The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-16

n0. a RF6ht multltuu0 hau come MP against
Jehosnaphat He was alarmed. 10 spread
the eass before this Lord and received this
anawar, promise and Otder: "Ye shall not
nesd 70 fight In this battle, set yourselves.
stand W still and see the salvation OF tho
Lord with yon, foar not nor be dismnysd,
tomorrow 10 0nt against thsm for thu
Lord will BE- with YOU
TO meet theix snsraiss 10 confident Of VIC
tory ~ u II wsfo already theirs. They
even appointed singers TO praise the Lord
- they went ont TO msot the foe. when
they began TO sing and TO praise, the Lord
70 ambnshments against the ensn,y and
they were u. ittea. y Ihe childron of Israel
looked n behold they Wers dead bodies
tnllen TO the earth and none sscApod.''
They wsro more than conqusrors'' and vet
they did nothing but accept in advance
Gods victory for them. The principle on
which tho people acted in both these cases
10 not tho principle We advocate in worldly
matters. But the question comes whether
20 govern us in spiritual things. We are
inclined TO use and apply worldly mxxims
And laws in the conduct Of spiritual things.
We forget that Christianity il a new and
unique force in the human hsart and in tho
World supsrhumsn element or factor.
Ihe Master recognizing this told those who
wsrs commissioned to advocate and propa-
g,nte the gospel to tarry st Jerusalem until
they should receive "powsr from on high,
Our battles are to be fought not with ma
terial swords nor with worldly wisdom
alone. Our work and our qualifications
Tor that work are new and peculiar. In
our case our might comes from cur faith
in God-our victory IL from Him.
The principle OH which We are to carry
on our warfare IL beautifully typifed in
the historic scenss inst cited, and il also
plainly declared in ths first epistle of John,
whore We read: And this i the victory
faith. z and is stated by the head CT the
church when he said: BE Of good cheer.
! hAve overcome the world"
The speaker said here: IT have a grow
ing consideration for and sympathy with
the honest doubtar who cannot grasp no
use the idea OF faith in God a 4 means Of
salvation. II l condemn him I condemn
myself mere. | do not uss faith in God q
! might. do not get the results out OF II
that | should. 1t would enable me to do
almost infinitely more than | do a. a
Christian. No wonder the apostles did not
pray Tor more %eloqusncs, nor for wealth
for themselves and the other followers Of
Christ. nor Tor : larger band OF preachers
crease our faith With tie increase Of
faith would come power and blessings and
success. BscauDe some people claim and
use faith In WAYS not authorized in Gods
word 10 no reason why we should not de-
giro simpls, unquestioning trust il the
When Mr.. Moody began his labors Ia The
great city Of London with it millions Of
people and its corresponding sin and indif-
ferease TO spiritual things, he startled the
sceptical and even the Christian world BY
the opening words Of his first prayer, "Oh
Lord, we thank thee for what thou art going
70 do for London" Moody was right. II he
believed that God sent him there 10 subdue
the people. why not shout" in advance Or,
like Jehosephat, praise the Lord in advance?
Ihs results in Moody's case justified his
faith. @- -
This idea of doing Christian work resting
on dod.s promises and anticipating victory
is no peradvsnture in tbs case. The destiny
OF the church is not something. to be fred
in tho future. The great battle 10 mot TO
come-lt is in tho past. We talk OF this
\ the other great battle of Christian
lty"--this and the other ''crisis." We
speak a. il Christianity were In danser-as
y IL destiny were in doubt. The fact il
that Ch~ristianity's great battle was fought
centuries ago. Our confidence in
tho Gospel comes from looking back,
looking up 2 not from numbering the
hosts now-not from measuring the human
power for or against it in the world.
The crisis h .onr Of Christianity was when
"OAAs AnsAuAS Al Az DO pO&1lDl6. l@U
this cup pass" u was ended when he said:
II is finished" When the enemy appears
strong to our human eye let as use tbs eve
Of faith and see the whole world subdued
to Christ. II His victory means anything
it means this.
We nsed faith in carrying on our Christ
ian work and in meeting orr foe in our
" way. We ought to be able to utter tho
cry OF faith in regard to everything that
comes into our experience. We may meet
every enemy with a shout of victory. Even
the last great enemy need not be, and
ought not to be, AN exception. Even he 10
a Zoe ARCHAEOLOGICAL of his power to hurt
us BY the One who rose again.
A soldier lay dying in a hospital in ter
rible agony. A visitor asked him, sWhat
church are you of?' "Of the church of
Christ" he replied. II mean Of what de-
nomination-of what persuasion are you?"
said the friend. "Porsuasion," said the
dying man as his eyes looked heavenward,
beaming with love to the Savior. per
suasion-I I'M persuaded that neither life.
nor death. mol angels, ner prinoipalitios,
nor powera, nor things present, nor things
come, nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature shall be able to separate me
from the love of God which 10 in Christ
Would that we all had this per
suaslon. Then our life would be one tri-
umphnnt march to the presence of God,
Victory would follow victory. The walls of
The strong cities would fall one by one and
along our course We could set up stones of
memorial telling that hitherto the Lord
has helped us and that henceforth We would
trust In his name. Then our exodus out OF
sin and our entrance into complete rest
would be one glorious and prosperous
march to better things. Thus We would be
brought off even more than conuuerors',
through him whose victories and glories
we may share by faith. So let our PRAYER