The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-02-27
Sunday Services.

Rev. Father NJ E. Murphy conducted the serv.
ices last Sabbath morning. The subject OF his SER
mon was Faith; the following is a condensation
of his discourse:
my Dear Friends: 1t is the first principle OF
natural law and common sense that there can be
but one true religion, and therefore it must be
our duty to seek and to find that one religion.
There can be but true religion. for God cannot
declare one set Of doctrines for one people and
another set for another class of people, for God is
laws and the religion of Jesus Christ the same
for all people and all time. When we hear PEG.
pie say there are many true religions. they really
declare all religions false. There is but one true
faith and it is the duty of every one to find this
true faith in fact faith is absolutely essential for
without faith it is impossible for to please God
Faith then is the greatest of all virtues and is the
foundation of our religion.
IF we have faith in Jesus Christ and follow his
teachings we shall be saved. 1t is proper for man
to inquire and seek knowledge of faith, but no
man can acquire faith by his own exertions.
Faith then is gift which God plants in the hearts
Of men; but men must have the disposition to re-
ceive this gift it is offered-his heart must be
cultivated for its reception the soil is prepared
to receive the seed. Faith is not only gift but
is also virtue. a something that the hui
man being to bow down in alteration of God. Now
and then it may appear against reason, but God
never requires us to do anything against reason
He only requires Of US reasonable service. OF
course it is very difficult to understand faith
its like the mysteries of reason, which we can
not comprehend.
Mans knowledge is unequal to Gods wis
dom as God power is above mans power There
many things that we cannot see with the
naked eye that the telescope enables us to see
and understand. There are many things done
which the Imagination cannot tell how they are
done. but reason tells that there are many
ways by which they m ght be accomplished We
find great many people who think they have
faith. but they have not the true faith for they
simply believe as long there is nothing they
cannot help but believe. They want to touch
and handle before they will believe.
men are required to believe; they must be
prepared to make of their faith and keep
steadfast to their faith; but men are SO dilatory
they neglect their religion.
Faith has no degree; man believes or he disbe-
leves. The whole object of faith is to accept the
whole truth. end if you reject part you reject
all. There are many things that mans reason
cannot understand. and not single thing that he
can understand thoroughly. The most expert
chemist cannot understand the essence of the
substances he analyses. The understanding OF
man is fallible and when God provided certain
things that we cannot understand it to try our
faith. Man must understand that there is a
higher authority and that that authority is an in
finite God.
Faith is the foundation of every religious vir.
tue. and we must build that foundation a
Christian life that will be an honor to God if we
hope to bring his blessings upon u.s. Faith with.
out works is dead You believe there is a God.
you do well, the devil believes also and trembles
And though 1 have all faith so that could re-
move mountains, and have not charity, 1 am
nothing
Faith is necessary to our salvation. and let us
not complain because our little minds cannot con-
ceive Of Gods greatness. Let us beseech God to
have mercy upon u.s."