The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1892-05-11

snip CnaC the nina need not be dis
turbed by the various minute crit.
tisms offered. We praise God for
our faith in the Scriptures which
testify of Christ. Our learning is
sufficient to see that it is plain that
" holy men of God spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost
that all Scripture is given by in
spiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correc-
ton, for instruction in righteous
ness, that the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto
all good work" The furnishing of
the man for the present and the
future life is under the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, who takes of the
things of Christ and shows them to
us. The testimony of life framed
upon Gods word satisfies us that
the word is divine.
The Examples ofFaith and Patience.
We praise God for the example
of the faith and patience of those
who have inherited the promises.
Abraham believed God, and it
was counted unto him for righteous
ness All who are of faith are
blessed with faithful Abraham.
The chosen seed inherited the land
of promise, and enjoyed providers
tial and gracious blessings from
Gods hand so long as they remained
faithful to their covenant obliga-
| ton; but sin separated them from
God, and they worshipped and
served craven images. Under any
other covenant destruction would
have followed; any other than a
Heavenly Father would have blotted
out these names frcm the book of
remembrance. But he says: CT am
the Lord, l change not; therefore
We sons of Jacob are not consumed"
God will not utterly cast off his
people whom he foreknew. That
chosen people still abides, with the
mark of sin upon them, it is true,
but with the seal of the covenant
upon them as we'll. The natural
branches have been broken off, but
they shall be grated in again, for
God is able to graft them in. What
a power of faith it is that can reach
over the transgression and disper-
sion of the chosen people and yet
inherit the promised blessing, that
1t shall come to pass that all Israel
shall be saved
The history of the Jews will con-
firm your faith in the historical ao-
curacy of the record which God has
written. The most splendid deeds
recorded in history were under the
inspiration of faith in Gods word.
Luther, and Calvin, and Wishart,
and Melville and Knox, and host
of other eminent men have vinL
dictated the power of faith in doing
or in suffering.
In July, 1861, on the plains of
Manassas, Virginia's great captain
rode in front of brigade lying
waiting for a charge. They were
men in whom any commander
might have had faith; he knew the
men, and the history of their faith
ers before them but the issues were
too momentous to be rested upon
the courage, the fidelity, and en-
durance of even the men of the Val
ley of Virginia, and so, this man of
faith and Of prayer, as he rode,
from time to time raised his hand
to heaven, and invoked the aid of
the God of battles. Faith in God
was the fixed habit of his life, and
he never doubted that an answer
would come to his prayer. When
the crash of battle came, followed
by the shout of victory, the answer
to the prayer was" l will be with
thee"
The Progress of the Gospel.
We praise God for the progress
which the gospel has made through
the generations past.
The divinely inspired apostles
went everywhere preaching the
word, and ever since their dav the
Holy Spirit has been separating
one and another to the work To
which the Lord has called them, to
be chosen vessels to bear his name
to the GentiIes. Men who won no
renowu at their colleges have mas
tered the most difficult languages of
the earth; modest men, who were
hardly known to their fellows, have
become conspicuous by forsaking
home and friends. and brave men
have dared all dangers and endured
all hardness that they might be
good soldiers of Jesus Christ. Fever
stricken districts have not deferred