The herald., 1893-09-25
BISHOP ANDREWS ON FAITH
The Services Yesterday at the
First Methodist Church.
Testimony Given at q Preliminary
Feast of Tabernacles.
An Intsrestfng service-The Bishops
Impressive Discourse-Three Eld-
srs Ordained-Epworth
League Meeting.

The lovefeast Of the Methodist church
was held at the First Methodist church
yesterday.
This annual gathering Of testimonies,
9 sort Of feast of tabsrnacles, was
opened at 8 a. m. by Rev. P. F. Bresee,
d. D., and proved time Of refreshing
TO many lives. Most Of the testimonies
were brief, but very clear and unequi-
vocal. These conference love feasts are
seasons looked forward to nby the
ministers as seasons OF especial bless
ing, because often of the opportunity OF
hearing as we'll as speaking. One
will give in. Rev. d. D. Maclay,
standing before the vnst audience, said !:
Eat the closing point of life l want to
bear testimony to the goodness and
mercy OF that God who has kept and
sustained me through life of viciasi-
tudas. He has kept and sustained me
in youth, in middle life and in old age,
by' land and by sea, in sickness. in
health, in prosperity and adversely,
happy today in infinite love-"
When We remember that 81
years Of this aged saints life have been
spent in China, Japan and Corea. as a
pioneer in these foreign mission fields,
we can understand somewhat of the
worth Of this simple, child like testi.
mony to saving grace. During this
service there would sometimes be as
many az 10 or IL standing on the floor at
one time, awaiting an opportunity to
testify.
DR.. j. A. Wood said: "What one man
knows is better than what thousand
men dou't know"
Sometimes two persons would speak
ct the same time, yet such was the
calmness which pervaded the vast as
eembly that no confusion was created by
that fact. 9y
Adam Bland; the pioneer Of this con-
ference, who preached the frs. protest.
ant sermon ever delivered In this city.
said: II have q love that is sweeter
than life and stronger than DEATH"
The service was closed by singing q
verse Of AL Hail the Power Of Jesus
Name.
BISHOP ANDREWS SERMON.
DR.. Campbell's announcement that
there would be an overflow meeting at
Simpson tabernacle did not seem to d.
minish the crowd any at First church.
Long before the hour for service every
available seat Was taken and the aisles
were many of them filed by those
standing. As prelude. hymn No. 2l9,
Gospel Hymns, was sung by the congre-
cation, led by the choir. Then followed
the singing Of No. 16l In the same selec-
tion..
Bishop Andrews announced the eighth
hymn OF the Methodist Selection. Rev.
A. @. Williams, D. D., led in prayer.
Bishop Andrews then read selections
from the eleventh chapter Of Hebrews.
After the usual announcements the
choir led the congregation In the 679th
hymn. The text was from the Gospel
OF st. Mark, xi :22-And Jesus answer
Ing. saith unto them: Have faith in
God.
From this text Bishop Andrews began
by saying: "The context will aid
In the Interpretation of the text, Have
faith in God. By faith in God He did
mean trust in the goodness and mercy
OF God. There are those who profess to
have such faith in Gods goodness, that
they believe that there 10 some honor
He will give them even in sin. There
10 no such God. We only know Of
God through the book of nature and
the book what 1t teaches, and what ne
learn from the Book of Revelation. The
book of nature is illustrated by the
vineyards around the base Of yesuvius,
but We must not forget the buried cities
OF Pompeii, and others. The Book Of
Revelation also tells OF the love Of God,
as giving his only bezotten son to save
the world but It also tells us, Our God
is consuming fire.
Il balieve in dogmas. want to say
that all dogmatic opinions are not faith.
The New Testament presents faith as q
right conception Of God and His attri-
butes, but it does not say 80 much OF
right opinions.
sGo back and look upon that fig tree
with thoae astenished disciples. Is it
possible that these descendants OF Israel
are surprised7
Faith 10 that which enthrones God in
the heart. 1t 10 that act Of the human
soul by which Gods presence in the
heart Is . living entity.
I've often recalled one OF Luther's
translations OF that part of the 1lth Of
Hebrews referring to Moses HHe held
on to Him who he saw not as though he
saw Him." He ssw the sutferingo of
His people and their Egyptian surround
ings. At length he saw into tho depths
OF another realm. I know not when or
how there came an hour when be took
God, with all that meant. He thought
himself called to leadership, but eoou
found that be was not. He went into
the deeert for 40 years he tended sheep
on the mountains and learned the desert
lore that should stand him In SO much
need later. Then he went back and led
his people forth.
Faith in God means again faith in
Christ. How is this? In Him we see
God manifest in the flesh. We no
longer 70 to the solar system to find out
God. We know.now OF that great heart
OF purity and love. Again, the action
OF faith depends upon the coordination
OF moral faculties. suppose that many
schoolboy today who knows the
theories of faith in God better than
Abraham; but Abraham is the father Of
the faithful.
The faith is the taking hold of God
and enthroning Him over all the moral
faculties.
Truth, again, is thing OF degrees. A
man may have some fear OF Gods power.
and yet not have saving faith. A man
man who is not q believer except in a
general sense turns to God, opens the
door Of his heart and receives Him in
wardly, then knows Him in love. At
length he may become bathed In God.
Inc Lord help us