The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-14
CONFIDENCE AND TRUST.
Every Relation OF Life Based ON These
Virtues.

Rev. r. E. Dunlap preached to large
and appreciative congregation yesterday
morning at the First Christian church on
christian Confidence. He took his text
from l.. Timothy iv $40, and he spoke in
substance as follows:
Every relation possible between men Is
based upon the confidence they have in
each other, so that confidence, faith and
trust are not so far removed from the ken
of every day life as some suppose. Partners
in business must have faith in each other,
and the larger the interests involved and
the more perfect the partnership the more
perfect is their faith in each other
1t is the basis of all true friendship. 1t is
the warp and wool of it. Touch the con-
fdence We have in each other and you
touch the soul of this relation that is so
enjoyable, helpful and beautiful.
1t is the basis of the marriage relation.
In its sunlight has grown and fourished
virtue, purity and happiness. The beauti-
full character of childhood has received its
colorings. its touches of beauty that ripen
into glorious manhood and womanhood.
Patriotism tiourishes only where there
is confidence in the government, and the
evil of our political campaigns lies largely
in the staggering of faith in the integrity
of good men and the institutions formed
by them. So is it with the church.
Her fellowship, her enterprises, her SER
vice is only possible to those of large faith.
The sweetness of her fellowship as it now
is. including as it does the good and great
and greatly good of earth, is dependent
Piles in each other. Introduce suspicion
and the apple of discord and hate begins
to ripen. There are parasites that must
be destroyed No wonder that Paul in
cludes the gossip in the category of
classes condemned. 1t is SO because the
gossip destroys confidence between breth-
rem.
But faith, confidence, trust, is funda-
mental in our relation to God. Paul
came to say: II know in whom I have
believed, and am persuaded that He is
able to keep that which | have committed
unto Him against that day."
We delight to recur to the time of the
beginning of this confidence in God.
When 1t grew strong enough to confess
and led us to obedience in baptism and
full committal to Christ We recall with
pleasure the days of spiritual babyhood
when We came to the All-Father with our
troubles and trials and tolls; with our re-
joicing in success. We eagerly trace the
stages of growth through youth to man.
hood how the world grew brighter and
fairer. How the growing and ripening
grain spoke of our Fathers love- and how
the psalms of David became precious as
expressions of our lottier spiritual concep-
tons. However much this be true we
are to remember that everything depends
on maintaining that confidence to the end.
Numerous examples were cited from the
history of Israel to illustrate the success
of adherence to God, and of failure when
confidence with Him is broken.
Mr.. Dunlap continued: No circum-
stance will justify us IN breaking this con-
fdence. Many disciples come to the West
who were active workers in the churches
in the East. When the old associations
are broken too many break with God, and
the almost universal rule in such cases is
a wreck of character. There is no safety
while We neglect the rational use of God
ordained means. We cannot get along
without holding TO the Divine Hand
With Him all right things are possible TO
us. The history of the people who have
not broken faith with God and have failed
is vet TO be written. There are wrecks
strewn all along the history of the church,
but they are the legitimate results of be-
! trayed trusts. Confidence in God Is a
source of strength TO US. To believe that
He is our leader, to fully accept His word
is to gain our victories easily. The noun
tains of difficulty are crossed with no great
effort. Let US, then, see to IL that our
trust is not betrayed and our confidence
remains ms ba ken