, 1880-10-31
THE BENEFITS OF FAITH.

IT MAKES THE CHRISTIAN bErIEE AND
NohLEk MAN.
tn, st''r aud Corsnant;
The apostle defines faith as tile substance
of things hoped tor; the evidence Of things
mt eno,, 11ona Il \ desire for some object
"oN 9e.': 1i'r> &c.,, ,.;4,, os,.aaa4. t;o,,
esSslAs.' Eo"u. u,.'teu "'e'- ~ '"-oa
o1 obtalnlnS H. 1iehce ihe1e can oe no 11ope
without foundation OH which tP rest Faith
is tie substance, the foundation OH which
hn.u. r,sts VIZ have 4 conviction that
." ~ f,,,,;..:a,,;.,e .,.a tr,sa. -.
tie '',s'.''ss Vi -, ss;,,. W. us
tnhvlt1t'n we may cali tain. we also nave
evidence That there are things, not seen,
causes things not seen TO appear to US reali-
@;,.. ~. ,...,;.;.s ;e f,;t1 RIA Cocna1 enoo1-s
=. e,,d ,s.,,;",'
OF many thlnsS WHICH ale u''seeIi, a'lu Mnicl
dwell here in the flesh, yet we have firm
couyiction that they are realities; and there
+nr., .,o hona {o oo;n noceass;on of then, in
.:.s,, ~ Uon,,a1, - ,,,,sao,,
e tha , nnr;ons o1 .s,;ties nf the resrrection
state are unseen. By the exercise of
faith We come in1o the possession Of
hona iuto t,,a h1essed apd sniritua1 realities
lope, 1.l.o -.e o.easo 49, .;M. ..a +near
OF fehsloh' ana are ehflcheu VIII une lreas.
salvation. Faith is not useless thing, bar
ron of sweet influences and heavenly Hnits.
Init Il works Nv love. nurifes the Heart, and
ovrrcn,nes the worId' Il is Of inestimablc
snd cIersh ri h # ''e''$~' @A''~ "1'0 t0''e'7
r 1r1sr he conceded that faith f1oes mt
rraatn ~ a1x an,9Ein". ~ Jo"s ,nt MAKE onV frnth
and does not affect the EXISTENCE Of ANYTHING
ffatis, The sublime tTlltls Of Christanity
en4erta,ned 1y or oe rot Te cterna] VcTities Of
religion dn mt become so through the exer-
cise of faith on The mart of nan. They exist,
and remain lei what thew are. indcpendently Of
man's belief or disbelief, The existence and
character of God. tI,e reyn|ations of Jesus
cbrist: ii The ~ doctrines @ @ Of our hoiy RELIGION,
are not affected by our faith in them, or our
want Of faith~ Rut bv faith or want of faith.
We affect ourselves. If we believe there IS
no God. then to us there is no Creator, no
wise and good being governing the world,
g1lidinp cven+s tn their issues. and seeking the
good and welfare of men: but the world and
ali upon it came into existence we know not
how: chance presided over the world. and
our destiny is enveloped in darkness and
olphanasc BIZ unbelief, and are without God
IL lie world. lie have no supreme power
and intelligence III which to confide; no Fa-
ther in Heaven to watch over, care for, and
bless us; we involve ourselves III darkness,
and become helpless wanderers without
toiace, without hope, and without guide.
The cloud that gathers over our heads, max
Ing it dark at MONDAY, does not annihilate
the sun: it only interceptS his rays: Unbe-
lief is the c|nud which intercepts the rays
from the sun of Righteousness, converting
the Christians beautiful day into the ske1-
ties night Of gloom.
If W. have fn;ti, -, co1 as , wise no1rer-
ful, but ma|ignart heine. severe in His JUS
lice, exacting III lis demands. without
mercy, Implying. and unforgiying, He be-
comes really 50 r. rs 1honrh lie has the
COMPASSION of = father the tenderness of a
mother. and even waitS tn he eracious, He
isto US what we believe Him to be, though,
in atact; lie is very Unlike the cruel being our
faith represents i{iln,
Possessing i,1tinIt tcn,lerness' love. and conf
lassion; ,i,,or. willinv ia bcstoW fayors than
We arr to ask ltiul: if we believe lie is onr
Father TINT we are Ills children; that lie will
but vii ~i no. shl'c ns III anger 1or our saS
eni .,,d ~: ~. -! ~. .ii * ha ,,ar";-