410 / Christianity and War

it is to be a Christian; after which the question may be more readily answered.

The first followers of Christ were, by their enemies, called Galileans, Nazarenes, and other names of contempt.-Among themselves they were called Saints, from their holiness; Believers, from their believing in Christ as the Messiah; Brethren, from their mutual love, and their close relation to God, and to each other; and Disciples (signifying scholars or learners), from their learning their religion from Christ as their teacher.

By nature, men are sinners, and not Christians-children of wrathdead in trespasses and sins-ignorant and estranged from the life of God, and without God in the world; and consequently in a lost, and most deplorable condition-Christ came into the world to save sinners from this lost and miserable condition; but before he can, or will save them, they must be convinced that they are lost, and like the prodigal son, in a perishing condition. They must come to a knowledge of the truth, to a knowledge of sin, which is by the law; which condemns them for its violation:-This knowledge of sin and condemnation makes them feel poor in spirit,-yea, it makes them feel that they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, -it makes them feel that they are lost sinners indeed; and this again brings them to feel sorrow, and penitence, and to mourn over their sins, which become as a burden to them, too heavy to be borne;-like David of old they are "bowed down great, they go mourning all the day long;"-like the jailor at Philippi they will be brought to cry out, "What must I do to be saved?" Such sin-sick, burdened and heavy-laden souls, Christ calls to him, saying: "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matt. 11:28, 29.

Christ is a teacher come from God to teach men the doctrine of salvation.-"He taught as one having authority;" and hence, poor, heavyladen sinners must come to him, and learn of him the words of eternal life-the words of salvation, and reconciliation;-must learn to do well, learn righteousness; yea, learn Christ.

To learn also signifies to imitate; therefore penitent sinners must imitate Christ by walking in his steps. Those thus learning, as remarked above, in the days of Christ were called disciples, because they came to him for instruction. Jesus said unto those Jews which believed on him: "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." Jn. 8:31. Again: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." 13:35. The conditions of discipleship with Christ are plainly expressed in the following passage: "Whosoever he be, that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple;" for the "disciple is not above his master." A true disciple must then be one who learns of Christ, who is a faithful and obedient follower of Christ, bearing his cross after him; yea, one who follows his steps through evil, as well as good report, one who has renounced sin, and Satan, and all that is contrary to God's holy will; and as a poor, lost sinner has delivered himself up to Jesus to be his, to learn of him, and to serve him all the days of his life. To him, there is nothing so near, or so dear, in all the world, that he is not willing to forsake it for