The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-05-07
FAITH"
Sunday Discourse by the Rev. Roderick
Terry.
Shows the Necessity Of Establishing a True
Spiritual Life on s Proper foundatlon--
Why We Have Hope Unto au
Internal Lie.

New YoRK CITY.-Dr. Roderick Terry.
pastor OF the South Reformed Church.
Madison avenue, preached Sunday morn
ing on Faith His text was chosen
from Jude 20 and 81: But ye, beloved,
building up yourselves on your most holy
faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep
yourselves in the love of God. looking for
The mercy OF our Lord Jesus Christ unto
eternal life DR.. Terry said:
We have no information concerning this
short Eplstle of Jude beyond that which is
contained IN the verses themselves. We
know not who he was. nor where he lived,
nos to whom he wrote. nor the circum.
stances calling for the writing of the Epis-
Gle further than the information we gain
regarding some OF these facts from its con.
tents. And inasmuch as this, as well az
the wno.e of the revelation, though written
originally Tor certain people at a certain
time, was intended TO be universal in its
scope, and was applicable to people Of all
times, 1t Is not OF so much importance to
as to know precisely for whom the words
were first intended. as to ascertain their
applicability to the different periods OF the
church = history, and especially to the time
an which we live. 1t is written as Jude
SAYS. as a warning to Christians; that they
should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the Saints
These words imply first, the importance Of
guarding this faith once delivered to the
SAINTS. and in the second place, that there
were dangers lest this faith might be lost
I'm regard to the first of these, however
needfu at that time or at any succeeding
time in the church's history such a warn.
ing may have been, it can never have come
with greater force than it should come TO
Christ's people to-day. The necessity OF
contending for the faith, delivered once
for all to the Saints" is, in the present
state OF religious opinion, something which
70 ho t.Il. ,v,at .tnl De-
faith Is meant here. not that quality or
grace which the Christian possesses which
typiHcs his feeling toward God: it has ref
erence rather to that which is believed in;
which st. Paul calls The Faith of the
Gospel" "The faith which is in Christ
Jesus" and which is used universally By
the sacred writers as Synonymous with the
teaching which God gives concerning Him
self. This faith" says Jude, was once
Tor all delivered unto the Saints and he
eyhorts Christians that they should ear
nest,y contend for it. When this faith
was delivered unto the saints. and under
what circumstances. we are well aware; il
Included the revelation which God made OF
Himself through all history. and His rela.
ton with His chosen people; it included
the life and the work Of the Master, and
the influence which He shed upon His dis
cipies; it Included the work and the teach
'ngs OF His followers; 1t was, in fact. the
revelation Of God recorded through all the
Scriptures. Jude insists upon the neces
slty that every one vino is a child OF God
should contend for this faith as thus by
revelation and miracle once for all deliv
cred unto the Saints
The writer of the epistle makes no secret
.-of the reason why he found it necessary "a
insist upon the Importance OF thus guard
ing the faith rs given to us by God for the
dangers which menaced it were two fold;
in the first place they sprang from the nat.
tQnnpF1py ~ mo IN tg, rpa out
for themselves all matters of faith or be.
lief, as they would reason out questions OF
history Or of science. These men, puffed
np with their own supposed knowledge.
were unwilling to abide by the clear and
simple words OF Scripture which came from
God. and not only interpreted them ac.
cortipg to. .taeir own Judgment, but even
replaced them with ideas of their own.
The writer has little to say to these mea
whom he describes as those whose mouths
speak swelling words, as though the
words came not from any deep thought
but he shows conciusivc,y that they were
as conspicuous in the church then as they
are to-day: There is nothing harder for
che natural man than to acknowledge and
live up to the acknowledgment of his ig
norance; there IS no subject OF thought OF
Observation-Disclosures connected with the
life in this world or in the world to come
which men will not seek to handle with
the tools OF their own mental equipment
and therefore men are always jealous when
the Bib,e declares that there are some
things which they cannot understand, but
that in regard to those very things they
must have faith; so that the first class OF
dangers to the maintenance of its true po
stlon on the part OF faith in human intel
lectual life. springs from mental conceit,
from the unwIllingness OF men to believe
that which seems inconsistent with, OF
above their own reasoning.
When this cpistle was written this clasi
OF enemies TO the faith, in that contention
against 1t which is always being waged
were not very conspicuous nor influential
IN the church, but to-day there is more
danger to the purity and the simplicity OF
the Christian faith from them than from
any 0. Icr OF Its enemies. and it become:
che adkerents OF the cause of Christ to be
strong and unyieldng in their opposition
% the modern tendency; to elevate human
individual opinion a. over against the re,
sea! Jed will OF God When God says: "The
soul that sinneth, it shall die" and some
man rises in opposition and declares that
an good ard had shall finally inherit ever.
lastlng life, Il - time Tor the servant OF
nod 10 take irn position in support OF the
revealed will OF the Lord and 20 contend
Tor the "taith once delivered to the Saints"
When men declare that this very Bible
which contains Gods revelation to men. il
somewhat uncertain guide to belief. an
unreliable anchor to hope and proceed to
tear it to pieces and 10 rob it OF its su.
Dreme strength in It's hold upon the con.
sciences and minds 0f men, it ia time for
the servant of Christ to announce with
emphasis his belief that it il the revealed
VIII OF God, and that OF all His reyeation
there shall fail not one iot or little, and
That curse shall come uDon him who TAX.
eth away from or addnth unto the words
winch God hath given for our comfort and
our guidance. Surely there is need to-day
more than ever in the past, that in regard
10 all ot Gods teachings, in regard to the
word OF Gods revelation in regard to the
pan oi salvation in regard 70 our hone OF
heaven, even to our belief upon God Him.
self. the Christian should stand firm, and
'bnorid contend. with courage and with
zeal. ia his own heart and in the world for
the faith as it is in Jesus
For that faith is also in danger OF being
undermined by the human characteristics
universally found among men which make
them unwilling to accept OF and 10 live nm
10 its moral and ethical teachings The
STANDARD Of morality in the world being
much lower than that taught in the Scrip'
tures, al! men are apt 10 suffer their ideas
TO DRIFT lower and lower in sympathy with
the ideas OF the world. In the first place
this result occurs to-day. as in the time of
the writing OF the epstle. from the creep.
ing into the church OF certain men who are
themselves ungodly "6lthy dreamers. de-
filing tho flesh. despising dominion. sneak.
ing evil Of dignities" critiesing those
- IL L