The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-12-04
CHRISTIAN eNpeAvoR.

Topic For the Week Beginning Dee.
6-COmn,ent by Rev. $. H. Doyle.
Topic-What the heroes of faith teach
us.-Heb. XII, lao.
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is
one of great interest and inspiration.
Here we have recorded long list OF
the ancient patriarchs, whose lives
were in harmony with the will of God
and who because of their faith in Him
uade their lives count and obtained
4 good report" Heroes indeed and
heroes of faith! Not by might nor by
power, but by faith in God, they Sub.
dued kingdoms, wrought righteousness,
obtained promises, stopped the mouths
of lions, quenched the violence of fire
escaped the edge of the sword. out Of
weakness were made strong. waxed
valiant in fight, turned to fight the
armies of aliens" AS heroic deeds in
spire to emulation, so also should the
faith of heroes, and from study of
this chapter our faith in God through
Jesus Christ should be more firmly es.
tablished.
The faith of these ancient heroes pos
sessed several important characteris-
tics % 1t was faith in God The
faith defined and illustrated here is not
distinctive Christian faith Saving
faith in Jesus Christ is something en-
tirely different This was faith in God.
in His power and in His promises Such
faith always proceeds Christian faith.
1t should exist in every human heart
and prepare the way for saving fifth
in Christ ~ 1t was practical faith.
Some religious faith is not practical.
1t is not applied to the daily affairs of
life. We believe, but do not live by
our beliefs. Not so was it with these
Old Testament worthless They based
their lives upon their faith. Dangers.
difficulties, trials and Affections had no
terrors for them because of their faith
in God. Our faith should be practical.
1t should sustain us in difficulty, in
spire us to duty and comfort us in trial
and atfliction. A frutless faith is
worthless faith. (3) 1t was an adapta-
BILE faith. The experiences of none of
these worthless were exactly alike, yet
faith in God was adaptable TO every
experience. Nor is there any condition
or experience in life where faith in
God will not sustain us. 1t is able to
meet the wants and needs of every
human heart and life.
The numbers of the heroes of faith
are also worthy of our attention. Many
young people have the erroneous idea
that but few of the worlds great men
have been men of faith. The impress
sion somehow prevails that religious
faith has been for the most part ex-
ercised by children and women. But
nothing could be further from the
truth. as we see illustrated here All
of Israefs great men from Abel to
Malachi are included in this list of
faith heroes. Nor has the Jewish ma
ton been peculiar in this respect The
worlds truly great men have all be-
lieved in God. Therefore, we should
not hesitate to believe and to act up to
our faith. Seeing we also are com
passed about with so great cloud of
witnesses, let us run with pa
tience the race that is set before us.
looking unto Jesus, the author and fin
Usher of our faith"
BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. iv, 4; V, 21-24; vi, 1922; xii, is;
xii 1-19; Elk. ii, 1-15; Josh. vi. 1921;
Matt. tx, 27-31; xvii, 1921; Gal ii, 90