Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-11-05
Faith Better Than knowledge.

knowledge of God is privilege and
delight, of course, when it Is granted, but it
clock, ew'uajs .tyIuJy We saw parlor
in glass case. Through that case all the
mechanism and motion of the clock was
clearly visible. Every adjustment of the
wheels, every click of the lever, every stroke
of the pendulum, was distinctly seen. But
it is not necessary that clock should have
a glass case in order that it may be trusted
to tell me the time of day. Ordinarily,
only the hands and the face are seen but
these are enough to go by. So an intimate
knowledge OF Gods ways is not necessary in
order TO commend our trust in him. | need
not understand all the relations and adjust
ments of divine Providence before | can
trust the Lord On the dial.plate of Scripture
| see the hands pointing to the promises and
the commands and the rewards of disciple
ship, aud it is enough. | believe and trust !;
God says it shall be, and that is enough.
Faith does not require TO know why it shall
be, and that is enough. Faith does not re-
quire to know why it shall be, or how. This
holds especially true of the matter of saliva
ton. God says, " Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved" The sin
ner has just to take that promise, and act on
it, aud trust in God that he shall be saved.
He need not know all the intricaces of the
plan of salvation. He need not look through
the glass case of some system of theology,
and learn how each wheel of doctrine fits
into every other-free-will and foreordina-
tion, faith and atonement, repentance and
forgiveness. The figure on the dial-God's
gracious promise-the hand of God pointing
clearly aud unerringly to it, that is enough
for faith. He believes the promise, and
" the heart becomes fixed, trusting in the
Lord" =. = Do you know why it is
that you can carry your child of five years
old through some dangerous way without its
mauifesting the slightest fear, when the
same child, at fifteen years of age, will be
terribly alarmed in the same position and
circumstances For example: here is a
narrow plank across a swift and boiling tor
rent. The little child will let you bear it
across in your arms without manifesting the
slightest alarm but the older one can hardly
be persuaded to walk or be carried or led
across. what makes the difference 1t is
simply the greater knowledge that the older
one has. Because it knows more of the
danger, it has less confidence in its father
arms. Thus knowledge queuches trust
wisdom destroys filial confidence. What
did Christ mean when he said, Except We
repent and become as little children, ye can.
not enter into the kingdom of heaven p
Why did he not say, Except ye study and
become as men, ye cannot enter into the
kingdom of heaven 2" Simply for this reason
children can trust; wise men doubt and are
afraid. Children can rest in the Fathers
arms, and let him save them from danger
wise men must investigate the danger, anG
understand how one can be saved from it
And as they may never get to the end oi
their questlonings or Investigations, they
never get to the point where they can trust
The more investigation there is, the NOR,
uncertainty ard unfxedness arising, sine,
Gods ways are past finding out. Hence
the only way 10 get fixed position is t.
trust God and rest in his grace. I" His hear
is fixed, trusting in tae Lord. His heart il
established, he shall not be afraid" Oh, hov
Gods way of grace astonishes and con
POUNDS human wisdom 1t changes end
of mans method, aud makes the believe
begin where the reasoner leaves off, an,
puts the child where we should expect t
find the man.-Rev. DR.. A. j. Gordon.