Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-22

manded, and you are sure Of salvation. we
are often asked. do you believe in heart
felt religion?' Certainly. If mans relig-
ion is not of the heart, it is not Of Christ.
Yet we do not believe in mysticism we
believe in what the Bible calls heart re-
ligion. The Bible says we think and rea-
son within our hearts, by which the intel
lect is meant The Bible says we love and
hate within our hearts, and here the ref
erence is to the affections. 1t also says we
purpose within our heart. The reference
here is TO the will. SO when man is con-
verified he is completely changed IN INTEL
lect. affections and Will.
Faith changes his way of thinking; re-
pentance his will, and baptism his state,
and all combined change his relation to-
ward God, and make him a Christian. To
many conversion is some mystery that
no one can understand. Conversion is
SIMPLY a change. In grammar we speak
Of converting the subject and predicate,
which means that we change their posi-
ton. In logic we convert the terms and
premises. II we say a man has been con-
verted to prohibition, all understand US.
But when we say he has been converted to
Christ, many connect with that act the
miraculous.
He who has honestly believed upon the
Lord, repented of his sins. confessed
Christ publicly, and been baptized. has
put on Christ. and hence has been con-
.verted. No one needs wait for voice
from heaven, or a divine call. Jesus said
leone unto me-" That is a divine call.
II Is Just as divine as II Jesus stood here
today, or as If an angel spoke out or
heaven. A son quarreled with his rather
and went away from his fathers house.
Years passed, when the old father wrote:
my son. come home. will give you the
old mansion on the hill. Mother wants
you to come, Enclosed find my check Tor
$50. I will make it possible for you to
come" The son, who had become
drunken wretch, was sitting in the shadow
Of a western hotel when the letter reach
ed him. As he read the letter tears cours-
ed down his checks. Said he: "Oh, l
want to 90 home. / would like to see my
father, whom I love. but I do not know
that he wants me to come. True. here
is the money. He asks me to come, he
has made It possible. and says come, but
1 cannot trust his word. II was sure
he wanted me would go. I will go and
get my friends to petition to father to let
me come, then will write him prayer.
asking him to let me come home" He
goes to five men, who write long petitions:
then the son writes: Father, / received
your letter. You told me to come home
but pray you to let me come" In a
rev Gays the letter redCneS the AdlhSA' Ills
hand trembles as he breaks the seal. The
first petition is from a stranger. the sec
ond and on to the fifth. Then he reads the
letter from his son. and says: Mother.
our son is either insane or else he mocks
our word. We told him to come, and
now he writes that he does not know that
we want him to come. He does not be-
Iieve our word" Today many persons
instead OF taking Jesus at his word and
coming at once. are praying God TO let
them come. Others shout and agonize
and quarrel with God because he does
not send convicting power. when Jesus
said, Come, for all things are now
ready" # you believe him accept him at
The Holy Spirit.
We believe in the personality OF the
Holy Spirit. He is not an emotion, or a
sentiment, but a thinking intelligence.
He can be grieved, rejected or resisted.
In conversation the spirit operates
through the word. He has told US what
to do to be saved. God has ordained that