The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1912-02-09

day" (Timothy 1:12). From l John
5:13 we learn that God intends that
all his children shall know whose
children they are. John 81 teaches
the same doctrine of assurance: Be
hold, what manner Of love the father
hath bestowed upon us. that we
should be called the children OF Co.,
and such we are"
1t is not important that one should
know when he became a CHRISTIAN
but it is very important that he
should know that he is a Christian.
Those who have been converted IN
childhood often have no recollection
of the time when they were convert
ed, but 1t is not necessary that they
should 1t Is necessary. however
that they should know that they are
converted, If they are to have any
JOY or efficiency In Christian work.
There are three unmistakable proofs
of the believers sonship
1. The witness of Gods word. Re-
member that forgiveness OF sin Ia
something which takes place In the
mind of God. and not in the emotion
al nature Of the believer. Our first
and best evidence Of any such trans
action then, must be the testimony OF
God Himself. II He names certain
conditions upon which He will for
give sin, and l comply with these con-
ditions. I know that my sins are for
given because | have Gods word for
1t. II accept Jesus Christ as my
personal Savior. know that l have
become a child OF God because Gods
word affirms It. 1t Is not question
of how feel. but of what God says.
The feeling may be wholly lacking.
and yet the transaction may be none
the less real.
DR.. A. J. Gordon was once dealing
with a lady who claimed to have &C.
copied Christ. but who did not feel
saved. All efforts to help her were
unsuccessful until finally he asked II
she owned the house in which she
lived. She said she did do you
have a certain at home feeling In
this house which you do not have in
you know the house Is yours" Ger
tainly not. | suppose might feel as
much at home in house which was
not mine. IL lived in 1t long enough. "
How then do you know that this
house Is yours" Because have the
deed which conveys the property to
me. and have read 1t with my one
eyes," you are sure that this house
is your because the record says so?"
yes" And you would be Just as
sure even If you did not have that
peculiar at home feeling of which
you speak," IT think so. The feel
ing is very pleasant. but It Is NO
proof of ownership"
Now If you could see a deed by
which God had given to you eternal
life. would you believe the record -
81 certainly would" Would tina,
record be sufficient to convince you
without additional evidence?" 81
think 1t would" He then asked bel
to read l.. John Sill. ~. "And this Is
the record that God hath given to us
eternal life. and this life is in His
Son. He that hath the Son hath life;
and he that hath not the Son hath nal
life" When she had read the verses
he asked her If she knew that she
was saved, and she said. 81 do" Be
cause have Gods Word for It,"
2. The witness Of the Spirit tRo
mans 8:16) THE Spirit Himself
beareth witness with our spirit. thai
we are the children OF God" Let i
be clearly understood that the wit
ness of Gods Word is sufficient tt
prove that one is child of God, anc
IL one does not believe this witness
he makes God liar Il. John 5:10)
However the believer is entitled alst
to the witness of the Spirit. the con
scious realization that he is q child O
God, and he should not rest satisfied
until he has 1t. 1t Is a part of hi.
inheritance in Jesus Christ. and If h,
has not received 1t. he should rever
emily but persistently inquire the rea
son why. "He that hath My com
mandments and keepeth them
I will manifest Myself to him" (JohI
14:2D.
g. The fruit of the spirit (Gal
5:22). THE fruit of the Spirit is love
Joy, peace. long-suffering. gentleness
goodness. faith. meekness. temper
ance." This is the evidence which
our neighbors will appreciate most
and which ought to be apparent to all
1t does not appear all at once. how
ever. for fruit grows. and growth re-