The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-02-27
FULTON COUNTY NEWS.
Why Are You Not A COMMUNICATE I?

the Christian Instructor, publishe In
1851, a copy OF which was handed us
few days ago by Mrs. David Fulton
of Ayr township. Read it carefully,
and thoughtfully. BE honest with
yourself. Does It not contain much
truth?-ED1TOR.
You are convinced of the truth
of the Bible, aud the binding au-
thority of its precepts. You be-
lieve the Christian church to be a
divine institution, and its ordi-
nances obligatory. You believe
that Christ issued command
that all should obey, when he
said, "This do in emembrance of
me-" Why have you not obeyed
it? Why are you yet outside of
the visible chnrch? Let us exam
inc some of the pleas commonly
urged.
ga man can be as good a Chris
tian out of the church as in it. "
If so, why did Christ found the
church? Why did he make con-
fession before men as obligatory
as faith towards God? Can that
man be a good christian, who dis.
obeys Christ? And, has not
Christ enjoined a duty, which can
be performed only within the
church? if you have never been
in the church, can you be q good
Judge of this question? But God
has not left it an open question.
He has required you to confess
Christ before men in this very
way. Can you then be a Chris
tian, and disobey this commando"
81 have no faith or obedience. +"
But are younot bound to believe
and obey? And can the failure
in these duties excuse the failure
in that one? Can one sin justify
another? Has not God offered
you the grace needful to enable
you to believe and obey? and can
youplead yourneglecting Christ's
command? Is not this simply an
aggravation of your guilt, rather
than an extenuation of it?
81 am not certain that l am a
christian. "
You are not asked to profess
this fact, but simply to confess
your faith in Christ, your sincere
repentance of all your sins, your
hope of acceptance through
Christ alone, and your solemn de
termination, by the grace of God,
TO take up your cross and follow
Christ. Are you ready to do this?
If not, is not the particular in
which you are not ready, sin?
81 am unworthy to come to the
Lords table. "
But are you not unworthy to
pray, to sing, to read the Bible,
to hear the gospel? Are you not
unworthy to live on Gods earth,
and breathe God s air, and enjoy
Gods bounties? But does this
unworthiness prevent you from
enjoying these privileges and at
tempting these duties? Why
make this duty of confessing
Christ and communing, an ex-
ception?
81 am afraid l will bring re-
proach on the cause of Christ"
Ifyou really are alive to the well
fare Of Christ's cause, why not
look at your present relation to
it? Does not that injure it? Has
not Christ said, "He that is not
with me, is against me-" And
is not your example urged against
the cause of Christ, as far as it
has any weight? You may be
moral, upright, and blameless,
but this very fact makes your ex-
ample more potent in proving that
Christ's institutions and com
mands are superhuous, in the es-
innate of the unbelieveing. Your
morality is placed to the credit of
the world and the enemies OF
Christ, and used as reproach
against the church. Ungodly
men point to you as proof that
there is more goodness out of the
Church than in it. Are you not
then even now bringing reproach
on that cause? But are you sure
thatthis is not pride? Ifyou could
be an eminent Christian, so that
men would praise YOU for VOur