Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-02-05
FAITH.
written for the CITIzEN.)

ehne NAbuOub Adlbn ~ 10 lupOSoiOlS
to please God. BY faith the mouths
of lions we're stopped, men were en-
abled to pass through the fiery fur
mace and the doors of prisons were
opened; by faith Christians have
been enabled to stand all sorts Of
prosecutions and to rejoice that they
were able to "suffer prosecutions for
the Cross Of Christ. BY faith per-
sons have been able, even on the
dying bed, to rejoice and praise the
name of the Lord and to leave a
precious dying testimony behind
them. How important it is, then,
that we should have strong and
abiding faith, faith by the exercise
of which we may be able to lay hold
of the many precious promises in the
Book of Books, and appropriate
them all to ourselves. We should
exercise faith at all times, under all
circumstances and in all things.
By faith we may look up to our
Heavenly Father, even in the darkest
hours of our lives and feel safe under
all conditions, knowing that he
watches over us and is ever with us,
ready to succor and to save in every
trial and will not impose upon us
any trial or temptation above that
we are able to bear. o, for
"a faith that shines more bright and clea r
When tempests rage without;
That when in danger knows no fear,
In darkness feels no doubt"
Faith enables us at all times to
cry Abba Father, my Lord aud my
God, and to look unto Christ, who is
the author and finisher of our faith,
and to say, "Thy will, o Lord, not
mine, be DONE" 1t enables us to
feel and know that all things work
together for our good. In the dying
hour, faith will cause us to feel that
God is with US, aud to say, "Though
l walk through the valley of the
shadow Of death / will fear no evil,
for thou art with me, thy rod and
thy staff, they comfort me''.
BY faith we eau meet the grim
monster, Death, with a bright and
shiny countenance and know that we
are being transplanted from this
world of sin and sorrow into that
heavenly abode where sin and sorrow,
sickness and death are felt and feared
no more, but where all will be joy
and happiness.
BY faith we have access to the grace
wherein we stand and are empowered
to fight the "good fight of faith"
and to come of more than conquerors
through Him who hath loved us and
given himself for us. Faith brings
US remission of sin, peace, JOY, rest,
oneness with Christ, kinship with
our Savior, sonship with God, victory
over all of the trials and temptations
of life and glorious entrance into
eternal life beyond this vale of tears,
Faith gives us the power to stand
firm to walk uprightly before God
and to make our calling and election
sure. We cannot see the significance
of many things that transpire in this
life, nor understand the various trials
and temptations through which we
are called to pass. When we are called
upon to part with those nearest and
dearest to us and to see their bodies
laid in the tomb, it seems more than
we can bear, but by the exercise oi
abiding faith we can see the hand OF
God in it all, and can look up to Hin
and know that He directeth all things
and that it was all for our good.
Faith lifts US above fear, and en-
ables US to go forth in the discharge
of every duty incumbent upon u.
fearing no evil, knowing that we have
a friend above all others, One who
sticketh closer than brother, One
who will stand by. us at all. time.
and who will never leave nor forsak.
us, One who will give us grace tc
sustain us in every time of need, ana
who will in His own good time, bring
us safely through them all anC
eventually crown us with glory.
Faith will not murmur nor complain,
Beneath the Christening rod,
But In the hour of grief and pain,
Will lean upon its God.
Faith penetrates the yeiland bids
the invisible stand forth. il
strengthens US and prepares as for al
of the conflicts of this life and
enables us to feel that we are safe
and assures us that our humbles
efforts to serve and please our Goo
are acceptable in his sight and will
receive rich reward. "Faith is tht
victory that overcometh the world
and it will land us safely into tha
Home mot made with hands, eterna
in the heavens" where we will b,
forever with our Lord and Savior anC
sing the song of Moses and the Lamb
Then, let us put on the breast plat.
of faith and follow those W no through
faith and patience have washed theil
robes In the blood of the Lamb and
who now inherit the promises. LIE,
us hold fast to our faith, feeling and
knowing that Goodwill abundantl,
bless and reward those who ar,
faithful Unto death. We are told thai
whatsoever we ask ia faith, nothing
doubling. it shall be given unto us
that IT .'ye have faith as a grain O,
mustard seed, We shall say unto this
sycamine tree, be thou plucked ar
Dy the roots and be thou planted il
the sea and it shall obey you"
Let US build up ourselves iE oul
most holy faith. Let us trust Ia
God In all things and look up .tc