Morning journal and courier., 1880-10-18
st. Thomas. Church.

Rev. Dr. Davis, of Philadelphia.
 The Rev.. Dr. Davis, of Philadelphia, preached at St. Thomas Church yesterday morning. His text was from First John, 9th chapter, 4th verse.
 This is the victory that overcometh inc world, even our faith"
 The reverend gentleman said: The disci- pie whom Jesus loved is not speaking in these words of a possible victory or of a future victory, but of one that has actually been achieved and is now an historical fact The more exact rendering of his words would be, ''This is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. "
 The victory is fact, independently of any share we may have in it. It has been accomplished by the life, the death, and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who wrote in his epistle the words of my text is the same who records in his gospel those sublime words which he has betrayed, when about to offer His great sacrifice and and through the grave used gate of death to pass on to his frightful resurrection; s'Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world D
 The world here is not the world as God made 1t, for there we are told 'tGod saw everything that He had made and behold it was very good; but the power of Satan hath blghted and filled it with sin, so that we read again. ''And God saw that the wickedness of man was part of the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually The world which the Son of God has overcome is that which is op- posed to God, which is under the curse and dominion of sin, which is filled with tempta- tion, which is desolated by death. With psr- verted wills and slumbering consciences, men may come to love sin, but they all instinct instinctively shudder at the approach of death
 rIa 4Ia4 JsoGIz namely, the power under the ressurpation of the wicked one The great deliverer has made atonement and reconciliation for the sin of the world. He has brought pardon not only from the curse of sin, but from the power of sin, to all those who believe in him. Now If in this world we are able, to some degree, toNwalk by sight, andfaith, how much more necessity must it be with regard to that world which is utterly hidden from our eyes, Of which we can know absolutely noth- ing but what God has been pleased to tell us.
 l. The power of faith: There are few names that stand out prominently in the history of each successive generation, while the rest are lost sight of and forgotten. There are those who have planned great enterprises that have been accomplished successfully; have con- ducted campaigns that have ended victori- ously; have introduced reforms which have been benefited and blessed by the world. What is it that is in each of these cases, and
 
 It is the power of faith
 II. The object of faith Nothing does more to sadden life and to wean one from earth, than to be disappointed by one to whom you have given your whole trust and confidence It is shock from which one is long in recovering. It jars the whole nature and everybody. It is well ikened by the prophet to the staff of a broken reed, whereon If man lean it will go into his hand and pierce it. The blessed ness of this faith is that it is centered in one where there is no possibility of disappoint- ment; who has not only the willingness, but the power to save; who is unchanging in his love and untiring in his efforts to draw all men unto him. It is better to trust in him than to put confidence in princes.
 Lastly let us speak of the victory of faith There IS no unreality, dear brethren, about the victory that has been gained. The Son of God, the conqueror, has risen from the dead and gone up in triumph into Heaven. His victory is our victory if ours be the faith. This is the teaching.
 In conclusion the Rev. Dr. Davis said: pray that all of you, dear brethren, may be brought to that faith which overcometh the world. The world will surely disappoint you in many ways while you stay in it, and if in 1t only you have your position you are poor indeed. Leave it not, as you soon must leave it, the captive and the slave of Satan and wearing the heavy shackles of your sins, but as one made free by the peace of God Choose now your position with the just, so that with heart and voice you can join with them the grand ascension Thanks be to God who giveth the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