Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1913-09-11

Its and cultivate
good ones. read
the Bible and 40
HlN to church, be can
49, make himself a
Christian in a
short time. This is n mistake. The
Christian life Is not simply an i'm
provement OF the old life. but a DIFF
ferent kind OF life altogether. name
ly. life of obedience 70 Christ. Sup
pose you had sour apple tree which
you wished to convert into sweet
apple tree What would you do!
Would you dig about IL and prune Il
and scrape the bark, No. indeed. A
hundred years OF such Improvement
would not make the tree bear sweet
apples. but the introduction Of graft
from sweet apple tree would do il
very quickly. Even so a lifetime
spent In improving ones habits does
not make one a Christian. but the en-
trance OF Jesus Christ into the heart
by the surrender Of the will. will do II
In moment People do not become
Christians by improving their life.
but by accepting Jesus Christ lie
that hath the Son hath life: and he
that hath not the Son OF God hath not
life" q John 5:I2J
The word convert means 10 turn
about" As applied to spiritual things.
n means turning OF the soul unto
God. All we like sheep have gone
astray; we have turned every one TO
his own way" The real essence of
sin Is this. that the sinner Is de-
termined to have his own way. Il may
not be the worst way In the world II
may not be an immoral way. or a vi
Gods way. which he ought to follow.
The only course for the sinner to
pursue is TO turn about. to abandon
his way. and to accept Gods way
Let the wicked forsake bis way. and
the unrighteous man his thoughts. and
let him return unto the Lord. and he
will have mercy upon him Conver.
sion. then. Is a turning Of the soul
unto God. a surrender Of the will &c
the divine viii. an acceptance OF
Jesus Christ as cur Lord and Mastef
When the sinner. realizing the folly
OF further resistance. finally surren.
ders his will 70 the Lord Jesus. then
occurs q great change. God forgives
his sins. and 90 changes hIs heart that
henceforth be loves Gods way better
thnA h8n oUn vAy. n nav hart vii
N u,~s - go = 49, .plxs3 I'm ~
vthtn yoo-And I VII Put my spsrt
within you. and cause you 10 walk Il
my statutes (Ezek. 1875. ~. Tn,
sinner no longer has a controversy
with God. The great question Of If.
Is settled. and henceforth his aim 1.
70 know and do the will OF God. And
though he may fail and come short
OF his purpose again and again, ye,
50 long as he recognizes Jesus Christ
as his Lord and Master. and honestly
strives to obey him. so long is he a
converted man.
Not that the man is perfect, but he
Is on the way 70 perfection. Not that
he can overcome the habits Of a life.
time in a moment, but he recognizes
a new power In his life. ever the pow.
er and presence Of the Lord Jesus
Christ With his help he can conquer
his besetting sins. and build up a
Christian character. for he is not only
able to keep you from falling" but
able also to present you faultless be.
fore the presence Of his glory with
exceeding Joy" Jude 1.24l
The Word Of God Is a very effective
agency. Il Is Ike a mirror In which
Z fha atrvar saaa hfu,aaIe - -, III. l.
That is why Christ bids US preach
the gospel to every creature because
there Is life In Il The Word OF God
IL alive. and powerful. and sharper
than any two-edged sword One car
hardly read the Bible continuously
and not be made to realize that he ID
sinner and need a Savior
On one occasion a man said e
me: From the preaching which
heard in my boyhood was led TO sup
pose that when one became a Chris
ton. IL was necessary for him to &c
through some extraordinary process
called n change Of heart. or rexenera
ton This book which you have loan
ed me. teaches that what is required
4 y SIMPLY a VI k1srs NOW
will you please tell me which is right
and which is wrongf" replied:
They are both right: you could not
change your heart II you should try;
you could not make Il love what I,
naturally hated. could your" No.
suppose not" he said. But you could
change your purpose. could you not.
You could decide hencetorth to obey
the Lord Jesusf" Certainly" be re
piled. Well" said l. If you will
change your purpose and accept Christ
as your Savior. God will change your
heart and cause you TO love what once
you hated, and to hate what once you
loved" is that all there Is to it,H
said he. Certainly" I replied. He
lost no time In accepting Christ and
God gave him a new heart.
Now Is the accepted time; now Ia
the day OF salvation II you say. Il
want more time to think about it,
answer. What will you gain by wait.
ingf What have you gained by wait.
ing already No. friend. what you
need 10 not time but decision. You
know that you are a sinner, and that
Christ Is the only one who can save
you. The simple question Is. -wiIl
you accept him as your Savior," God
expects you to do IL. commands you to
90 it. and II IT is ever done. you are
the one who must do H.
I
None Has Monopoly In Prayer.