Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1876-03-30

cleanse from all sin and make pure
the inner man.
4. II is precious in its work. 1t
must be followed by works to prove
its vitality, hence we read in the
Bible Of the works of faith, and
st. James tells us, that faith, if it
hath not works is dead, beng alone.
Behold the benefits of faith, it
,enefits the believer himself, it
ongs to honor the Savior, it seeks
o benefit the Church in its benev-
ience, it ENCOMPASSES the world, it
comics to save souls from death.
Hence how laborious was st. Paul
nd his colleagues. Also the
Jrimitiye Christians. What a
tand against Satan was made by
he martyrs, how valiant was Mar
in Luther, Melanchthon, and a
lost of others; men Of faith and
mdaunted courage. They carried
he gospel forth into the earth re-
gardless Of any enemy that arose
against them.
The flashes of gospel light shot
forth until at its meridian height
it famed all over the civilized
world and the wilderness blossom
ed as tie rose. Oh precious faith,
thou art the producer Of the noblcst
and hottest influences that have
ever blessed this sinful world.
Impelled by faith, the Mission
airy wends his way to barbarous
hordes, in foreign climes, to circu-
late and preach the everlasting
gospel. Dislnterested and selE-de-
nying men, are constantly laboring
for the diffusion of knowledge, the
instruction Of the young, and by
preaching the cross, to rescue man
from spiritual slavery and ever.
lasting death. Stimulated by it
the human soul has commiserated
the wretchedness of man, and
formed institutions Of learning.
hospitals and asylums for the help
less, INDECENT and wretched.
Oh precious faith, who can en-
umerate the blessings dispensed
by thee, the miseries alleviated,
and the crimes prevented. What
if no faith were found upon the
earth, then would this world be
come as Sodom and like unto Go
morrah. Let the fruits Of iniidell-
ty be contrasted with the works Of
faith. What has infidelity done
to benefit the world. Where are
its blessings, where its benevolent
institutions, where are its trophies
Of love, Alas, compared with the
holy fruits Of faith, how wretched
are the operations Of inidelity, the
summit Of its ambition is the an
initiation Of the Christian religion,
and qualification on the lap of
sensual indulgence. Its infu-
ence hitherto has been to seattle
and destroy. How different from
the works of faith.
5. In the comfort and support
which If imDarts in seasons of trial
and adversely.
Then the God Of hope has filed
the soul with all joy and peace in
believing, making it abound in
hope through the power of the
Holy Spirit. To the feeblest dis
ciples Jesus says, let not your
heart be troubled.
Faith counteracts the chilling
influence of poverty, and in that
season, the prayer Of faith has
been answered. Witness the faith
of the prophet. Although the fg
tree shall not blossom, neither shall
fruit be in the vines, the labor of
the olive shall fail, and the fields
shall yield no meat, the focks shall
be cut of from the field, and there
shall be no herd in the stalls.
Yet l will rejoice in the Lord.
l will joy in the God of my saliva
ton. Witness the faith of Job.
Though be Stay me yet will I trust
IN him.
How oft has faith dispersed the
darkness of the chamber Of Attic
ton, an&irradiated it with glory,
and caused the lip of submission
to kiss the bitterest cup of sorrow.