Smyrna times., 1860-04-19
rAULls sAITH AND ASSURANCE.

course on the above subject on Sunday last,
synopsis of which wc herewith present,
81 know whom / have believed. and persuaded
shas ne Is able to keep that which have committed
ssee him against thai day."-H Timothy. chap. Nv
When the Apostle Paul penned these words
he w4s surrounded by circumstances the most
srying-a prisoner at Rome, condemned to die,
and waiting The day of his execution. Not
wi.hsandiug the odum which attached itself
40 the tear Of dying by the hands of an execu-
aioner, he says q am not ashamed. for know
whom have believed" 1t is impossible to
read this chapter without feeling deeply inter-
ss,ed in this most noble and amiabe of mem
To what trials was he exposed! His life was
one Of peril and trlbula,ioui in labors he was
superabui,dans, ana his success was almost in
credible. Wherever he went be left trace |
: of life and light behind, To him as the
a great instrument of God, the Gsntiles. the
whole habitabIe world. owe their salyation.-
Yet see him at the close Of life, neglected BY
friends, abandoned to The hands of ruthless men.
10 prison and in chains. trumphing over suffer
ing and death; having the fullest persuasion
fthe truth Of lhe doctrines which he had preach
ed, and the most encouraging anticipatons OF
the glory which va about to be revealed He
felt no evil aud he feared none,--sin had lost
its power. death its sting,--the grave its VIC
tory and hell lis horror,--with death full in
view, he triunphantIy said 'si am now ready
10 be offered. AID the time of my departure is
at hand,r &C.. The question arises. whence
caae these lriumphs what gave him this
bolaaess i--what made him superior to the fears
of death Cur text, he remarked, presents Us
with key to the whole mystery. 81 know
whom have believed" etc. We shall notice
"a The Apostles faith--'fi known n whom
Ihave believed" What is faith IN its widest
sense il il belief in the word, character os work
of another. Though requisite in religion, it is
important everywhere. Savfng faith is some
thing more; il is tirm belief Of Gods testi-
mony, and Of the truth of the gospel, which in-
huencss the will and leads to an entire reliance
,ou, and an i'm plicitsrust in, Christ for salvation
As the great theme of this divine testimony is
Christ Jesus--ihe incarnation Of God for the
redemption of man--faith cannot truly receive
that lsstimony without believing IN Christi
that ChFist, revealed in the volume of this tes
timouy. faith accepts as helng the God, nc less
than the man, and becoming the Sovereign nc
less than the Sagour Of his people. The APos.
Ties fs;.h. then, was in Chrst,-in His divinity
i'm His Jailhiulness and truth, in His vicariou'
s,ousment and in His prevailing intercession
and, being in Chtist. it rested on the tesslmon,
of God.
We remark then, that bis faith was an en-
afs lind nj
feeling and grooping It's way 10 the dark with
out revelation to guide or endurence to support
IL was not bold and prosunptuous, seeking Z
sovhers God had given hin. no warrant TO trea
but il was an enlightened faith hence hs say
al know" have perfect knowledge, am no
deceived. The question arises. what are tn
evidences which threw such food Of light j
the Apostles mind as to enable him TO say :"
known N Writers on evidence have divide
il into two kinks. posoerfui and all poDerft
powerful is that which affects and convince
the mind, all powerful is that which Affects an
harnesses the heart both of them combined ia
the enlightenment Of Paul. lie had know
ledge of the teachings of the Old Testamen
and fully understood The evidence which Go
tightening influences Of the Spirit, which nj
ealy enlightened his miad but improved b
heart. and with these two combined be cou
say II know whom | have believed"
Again we remark that his faith was acti'
in tha. ii brought him 10 the knowledge of Chri
in the remission of his sins. His faith rest'
ina living Redeemer, and brought him to .
= g. III a. pol
on the Son Jesus Christ, and thou shalt
saved" = This is eternal life to know ths tr'
God, and Jesus, whom he hath sent" The
samaric influence in faith, bringing US in
union and fellowship with Christ; hence
says . 4 know" We readily see, from the
words, that this great conviction 10 which I
Apostle gave expression an experiment
one, and is the privilege of every experime
tai Christian. lie that believeth on the
Of God hath the witness in himself" A Chr
tian, then, is one 10 whose heart the convictis
of the gospel have penetrated, and whose inI
nature has bees saturated by the light, the Il
and the power of the gospel, created anew
Christ Jesus.
Again, his faith was active in that II g
him fellowship soith God In aluding to
experience he says" :" am crucihed with Chr
yet, nevertheless. / live, yet, not |, but Ch
liveth in me, and Inc life live is by faith
the Son of God" Christ lived in him and
In Christ; the union was vital This is
ufixilege Of every believer in Christ He
keepe,h my commandments" said Jesus, :
il is that loyelh me, and he shall be love
my Father. aud We will come to him. ana N
our abode with him.