Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-08
FAITH AND RESPONSIBILITY.

The 'News" IL In receipt of Mr..
Dwight II. olmstead's pamphlet on
Protestant Faith or salvation by Re
lief brief reference to which has
been made previously in these columns.
It is a philosophical treatise, very read
able, dealing with much discussed
question of the true relation between
faith and salvation. The author main
tains in the first place that the hope
of salvation is no proper incentive to
duty; in fact. virtue is no virtue II It
does not disregard expediency. In the
second place, he argues that all be-
lief is Involuntary, and that, conse-
quently, no one can be held responsible
for his unbellef or expect reward for
his particular belief. The questions
are OF interest because Of their bear
ing upon revealed truth.
As to the first OF these propositions
It is sufficient to say that the highest
ideal, no doubt is that which sees in
virtue itself the motive for devotion to
It. DO right, because II is right, Is
sufficient for all morally perfect beings.
but the fact is that religion appeals TO
beings naturally inclined to ''love
darkness more than light" It's pur-
pose, therefore. is not merely to point
out what is right. but to prove why
and to supply the regenerating force
that enables man to do right with
this in view It explains the conse-
quences of wrong doing and well-do-
ing appeals to men to turn from sin.
In order to escape "the wrath to come"
and points out how to obtain the power
to perform Righteousness. Religion
deals with human beings on the lines
followed by all practical instruction OF
rational persons. BY explaining the
results of transgresslon and its opposite
It furnishes the reason for the exist
ence of the laws to be observed. giving
the strongest possible force to its ap>
peal for unsefsh virtue. In fact, the
world has never produced any in
stances of self-sacrifice and God-lilxe
devotion to duty for its own sake, sur
passing those of believers in Christ
Jesus. There Ia not the slightest ground
for the intimatlon that true religion
fosters n morality which must break
down under the power OF temptation. On
the contrary, It makes man Sound
at heart" and therefore strong. 1t
saves him from Sin and not merely
from Its consequences.
The second proposition that faith or
belief is involuntary and therefore car
ries with 1t no responsibility is at
variance both with the Scriptures
and philosophy. 1t is readily
admitted that we are responsible
only for that which Ia voluntary, but
the unbelief that condemns is not
result Of lack of evidence, or inability
to Judge about the evidence presented.
but of refusal to give attention to
such abundant evidence. This is the
condemnation, that the light has been
given. but people prefer darkness to
light, on account of their love for that
which Is evil. 1t is an established fact
that both faith and affection are in
fluenced by examining truth and
by communion with the objects
that deserve and claim our
admiration and love. II we
neglect this. and as consequence re-
main in unbellef, this unbelef is Justly
counted against us. The Scriptures
represent that the humble, prayerful
attention to the testimony Of the Cos
pei Is a gift of the Holy Spirit; that
clearer understanding OF the truth
follows and that the ultimate result il
holy affection for things divine and
that these gifts are withheld only when
mil
preference for error. To say, then,
that faith is Involuntary Is only partly
correct, and therefore not correct at ali.
1t is voluntary from 'He moment man
is placed in Il position to accept it. or
reject 1t.
There would be less doubt on this
subject. perhaps. We're the true nature
of faith. MS set forth in sacred writ
better Understood. Many authors see no
more in it than credence or assent
to doctrine. antecedent to an effort on
the part Of the believer to do right
as near as he Gun. But 1t is vastly
more than this. 1t Is first Of all a
personal reliance on the Deity; the nc
ceptance by the awakened soul OF tn,
Elder Brother, ms the Mediator. the
Surety of the new covenant. II Is a
bond of union between mau and tho
Captain of his salvation, and it's re-
suits are holy motives that have %
bearing on all our acts and habits IN.
derstood in this light, the question of
responsibility for faith must be dis |
cussed ON other grounds than those Pre-
scented by Mr.. Olmstead and the sclloo |
of philosophers he represents.