Newspaper Page Text
2
REPORT ON SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.
The Report on Sunday Schools a
dopted by the Columbus Baptist Asso
ciation on the 29th ult. was written by
the Chairman of the Committee on
Sunday Schools, Elder A. B. Campbell,
of Columbus, Ga.
By permission of the Association,
the clerk sends the following copy to
the editors of the Christian Index,
with the request that they publish it.
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
The one object of the Sunday
School is to instruct the pupils in the
Word of God. Other benefits incident
ally flow from it but this is its supreme
design. A variety of exercises are
often introduced for the entertainment
and improvement of the pupils.
This we consider lawful and advisa
ble, provided that nothing be allowed
that Christian parents might not with
propriety allow in their families on the
Lord’s Day.
Your committee are persuaded that
no good cause is benefitted by the ex
travagant claims of enthusiastic but
misguided advocates.
It is our conscientious desire to as
cribe to the Sunday School its proper
importance, neither more nor less.
The institution now known among us
by this name is not mentioned in the
Scriptures. If any of the first Christ
ian churches had, or were even requir
ed to have such an organization, no
record of the fact occurs in the sacred
writings. A church, therefore, may be
thoroughly sound and scriptural in
doctrine and practice without the ex
stence of a Sunday School in its vicin
ity.
In our view the Sunday School is not
designed to supercede, either wholly or
in the very slightest degree, the agency
of the Holy Spirit in bringing souls in
to the kingdom of Christ. This influ
ence is just as necessary and its opera
tions are just as sovereign in this day
as at any time in the past. The lan
guage of Jesus, “No man can come to
me except the Father which hath sent
me draw him,” is as true now as when
it was first spoken, and as applicable to
young people as to the oldest and most
hardened sinners. If it be pretended
that any human appliance can make
any person a Christian, we have no fel
lowship for such a doctrine, neither do
... I
we believe it is entertained by any ;
missionary Baptist church in the
whole world.
The religious instruction of the
young is, by Divine command, made
obligatory on parents. The Christian
ministry are also required, by the same
authority, to preach the Gospel to the
young as well as to the old. We
therefore consider parental and min
isterial instruction to be of the first
importance, because required by the
specific command of God and accom
panied by the promise of His blessing.
To allow the Sunday School to super
cede either of these is preferring a hu
man expedient to a Divine appoint
ment, and should meet unqualified
condemnation. Parental responsibili
ty cannot be transferred, neither can
a substitute be found for the labors of
God’s chosen ministers.
We therefore deem it exceedingly
injurious for parents to excuse them
selves from teaching their children, or
sutler thorn to absent themselves from
preaching because they attend Sunday
School.
But we believe that this institution
may be made a valuable auxiliary, in
stead of a hindrance, to these divinely
appointed means of religious instruc
tion. Christian teachers, prepare to
assist, not supplant, parents and min
isters in their sacred labors. What
parent or minister does not feel the
need of such assistance? And many
a young person, who receives id re
ligious instruction at home, may have
it in the Sunday-school from the lips
of pious neighbors. Thousands have
been blessed by this means, who have
carried the savory influence back to
the family circles of which they are
mernbeh, to the everlasting advantage
of parents, brothers and sisters.
We would not be of the number who
confess that the Sunday-school is capa
ble of being made useful, but who are so
exaa|x>rated at particular features that
sometimes appear, in connection with
the work, that they deem it their duty to
oppose and denounce the whole system
with immoderate vehemence. With
all humility, we would suggest to this
class of people that, if it can be turned
to good account without the admixture
of any evil, it would be ir joy to every
Christian heart for them to give us a
practical illustration of it. We are
conscious of doing work quite imper
fectly, and will thank anybody for
showing how to do it better. We sin
cerely believe that by such a course
they will be more successful in reform-!
ing abuses than by all the disparaging
criticisms they can ever heap upon the
)>oor performances of those who are
already doing the best they can with
the light they possess.
