New-York daily tribune., 1849-02-22

Now these are the surr0Ws and calamlfies which
visit us in the course OF Divine Providence, as well
as the wrongs We may suffer at the bands Of man
now proceed . consider how Il is that the
Christian, by faith. obtains victory over the world
Here. let US Tor moment dwell on faith.
Faith Is principle connected with orr intellec-
tual and moral nature. We know lfs importance
ia all It's bearings. In our relations % our fellow
men II j. the confidence which we place Ia tue tes-
tmOny oi others. u Is that which We repose up-
on their truthiulness and integrity Break this
asunder, and the bonds which unite man % man.
the order, peace and welfare OF society are broken
Now faith is the belief sincere and firm in the
conviction oi the mind and the approval Of the
heart, Of Gods testimony. taught Us 10 bis word.
Perhaps there Is not a more beautiful definition
very comprehensiye-oi faith, than that which We
find In the Xlth Chapter Of Hebrews
Now faith s the substance Of things hoped for the
evidence Of things not seen
Faith realizes % the vision Of our minds things
invisible, as ~ discern them in their reality and
IN their importance, and the evidence OF things
that are not seen, and which are hidden to the
eye Of man s human intellect, unenlghtened from
on high and undisciplined by love.
So, then, this faith receives the testimony OF
Gods word. It's not the mere intellectual per.
ception Of Il not the mere homage that is paid 20
the tru,hfulness and certainty Of IT, bat the cordial
estimate Of II andthe response Of the whole soul
in all IT'S harmony, and in the exercise Of all its
powers 70 the truth Now this faith : tlas gem
orally described, but IL is described in rs more
specific application IN the verse Immediately iol
lowing our text:
And this 10 the victory that overcometh the world
even our faith. VINO i he that overcometh the world
but be that 5eliegeth that Jesus the Son Of Cod
That was the summary Of the confessions Of
faith the first Christians and it is very compre
hensive, bearing IA all It's significance all the fun
dameutal truths Of the Gospel, which are iutere
hing in all their harmony fitness and power. Il
is faith IN the distinctive character OF Jesus Christ
in bis atonement and intercession, opening the
way to the mercy seat-in the spiritual influence
from on high, expanded over the children Of men,
enhghtenng. confronting and training them tor
glory. You viii tell me these are dOctrinal specu
at.ons. / answer. they are the truth as il is iu
Jesus. The grace OF God brings salvation. There
the mystery OF gOdliness. Ii teaches US % deny
ourselves, tolve sOberly. ughteously and godly in
this present world. There is no sentiment more
erroneous than one which is frequently IN the
mouths OF some men, that " Il is no matter what
man thinks If bis life be right II understand
the mental constitution, the thoughts first spring
up; they are the blossoms. The life then follows
which Is the fruit. and every man Is guided by the
perception Of such truths or iasehOods as lic al
the bottom OF the workings of his spirit; aud iust
A. the three sister g'aces-Faith. Hope and Char
iry-sO beautifully b end together, 81 here are
three graces and duties, born in connection.
founded on the truth Of the Gospel. that repen.
tance toward God IS a right belief in human de-
prsyity, faith n the Lord Jesus his rccuing grace
and sovereignty is a right doctriual belief and ho
incss without which no man shall see the Lord, Is
the certain fruit thereof and this last Is, therefore
prompted aud animated by all the arguments and
inducements, dOctIIual promissOry and preccptivc
that can present themselves 10 the human mind
But how Is il that Faith wins the victory over
the world Let Us hear the application of this
lot / Of Ifr fIaa Ina fflff fna sh QFf
the pride of life are overcome BY faith-how iath
and a right apprehension, aud night application
Of the word OF God, viii enable as 70 gain the SIC
tory, by convincing Us clearly ami really OF the
vanity and insgnhcance OF every earthly influence
-ol every earthly pleasure and pursuit IL Is In
false view, it IS in a glare that the eye a
man in his natural state iastens upon this worid
and IS dazzed and dimmed thereby-that the
objects OF tins world are contempated-and A.
find among men, each one Ia nis own way anc
alter hls own course pursuing toiliuliy aud pam
fully the objects which be Covets so We find the
fable realized oi the boy who, when lac discover
the beautiful rainbow, runs after il and desires Ia
catch II or the story Of the mirage OF the desert
that seems 10 indicate some bright scene OF beau
ty but az the very moment when you approach u
the yapOr all goes away and you have nothing De
fore YOU but the sterile field. And so u IS witt
man. He looks at these concerns OF time as n
time were his destiny Many OF them may be 10
nocently and nightly used and enjoyed, but 1t Il
seldom true that mans life does not consist Tor
him in the abundance OF the things that he
possesseth. Yet the little that the ughtesus man
has will always be better than the riches OF the
wicked and the trouble thereof. dinner Of
herbs where love is, will always be infinitely bet
ter than a stalled OK and hatred herewith.
See the vain race Of mortsls move
Like shadows o. 'er the plain;
They rage and strive, desire and love,
But all their noise IS vain
Some walk in honor's gaudy show
Some dix for golden ore
They toll for heirs they know not VINO
And straight are seen no more.
Whs, should wish or wal, for then
From creatures. earth and dust
They make our expectations vain
And dissppoint our trust.
But. Secondly Faith enables the Christian u
obtain the victory over the slurements OF the
world by placing the issues OF this life Their Just
estimate, connecting time with eternity. be per
ceives how true il is that all sinful indulgence Il
confined TO mere present enjoyment. IL may De
sweet In the mouth, but II Will be bitter IN the
fruits and result thereof. The man who is neg
ectful OF the high duties which relate 70 eternity
will lose many OF the eniOyments OF time, too. lie
has no such communion with himself, no pleas
ant retrospect Of the past no prospect that pene-
trstes eternity. HIS great aim and prospect Is
last 10 live on the Present mainly and shut the fu
,ure out from himself. What think you OF such
An. there are times NItu khtfc 4. Al-lt
sprnging up and exploring his soul-a meteor
highland he allows It 10 expire. He s~akes,
alas bat for moment, while conscience springs
from its moorings IL is the faith OF the Christian,
the eve of the mind fixed upon, and the love Of the
heart xed and opening upon the word Of God,
treasurng IL up, bringing II into continual apph-
cation that enables him 10 look forward 10 the
end of this lie as the beginning OF his true Lie
He lives, as dying daily to sin and the world
lives in communion with God-lives In the night
endowment and the right improvement OF all his
faculties, and patiently waits for the end OF his
faith which IS the salvation OF bis soul. la the
73d Psalm. David says, But as for me, my feet
were almost gone my steps had well nigh slipped
for was enviOus at the foolish when | saw the
prosperity of the wicked % and when thought
to know this II too painful for me- until went
into the sanctuary OF Sod then understood their
end
Faith takes this view. Faith, in the light OF
Gods truth looks forward. Faith, IN the balance
OF the sanctuary, takes its measure OF what IS
valuable and precious.
Again, faith gains victory over the alurements
OF the worldly, modifying our desires Tor all that
this world can give. Now you cannot correct an
evil passion Of our moral nature unless by the force
Of rs opposite. You canno; expel pride except BY
implanting humility. You cannotremove worldly
m!ndedness unless OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES take rs
place. Noa cannot conquer hatred otherwise than