Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-06-09
WITNESS BEARING.

The confession of Christ is more inn
portant hi the comfort of Christians.
We are not here to have an easy time
In life. 1t Is by no means essential that
we be untroubled in spirit and in body.
It is essential, though, that we confess
Jesus Christ as our Saviour. To do so
may put us at variance with friends:
1t may bring Town upon US the wrath
of the world; bu none of these things
count. The saints Of old encountered
them at the fiery stake M at the Jaws
OF Wild beasts. Rising above all con-
alterations of u personal comfort are
the claims of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Confession helps to conquest. 1t is
easier to serve God II we boldly fly his
coiors from the outset. Taking a de-
cided stand for him helps us to win
others to him. When we are known as
his friends we have increased oppor-
tunities to do his service. God likes to
send on his errands the servants who
are not ashamed of his livery.
What will people say?" our faint
hearts question when we are urged to
confess the Saviour. How much we
care for people? What matters 1t
what people say? They'll say very lit
tie unless we show cowardice and then
they will speer at us. Let us give over
trying to regulate u lives by what
people say. Their opinions are OF small
consequence. Rather let US ask:
What will God say?" How will he re-
gard our confession of his Son? What
will he think of our failure to confess
that Son.?
We may think 1t unimportant that
we confess Christ before men. yet we
shall think 1t tremendously important
that Christ confess us before his Faith
err and the holy angels. One depends
upon the other.
A tonic for weak hearted disciples
may be found in the perusal Of the book
Of the Acts Of the Apostles. Those
early Christians saw clearly the truth
that loyalty to Jesus was first; SO in
the teeth of Jews and Romans, coun-
ellis and governors. they declared their
adherence to the Name. Prisons and
enough, but none of these things moved
them. Nothing could turn them aside
from the confession of their Lord.
There 10 n virtue which in ruder
states Of society In counted q substitute
for many other virtues. This IL loyalty.
The man who stands by his friends il
counted pretty much Of q man, even
though he be q thief or a murderer.
Loyalty is a. quality variously inter-
preted. but It il q trait of all true men.
It characterized Jesus Christ through
V0c NOW sS CAPS~t8 bOydsSy Vi A10
friends. He asks that they be true to
him through thick and thin. He has
given the fullest proofs Of his love to
them: In return he reasonably asks
that they confess him Al their friend
and Saviour. Simply loyalty requires
this. and Jesus II worthy Of 1t.
Confession II IN aid to constancy. It
Il easier toanoep o. Christ's side after
taking . stand there. When we are
known q Christ's we have less tempta-
ton to b untrue to him.
60metln1os stlence il treason: the
world must Rad the gospel in living
epistleA.
Confession may be . cross. but It II
the way to q crown.
The art OF speaking the word In sea-
sou must b learned by an who would
win men.
Let the redeemed Of the Lord say
%" The voice Of such praise ana teS.
ttmou$ = heard y dad musto "a the
courts q Aeavsa, Wyea hayV teVN s.