But neither the censures of opposer*,
nor the reproofs of friends should be
lost upon us. last them rather lead to
the discovery and correction of actual
defects. If Sunday-schools are to be
tolerated in our congregations, we
should use every meafts to make them
The Christian Index and South-western Baptist: Thursday, October 23, 1879.
productive of the best results. We
should look out keenly for the best
men for superintendents, and they
should labor indefatigably to turn this
office to the best account for the re
ligious welfare of the people. We should
endeavor to enlist the most competent
teachers, and they should apply them
selves with unswerving assiduity to the
work they have undertaken. It is a
sublime and responsible work to
teach or superintend the teaching of
religious truth. None but enlightened,
conscientious, prudent Christians
should be approved for such a position.
Look out for your safest brethren and
sisters, and put them at the head of
classes; —brethren and sisters who are
sensible of the responsibility, who will
labor to* gather light from the Word
of God, from the writings of intelligent,
and spiritual-minded Christians,
from the common objects and expe
riences of life, that they may be able
to engage the attention, instruct the
understanding and command the re
spectful confidence of pupils. Let
them be persons who realize their own
need of divine preparation for the work,
and the necessity of the Holy Spirit’s
influence on the hearts of the pupils
that their hearing may not be in vain.
Let the whole church co-operate
with them by every means in their
power, especially by fervent prayer for
God’s blessing on the work. Let all
this be done, and we may well afford
to allow mockers to mock and scoffers
to scoff. God will smile upon our
labors, our churches will grow in
strength and spirituality, and in the
great day of his glory the Lord will
say to us, “Well done, good and faith
ful servants.”
We would commend Kind Words as
a valuable paper for children; also
Rev. T. C. Boykin, State Sunday-
Scliol Evangelist, as a laborer worthy
of his hire. A. B. Campbell,
Chairman Committee.
REV. W. H. DA VIS.
RECOLLECTIONS OF HIS LIFE AND LABORS.
With unfeigned sorrow I have
read a letter from brother J. J. Davis,
which brings the mournful intelligence
that his brother, Rev. W. H. Davis,
died of paralysis on the night of the
18th ult.
His death was sudden. Having
preached at 11a. m., he rode home,
some fifteen miles, in the afternoon,
and complaining of feeling weary, he
retired to rest at 9 o’clock, when in a
few minutes he was found to be uncon
cious, and died at 11.
My heart aches and throbs ; for he
was a precious friend and brother to
me. We first met at Penfield jn the
Spring of 1848, where we had gone to
prepare for the ministry. We entered
the same class, and for years roomed,
slept, studied, recited, and finally
graduated together. Through the years
which have passed since then, we have
watched each other’s course, and sym
pathized with each other in the labors
and conflicts of life with the hearts of
brothers. To us the joys of the annu
al gatherings of the denomination
i have been intensified by our personal
j reunions.
His was a noble spirit. He possessed
i a mind strong, original,comprehensive,
! and capable of grappling with any
I subject which claimed his attention.
In his first years after graduating,
he united the labors of teacher and
preacher, in which he was successful,
I but his last years he devoted exclusive
ly to preaching the Gospel—a work
which he loved, and in which he was
! engaged when his death summons
: came.
Though not sparkling as a preacher,
I yet such was the strength, solidity,
I dearness and force of his thoughts, in
dited by a warm, sincere, loving heart,
that he never failed to attract, interest
i and instruct his audience.
His friendships, based upon a proper
I estimate of character, were unselfish,
I disinterested and lasting.
He was open and frank in the ex
! pression of his views. While he did
i not obtrude them upon others, yet
! when sought, he gave them without
I regard to the manner of their recep-
I tion. He was wise in counsel, conser
vative, and always for peace.
Well do I remember the spirit he
j developed, and the efforts he put forth
just a year ago, to effect a settlement
which has given peace to the denomi
nation in the State.
Sound in the faith, consistent in life,
devotedly pious and consecrated in
heart to his Master’s work, he was a
; “living epistle, known and read of all
men”—a “pillar” in his church, and a
, tower of strength in the defense of the
truth.
