Logic of a Holy Life

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jun 10, 1875

Logic of a Holy Life.

SOME years ago, under the pastorate of Dr. White, in Scottsville, Va., a young man presented himself before the session, a candidate for the sealing ordinances of the church. He gave clear evidences that he was truly a subject of the regenerating grace of God, and without hesitation was admitted to the communion. The session was somewhat curious to know what had led to the change in the young man, as he had been wild and thoughtless. The pastor asked him if any sermon or book had impressed him, and he promptly answered, "No!" "What was it then? Did any one speak to you specially on the subject of religion?" The same response was given. "Will you then state to the session what first led to you to think of your eternal welfare?" The reply was, "I live in the same boarding house and eat at the same table with N. J." "Well, did he ever talk to you about your salvation?" "No, never, until I sought an interview with him," was the reply. "But," he continued, "there was a sweetness in his disposition, a heavenly mindedness, a holy aroma about his whole life and demeanor, that made one feel that he had a source of comfort, and peace, and happiness, to which I was a stranger. There was a daily beauty in his life that made me ugly. I became more and more dissatisfied with myself every time I saw him; and though, as I said, he never spoke to me on the subject of personal religion till I myself sought the interview, yet his whole life was a sermon to me. He was a living epistle, speaking by actions so clearly that I could resist no longer, and accordingly I went and sought an interview with him. We held repeated conversations with each other. Then he pointed me to Jesus Christ, prayed with me, counseled me, watched over me. The result was that I found Christ precious to my soul; and here I am desirous to profess my faith in him before the world." Many a quiet, orderly, consistent Christian speaks thus to the heart of the unbeliever by his actions; and there is a power, a logic in his life which will shut the mouth of a gainsayer, and prove a more resistless argument for the truth of the religion of Jesus than a demonstration couched in the most eloquent language.—Sel.