The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-16

hOlQ the same I2lln 3S We W g strength
en- cur faith by exercise when. moment
by moment. we cast all our care upon
Him ard work serenely CT in the trust
that he careth for US Each days ex-
Pc-tence Of. that protecting and guiding
care in CUR lives fills US with 2 greater
sense OF trusting on the morrow B. God
does not place US face to face with
great crises at first but only when the
added strengtAo Of repeated smaller vic
tories can sGfely meet the greater
trials. He has promised that We shall
not be tried above what We are able
to bear
The Bible IS one long record OF mans
glorious triumph through faith or his
shameful failure through lack of it. BY
faith Abel pleased God through repeat-
ed offerings. but Cain through lack OF
it lost his place in Gods plan brought
death to his brother, and misery TO him
self. By faith Abraham obeyed God i'm
plicitly and obtained the promises OF
great blessing for all the peoples of the
earth By faith. Moses led the children
Of Israel out Of Egypt. and finally to The
promised land yet they. in their refusal
TO trust and obey, continually delayed
their progress on what would have been
but a short Journey. suffered plaques and
defeat. and were at last turned back TO
wander in the wilderness until all the
stubborn and faithless leaders should
perish. and Caleb and Joshua alone re-
ceived the great reward Through faith
the long line OF patriarchs and prophets
have LEFT names and received rewards
that are for our encouragement and ex-
ample today. Through faith the lame
walked, the blind saw, and the broken
and the paIsied we're healed. BY doubt
Peter sank in the waves Of GaliIee. ard
the disciples failed 10 cast out the evil
spirit Through faith salvation came 10
those who heeded the words Of the mas
ter and the apostles, as it comes today
to all who believe.
The fUIIness Of our faith in God and
his providence should never lead Us to
think that We are privileged to cease
our efforts in our own hehalf We are
told by the Apostle James that faith
without works is dead. being alone It
is only when We are doing our best for
ourselves and for others that yTe can
rightly trust the outcome witt. God
David, in going out to meet Goliath.
carried his sling and selected his peb-
bles and by reason Of his faith God
made his insignificant weapon more
than equal TO the sword OF the giant.
Then. too, David refused the armor and
the sword with which he was not fam
liar and was willing TO 90 with the
weapon on which he knew he could de-
pend God calls for a larger exercise
of our faith in him but He would net
have Us forget to use Il Ia the little
things Of life, or neglect ii entirely be-
cause the OCCASION did not seem worthy
That person who is literally filled with
faith is not ashamed TO trust for little
things. and having done so is prepared
to attempt greater things. A writer IN
Rams Horn" says that more noun
tains would be moved by faith If more
people were willing to begin with mole
hills.
The progress Of the world is By faith.
God moves no faster in the advancement
Of his people than their faith in his
power and goodness will justify. This
is the keynote of missions II we long
for the betterment Of the human race
we must trust in him and keep braveIy
on Every time we fail in our trust in
Him We retard by so much fuifllment
Of his design.
Suggestions for the Leader.
Dwell rather on what faith does than
what faith IS.
Arrange for an earnest prayer period
near both the opening and the close g
the meeting.
This may be made very largely Bible
meeting The Scriptures are overfowing
with the most striking examples Of grea,
faith. not only in times OF prosperity.
but under the most discourae5ng circun-
stances as well. Reference. arr. readily
obtained in any concordance or topical
textbook Have brought out also some
OF the many instances where the lack or
faith has resulted in miserable failure.
Refer 10 examples Of faith exhibited in
our own times. not forgetting any of 10
cal and personal knowledge. even though
in humble and obscure persons. The
lives OF our missionaries. and other
eyangelists viii furnish abundant mate
rial for illustration
Show the connection between faith ann
prayer Our faith in Gods goodness and
power is shown by what we do under the
influence Of his rich promises. If we
believe IN him, and IN than, we shah
nos hesitate 10 pour out our petitions
for showers OF blessings on the world.