I know not how to give him up—a
true yoke-fellow gone. We will miss
him at our Associations and Conven
tions, while as a Trustee of Mercer, his
seat will be vacant.
My heart bleeds at the thought that
wo shall see his face no more. Yet we
mourn not as those without hope.
G. R. McCall.
Dear Index : If brother Robertson
cannot, in Church Articles, find a pre
cedent for Dr. Boyce who baptized Dr.
Weaver without the sanction of the
. church, let him try Bth chapter of
Act*. What shall be done with bap
tisms by ministers in the army during
I the war? Wm. G. Horsley.
REV. A. SHERWOOD.D. D.
A few days after the death of Dr.
Sherwood, I received a letter from his
widow, requesting me to prepare an
obituary notice of him for The Index.
I did prepare such an article, but the
editorial of Dr. Tucker, on the sub
ject, seemed to render its publication
unnecessary, and it was withheld. The
“Reminiscences” by Zadock, (I regret
his not having signed his name,)and the
notice by Bro. Branham, of Eatonton,
were deeply interesting. Yet it is due
to the relations which existed between
Dr. Sherwood and myself for so many
years, that I add a few words to what
lias been so well said by others;
Dr. Sherwood was my Theological
Teacher. In January, 1829, I went to
Eatonton, where he was pastor, and
placed myself under his instruction.
He was so much engrossed in the ac
tive duties of the ministry as to pre
vent his giving me as much attention
as we both desired. Yet I derived
great benefit from his advice and
teachings, which were continued two
years, gratuitously, and which prepared
me for the conflict with Anti-nomian
z’m in which I was compelled to en
gage immediately upon my ordina
tion, and for years following. The
Hard-Shells were largely in the ma
jority in the territory west of the
Oconee, and our warfare with them
was no child’s play. To Dr. Sher
wood, more than to any other man, are
the Baptists indebted for the triumph
of truth and the establishment of Mis
sionary principles in all Western Ga.
From those day* he was my fast friend.
For half a century we have maintain
ed a friendly correspondence, and the
most cordial feelings have subsisted
between us. 1 feel honored in having
had the friendship and confidence of
such a man for so long a time.
The stormy times through which
we passed naturally produced diffi
culties in the churches and Associa
tions, and it required a steady hand
to guide the saints arigjit. Such a
hand Dr. Sherwood possessed. What
was widely known in those days as
“the Eatonton church difficulty” was
peculiar in its nature and extensive in
its influence. The space allowed is
not sufficient to go into the history
of it. Suffice it to say that it was
managed by Dr. Sherwood, then pas
tor, with consummate wisdom and
unyielding firmness. The dissensions,
growing out of this case and others in
the Omulgee Association were, through
the same influence, so controlled as to
result in the triumph of truth and the
advancement of the cause of Christ.
He had strong backers, however, in
such men as William
of Dr. Williams, since of the 'fik-
cal Seminary, Thomas Coopew Mark
A. Co<q>er, Wiley W. Mason, u<inn E.
Dawson, and others.
Dr. Sherwood originated the Georgia
Baptist Convention, the most efficient
organization, perhaps, of its kind in
existence. He was one of the
founders of Mercer University, the
first denominational college started
in the State, and which gave a tre
mendous impulse to the cause of
denominational schools. Considering
all things, Dr. Sherwood was the
instrument in the hands of God of
accomplishing more for the theological
and general education than, perhaps,
any man who has ever lived in the
State.
Dr. Sherwood was a native of New
York, but, like the gifted and godly
Mallary was as true to the South as any
native-born Southerner. We were to
gether in the Triennial Convention in
which Southern Baptists participated,
in Philadelphia, in 1544, and in the
meeting of its Beards in Providence,
R. 1., the following spring, and I bear
testimony to the fact that the South
had no firmer friend than he. He
loved Georgia, and, frequently in his
letters of late years, assured me that
he prayed daily for her people.
He was of a meek and humble spirit.
I knew much of his inner life. He
had no “confidence in the flesh,” but
placed his sole reliance upon the sov
reign mercy and grace of God in Jesus
Christ. He was chaste in conversation.
