The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-01-27
SUNDAY MORNING
Rev. Paul a. Prcssly Conducted Ser.
Vices iu The Associate Reformed
lhnrfh

Church.
Last Sunday morning Rev. Paul A.
Pressly conducted religious services III
the little church around the corner.
His text was Increase our faith"
The sermon was regarded by those who
heard it as the ablest aud the best
that the preacher had delivered III that
church. A brain that had been added
by loss of sleep or from some other
causes can give no intelligent report OF
his remarks. but we can say that it was
perfectly orthodox, and included such
doctrine as was acceptable to the deVout
hearts of those who lisleued.
Speaking back from the pew to the
pulpit, we would take the position that
we are not always responsible for either
our belief or our faith. Faith, as we
understand, is founded on belief, anu
belief is the result of the lessons which
we receive in childhood or from ap-
peals to reason in the more mature
wears. For instance A child born
into any of the Christian churches,
EN- braces the belief of that particular
church, and maintains the faith OF all
Christians as taught in the Holy Scrip
lures. If child is born Buddhist or
Mahommedan, he likewise follows i'll
the footsteps of khis fathers.
| A child accepts the beliefand the faith
of the father. This before the infant
has reached the age of reason. The
child does not reason. In childish
confidence and faith he accepts the
teachings of his parents.
| But when the child has reached man
hood or wOmanhood, If change OF be-
lief or faith comes, it is because his or
her reason has been appealed to-. Such
appeals seldom add to the conviction,
but often have the effect of creating d
doubt in the mind of the layman. No
preacher should ever att mpt TO prove
the truth of the spirituality as taught
in the Bible. No preacher should ever
argue with unbelievers. His duty IS
10 preach the gospel-that is to say, he
should assert the truths, with never
reference to doubts. TO undertake to
prove thing is to admit of doubt, and
this implied admission of doubt may
do infinite harm.
Ifthe layman will walk in the paths
of rectitude no solieilude need be felt
as TO his faith. His daily walk will
attest his faith.
In one sense of the word no man is
responsible for his belief, except in that
he must guard against the influence
which would disturb the impress which
was made upon his mind in childhood.
In the years of maturity belief is The
result of conviction.
| The great dahger of arguing or rea-
foning is, that doubt may be created,
and taht doubt may result in infidelity
as to the spirituality which is taught.
A discourse on the increase of our
| faith is ever an acceptable theme for
the righteous, or for those who are con-
scious of the correctness of their lives,
or are satisfied with the orthodoxy of
their faith.
| But there is class who are not in
cluded in discourse of this kind. We
refer to that class Of men who are fol-
lowing their Lord along way off, and
who are struggling with the sins that
beset them. That class of hearers l.
those who would cry unto the Lord,
"Help thou mine unbelief."
Almost any kind Of learned dis
course will do for those who are COM
Portable in their faith, but talk Of faith
is hardly satisfying TO the hungering
heart which needs the helping hand
and the encouraging word to bring
the way ward to the foot of the cross.
Something which might help to
break the fetters that bind him to
his waywardness, or which might clear
the way for him TO win the loving
favor of our Saviour would be more
grateful to those without the veil.
AS we understand, the Abbeville
congregation has invited Mr.. Pressly
to the pastoratc, but we do not know
his determination in the matter.