Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-11-02
+ + + = Z = + + + = &+ Z = = Z I
= CREED OF LIFE-WHICH? I
+ f. + + + + +++* + + + 4 + + 4.
lBy Rev. George HI. Bennett

say, "In religion it is not the cree,
but is the life that counts. I" Sue
people are laboring under strong d,
lusion, and are treading on the rag
ged edge Of destruction, for Will
they admit they are not Christians
they contend that "it makes littl
difference what a man believes, if hi
life is right" just as though every
body does not know a mans habit
and conduct are all founded upon hi
opinions. No man s life will be righ
while his beliefs are wrong.
An old farmer was grinding an axe
and it occurred to him he ought tt
have the assistance of one Of his fv,
boys. So he called, and shouted, bu
not boy appeared. When dinner
was ready, of course they all CANE
without calling.
Where were you fellows abou
two hours ago, when [ called for you
81 was in the shop settin' the
saw" said one.
=" And | was in the hen house set
tin hen,' said another.
81 was in gran mas room settin
the clock,' answered one.
"And I was up in the garret settin
a trap" replied another.
:" You are a remarkable set," re-
marked the old farmer. "And where
were you," he demanded of the
youngest.
"I was just out on the doorstep set
tin STILL"
So we find many people set on
their own plans and not needing God s
plans for their salvation. And so the
moralist comforts himself with the
thought, ~ am honest and temperate,
and that will save me. - The moral
ist right here is substituting honesty
and temperance, for repentance and
regeneration by faith in Christ. It
is his plan versus God s plan. Homes
ty and temperance is not Gods way
of salvation, but His way is by re-
pentance and regeneration. Who au-
thorized you to change God IS plan of
salvation?
Jesus showed the way of salvation.
He preached repentance Except We
repent ye shall all likewise perish"
lie preached egeneration-"E Except
a man be born again he cannot see
the kingdom of God" The moralist
makes his mistake right here-a man
may be honest and temperate, yet not
be regenerated; but man cannot be
regenerated without also being made
honest and temperate. And so Christ
teaches that repentance, and regen-
GRAFTON by faith in Him are the first
and essential conditions to salvation.
Greed comes first, and the correct
moral life must follow in harmony
with it. The test Of religion is the
morality it produces. The sinner,
whether moralist or criminal, must be
honest and temperate and keep the
moral Lawsuit he must also repent
and be born anew, if he expects to
be saved from judgment. We are to
be saved, not by honesty or temper 4
ance, but through repentance and the
new birth-"For by the deeds of the
law shall no flesh be justified"
The trouble with the moralist is Z
that he is an unregenerate and un-
forgiven sinner, just like any other. 3
His honesty and temperance will not =
wash away his sins, nor change his
heart. Without repen- +
tance and regeneration he must die in +,
his sins, just like any other evil Il
doer. Nothing can take the place of tt
repentance and regeneration in the C
plan of salvation. So do not be de-
,eived. Do not attempt to change C,
iod s plan of salvation. Do not try a
% substitute honesty and temperance
'or repentance and regeneration-you al
will fail. The pebble from the brook s.
ooks worthless-but take it to, the a
apidary. All the difference between tb
he pebble and the gem is in the ia
'rinding and polishing All the diff
'erence between the ore from the fo
nine and the coin in your pocket, is hi
he smelling and minting. All the La
Inference between the vine-maple
hicket and the garden, is the cult he
alton. All the difference between the mi
lock of marble and the statue, is the
7ork of the chisel and mallet-and so in
he difference between a saved soul bo
nd lost one is repentance and re- th
eneration. in,
God deals with all men as sinners. br
our honesty or temperance will not
hange your condition, or your rela- st
on as a sinner to God, but your of
spentance and regeneration will. This W.
lange profoundly affects a mans
pinions and life for the better. God ga
,rgives him. He comes into SYM of
athy with the heavenly Father and
18th His work among men. He breaks vii
way from wicked opinions and habits co.
nd tries to win his evil companions
the better life. Conversion is on,
lent and mysterious work within Cit
e soul of man. So are the opera :
Ons of the great forces in nature onl
o ear hears the sun draw up into Ger
e sky the tons of water, which
lift in clouds away to water the P.
rth. No ear hears the groaning of bro
e fibers of the oak, as it grows and iur
pands from the sapling to the giant ]
the forest. So the will reaches Fri