I never heard a sentence from his lips
which might not, with propriety, have
been repeated in the presence of the
most refined and virtuous female. He
was Catholic in sentiment, and cherish
ed brotherly love for all the true de
ciples of Christ.
Dr. Sherwood died in the bosom of
his family, in St. Louis, Mo., on the
night of Aug. 18th., 1879. His funeral
was conducted by Rev. Dr. W. Pope
Yeaman. Five other Baptist ministers
were present, also his wife, his four
daughters, and his only living son, who
is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
Missouri .Just before the remains were
taken out of the house, several of his
grand-children, small girls and boys,
gathered around the coffin and sang
“Calling us Away.”
J. H. Campbell.
FRIENDSHIP ASSOC I A TION.
The twenty-first annual session of
this body commenced with the Mace
donia Baptist church, Webster county,
Ga,, on Thursday, October 2nd, and
closed on the Saturday following:
The introductory sermon was preach
ed by Rev. A. J. Harvey, of Oglethorpe,
and the missionary sermon by Rev. M.
B. L. Binion, of Terrel county. Rev.
J. H. Cawood was re-elected moderator,
Rev. J. A. Ivey, pastor at Dawson, was
chosen clerk, and the venerable Wil-
liam Wells, of Smithville, for the sev
enteenth time was made treasurer.
The Association was held some
miles from the railroad, but with one
or two exceptions, the forty churches
composing the body were represented,
the letters from many of them indi
cating refreshing revivals. Some of
the letters were too long; and if any
church clerk, who is disturbing his
mind over the letter to his Association,
should perchance read this, let me say :
All that is necessary in such a docu
ment is to give the names of the mes
sengers, the amount of the funds sent
up, and the desired disposition to be
made of them ; the general condition of
the church, with actual statistics of the
church and Sunday-school. If there
be any item of special interest, it can
be mentioned—but labored literary
effort “long drawn out,” is unnecessary
in a letter from a church to an Asso
ciation.
The Friendship Association, through
its executive committee, sustains a na
tive Indian preacher as its missionary
to the Indians. It keeps his salary
paid. The committee makes no debt,
and, thanks to the liberality of the
brethren, have available resources for
work another year in the same interest.
The report on missions gave a re
sume of the missionary work of the
body since its organization, which can
not but result in good.
In the matter of collections for mis
sionary purposes, there seemed to be a
determination to get back to the gospel
plan, viz.: Everybody to give, to give
as God had prospered, and to give
often.
Liberal contributions were sent up
for the State Board, nor were the Home
and Foreign Boards of the Convention
forgotten.
Generous responses were made by
the brethren present to every appeal;
indigent and aged preachers were made
glad, struggling students for the min
istry were aided and everybody had a
good word for The Index. The ses
sion of the Association was delightful.
Its next meeting is to be with the
church at Buena Vista, Marion county.
Americus.
REJ7FAL IN BROTHER GOSS’
CHURCHES.
Dear Index : The annual meetings
at the churches I am trying to serve,
have passed by, and I now write you
the result. At Elim and Wehadkee
the rain interfered very much, but
there was a good meeting at both places,
the membership was much revived, a
deep feeling of anxiety seemed to per
vade the congregation, and very near
ly, and sometimes quite all of the non
professors came up for prater.
T'here were but few additions to the
church ; still, tee feel satisfied that the
meetings were not without good effect.
We had no protracted meeting at
Bethel. The general meeting was held
with the church. There was a good
state of feeling among the delegates,
church and congregation. At West
ern we had a glorious revival in the
church and congregation. They had
been praying for weeks before the
meeting, for an outpouring of the
Spirit upon the church and communi
ty. When the meeting commenced
they were like Gideon's men, “every
man at his place.” Old and young
seemed to be moved by a power within.
The young brethren were especially
earnest and zealous in their appeals to
their unconverted comrades. I have
never seen the young membership of
a church more thoroughly stirred up to
a “lively sense of duty.” The Lord
encouraged us by “adding unto us dai
ly such as should be saved.”
