The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-02
REV. E. L. PELL ON FAITH
INTERNATIONAL SUNDAf-sCHooL
LESSON ron TO-MORROW.
A Striking Incident In the Life of Jesus on
Earth illustrates tho Working OF
Faith.
lay s.-Faith.-Luke xviii, $40.

May Saith. Luke xviii, 5-l0.
The rabbIs laid the stress on deeds. BY
the works OF the law men were to be
justified. A good man was one who Kept
his wits about him and the law before
him and hugged the line Of daily duties
laid down by his teachers. But the
rabbis themselves were in evidence that
man might exercise the utmost care In
Observing the regulations OF the law and
yet have little in ms heart TO commend
him TO the favor OF either God or man.
The effort to make cody men by man
made rules was a failure. Jesus came
laying the stress upon character. To be
was better than 10 do. ~ man might
do much ana be nothing-a man could
not be much and do nothing. TO be
what Jesus wanted a man TO be required
something more than human power A
man would have 10 secure the aid OF
God In the making vi his character. He
had to accept Gods help. TO appropriate
him, TO cooperate with him. In a
word, TO have faith I'm him.
Have faith In God' was the
burden OF the new teaching. For a
long time the oft-repeated exhortation
made little impression upon the disciples.
but now dark days were coming on
and Jesus began 10 speak very plainly
to them of tho things which would be
expected OF them, and they began 10
realize their weakness. They did not
feel equal TO the duty Of the coming hour.
They did not feel that they could reach
the height of character which he de-
mandcd Lord" they cried. increase
our faith!
But they did not need more faith
50 much as they needed ~ use the faith
they had. 1t was as useless for them
TO sit still and wait for more faith as IL
would have been for mustard seed TO
lie stll In the ground and wait to have
strength added 10 10. The mustard seed
would gain as It used the little power 1t
had and pushed itself upward; and il
the disciples were TO get more faith they
would get it by exercising the little faith
they had. Strong faith never comes to
the man who is sitting down mourning
over his weak faith. IL the disciples
had the faith of a grain Of mustard seed.
they might say 10 the deeprooted syca-
mine tree, BE thou picked up by the
roots and be thou cast into the sea" and
it would obey them.
Did Jesus mean that literally? NO and
yes. lie did not mean TO encourage his
disciples to try their faith on a sycamine
tree. He was not 4 shOVaLan he never
did anything just TO let people see he
could DO it that he might excite their
wonder. and he certainly would not
promise his disciples power 10 be used
merely to show themselves of; and yet,
II the time should come that the name
Of God could be nonored and his king
dom advanced by the pluckng up Of a
DOL. tfs.1
faith could DO it, In the mean time we
have the promise that IL We have the
faith We can say 20 the greatest difficult
ties in the way OF the souls progress,
BE thou plucked UP by the roots" and
it shall be done. What Christians OF
experience has not by faith plucked up
i greater obstacles out Of his path than the
deepest-rooted sycamine.
But, added Jesus. by way OF warning
IL we do these things let us remember
that wonderful as our achievements may
be they are no more than God has the
right TO expect of us. and we are still
improbable servants. The profit does
not begin untn the servant goes beyond
his obligation" and the servant Of God
cannot do that.
A few weeks after this conversation an
incident occurred which illustrates the
working OF faith. zen lepers saw Jesus
afar or and raised their voices in a
united cry Tor mercy. Jesus, Master.
have mercy upon u.s." Ii was a model
prayer. They said nothing about their
condition. bit their appearance spoke
louder than words. They needed mercy,
and they believed that he could and
would show them mercy. There was
No occasion for parleying or delay; trey
had begged for mercy and trat WAS
enough: 10 was a heart cry and heart
cry always pierces the heart Of Jesus.
GO, show yourselves to the priest he
said. They understood that; the law
required that If a lcper was healtd he
should be examined By the priest and by
him pronounced clean. And as they
swent they We're cleansed." They be-
leved: they showed their faith by obey
ing him, ana the moment they obeyed
the Lord of life new life and new h-alth
were given 10 them. And one OF them.
when he saw that he was healed, turned
back and with loui voice groritied
God" Jesus had told him to go to the
priest. but that did not matter; his heart
was overlooking with gratitude, and no
felt compelled to turn back and give
thanks The others, In a formal literal
obedience. FASTENED on without so much
as turning their heads. And they were
Jews. and the grateful stranger was a
despised Samaritan, Here IS a strange
thing. Ten men had faith enough 10
obey the Lord and 10 receive healing.
while only one Of the ten had love enough
10 ,urn back and give thanks. And
so ii IS possible to stand the test Of faith
and fail I'm the test OF love- But the
,rr.afau# of thaca fc 1.-Two