The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-03-15
Grew. Richard cordley, Lawrence, X

Grew. Richard Cordley, Lawrence, Kan.)
"Hold fast the profession of your
faith. Hebrews X, 49,
The profession of our faith is the faith
we have professed. We have protested
faith in, God. God Is the foundation of
all things. Real faith in God superscdcs
everything else. If we really trust in
God our trust will not waiver when other
things waver. 1t rests on the decpEoun-
dalton. which Is never disturbed. We
truly choose It. We choose 1t for Itself
and for what there is in it, 1t does not
depend on our circumstances, and 1t
must not fuctuate with our circunl-
/ stances. Its value is greater when other
things fall. If YOU believe in your friend
you will not abandon him when he Is
is In trouble nor doubt him because
4 something has happened which Wou do
mot quite understand. You do not feel
" uneasy about the sun because IT goes
& behind cloud, or sinks below the hori-
Zon at night.
friendship was made for the dark hour
K ana 1t IS not worth much II IL fall when
y adversely comes or doubt oyersha dnws
y man. 1t Is at just such times We prize
true friend who stands by us when
aHairs grow awry. Faith has its special
sValue when we cannot see You do no,
n SSuhi MN wise man who should aban-
4 ooh ms spar because the waters were
SO Wild and land so far away. This Is
3S5} ttnie very time when he should cling To
n ms spar. You would not count him
wise man who should wenr his life nra.
y server as he, was parading the decl; an
- me afternoon. and then should le,vn
u ~ oeio" When the ship foundered and bc
v ilust take TO the water. Yet that is ms,
they way great many Christians ra.
s. gard their faith. They make nnrh &c :.
s Wneh everything Is prosperous mud than
iost their hold upon it when dsostnr
overtakes them. utsuslei
.I.ll you believe God only when II. 4.
Il E,osper!hg you, your faith has vervli,,ie
ana very little value. II doc
se o. mean az much to trust when Won can
VIA !; Seu uouot the moment sight ia lis
+: ,s IA. Is tne use of an anchor If the cahia
Y breaks when the strain comesp "a oae
elor is intended to hold the shin ~ =
Hot expected that II Will nravsr. 80
IS; stor m, or level the waves. INF ~ =; ene
81 PeGteo mat It Will hold the shin In nj
- hol charm to still the seas hn;
Fl s.n eaoIe 10 mold the ship in place, 4 ,;fo
mr. re ~ - not intended to keep o. mar
at VI tne water. but 10 help him i lie,
"a aiioat when he is in the wa,er MI NV.
* purpose OF faith is not to cnahin ut
bear them. ~ eiaoie him t.
"a uainEy group were read,p, ~.
. SSIiPtures IN course at Their, ,n,er,; "a.
WoIship. They had come one n, mo, ,;nE :
~ ~ me account of the crucihyion ,=
y read, the story seemed won1are,,i,:
aeaI. and vivid. They read how 1e u,.
y @eHt In silence from Pilates bom !. =.
SS.atVafy' bearing his cross tin ha na,,i y
fpeaL II no longer. and then anotha
1 must bear it for him. They raoa ta:.
tue soiolers took him and nailed hin, y
~, SIuei cross, casting lots for hi
I .ct; now the multitude gatbarn,
pouy ana Knocked him. One said: 81 a
lN hlls OF israel come down from N,
Sioss ana we Will believe him; thou ,ha
aestroyest the temple and in three daV
DuAoest II again. save thyself.' An
Z other replied: "He saved Others M,
ser ne cannot save" and another said
He trusted in God. let God delivar b;r
now II. he wants him.
Another, more bold still. shouted !.
che sufferer, "If thou be the son of CO
come down from the cross" Al ~,
point one of the group, young cir
VINO had followed the story with In
tense interest, and growing indIenatio
interrupted the reading and spoke on
ampulsively:
why didn't he come DOWN"
y Tnere was no answer. There coul
be none I presume all of US have aske
the same question many and many
time. Why didn't he come down an
confound his foes then and there? VIII
didn't he come down and end at ono
Gil controversy as to his divine author
Ny and power? It would indeed. hay
been q startling display OF power, bu
not half SO divine as the patience wit