While there was no noisy excite
ment, there was, still, a deep feeling of
earnest devotion clearly perceptible in
all. It has never before been my good
fortune to preach to more solemn and
attentive congregations.
Owing to serious affliction in my
family I was not permitted to be with
them much of the time, but the breth
ren carried the meeting on for ten
days. The immediate fruits of this
meeting were nineteen baptized upon
a profession of faith, and received into
the church by covenant relationship;
one awaiting baptism, and some by let
ter. We must be permitted to cherish
the hope that more fruit will be mani
fested and gathered “in after days.”
A large percentage of the membership
consists of educated, refined and intel
ligent young people, and our earnest
prayer is that the mantles of some of
our superannuated ministers may fall
upon some of them.
Yours in Christ,
J. G. Goss.
Houston, Heard Co., Ga.
Oct. Ist, 1879.
NOTICE.
The Baptist church at Wrightsville,
Johnson county, Ga., has excluded
Rev. Wm. H. Scarboro from its mem
bership, and hereby gives notice that
if said Scarboro exercises ministerial
functions, he does it on his own re
sponsibility, and without the authority
of said church.
Done in conference September 28,
1879. James M. Donaldson,
Moderator.
W. B. Pool, Church Clerk.
The humble man, though surround
ed with the scorn and reproach of the
world, is still in peace, for the stability
of his peace resteth not upon the world,
but upon God.
HOW TO RAISE FUNDS.
“How shall the funds needed to sustain our
Sunday Schools be raised?”
In a programme of the exercises
proposed for a Sunday School Con
vention, published in a recent issue of
The Index, we noticed this question.
It has occurred to the writer that pos
sibly some localities might borrow a
hint from a plan pursued very success
fully by a Sunday School with which
we were connected some fifty years
ago. The school had been established
during his first pastorate by Rev.
Howard Malcom, D. D., L. L. D., whose
death has recently been chronicled in
the most of our denominational papers.
At the date of which we write, A. D’
1830, it had been in successful opera
tion some ten years. How it was at
first sustained, financially, we cannot
say, though we well remember that it
was liberally supplied with spelling
books and primers, as well as hymn
books, bibles, testaments, and reward
tickets, and that a library was intro
duced at a very early day.
But about the date we have noted,
’ and for some years before and after,
funds for the school were supplied by a
[ Sunday School Society, regularly or
- ganized with a constitution and bye
laws. The payment of fifty cents a
i year entitled a person to membership
in the society, which held an annual
I meeting on some Sunday after the
i close of the regular exercises of the
school. Each member was expected
to be present at this meeting answer
ing to his name, and paying his sub
: scription. I cannot recall the exact
I order of business, but during the meet
ing officers were elected for the ensu
! ing year, a committee appointed to
visit absentees and receive their sub
scriptions ; and the funds in the Treas
urer’s hands, appropriated by a vote of
the society, either to the library, the
depository, or in any way that might
promote the interest of the school.
Not only were these objects met by the
funds of the society, but rewards, such
as Bibles, Testaments, Hymn-books etc.
were provided for the scholars as tes
timonials of diligence in the study of
the Scriptures. The children often re
cited hymns, but I do not think any
record was made of these, or any re
ward conferred for them ; but seventy
two verses of Scripture, correctly recit
ed, entitled the scholar to a credit of
one cent towards the purchase of one of
these books, provided for them by the
society, and many of them thus secured
bibles, and in which their names were
written together with a note stating
that the volume was a “reward of merit,
presented by the Sunday School.”
At the annual meeting the officers
of the society were chosen by a ma
jority vote. This electionl not only
controlled the choice of -a President,
Secretary and Treasurer in the society,
but also a Superintendent and Libra
rian in the school. The teachers,
though regarded as ex-officio members
of the society, and entitled to a vote on
all questions arising at the annual busi
ness meeting, were volunteer laborers,
( who were inducted into their positions
simply by subscribing their names to
; the constitution and bye-laws in the
. presence of the school, without the
payment of any subscription. When
ever a new teacher enlisted in the work
i all the teachers present rose to their
feet while the constitution and bye
laws were read aloud, and these law’s
were so solemn in the obligations im
posed, that none but pious—or at least
deeply serious persons would be likely
to sign their names to them.
