The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1867-11-28
From the Square and Compass.
FAITH HOPE AND CHARITY.
Faith is denomjnated the substan


above is undoubted, and is proven by
our every day experience. 1t is faith
in himself, that leads man into dan.
gerous enterprises. Faith, that by
his own will, spirit, and resources, he
will cxtricate himself from any and
all difficulties he may encounter. He
hears a story Of some far off land,
rich in detail, either of its luxuriant
forests, whose mighty monarchs rear
their towering heads towards heaven.
presenting a vast field, for the wood
mans axe; it's fertile plains, waiting
the occupation of the husbandman
with his plough, to return a hundred
fold the seed committed to their care;
its hills tccming with the shining ore,
cropping out in all directions, invi-
ting the hardy miner with his pick
and cradle; or its waters whose depths
are alive with the fnny tribes, offer
ing a rich harvest for the fsherman's
net. Believing, he is led by faith, to
leave the familiar scenes of his child
hood, which have hitherto afforded
him enjoyment; the pleasures and
comforts of home; the associations of
his youth and manhood, to set forth
on journey, in quest of new coun-
try, new tics, new avenues of wealth
and prosperity, which as yet, he has
only seen with the eye Of faith
Urged on by faith, he will brave the
dangers of the deep, tie rocky pass,
the toaming torrent, and the dark
rcccsses ofthe mountain cavern, and
painless forest, in search of the "El
Dorado 0" his faith. And if success
attends him, he will with joy cry
"Eurcka" and the tidings tell, that
we'll his faith was founded. Faith is
one of the great sustaining principles
Of the human heart. It enables man.
kind in general, to triumph over the
trials and disappointments Of life; 10
exercise patience and perseverance,
which will overcome many obstacles;
by it the christian endurcs without
murmuring the sorrows and Affections
of earth; and unrcpining yields to thes
t1zpensation ofan over-rulingcProyi-
lcnce; believing that for him who
fights the good fight, and cndures to
the end, there is laid up crown Of
glory. And all who have faithfully
performed the duties Of their several
stations, according to the light that
is within them, and have used their
best endcavours to improve the tai
ents committed to their charge, that
the glory of "God and the happi-
ness Of their fcl!ow-crcaturcs may be
can, by aid through faith,
meet the dark angel Of death on the
of the grave, and welcome
him as kind messenger, sent to
them from this earthly tab
nacle, to that Celestial tcmple-that
House not made with hands, eternal
in the heavens. "
Hope: thou best and brightest of
the heavenly spirits, who attend as
ministcring angels to the human race,
as man urged on by faith advances
midst dangers and difficulties to win
the prize his heart dcsires-tis thy
sweet influence sustains him in the
darkest hour. Should his path lay
across the briny sea, and the elements
above, bclow-mect in fierce contcn-
ton for the mastery, ard during the
conflict, old Dorcas, with rude blast,
should shiver his sails, and sing a re-
QUEEN through the rigging of his
storm tossed bark -thou-whispereth
courage, it will be calm anon. Or
should his destiny lead linn through
burning sands, the dreary desert,
the trackless woods, of for many
weary mile to travel over a thorny
road, thou cheerest him with thoughts
of pleasant paths beyond. Thou
picturest to his mind scenes Of soft
bubbling springs, with whose clear
waters he can qucnch his thirst, and
cool his parched lips; of luxuriant
groves and lcafy bowers, meath whose
shadows he can rest in peace and
safety. And in the day of sorrow
and hour Of affliction, when all looks
dark and dreary, thy bright star ap-
pears amidst the darkness, to guide
him to that rest, which is the reward
of faith.
The greatest of these is charity
Faith may be lost in sight, Hope end
in truition, but charity extends be-
yond tho grave to the boundless
realms of eternity. Not that charity
which merely relieves the physical
wants of our fellow-creatures, but
that spirit which will lead us to bear
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