The Climax-Madisonian. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1914-1917, 1915-04-28

must be shown in a kind anu loving
way that they have been mistaken
or they will never be willing to make
another trial. 1t is well to point out
some of the evidences of the new
birth, and let them see that they have
never experienced it.
Romans 81 shows that the Chris
tian is delivered from the guilt of sin.
Ask them if they have ever been Who'll
ly free from sense of guilt, and for
what reason. John 3:14 proves that
we have passed from death urto life
because we love the brethren. 1 John
1921, % shows that an obedient Chris
tan will have answers to prayer.
John Alb insures the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit. Test a person with
such passages and he will soon rec
ognize his true position.
At the close of service was in
troduced to young man who said to
me, 81 have tried this thing two or
three times, and it did not seem to
work, and l do not care to try it
again." He spoke of conversion as if
it were something like vaccination
which did not take" in his case.
Were you ever really converted?"
Il do not know"
did you ever get new hearth"
81 doubt II / did"
You have been trying to live the
Christian life without any Christ to
help you, haven't your"
That just describes it,
ut is no wonder you have had a
hard time. 1t is like trying to run
watch without a handspring. You
might shake 1t and the wheels would
run minute or two, but it would soon
stop. Neither is it possible to lead a
Christian life without the help of
Christ who is the handspring of 1t all.
IF you had in your heart to help
you, the very Christ who gave the
commandments, would you not be able
to keep them?"
u think / would"
Listen then" l said, and 1 quoted
Ezekiel 1926, "a new heart will give
you, and new spirit will 1 put within
you; and will take away the stony
heart out of your flesh, and l will give
you an heart of flesh. And will put
Aly oPAAAS yOu3 anu CduS0 yOu
to walk in my statutes, and We shall
keep my judgments and do them"
This is Gods offer to you-a new
heart, VIII you accept it?" In a mo-
ment or two he was on his knees ask
ing God for a new heart.
II. The second class consists of
those who have drifted away from
God by disobedience, and are not anx-
ious to return. They are like the prodi-
gal before his money was spent. They
are living a worldly life, and so long
as health and prosperity continue.
they get along fairly well without God,
though they have many rebukes of
conscience. and frequent longings for
the good old days of fellowship with
God,
With such people jeremiah O.: is a
good verse. Ask them what fault they
could find with God that they have
wandered from him. jeremiah 2:13 is
also good. Ask them If it is not true
that their present life is evil and bit
ter as compared with the fellowship
and Joy which God provides for those
who obey him. Show them the ingrat-
itude and sin of such a course. Quote
jeremiah 2:19 and show them the folly
of turning from fountain of pure
water to a broken cistern or muddy
pool. Then ask them if the self life
is not broken cistern as compared
with that well of water which Christ
opens in every heart that receives
him.
III. Backsliders who are tired of sin
and are anxious to return to God.
/ They are like the prodigal after his
money is spent, and after months of
hunger and loneliness in the far coun-
try. For such Hosea 14:1-4 is a good
passage. 20 Israel, return unto the
Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by
thine iniquity. 1 will heal their back
sliding, l will love them freely; for
mine anger is turned away from him.. -
The most effective passage, how
ever, is Luke 15:11-24. This not only
pictures the wretched condition OF the
backslider, but it shows the steps by
which he must return, and the royal
reception which awaits him. No one
needs pity more than the backslider.
He is despised by the world, he is a
reproach to the church, he is alienated
from God, and he condemns himself