New-York tribune., 1875-11-29
NATIIRE OF REAL FAITH.
The Rev. Hoieard crosby D. d. at tie church Of The Corenant
(PTesbytSridn).


(Presbytsridn).
The Rev. Howard Crosby, d. D., preached
Yesterday morning at the Church of the Covenant at
Parkave. and Thirty-hfthst., in the absence OF the
pssor the Rev NJ T. Vincent, ID. d. DR.. CrOsby's text
was Matthew XXI %" And all things whatsoever ye
shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive"
Much harm, the preacher sao is done to individual
sous and much disaster the Church by loose use OF
the eseptures This may result either from general gno-
rance or hasty knowledge. Many good Christians are
poor expounders OF the Gospel Passages are sometimes
made To bear the weight OF some startling doctrine, ana
are used without respect to their meaning OF CONTEXT
MANY are led away by these wOhe-wisps It's usually
the earnest honest Christian who makes mistakes In re-
gard to text the teaching GENERALLY runs ths way
All Won have to do when you wish anythhs Is 10 pc
leve You viii get it aud you wiz The le1t seems TO
saw This distinctly To seek the true meaning Oh our
Sayiors words, let Ms regard the circumstances unuer
which they were spoken Returning III the t hors h ~ "
Jerusalem with jesus the dlSclpies -" tno @ pio 2 m5
r,e he mad addressed witbecd, and they seemed sur
rs d d tod i them 10 have faith in God and they might
say unto this mountain " Be thou remoIGa, ana ),
put upon the const fgenoh oi .h"se ie wbo are
the words OF Crst ,lL, 10 ibe st@e,oenf' There
nav I've many appeals to God when nave
not the first element OF prayer IN tien An %
uromisc Z" 20 TO prepare place for you Inc SECOND
restriction s that the promise does mol apply 10 le Ih
empty words which go by the name OF prayers: n
Christian expresses WISH ana thhAs ~ prayer, on5
10 God be made in the nonchaont way IN which one
Ia (es of his Can Christian go 90 G9d ana pray
and Tic next moment forget all about God Itue pISy CT
makes the life slime and the heart become ehdci. sruc
p.aN er s seeing Him who is invisible The thr festc-
non is the one least understood. 10 regards DeneI
Ihe belief is no mixture OF determination M WIZ
and yiydness OF fancy. That Is psychological phchon
enn and not true belief. II belief In not mere intel
ecual conviction, what is f IL IL CONVICTION tit Is
divine and that not occur 10 ordinary experience
ton but faith in God himself III cannot De
@htaned by any process spiritual gymnastics Ii be-
longs 10 the mracuous but that does not iln y 10 any
acc or person. The slightest particle or seseekihg III
tine belief proves il not ~ God. -.
The Lord does not reprOaeh us for not having tes
faith. There are many who think should nave IL hr
we have oy and gentencss II there any reproach
by our Lord IL was 10 the Apostles who had received
1csl - nromise that they soud have this faith who
had pleiary power to ChTt's name for anythiIe'
nm fIe lo,s not reproach for not having that faith
The favorable position for expecting the DIVINE git "
close and hearty work service Of our Master God
does moi give ms power piaytimg The LORD VIII nCt
and are lost IN Him, He may magnify ilinhe1
through us. This faith may be ieglnas
object Of prayer when selfish ends are IN view ana no
sesh motives operate When the Christian deNOos MS
whole power 10 glonfying God no may cons senty ass
this eift There is thing We have right 10 expect
with certainty when ask it OF dod-th.t s lie HOLY
spirit God hae promised that TO every one VINO asAs
without exception. For lacking this we may We , re-
preached Our growth IN grace s altogether IN our own
hands DO We ash for this 10 II real ASKING 10 ~