New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-23
THE SYMBOL OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
The Rer Mateie Haie Saih at tie Iart Congregational


The Kew. Mathew Haze Snlltn preached
yesterday in the Park Congregational Church. at Sixth
ave. and Sevent-st, Brooklyn. His text was Joshua H.,
81: "And she bound the scarlet line in the window"
The Israetes had arrived the borders of Canaan.
the preacher said and the work OF Moses their awgiver
was done He to 60 MP Oh Mount Sebo and die, III
the midst of all his strength and power. The people
were the Jordan and become masters in the
home of their fathers which God had given to Abraham
long before the other peoples in existence st III
order that they might possess this land there
sary the same valor prowess. and labor II God had
not ridden In the cloudy by day and the pillar Of fire
by night Joshua chosen TO be their leader becaus"
he was a valiant captain and warrior fit TO encounter
and overcome the enemy. couple OF spies were
sent across the Jordan TO spy out the strength and
weakness OF the City OF Jericho, which was the
key of the land. The people of Jericho not
ware Of hat coming. They knew that the army Of
the Israetes approaching, and that their city would
be chief point Of attack and therefore they were on the
watch and when they two sran in the city they
informed the King who sent out me to search for them
But the spies went 10 hostess named Rahab, who kept
In the wall of the city, and represented to her
who they were and prevailed upon her to conceal them
So they hid away this house until the Kings
gers passed by Then Rahab entered into covenant
with the spies, in order TO her life when Jericho
should be taken. There several conditions
10 this covenant which she had to keep.
But she wanted something tangible n wit
me token by which to bind the covenant" She
let them down out OF window in basket by means Of
cord which happened to be scarlet, and they told her
10 nut this scarlet cord in the window and it should be
covenant to bind them SO she bound it in the window,
and accordingly escaped when the city fell.
II ia singular that there is not single story Of the Old
Testament either of peace war, which is not used
an illustration IN the Thus the Old and
New Testaments are bound together This history OF
Rahab ST. Paul says shows that you TO be saved by
faith while st. James declares that ii shows you TO
be saved by works This apparent contradictions not real
To solve it, and others similar to it, the context must be
consulted is better to sharpen dull tool than To
pend unnecessary force In making II do Its work III one
has to cut down II better 10 sharpen the AK be-
beginning; but II man lies suffering under FALLEN
tree there time 10 stop and grind the but II II be
dull force should be expended to make II cut And
" cannot make up his mind whether the AK should
handle IT, Both faith and works Suppose
dispute arises which is most necessary 10 treethe
roots the branches IL Is evident that both
sary SO with faith and works. People ask why Is 80
much faith necessary Why is not heroic sacrifice
demanded In truth there is sacrifice and heroism
without faith The shapeless marble block In the scuptors
SHOP his OF faith ncloses form of beauty which
he abOrs bring out. Faith moves 10 action and works
develop the ideal Rahab saved both by faith and
by works. Why did she Keep the covenant She had
faith and she acted upon IL. There certain small
b imperative conditions to the covenant such that
she must keep the secret she must the cord she
lei The spies with, and she must bind IL in partc
she would have persisted. 50 with the preaching of the
Gospel We not saved alone by The life OF Christ The
Ne are not redeemed by His life, His miracles, His
preaching although all these come IN TO ihe plan OF sal
WALTON. but by His glorious death and REDEMPTION.
This shows us the symbol OF siVatiOn In me Story OF
Eahab n Inattered what synbo was used 20 that
was accented There might have been hundred otBef
scarlet cords Jericho but this the chosen