Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1913-05-22

~ SWeI WOuiu nav
been uniformly:
ITO be redeemed
from sin through the blood Of the
Lord Jesus Christ" But In this day
that answer is not given by many. and
because OF this we believe II important
to consider the question. which 10
vital.
The goal OF salvation with very
many. and indeed. with almost all. 10
getting TO heaven-if a man gets to
heaven he is saved Presenting that
the answer is correct. and barring the
advent OF Jesus Christ. which will pre-
clude the necessity OF the Christian
dying and his soul going to heaven as
they now do. We may endorse that po-
sition. Let US note here some OF the
conceptions OF salvation that men now
hold. and OF which we hear them
speak. but are a part OF personal con-
victlon: In some cases. however. moth
Ing more than feeling In speaking
Of this we would not impugn the sin
certify OF those who hold them. but
y, are convinced that many OF them
are fatally mistaken. We have only
space to note three OF these excep-
tions
l. One man says: Man 10 saved
through the Inevitable operation of
evolution. Man has been placed upon
earth for the purpose of development.
and n he exists beyond this life that
development will continue until he
reaches perfection" That 10 q widely
received view. and the recent revival
OF the evolutionary theory a. devel-
oped In scientific investigations. has
largely strengthened II. Such writers
as Alfred Tennyson. who speaks OF
that period Far on. At last. to all"
etc. have largely strengthened the
idea. and II Is known that evolution
AIRY preachers. II they do not general
ly deny the salvation taught by Paul.
as some do. so emphasize evolution
that the salvation OF man IL involved
in the principle. and consequently
nothing else Is needed.
II. Many indulge the conception
that man Is saved by right living. but
just at this point OF right living there
is difference OF opinion as to what
We mean. Many promptly say It
means doing what IL right. but DO not
define the word right We must have
some criterion Of Judgment. and We
inquire for that. Many, II pressed.
will say. II Is acting In accordance
with the teachings Of the Bible. but
here again there is difficulty. for many
only consider the teaching of the
Bible with reference to their relation
ship to their fellow men. and they
claim that IL they act honestly In their
dealings with their fellow men. or as
has been recently said. give every
man a square deal. they are acting in
accordance with the teachings OF the
Scripture. Bat, II a man Is honest.
must he not consider more than his
fellow men? Does he not have God.
who Is the author OF the Bible. to
deal with, Is there nothing owing to
him. aside from honesty In our deal
ings with our fellow men? What
about high morals that are really per
that are made upon men as to the
worship OF God. the dissemination OF
religious truth. the individual religious
life. involving the study OF Gods
word. prayer. etc? II must be re
membered that God has presented US
a complete chain OF obligations, and
IL there is a single link missing. the
chains strength Is gone.
Ill. In these days there is a wide
spread conception that q church con
nection. or church life. 10 the essence
OF salvation. consequently multitudes
are easily persuaded to connect with
the church. and to adopt q more OIL
less faithful church life. We have nc
time TO call attention to the masters
welLknown denunciations OF the
churehism Of his day. OF the tithiny Of
mint. anise and cummin. or Paufi
teachings touching mere churchism In
his day. The religion OF Christ anc
the apostles was the religion that mus
have not only the shell Of profession
but 1t must have the kernel OF reality
before God. AT the Easter season
through which We have recently
passed. there Ii much need for carr
at this point. profession must mean
performance. The religion of the
street corner. and the public place
must have the counterpart OF the Sc
cret closet, the hour OF communion
with God in the study OF his word and
prayer
Here is the main issue, and a re
cent writer has In true and beautiful
lines presented the thought in connec
ton with holy communion:
savior divine. o evermore abide
In my cold heaf.l Redeemer. biesset
4 Lord.
BY all the powers IN heaven and esrsl
When flowed the dear blood from Tn,
wounded side
BY God forsaken and by man denied
Why was the crimson stream thus free.
ly poured.
II man by love was not to be restored
o, mighty theme, that doth debase my
pride:
And cast contempt on all the thing. o.
Earth:
II angels are not faaitiess in His sight
OF what account are we. who. from oul
birth,
Wander afar from heaven. and heaven,
dear light
Yet Il was not for them. but ~ II.
And with Him all our sins ar. cruci
nedr'
-Rockwsll