The chronicle=news., 1913-04-10
Union Gospel Meetings

| III Spite Vt tNf lUVI'HieHt ~NaiH''
III" auditorium OF the First Presby-
lterian church was comfortably
filled last evening. The services be-
gan AS usual with Young peoples
meeting in the primary room.
which was followed by a thirty min
uies' song service. led by Mr.. SHAFT
fer. intersperscd with scripture quo
ItGiions and prayers by those pres
ent. Rev. II. F. McChesney was the
speaker OF the evening. his theme
being The Separatsness OF the
Christian Life.
Come out from among them and
be yc separate. saith the Lord. and
touch not the unclean thing.
In Cardcnas. Cuba. while was
| there a tight rope walker came tol
give some performances. plat
form was built for him in the plaza
about 30 feet above the ground. To|
this one end 6f III. wire was attach
ed while the other end was tied TO
one OF the towers OF tn. Catholic
church that fronted on the pla1a. The
man stayed In town for three or four
weeks and every Sunday during thn'
time he gave his principal eShihi-
ton. The plaza was crowded every
Sunday with people anxious 10 see
him perform, and the church that
should ,havc stood mp against such
d"scy In lon OF the Lords day was
dissertation Of the Lords day was
aiding in IL for one end Of the wire
WAS attached to It's tower. ! thought
us saw II: Isn't this true picture
OF tina, church---'Icd 10 the world %
Some churches. or at least some
church members are tied TO the
world. II I read my Bible and tho
signs OF the times Alright. tn" prin-
"ipai cause Of weakness In the
church today: YES the only cause. IL
tn" world'in.ss of l. members.
How "" are chagrin.d: how ""
are shocked. when We turn from
contemplating the church as she
really Ia. to tn. faithful church de-
scrib.d In the Scriptures, II IL for
this rcason that want To bring &c
YOU as our text for this evening. I'll,
chai aiicnge. or rather the command oi
God to His church: Com" out from
among them and he yc separate
saith tho Lord. and touch no; the
unrloan thing And want 10 show
that the life OF absolute separation
from III" world is necessary for the
follower OF Christ. There ought to
he u difference. between tn. Chris
,inn and the worldiinr SO ma nrked
that non" need ask another II he he
n Christian or not.
There may he those listening To
me who will say that what am say.
Ing Is ianaticlsm and folly and !
might hay. to reply that III" preach.
Ing OF tho cross Is to them that j,cr.
ish. fooiishncss. And II ! can prove
from the Bible that II Is the Will os
God. then I had rather he u fanatic
In the service OF God and a fool for
christ's sake. than broadmindcd and
without principle.
| ! turn then to Scripture to cite its
authority on tho question. James
tells us that u, part Of religion that
Is the outward manifestation Of our
fai,h is 10 keep unspottcd from the
world. The very name used In the
Greek for church-ekklcsia- ns
called out. Called out from the
world. separated from the world
The Jews were called y peculiar pco-
pie. that Is people shut up unto
God. enclosed nv by q fence from the
res, Of the world. Both Peter and
Paul apply the same figure To us
who are the heirs OF the Jews. The
whole ceremonial law Of tho clean
and the unclcan as well as the whole
teaching OF the Bible has this idcn
Of scparateness.
But what does II mean to he sap
arated from the world: II doesn't
mean To shut yourself up In mon.
astcry or live hermit. The world
and the lusts thereof can he with you
even there. 1t means to be In the
world but not OF the world. How
can I do this.
1. BY abstainlng from the evil
OF the world.
| 2. BY abstaining from that which
is questionable.
2. BY abstainin< from anything
had or good that will interfere with
Il whole-hearted service OF Christ.
| 4. BY living In Christ and for
Christ at all times.
II we don't separate ourselves from
the world We must separate ourselves
from God. John says, Love not the
world. nor the things OF the world.
II any man love tho world the love
Of the Father is not in him Read
the terrible picture OF backslidden Is
rael as given by Isaac and then read
the SSth chaptcr. Your iniauities
have separated between YOU and
your God and your sins have hid
His face from you. that lie will moi
hear.
i