Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-08-23
THE MAN OF FAITH.

Idh MAN VI tAlId'
The Interior
When difficulty is experienced by
any man in understanding the nature
and essence of faith, he may get a new
light on the subject by considering
some of faiths outward manifesto
tions. Perhaps the suggestion needs
to be guarded, lest we seem to forget
the primary importance of looking to
God for grace and light. AS with
wisdom, so with faith; if the one
lacking and longing for it will ask of
God, he will make the best possible
beginning and will find God liberal
giver. There need be no hesitation
in coupling appeal and confession to-
getber. "Help thou mine unbelief,"
was the cry of one who even possess
ed some degree of faith. And sure
ly the man who is conscious of his
lack of faith need not hesitate to take
his own case straight to the Father,
and confess how difficult it is to dis
Germ spiritual mysteries without light
from above. To ask of God, then, is
the first thing to do, in all cases of
ignorance and indecision. But, with
this always applicable qualification,
the statement may be repeated that
it is generally helpful, when endeav>
oring to comprehend and cultivate
faith, to study its effects and NANTES
tations in the lives of others.
The man of faith is faithful man.
He keeps faith with God. He trusts
God, and lives as if he realized that
God trusts him in return and expects
fidelity in service. This is so COM
monty understood by the observing
world, that whoever is found to be
neglectful of Christian duties and
wanting in Christian graces, while
protesting the Christian faith, is pro-
nounced a hypocrite and deceiver.
The world knows very well what
seltishness is; it knows all the indi-
ella of heart whose affections are SCI
on the things of earth. 1t also knows
what ought to characterize a life Chic
with Christ" and founded on faith
and when the facts of a life do mo-
tally with the pretentions as to faith
the conclusion swiftly and inevitably
reached is, that the faith is not real
Thus the very servants of the devi
confess the power of faith to trans
form a man, since they uniformly re-
gard untaithfulness to ones profes
sion as proof of untruthfulness in tn,
profession.
If the world is quick to distinguish
between the man of faith and tn,
man without faith, much more so i
the blessed Master, who while OIL
earth preached faith and repentanc
to all who would hear. He, too,
sure to apply.the test of faithfulnes
to the lives and characters of thos
who profess faith in him, and VIII
seek, through his blood, forgiveness
for their sins. He knows his true dis
ciples by their fruits; by their loyalt,
to him in thought ard motive, a
well as in word and act. And, in tn
summing up of issues, the sam
blessedness is bestowed upon hin
who has faith and upon him who
faithful. 1t is through faith, be it re
membered, that, by the grace of God
we are saved. But alongside of tina
precious assurance, we may place tn
inspiring promise: "Be thou faithful
unto death, and l will give thee
crown of life" The man of faith an
the faithful man are one in hope an
destiny. The faithful man is tn
man of faith who edures to the enc
Faithfulness is the active characters
tic and the convincing proof of faitl
By studying the former, one may di,
cover the potency as well as the pre-.
ence of the latter. .rrer-
, Z There is an every day fidelity di:
played by servants and employee
which is much priced by employers
; and sometimes is fittingly rewarded