The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1894-06-01

no limit 10 the achievements OF faith.
Jesus says, 'all things are possible to
him that bclieveth." Startling state.
ment, it may be, but true to the letter.
II is not made in reference to faith az a
mere indwelling grace, but to faith in
action, or the power OF faith. 1t can
never operate in the least, without a
command promise On which to proceed
and so 1t never acts except in harmony
with the divine will. This insures sue
cess in spiritual work. Presumption
may fail, faith cannot. That which il
not possible TO him that believeth, il not
possible to God himself. Faith IS an
element OF Zi0n's strength also, because
It brings her into union with the Divine
personality Of her exalted King. The
effects Of this unity are wonderful. He
Is to the church, what the head is to the
body. He Is the author Of her life, the
source Of her authority, the main-spri ng
Of her motion, the center OF her unity.
and the crown of her glory. His energy
dwells in her, his beauty is revealed
through her. They have one righteous
ness, one life, one aim and purpose, one
throne, one joy. They cooperate in
the same work, and in the exertion oi
the same strength.
III. Spirituality. This element oi
strength, Is both conservative and aggre.-
sirc in its influence. II has a repelling
power, which keeps the unworthy from
entering the fellowship OF the church.
II has an awe-inspiring effect On the
world. After the wonderful work Oi
grace at Pentecost, and the elimination
ot the unsplrltual from the church, by
the death OF Annanias and Sapphira, We
are told Of what We might term the re-
iiex influences Of the Spirit, as they
operated On the minds Of men, through
the spiritual life OF the church. The
statement l. made, that fear came up
On every soul, and that OF the rest
durst no man join himself to them. .
When the church puts on the strength
Of her spirituality. she presents Christ
IanIty To the world, in character which
IL very difficult to initiate. The world
may enter her pale by Stimulating her
journalism. but TO counterfeit the spirit
ual features Of her religion, Is an en-
tirelY different thing. But this feature
Of Zion = strength, Il aggressive. a. vel
| a. conservative. II infiames her with
love to God, and = perishing world, and
an earnest desire ~ extend that king
dom, which l. righteousness. and peace
and Joy in the Holy Ghost" 1t frees
from the fear Of man, and fills her with
the spirit oi power, Of love, and OF q
sound mind, ennobling her with a
grandeur and courage which disdain auta-
gonism. and calls forth the admiration
even OF her enemies. When il abounds,
she has the humility and meekness,
hich Ike the governor on the engine,
controls her power and prevents all
spasmoslic. errAtic action. Her willing
ness, too, comes from her spirituality.
and the very essence Of spiritual strength
resides N the Will There Is no power
that its for Christ's service, ike the
moral power Of holy life. We m2v
devise means, enlist intellect, combine
forceS, and arouse an enthusiasm, Y hich
promises great results; but the fact re-
mains that the most potent factor IN all
human effort, Is Righteousness, and that
there i no substitute for a life character
ICED by walking in the Spirit. Nothing
else will successfully meet the errors oi
the world, IN the form IN which they
coatyEla: 1sS n -.--s--z-st sife. y G--Eet
we're mere abstract theories. we could
meet them with the cold syIlogIsIns oi
lone, or with eloquent speech. But they
are woven into the very life Of the man
an incarnation, II voa please, which
must he confronted. atagoniEesi. and
oy~ncuFns }sy an emloiied Christianity,
The spirituality OF the church Is not
what il ought 20 b-a. not what il might
te, and not what IL viii be, when the
times 0i refreshing sh2Il come from the
presence ct the Loni. There Is much
lnrTnzIltv in Zion: MANY who stand ont
before the world as Interrogation points,
having very small base, almost over
shadoWes3 by i massive superintendent
structure Of crpokeslness. They mSy
have small measure OF the Spirit but
they certainly have a large measure OF
the flesh. Their presence in the church.
and in the community. has nos relieved
u from the necessity Of discussing the
evidences Of Christianity. And Vet. there
: much spirituality in the chunch, and
much latent power. that II Is not IS vet
brought 10 the fronf, hut has its in
tiuence in our Christian homes. Ii NAV
not ipe found ALWAYS IN the mansions OF
the rich. in institutions OF learning. or in
official place and power. But beneath
the greasy garments al the m3chinist
the smutty Sarb oi the miner. tae home
spun oi the soldier. may be found hearts
which beat true to God and responsive
TO the cries OF humanity ll kitchens.
cellars and dug-oUtS; IN ESr.eis and IN
attics. singing the song OF the shirt; in
sickness. in weakness, in poverty and in
want; surrounded by moral filth and
breathing pestilential atmosphere, are
those who are the living epiStles OF
Christ. They NAV not be heard like the
noisy padding beneath the side-water
steamer, but ike the silent screw OF the
propeller beneath the water, their in
tiuenCe may h no les powerful.
N. The truth. The truth is sacresi
deposit committed 10 the church, which
she II IL keep in its purity, and publish
IN all nations for the obedience of faith.
She = the candlestick, whence its ligh,
must shine To enlighten and gladden. the
world. The truth as it Is i'll Jesus, Is
supreme in moral. spiritual power. II
| Is the power of God and the wisdom 81
| God. 1t enliGhtens the understanding
quiCkens the conscience, convInceS the
| Judgment, converts the heart. controls
| the will, and coT,strains the lie. Il
seiEes on the great motive powers q
| life, the thoughts desires and proposes q
men, overthruwing reSsonings, and every
high thing lifting itself up against the
knowledge of God. and leads captive
every thought into the obedience OF thS
| Christ. And thus, ii casts the lie, as i
were, into q new mould; makes duty s
delight, the service of God q pleasure
seli-denial privilege, and does what n,
system OF philosophy or religion ever at
tempted, enlists the affections onthe sid'
of the conscience.
1t exercises its power by simple mani
feStaion, shining by its own light, with
| radiance and beauty which no doubt ha
ever dimmed, and no controversy has eve
| Soiled. 1t Shuns no antagoniSm, and fear
no foe but concealment, 1t needs II
apology, and calls for no adornment hu
its own naktsl simplicity. There is II
SuIer WAY to defeat the end of the gospel
than to become an apologist for its truth
or pare it down to make it more acceptabl
to men. SAYS its Divine Author, ''th
words that | speak unto you. they an
spirit and they are life" The rower {
the truth is inherent. And so, no naturs
! weakness in the personality of him VIII
loves the truth, and who works with i
and for it, can insure his defeat.
The worlds greatest Apostle was sneere
at because of his weak bodily presence, an
lcontemptible speech; yet wherever he set u
the standard of truth, whether in idolatro,
Athens or hcentious Connth; under Il
shadow of the temple of Diana at EpheSt
or the palace of the Caesars at Rome;
came off victorious. Certainly Zion has a
element of strength in the truth, whici
when exerted, or put on, gives her iul
measurable power. Ion huge Pact
steamer, majesGcally p'ougas her way iii
thing of life. through contNnding wave
and against adverse winds, trembling
every fibre of her structure, because of Il
| n,,lSa haats of tho minhty anoina hidlen