Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-09-28
THE REWARD OF FAITH.
BY Rev. Or. s. q. Wilt

III is TO be noted that man does not
keep himself in peace, for In the sense
of this, grace would, in fact, be impos-
sible. But it is a gift. Jesus said /:
MY peace | give unto You. not as the
world giyeth, give / unto you" and
again, These things have / spoken
unto you that my peace might remain
in you We do not come to 1t by the
road of toll and struggle; we cannot
create 1t nor walk ourselves into 1t,
and yet, however unworthy we may
feel ourselves to be, we live daily with
in reach of this heavenly boom Its
source is in God, in fact, 1t is "the
peace of Cod
The deep solitudes of nature and the
solemn majesty of the heavenly spheres
indicate 1t to the sense of man, but it
Is experienced only In the deepest re-
cesses of the soul. And this peace of
God will rule In the heart If we Will
permit it,
II is also to be noted that 1t is per-
1 feet peace, for, indeed, Gods peace
! could be nothing less and 1t passes all
/ human understanding. Like the gra-
cious God by whom 1t is impaired, it
is lncomprehenslble even TO him that
experiences 1t. 1t is perfect in its ma
| ture and perfect In dts work, imparting
a divine calmness and serenity of soul
and sweet heavenly rest that the
| world can neither give nor take away
This peace does not occupy the world
OF material things it's realm is in the
hearts and minds. OF men. He is kept
| In perfect peace, whose mind is stayed
on God. The world promises only trib-
ulations, prosecutions aud Affections,
disappolntnents. heartaches and death
| Its sweetest smiles are delusive. It's
| trusted friendships bring danger and
its brightest hopes are fraught with
evil. But God does not leave alone and
unalded the soul that Is stayed on Him.
He Is an ever present help in time of
trouble. He gives and sustaihs such
peace OF mind and colnposure of soul
In the thickest of the fight that one can
say The Lord is my light and my
salvation; whom shall fear? The
Lord Is the strength Of my life; of
whom shall be afraid?"
For greater il He who abides IN the
! trusting heart than all the combined
forces Of the world; the aesh.and me
devil. The soul kept in perfect peace
can say when It comes to the Valley of
Shadows Il fear no evil for Thou art
with me-
Aud what is the secret of this sweet
pence. the gift of Gods love? 1t Is all
summed mp in one word trust-"be-
cause he trusteth in thee That is to
say, 1t is faith in God Faith that
takes him at his word 1t Is that can
dition of mind that lays hold on God
and yields all unto Him in perfect con
t1dence.
This giving up MI TO God and the
staying Of the mind on God means
three things prayer obedience and
happiness. There Is no hour so free
from care or so exempt from tempta-
tlons and Ills that viii not be bright
ened and sweetened If we direct our
thought In faith to God looking
through what may seem to be a
'frowning Providence" to the smiling
face of divine love and mercy be-
You'd.
Listen to this lnfalliblc aud all com
prehensive prescription for human hap
piness
In nothing be anxious but In every
thing by prayer and duplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made
known to God and the peace OF God
which passeth all understanding shall
keep your hearts and your minds In
Christ Jesus"
Here is prayer, Including supplicatlon
and thanksgiving. The hand of faith
stretched out In earnest prayer relieves
the heart from worry and anxious care
and brings sweet peace and content
ment, that calm. trtistful. reposeful
prayer that believes In Gods love and
that lays the soul down upon His
bosom, that in Him It may find rest
1t goes step farther In faith. rem.
derlng unquestioning evidence God is
yearning to bestow this grace In lavish
abundance. Hear Him
'0h, that thou hadst hearkened unto
my commandments Then had thy
peace been as river and thy righteous
ness as the waves of the sea-"
Peace as river that is abundant,
free. full-llving and never failing 1t
includes all other divine gifts and the
mind that is 50 stayed on God, through
trust in Him, is kept in security and
happiness. for deep down in the soul,
far beyond any disturbance from any
earthly enmity or Ill, there flows from
the throne OF God an eternal aud glad
dening river OF peace.
FACING THE FACTS.
BY Rev. Henry #. Cope.
"Ye shall know the truth and the
truth shall make you free. John. WILL.