ex-
pressed in a covenant of blood Nor IS
either of the Christian ordinances 10 DO
looked upon as having magical power TO
change a single spiritual fact. They arc
expressions Of the cbedient heart. re-
minders of central spiritual truths. pro-
phecies of the fuller life to come.