The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1888-01-18
For the Central Presbyterian.
Faith in God.

Tho daily history of earnest Christians
has, In every age of the world, been most
interesting and beautiful. We see them
90 forth in the morning not knowing
what the day will bring forth to them in
trial, or persecution, or opposition, or
abuse, in losses and bereavements, great
sorrows or sudden death, land none are
30 sensible as they how full of these events
is the great womb of the future); but
they go forth composed, not thinking so
much what they shall do or say in this
or that emergency, but simply striving to
be filed With sense of God s'presence,
which, possessing them, and overshadow-
ing them, and favoring them with the
mind of Christ. provides them direction
in every emergency. How can they do
otherwise than speak forth the words OF
the Holy Ghost. duke xii: IL
The editop'of the paper 1of which this
is written in an article some time ago, in
holding up before forgetiul peop the
great fact of a living, personal God In
the world, says among other things, that
every one who knows anything at all
about Christian truth knows that we are
dependent upon God, that God governs
and controls the affairs OF Time" and all
that; "but," he adds, the number is Sc
lect and few who comprehend the extent
of our dependence upon God. ="
One of the greatest defects of our ma
ture, perhaps, is our tendency to ingrati-
tude for ordinary mercies. If we com
pretended as we ought the extent of cur
dependence upon God we should see
touching causes for gratitude to Him a
thousand times each day where we now
find one, and that one felt feebly.
But even if we bring ourselves to COM
prehend our unlimited dependence upon
God do we then Just simply depend on
Him ? Do we realize that as lie is an
almighty God, 80 to US who believe on
Him whom He hath sent He is an al
mighty and infinitely loving Father, and
all that endearing name impies-s Faith
er who thinks it thing not too little to
be interested in the minutest affairs of
our poor lives2
1t Is positively refreshing to any man
to read the thoughts and sayings of those
who have been suddenly struck loose
from some slavish, superstitious faith.
Go back to the times of Martin Luther,
for instance, and read the biographies or
the journals of some Of those earnest souls
of that dark day to whom the new-found
light Of the lost faith opened world of
new views Of God. Instead of religion
being dreary field Of endless seli-intro-
spection and doubt and distrust and IN
certainty, it now appeared all bright to
them through simple, child like conf
dence in an ALLOWING and present Father.
How simple and transparent their faith
How it broke forth and made itself known
and felt on all occasions, even in talk
ing with one another on the most ordina-
~ topics, by some simple, natural, rever-
ent expressions of trust OF of gratefulness.
They seem to have been Just penetrated
through and through. with sense Of
Code loving, caring presence.
Not that they had no conflicts. On
the contrary they had many and sharp
conflicts The most eminent saints have
been those who have had the sharpest
battles with Satan, and doubt, and irres-
olution, in their closets on their knees
alone before God. But when they came
forth their faith was something to behold
was worth something to the world.