Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-12-08

glided through his mind. not one has been
tainted with corruption. and shed blight
upon hts innocence and hopes? Oh! must
not that man be pfesumptuous who can
fiatter himself OF all this? Would you
reckon him among those that may justly
put in a claim to salvation?
And must not the number OF men who
expect salvation on such grounds be ex-
ceedingly small?
Well then. IL is not upon a plea of un-
furnished innocence OF life that the great
body OF Christians can hope for saliva
tion: For we all have sinned and need
the glory of God"
What hopes remain but that we found
our claims upon a life Of repentance?
We trust that we have expiated our Of
lenses by penance, and that as often as
we relapse during the remainder of our
lives we shall do the same But when l
examine the word of God. and the prac-
tice OF His servants, look around In vain
for something to correspond in the lives
of those who trust to this plea. there
find the sinner exhorted to return to the
Lord in fasting in weeping and In mourn
ing and reminded even after his sin has
been propitiated not to rely too securely
upon its forgiveness see David, after
one crime, watering his couch with his
tears and begging OF God ever more and
more TO wash him from his iniquities and
cleanse him from his sins. protesting that
they were always before his eyes, and
that he has even held himself ready for
the stripes which his justice might in
hict. 1 see the publican, proposed as
model OF repentance, standing without the
temple, pronouncing himself unworthy to
raise his eyes to heaven; Zaccheus. con-
verted sinner distributing his whole prop
erty among the poor and those he had in
jured I see Peter rushing out from the
hall OF the high priests to weep for his
denial reckless OF the SCOTS OF those who
had so easily terrified him into his Of
Tense, and fearless OF the danger to his
very life, as a follower of Christ. see
Magdalen, contemning the sneers OF the
Pharisees, and setting at naught the
usual decencies OF society, and disf1guring
her beauty. and spending her substance,
and humbling her person, when II was
necessary to expiate her guilt and OBJ
tain forgiveness at the feet of Jesus.
see the penitents In the early ages of
Christianity. undergoing years of public
penance for one offense, PROSTATE at the
doors OF the church, soliciting the prayers
OF the meanest among the faithful. cover
ing their limbs with sackcloth and sprtnk-
ling their heads with ashes; yet, after
this. afraid to be received into the COM
munity Of the church, for fear that their
guilt might be yet unforgiven This is
word of God and the practice % His
saints and is this so common as to afford
a grounded hope that many will be saved
in consequence OF leading It? Say that
this was more than was necessary to
regain their innocence. Yet the words
which I have quoted are the words OF
God; the first examples which have
given are approved in Scripture, the prac-
tees Of the church were prescribed by
the Apostles. We must, therefore, sup
pose either that God requires less now
than He used to do in former times to Sc
cure the salvation of a penitent sinner,
or that there is little to hope for those
who trust to the ordinary repentance of
our days. But, be It as you say, IL that
were too much, something at least has to
be performed. Some difference must be
expected between the lines of those who
have never offended God and those who
have offenses to expiate. Their prayers
should be doubled, their fasts more rigor-
Gus, their ctrcumspection more marked,
their conduct more humble. But could we
when looking around us upon the world
for one moment suspect from any OF these
signs that we are living in the midst OF
men who, conscious OF once having for
feited their claim to salvation by sin, are
leading a life on which they intend to
establish a new title as a life OF true PEN
itents7
To this conclusion. then. we are neces-
sarily forced: That the number Of those
who lead a life OF innocence is very small;
that the number of those who lead a life
OF penance Is hardly greater How fright
fully small, then, must be the number Of
the elect, who can only be composed OF
these two classes Another consideration
is no less striking and appalling. The
gospel describes but two paths which are
trodden by men of very different charac-
ters and OF very opposite tendencies.
wide is the gate and broad is the
way that leadeth TO destruction. and many
there are who enter by II. How narrow is
the gate and straight is the way which
leadeth to life, and few there are who find
it." Matt. VII, 1910. 1t informs us that
the way is rugged painful and disagree
able; that those who walk in it deny their
own Wills. take UP their crosses and track
the bloody footsteps OF a cruciaed Sa-
viour; that they weep while the world
rejoices; that prosecutions and revilings
were Of their Master. They are described
as men given to prayer and accustomed
TO mortify the deeds OF the flesh.
The law which they follow prescribes
that they be meek and forgfving, just and
charitable humble and obedient, temper
ate and chaste.
Where. then, are these? Where are the
the mass of mankind moving on In one
undistinguished crowd; all following the
same laws; all seeking the same pleasures.
What road then do they tread? Towards
which gate do they advance? I see no
thorns upon their path, no ruggedness
to hurt their tread. Are they. then, the
followers of a mortified and prosecuted
leader7 I see no tear in their eye, no af-
Fiction on their countenance. Are they
the disciples Oh a suffering and crucifed
Master? / see no apprehension in their
looks, no timidity in their steps. Are they
the worshippers OF just and terrible
God? Obi my brethren, IL the gospel be
not a fable, If the words of the Son of
God be not vain and empty, who are these
but the many that crowd and push one
another forward, on the broad and
spacious way of perdition? If then these
form the bulk OF mankind and show not
IN their lives the marks of the true Chris
tian, how awful the conclusion which we