Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1871-09-21
What is Faith P
Fer the Fayetteville Observer.


upon the mysteries of faith. Yet
he SO spirit,lolises the subject that
he deepens the mystery to bis
own humiliation and energies
from the cloud almost suffocated
by the darkness of his own creating.
The very first sentence is an un-
qualified assertion without a sim
gle argument to support it, for the
very work which he assigns TO
faith, is the work Of the Holy
Spirit. Again, Mr.. Rustic says,
whenever it (faith) works upon
the heart according to its nature
and design, it produces progress
i've assimilation to the divine per-
fections, till lost in vision, &c"
Now I would have Rustic to know
that the bible no where teaches
the doctrine that Faith will be
swallowed up in sight, but on the
contrary it teaches that Faith will
be perpetuated through the cease
less cycles OF eternity. | would
also like for Mr.. r. to inform me
how the low conceptions of the
infinite God, could expand into the
most sublime realities. If a low
conception can become a reality,
how can that reality be sublime
yea, most sublime? Now, Mr..
Editor, just think Of low concep-
ton of God, growing to sublime
truth. The thing is incredible
and preposterous in the extreme.
Our low conceptions of Deity must
inevitably vanish before the light
of Christianity-they must and
will be given up as our minds are
enlightened, and, instead of tecom
ing sublime realities, they dwin-
die into insignificsnce as We ap
proach nearer and nearer the great
source Of light. A low conception
must necessarily be an erroneous
one, and could, therefore, never
become sublime truth.
Mr.. r. believes in progression,
and points out some of the spirit
ual heights to which the faithful
servant of God attains; yet he
limits faith, and conpels man to
reach point beyond which he
cannot go, which is plain con-
tradiction Of Scripture. The bible
every where plainly teaches, that
the soul of man is susceptible of
indefinite improvement, and that
eternity will never fully develop
its taculties--but each succeeding
moment in eternity will find tie
soul expanding and increasing in
knowledge and faith, instead of
being lost in sight. According to
the theory, MIR. R. will still. in
company with hope. look forward
to and constantly expect greater
displays ofGod's power and clearer
evidences of divine relationship.
Mr.. R. further states, that "the
systematic Divine as frequently
mistakes Faith as the fantastic
visionary" Now, Mr., Editor, if
this be true, Faith is a matter of
chance, and I would listen to Mr.
r. very faithfully if he will just
explain this strange sentence of his.
How can q man be mistaken as to
whether he bellows a thing to be
true or false2 Therefore, if a man
believes Gods word to be true, he
knows that he believes it; and
how can he be mistaken? Faith
is simply a reliance or trust i'll
Gods promises, with constant
expectation of the blessing prom
Used. Faith, in other words, be-
comes the realization of the bles-
sing denied, hence, the Apostle
says, Faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen. Now if this be
true, Mr.. Rs visionary would not
be quite so apt to be orthodox as
the systematic divine; his fancy
would lead him astray and every
effort he might make to disentan-
gle himself would only serve to
deepen the mystery and lessen
his chance of escape. While he
who systematizes his divinity
would at once be able to meet the
difficulty and lay hold upon truth,
taking sober sensible view OF
the plan of salvation, he is pre-
pared to appreciate God and lay
hold upon the horns of the Altar.
He reaches forth and takes the
offered blessing. Now if Mr.. r.
will preach US o series of sermons,
or write us series of articles upon
the subject of faith, he is sure of
one attentive listener or reader.
Yours respectfully, HOMO.
~ Mr.. Thos. McFerrin ad-
L.