This system of finance worked ad
mirably in that locality; so that for
many years the church and con
gregation were very rarely ap
pealed to for a collection for the
Sunday School work. Teachers and
pupils never. It was in a city, where
many of the scholars had been gather
ed in from the high-ways and by-ways
of poverty, and their parents could not
clothe them decently and comfortably
without the aid of Christian
benevolence, much less contribute to
the support of the school, while the
fact seemed to be tacitly recognized
that those who devoted systematic
and persevering labor as teachers,
gave more than silver and gold. C.
The early Christians set out in earn
est to convert the world, and while this
purpose was maintained their progress
was rapid. They were a victorious
army always on the march. But, after
these successes, their successors aimed
only to hold the ground gained, and
the movement was backward by force
of an inflexible law. Let this genera
tion set out with the same sublime
purpose to convert the world, and the
progress of the Gospel will be as rapid
as at the first. It is as much as then
the power of God.
The new preacher needs sympathy
at the start. He will not beat his best
if his eye meets an array of cold, criti
cal faces as he looks from his pulpit
upon his new hearers. Put yourself
in his place, give him sympathy, pray
for him. He is your preacher. He is
not on trial.
The pulpit that substitutes Christian
ethics for the Atonement somehow
loses its power. It may draw hearers,
but it does not convert souls. The
Gospel of a crucified and risen Redeem
er is the power of God unto salvation,
and nothing else is.
The Sunday-School.
International Sunday-School Lessons.
Lesson VI —November 9, 1879.
THE PERFECT SAVIOR.
, 1 John 1: 1-10.
INTRODUCTION.
The remaining seven lessons of the year
are taken from the writings of the Apostle
John. The three epistles which bear his
name and The Revelation were written not
far from A. D. 90, and probably in the order
in which they stand in our Testament. After
the death of Paul, John seems to have made
his home in Ephesus, and from that city it
is supposed the first epistle was written. It
was addressed to the Churches in general,
and has for its leading thought, “Fellowship
with the Father, and with his Son Jesus
Christ.” This fellowship is presented as dis
tinguishing believers from the world.
OUTLINE.
I. The Word of life, v. 1-4.
11. The message, v. 5-7.
111. The cleansing blood, v. 7-10.
exposition.
I. The Word of life.
V. 1. “That which was from the begin
ning.” From eternity. The reference is to
the second person in the Holy Trinity.
“Have heard.' 1 His words of love and wis
dom. “Have seen.” In his person, in his
life, in his transfiguration, and in his cruci
fixion; in his resurrection state, and in his
ascension. “Have looked upon.” Stronger
than “haveseen,” as it implies earnest exam
ination. “Our hands have handled.” Bodily
contact. An allusion probably to the case
of Thomas. “The Word of life.” Christ.
The Apostle appeals here to the testimony
of sight, hearing and touch. Christ is him
self the li*’e, and imparts life to others.
V. 2. This ver-e is in parenthesis. “For.”
Rather and. “Was manifested.” In the
flesh and to us. A wonderful condescension
that he should become a man that he might
give us life. “It.” This word should be
omitted. The object of “seen,” as of the
other verbs, is “life.” “Show.” Declare, as
translated in verse 3. The Apostle says, We
(apostles) have known Christ by sight and
hearing and touch, and we proclaim him as
‘that eternal life.” He means that this is
tneir constant proclamation. “Which w’as
with the Father, and was manifested unto
us.” A distinction is here implied between
the “Word” and the “Father.”
V. 3. “That which we have seen and
heard.” Repeated from verse 1. “That ye
also may have fellowship with us.” You
who have not seen, with us who have. The
Apostle desires that all may have the same
blessings with those who were eye-witnesses
of our Lord's life on earth. “Our fellowship
is with the Father, and with his bon, Jesus
Christ.” This is the explanation of the fel
lowship which he desires for them, that
they, tnongh not eye-witnesses, should be
come partakers of the divine life. Their fel
lowship with each other was secondary, de
pending on their fellowship with God.
