Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-11-15
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THE REWARD OF FAITH.
By Rev. DR.. S. T. Will

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on thee because
he trusteth In thee.-xxvi. 3.
1t is to be noted that man does rot
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 l give unto you, not as the
world giveth, give l unto you," and
again, These things have l spoken
unto you that my peace might remain
in you" We do not come to it by the
road of toll and struggle; we cannot
create it nor walk ourselves into it.,
and yet, however unworthy we may
feel ourselves to be, we live daily with
in reach Of this heavenly boon. Its
source Is in God, In fact, 1t is "the
peace Of God"
The deep solitudes Of nature and the
solemn majesty of the heavenly spheres
indicate 1t to the sense Of man, but 1t
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.
1t Is also to be noted that 1t Is q per-
feet peace, for, indeed, Gods peace
could be nothing less; and it passes all
human understanding Like the gra-
clous God by whom 1t Is impaired, 1t
Ia incomnrabancihIa ayan 70 bi,, tho =
experiences 1t. 1t is perfect in its ma
ture and perfect in Its work, imparting
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 Its 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 trlb-
ulatlons, prosecutions and Affections,
dlsappointments, heartaches and DEATH
Its sweetest smiles are delusive, its
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 sustains such
peace Of mind and composure of soul
in the thickest Of the fight that one can
say: "The Lord Is my light and my
salvation; whom shall I fear? The
Lord Is the strength of my life; of
whom shall 1 be afraidT"
For greater Is He who abides In the
trusting heart than all the combined
forces Of the world; the flesh and the
devil. The soul kept in perfect peace
can say when it comes to the Valley of
Shadows: II fear no evil, for Thou art
with me-"
And what Is the secret Of this sweet
peace, the gift Of Gods love? 1t Is all
summed up in one word-trust-"b
cause he trusteth in thee" That is to
say, 1t is faith in God. Faith that
takes him at his word. 1t is that con-
dtlon Of mind that lays hold on God
and yields all unto Him in perfect con-
fidence.
This giving up all 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 will not be bright
'ned and sweetened If we direct our
thought in faith to God; looking
through what may seem to be a
'frownlng Providence to the Smiling
face" of divine love and mercy be-
yond.
Listen to this infalllble and all COM
prehensive prescription for human hap
piness:
"In nothing be anxious; but in every
thing by prayer and supplication with
Thanksgiving let your requests be made
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, trustful, reposefu
prayer that believes in Gods love and
that lays the soul down upon His
bosom, that in Him 1t may find rest.
1t goes a step farther In faith, rem
dering unquestioning evidence. God II
yearning to bestow this grace in lavish
abundance. Hear Him.,