The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-05-06
Refuge of Lies.
THIRD LETTER.

THIRD LETTER.
o, the false refugees, or as the proph-
ct calls them the refugees of lies
they are legion.
One of them is partial reformation of
life. They will give up gross sins as
profanity. sottishness and fraud, but
that is like cutting down a tree by
clipping the ends of the branches
There is no use amputating hand
when the whole body is diseased. You
can't purify the stream as long as the
fountain is corrupt You can't get
right actions of life from a wicked
heart.
A nicely furnished, beautifully con-
structed and agreeable and rather
popular refuge consists in a high re-
gard for morality. Morality is good
but it is false to assume that it is
enough to pay in regard to outward
forms, social duties, propriety of
speech or even zeal against vice or in
fidelity. We may live comfortably in
this refuge, for a while, but in the last
storm that will sweep over the soul,
the refuge of lies will be swept away.
Another makes public profession of
religion and thinks that is enough. Who
will ask at the judgment whether or
not you were a professor of religion?
1t will be are you a possessor. Have
you on your forehead the mark of the
Lamb or the Beast? Listen to these
pretenders, as they boast of their
special generosity and beneficence.
They prate about and fatter them
selves that they are buying their way
into the kingdom, but what do they
think of them in the light Of Paul s
declaration, though | bestow all my
goods to feed the poor and though /
give my body to be burned and have
not charity it profteth me nothing
Resting on that he is hiding in a refuge
of lies. His charity is Pharisaical, his
devotion hypocritical and his pretenses
are in Gods sight a sham.
Close to this refuge is another equally
false and destructive to those who
abide in it. 1t is commodious and af-
fords shelter for many. The jewellers
in this pride themselves on their public
sectarian spirit, their adherence to
party and creed. They are staunch ad-
vocates of their principles and are
ready to give their bodies in defense
of the doctrines as held by their sect.
They admire the martyr spirit. Ana
themas'are hurled against those who
dare to oppose them. Their ardor is
glowing and like John they say, come,
see my zeal. 1t is good to be zealously
affected provided it be not IN a bad
cause.
Come turn in here, calls another, for
surely this refuge is a sure and good
one. We hide behind mercy. All will
be well at last. Just as if God were
not also just and as if mercy did not
know 1.-The appointed bound, and turn
to vengeance there" Resting on the
self confident persuasion that God is
good and will not punish the wicked,
resting on his clemency they forget his
righteousness, purity and truth.
1t is live as you please theory, yet
go to heaven when you die? In other
words. live in sin yet escape its con-
sequences, reject Christ the only
Saviour and be your own. | see that
refuge crumbling to pieces before one
stroke of the hammer of the divine
word, as it declares, without holiness
no man can see the Lord.
What tottering refuge that is into
which the devil would entice souls when
he tells them they must feel their sins
forgiven. If by feel you mean think
ing. you are right, for thought is in
dispensible. But if you mean acute
distress you are denying Christ for he
never said feeling was essential.
To accept and obey Christ is vital,
and these are acts of conscience and
will and not matters of emotion. The
father of liars, cursing his dupes and
lulling them into the sleep of death,
offers this refuge fleeing" Does
Paul say, "Beheve on the Lord Jesus
Christ and thou shalt feel saved?" No,
but thou shalt be saved.
Is 1t possible for one to feel his sins
forgiven? Ask that man whose debt
was paid by his friend. do you feel
your debt is paid? No he replies, don't
feel it, know it from this receipt, but
l feel happy because know it is paid"
Just so, my friend. you must first be-
lieve in the love of God as revealed at
the cross and then you will feel happy