The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-07-05

faith and works is daily receiving more
attention. Far be il from me TO lightly
criticise our Puritan forbears. still as
we read about these heroic men Of
whom the world was not worthy. does
II not sometimes seem as II the neces-
sity of faith was emphasized at the
expense Of the necessity of works 10
correspond? The two have been Joined
together: their union constitutes the
perfect religious life. and what God
hath Joined together let not man put
asunder. What am trying TO say has
been summed up In a sentence by the
late +. w. Robertson, a sentence which
the church should never let die and
that sentence is Faith alone saves,
but not the faith that Is alone"
You remember Chrlst's words. "Do
men gather grapes OF thorns. or figs of
thistlesP The man who rises from his
knees with the glow of the divine com.
munion upon his face. the man whose
faith hath made him a partaker of the
power Of God. and who then goes forth
TO live the life which his faith hath
revealed to him. is the man Of whom
Christ alone VIII not be ashamed when
He cometh in the glory of His Father
and OF the holy angels 10 judge the
world.
1t is noteworthy. too. think. that the
virtue in which Boaz and Ruth ex-
celled was the plain, everyday virtue
OF kindness. The greatest material
blessings ere the most common: mir.
light, water. these are within the reach
Of al. So nlsO the greatest virtues
are within the power Of all to possess
Paul says. "Now abideth faith. hope.
charity, these three. but the grentest OF
these is charity II Is possible for Ms
10 attain to the possession Of that grace
the greatest of all. We all have di-
verse gifts and powers. differing one
from another, so that some mount
higher than others. but there is none
Of MS. no matter what our limitations
may be. who cannot speak the kind
word. do the kind deed and pass the
kindly judgment. and that is charity.
the greatest of the virtues. What n
change would take place In this old
and weary world II only our deeds cor
responded with our faith and we ful.
filed the royal law according TO the
Scriptures: Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself."
But, again. the book OF Ruth teaches
MS the necessity of decision. We read
that Ruth and Orpah came to the part
Ing q the ways. that one turned back
TO Moab ana her people, and that the
other took her way to the land Of
Israel. Is not that true slmile of
lifef Sooner or later each one Of MS
comes TO the parting Of the ways and
we make the decision whose results are
endless. "The Kingdom Of Heaven"
saith our Lord. "suifereth violence. and
the violent take it by force" That
means that one cannot drift into IT,
1t needs a strong eXerton of the will.
n decision that abidcs. Memorable
forever is Ruth's decision. When she
says 10 Naomi. "Entreat me not TO
leave thee, or TO return from following
after thee. for whittier thou goest |
will 90, and where thou lodgest viii
lodge thy people shall be my people.
and thy God my God" she takes her
place among the first ranks of those
to whom the high and gracious hearts
or all ages pay reverence. Friends, ii
is great thing. il Is needful thing in
life TO be capable Of a clear resolve.
The man is 10 be envied who can part
between this and that of opposing
claims and considerations and is able
TO say, Here / see my path: along this
and no other viii | go" Indeed this
ability to make decision is the founda-
ton of all true and successful life. In
religion there is no escape from it.
You cannot drift into a state of saliva
ton in a crowd. "Once to every man
and nation comes the moment to de-
eide in the strife 'twixt truth and false
hood. for the good or evil side" TO
each Of MS Individually comes the
choice what TO do. Many a one. |
think. is kept from the freedom and
JOY Of Christianity not because these
things are undesircd not because the
call Of Christ is unheeded. or His
claims unacknowledged but simply
for the want Of the power Of decision.
Of strength to so forward upon a per-
sonal quest.
Young friends, TO you especially this
lesson comes. You have stlll with you
the power Of choice, and to you from
out eternity comes the cry. Choose We. |
choose ye this day whom We viii |
serve Pray God that YOU make the
good choice. ana receive His grace TO |
abide therein.
Delusion.