The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-08-08
FAITH AND WORK.

Christianity has been often misrep-
resented and misunderstood, perhaps
in nothing more than in the conditions
it imposes. The Scriptures abound in
incentive to work. AL the holy men
of old were workers. Jesus worked
as long as his day on the earth
lasted. If we would have example of
a life of labor, turn to 2 Cor; IL. The
Old Testament says: Wash you, make
you clean. The New Testament, with
still more expicitness, commands /:
Work out your own salvation.
Yet there are those who tell us that
the gospel encourages sloth, and con-
demns work that it forbids all rcli-
ance on ourselves, and teaches that
we are to be saved passively through
the merits of Christ. In this day
either ignorantly or willfully misrepre-
sent the whole subject. The gosral,
which never discourages but promr; {
to self-reliance, forbids us t., dcpand ON
ourselves alone. 1t rresepts TO Ms on
all-sullicient SaviCr, but requires us to
lay hold on linn by faith.
Whats IS faith as presented to US in
u"e sacred word! No mere passive
assent or indolent dependence on an
other. See it as defined and illustrat-
ed i'll the eleventh Of Hebrews by the
lives of Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses,
and host ofworthy men and women.
Their faith was an active principle,
which took hold on God, and made
divine things, not seen by mortal eyes,
visible and real to their minds. Faith
is at the foundation of all true work.
What, but faith, enabled Napoleon to
brave all dangers, and conquer the
world for twenty years? What, but
faith in their leader and cause, made
his soldiers invincible against all odds
Unbelief, distrust, weaken, paraIyze.
In our first great struggle for indie
pendence, and in our last for the sup
preston Of the rebellion, we should
have miserably failed but for the strong
faith Of the people. How does faith
inyigorate, and the lack of it enfeeble
in every effort and enterprise. Now
gospel faith is no less operative, Vita
and essential. To sinners, and such
we all are, the contest with evil is 8
hard and fearful one, and their saliva.
ton the most stupendous of all under
takings. If we engage in this war
fare alone, we shall be sure to fail
Knowing this, the divine compassion
has extended to us an almighty arm.
Christ is raised up to be the captain
of our salvation. But the the captain
will not and can not save us, unless
we enlist under his banner, and prove
ourselves good and valiant soldiers
We need him, and equally our OWE
earnest cooperation.
We need him both for what he has
done and for what he has suffered
He suffered, the just for the unjust
and bore our sins in his own body OF
the cross. The scriptures teach that
in his great sacrifice is laid the foun.
dation of our forgiveness. His blood
was shed for the remission of sins
and his life is given us as a model fol
our lives. Thus is he offered to US as
a full and sufficient Saviour to pardon
our sins, and lead us on to victory.
The way is plain, the conditions
plain to the sincere inquirer. The
new life begins in faith and begins il
work j; continues to the end, and is
perfected by faith and work combined
Neither exists alone, both are har
monized and blended throughout. One
; can not exist without the other, and i
it could, would be of no avail. TC
sceptics and cavilers this may appear
strange, but to the true believer it is ;
real and blessed experience. Morn
ing Star.