The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-10

course Yesterday Morning.
Al the morning service at the First
Methodist Episcopal church the congrega-
ton was very large and the sermon, deliv-
cred In forcible and earnest manner by
Rev. Levi Gilbert, was closely listened to.
DR. Gilbert took for HIS theme salvation by
Works" basing his remarks on st. James words,
aBy works man is justified and not by faith
only" He first developed the seeming startling
contrast and contradiction between this state
r1cnt aud 81. Paul's frequent assertions that 1t
is by faith that man Is justified and not by the
deeds OF the law. But this contradiction was
more In form than in seeming II arose largely
from the different characteristics and tempera-
mems OF the two mon. Paul was emnently
doctrinai. James ia practical. They view again
justification from different standpoints Paul
was opposing self-righteous Pharisees who
trusted in their own righteousness and obedi-
ence to the law. He tells them that their
obedience was imperfect, aud that the only
method Of salvation was to exercise faith in
Christ But this faith Is not the mere assent of
the understanding to the proposition that Jesus
Christ came into the world to save sinners, but
an application of this to the souls necessities.
James, on the other hand, is arguing against
those who supposed that an orthodox faith
could save, though unaccompanied by a holy
life. Such error was common among the
Jews, who placed their confidence in their ex-
ternal privilsges--in their belief in the unity OF
the Godhsad ~ against the polytheism of the
Geutiles. James tells them that such faith,
merely theoretical and unproductive Of good
works. was useless-as idle as barren charity
which expended itself I'm good wishes.
Religious knowledge and speculative faith had
no saving power. Paul teaches how a guilty
sinner may be justified before God. James in
sists that no man living In sin can be justified,
whatever bis Profession may be.
further distinction, the preacher said, In In
the ways they employ the term faith. The
faith that Paul speaks OF Is real, actual, living,
potential belief In Jesus Christ--a faith that
works by love. James has in mind dead faith
"a mere general faith, speculative and inopera-
uve He insists on faith that is productive of
good works. He was the apostle of common
sense. His words are eminently needful for
this nineteenth century and Endorsed by the
conscience OF our times
james, urged the speaker. wants action and
not words; wants something more than the
rattle OF husks In pod. The stream must show
the pure fountain and the fruit the good tree.
Religion lie one-half worship and the other half
service. The most lamentable results TO reli-
Eion and the world have arisen from the divorce
OF piety from morality.
II we examine the Bible, the speaker con-
tinued, we shall find in such passages as the
fifteenth and twenty-fourth Psalms, the
first of Isaiah, the judgment scene
in twenty fifth of Matthew, etc, that
judgment 10 always according TO the deeds done
In the fiesh-that not the hearers, but the doors,
OF the law are justiied-that IL is the man who
hearsth and doeth the words of Christ whose
house 10 founded on q rock.
The faith which saves. urged the preacher, 10
: living faith that takes hold upon the hidden
realities and believes in them, though the world
cares or thinks nothing OF them: that unites it.
sf 10 Jesus and thus overcomes the world 10
he overeame; that believes that He Is the Son
ei6od, and. therefore, God IL like Him, full of
Kindness and helpfulness, thus flooding the
suf With Joy and strength. It il q faith that
appnhends God morally--as q soul demand;
tbs: lives for the principles and virtues incar-
mated in Jesus, that strive after the ideal repre-
ssnted In Him; that finds on His cross the way
Of life; that sees light shed on the Nervousness
81 stu from Calvary, so that he abhors his sins;
that believes in the practical inspiration of the
Holy Spirit, and that God speaks in conscience;
that believes in righteousness az Jesus did, who
never doubted it, even in the shadow of the
erozsi that believes that, though men may de-
srise, anathematize excommunicate, nail to the
eross--though the wicked may seem to prosper
and success may be gained by policy, COM
piiance, shrewdness, nevertheless that il 10 al
ways safe to do right, and never, never will any
thing &c made by lie or fraud; that, believing
In immortality, strives to live like the immortal
ne hopes to be, spurning things low and dcbas-
Ing and struggles to "move upward, working
out the beast and let the ape and tiger die"
strength for resistance comes from these great
truths free, glad heart, a conscience without
renorse, no entail OF evil deed, no bondage from
claims OF bad habits, cool Judgment, strong de-
cision, unclouded intellect, God given and a
Ohrist-given force come to all who comply with
the everlasting verties.
In conclusion, the preacher showed the tend
eney In all time TO come to substitute other
Things for conduct Ecstasies, creeds empty be-
hei ID God and Christ, orthodoxies, bibliolatry
orainsnces OF baptism and the eucharist, rituals,
iai'hless prayers. church services, church mem
eership-all of these had virtue and saving
loses In them ii vitalized with truth and real
w but were delusive and useless for salvation
I aead, formal, out of touch with the life of
SOD and Christ ha