The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-08

Itu.ms like a platiiude to say that %
come. faith is valuable only because
be-. ,-.ential to a correct life. We are
saved by faith because faith leads TO
obedience. righteousness, holmes.
without which no man is one Whit better
OF bettero' for having a correct creed.
And vet There is. and always has
been. a tendency among men TO make
the belief of Cnri-tan doctrine a SUBJ
stitute for q holy life. L. was So in
the earliest period of the
church. when some boastcd Of
their faith who neglected tie
most obvious Christian duties. Saint
James sought to correct this error. de-
claring that "faith, if thaveuot works
is dead, being alone and teaching the
utter useleasness of faith that docs not
hear fruits in cody life. I'm our owl
time are many who lay great stress up
ON intellectual 10y atty 90 crccds and
confessions Of faith. but fail in that
supreme proof Of loyalty. conduct
They are more strenuous about ihen
beliefs than about their practice.
Nothing can be more itiIri.us .har
the divorce Of right beliefs from fighto-
Gus living. To believe one say aud go
contrary TO that belief, is domorrzine
in the extreme. IL produces moral
paralysis We deplore skeptcisms' but
which is worse-to di,belicve and aci
consistently with unbeiief. or TO receive
the most impmtan; truth With apparent
conviction, and siill live an inflei.iie
such a course puts faith itself in ieo-
plrdy. for if che that dooth God S will
shall know of the doctrine, If otedi-
ence e. Tie light we have increases
light. then di,obcdisics may ina. out
that light. There is a vital connection
between an evangelical faith and a
righteous lie. Neither can iorg sur-
vlye the decay Cf the other.
Faith is not an end, but the means TO
an end. God has revealed nothing for
tine mere purpose of being believed
The sole purpose of revelation, from
beginning 70 end. is tie production of
d holy life in men. This was the su
rremo object Of the O,d TIE lament dis
ren.anon, with its history. prophecy
commandments and sacrifices. They
a'l converge i'm Christ, who BIS the lend
.i ,he law for Iigh.eou.ress unto ev
sry one that belcyclh.' This was ih'
object of The incarnation. teaching. sui'
f.rue dcathanl resurrection of Christ
u His Institution of the Holy Sacra
ment and ihe living ministry: of Ills
.l Of the Holy Ghost. and of al
Dos gifts TO mon. And h'
gave some apostles; and some evan
gcn.i.. and SOME prophets; and some
pastors and teachers: for the peIi,ciina
~ the saints. for the work Of the min
i,.ry for the cdifying of the body o
Christi an we an come i'm the unit,
Of The faith and Of the knowledge O.
the Son Of God. unto a perfect mar
unto the measure Of the stature Of 'n'
ful.ue,s Of Christ: that speak
ing the truth i'm love. we may grow "l
into him ia al things, who is the head
even Christ The attainment by mel
of Chrsilike character IS the end Of al
ihe remedial agencies Col has lush
tuied since the fall. For this the firm
o.i belief in Christian doctrines Is ~
substitute.
We are not. therefore. TO rest satisie'
with the fact that We have pcriec
creed that wa believe all that God IA
revealed respecting himself. las Sol
aud the Holy Spirit. their nature an'
work, the ongin, nature duty AM
destiny Of men. This belief Is simp'.
means 10 an end. aud j, Of no value
it does not enable "a, to realize that 'n
IA experience and character. ID
Apostle Peter declares that the end 0
our faith is the salvation Of our sous
and salvation is impossible VINO"
holiness Of heart aud life.
No man eau disparase the import"nc
Of Christian faith BY placing too niue
stress in bis practice upon iaiIhiu
Christian life. for the reason that III
NOR. diligent he is in Christian du',
the more lie illustrates the soundDe'
Of his faith and the importance
It. Herce you rarely hear
man Of really holy life say anYtbip