The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1904-12-08
THE FAITH OF GOD.
How the Christian Should Have and
Nay Have More Than
Faith in God.


The whole framework of human life
Is built up Of faith of some kind
Whether it takes the form of the filial
confidence Of a child in a parent, the
reverence Of 4 pupil for q teacher, the
implicit confidence of a soldier In his
captain. or the familiar form of COM
mercial credit. faith Is the energizing
and constructive principle in Ill hu-
man experienoe. To be sure. this faith
% called may exist In some instances
n . very feeble ana seemingly insis-
n10cant form-as In the case Of the
love Of . dog for his master, or the
superstftious veneration Of . savage
for his fetich-but faith It is, OF 4
kind, even If its size be small a. .
mustard seed. All these occurrences
OF faith are very full Of significance
~ showing how impossible 1t is for
humanity to get on without imposing
confidence in . hundred persons every
day. And all these varied manifesto
tions of belief or trust In others COM
bine to make . great total Of testi-
mony to the supreme worth Of faith
exercised In . 0odward direction, or
what may be called religious faith. as
distinguished from mere social conf
dence. filial trust, or business credit.
Tho Bible abounds in exhortations
to faith and promises made to faith.
One Of the sweetest and most tender
encouragements Of this kind is the
word Of the Master recorded In the
eleventh chapter of Mark. when He
said to the disciples who were still
wondering at the miracle of the cursed
fig-tree. "Have faith in Cod" Moth
ing might seem more natural than to
have faith in God, since men so fire.
quently repose faith in their fellows
and yet as matter Of fact. faith Goc-
ward seems to be very dimcult for
many, either because of their lack Of a
realizing sense Of the existence and
power Of God. or because aome sin
has been admitted into the personal
life which ObscureS the vision Of God
or temporarily paralyzes the powers of
belief, says the New York Observer.
Very significant was the question
asked by the Master on one memora-
BILE occasion. when the disciples in an
emergency had been found lacking in
the faith-power: How It is that ye
have no faith?" It was needful that
the disciples should then and there
take account Of their spiritual expert
ence. examine themselves whether
they were using the right means to
generate and supply faith or not. and
detect just where the flaw lay in the;r
emotional or more likely vol.cnai
processes. involving them in doubt
and despair. How is It that ye have
no faith?" The how" of faith is az
needful to consider IS the what or
tho why" or belief. The Bible is a
complete textbook on faith. and the
patient and prayerful student Of its
pages will nnd the whole method and
means Of belief satisfactorily ex-
planned and illustrated in its varied
volumes.
''Have faith in 0odi" This terse
Injunction Of our Lord is both a COM
mand and an implied promise 1t is
the expressed will Of God that men
should have faith in Him. God Is
honored by faith and requires faith.
No earthly father is pleased II his
children. no matter how constantly or
particularly he may seek to express
lieve In his goodness and tell him in 80
many words: I'VE do not believe
what you say" The Almighty de-
mands that men believe that He mean.
what He says. and that He has the
power to effectuate His own promises
There is furthermore . deeper mean
ing to be found IN this exhortation Of
Jesus. for in tho original the express
sion used BY Christ, after the cursing
Of the 1g-tree, denotes Have the faith
Of Cod" This turn of thought seems
to open up to view the whole biblical
theory of faith a. something which
comes from God. exists in c. 1, and is
sustained by God. God SO to speak is
the great ground Of faith and also its
end and aim. He is the author and
the hnisher Of faith. The divine pres-
ence is the very atmosphere In which
faith thrives, and wherein 1t comes to
fullest fruitage. When Jesus then de-
manded faith from His disciples, He
also inspired It. He connected faith
with the life and grace Of the Heaven
ly Father Himself The disciples were
not to present before the Lord q man
made faith. q Kind Of an artificial
trust, or simulated confidence, but 10
gain and exercise godlike faith which
Is q divine gift as well a. . human
grace, and 10 first a gift before II is q
grace Have Gods faith" said JESUS
by which He meant not Of course a
faith which God needs to feel In any
one higher than Himself. for there IL
none higher. but the faith which cir
cles about God-its Fount and its ssl-
preme object Of alteration.
Have the faith Of God!" No word
of exhortation. in this sin-weary
world, needs to be more often repeated
than this terse Injunction. Doubt and
despair are In one sense easy, but
they are never comfortable nor safe
Faith is the Constructive and ennobling
principle In life. without faith Il 10