"Through Christ God closes up the chasm
that separated him from the human race,
and imparts himself to them in the com
munion of the divine life.”—Neander.
V. 1. "These things.” This epistle. “Your
joy." The joy of the readers. "May be full.”
Christ himself is the source and object of his
people’s joy.
11. The message.
V. 5. “The message which we have heard
of him.” The message follows, and was de
rived not from the words of Jesus, but from
his life as referred to in verse 1. “God is
light.”. What light is the natural wodM,
that God, the source of natural life, is in the
spiritual world, the fountain of wisdom,
purity, (holiness) beauty, joy. As material
life and growth depend on material light, so
spiritual life and growth depend on God.
“In him is no darkness at all.” Not one
speck. With him is nothing unwise or un
holy.
V. 6. “If we say.” A general supposition.
“Say.” Profess. “Have fellowship with
him.” Communion with God, the real
essence of all Christian life. “And walk in
darkness.” Live in the darkness referred to
inverses; that is, in sin. “Welie.” Walk
ing in da knees contradicts our profession
that we have fellowship with him who is
light. “Do not the troth.” Do not what
the truth demands. This is sin.
V. 7. “Walk in the light.” Live a holy,
godly life. “As he is in the light.” This is
no mere imitation of God to which reference
is made in the expression, “Walk in the
light." When we “walk in the light." the
essential element of our daily walk, our
everyday life, is identical with the essential
element which characterizes God s eternal
being. “We have fellowship one with an
other.” We have fellowship with God, and
he condescends to have fellowship with us, a
fellowship of truth and purity.
111. The cleansing blood.
V.7. "Cleansing us from all sin." Os every
kind and degree of sin. The reference here
is to sanctification. Both pardon and
cleansing are necessary for our salvation.
Sin is guilt, and must therefore be pardoned.
Sin is also uncleanness, and must therefore
be removed. So the blood of Christ is con
tinually applied, and being already justified,
we are gradually purified from all sin.
V. 8. "Ifwesay we have nosin." Nosin
ful act or inclination. Walking in the light
implies a recognition of the darkness that
yet remains. So a denial of the remaining
darkness proves that we are not yet in the
light. “We deceive ourselves,” ’not God,
only ourselves. “The troth is not in us."
God’s truth as to what he is and what we
are. He who claims that he is perfectly
holy knows very little of his own heart, and
has but an imperfect conception of pure
holiness.
V. 9. “If we confess our sins.” Not only
recognize them, but confess them to God,
and to our fellow-men, when committed
against them. “He.” God the Father.
“Faithful." In good faith fulfils his promise.
"Just,” because he has himself provided for
justly doing so. Both mercy and justice
meet in the redemption of the believer.
“Forgive." Remit the guilt. “Cleanse.”
Purify. Pardon first, then cleansing. The
cleansing is in consequence of the pardon.
He tuat is truly penitent desires not simply
pardon but purity. This was the great bur
den on David's heart when he wrote the
51st Psalm. "Cleanse me” was the great
desire.
V. 10. "If we say.” An emphatic repeti
tion of the thought in verse 8. “That we
have not sinned," after regeneration and
conversion. “We make him a liar." God,
who everywhere in his word declares that
we are sinners. Notice the gradation here,
“Welie,"v.B; “we deceive ourselves," v.
8; “we make God a liar,” v. 10.
REMARKS.
We can have no human testimony stronger
than that which is given bv the Apostles
concerning Christ. Fellowship with Christ
ought to till us with joy. It is a great privi
lege to be a Christian. God has no fellow
ship with unholy souls. We always need
the cleansing blood of Christ. There is no
sin so great that it may not be removed by
the blood o' atonement. By and by we
shall be perfectly holy and ’dwell in the
light.
Wherever you go, endeavor to carry
with you a sense of God’s presence, his
holiness and his love ; it will preserve
you from a thousand snares.