The Brinkley argus., 1909-06-11
HEROES OF
 FAITH
sHsss ssAssl Lessss for Jsas E. isos
 spse,lny Arranged for ThIs Paper

LESSON TExT.-Hebrews.1 .1l:1-ao. Mem' COLLEEN TEXT. .AcFaith is the sub stance sof, things hoped for the evidence
 Of things not seen.--Hcb. li:i.. s.,
 o9eesstIon and Practical Thought.
 SG6JSct: What Faith Haa~ Done
 for Others and Can Do for Us.
 stWhAt Faith .Is.--vs. Is. How does
 the writer define faith? Faith is the
 substance of things hoped for, the evi
 dence cf things not seen." Faith n
 not hope, but underlies hope and rep'
 ders-hOpe confident, Faith Is not the
 vision of mysteries, but that proof oi l. them in' heart and life which assures nssof them. without any sight of them 1, s.How, does the writer illustrate tfih faith? By 1t the elders (not all men Of 'antient time, but those of special ifenown called 'cldersD obtained q cod ,teport" fR.'v.as1 had witness borne to them, !" 1. e.. in the Scripture) This verse sums up the long and astlspdid catalogue that follows. a,
 What is the first example of faith That Of Abel the righteous (so called Three times out of the four mentions s0fs him in the New Testament: see Matt B: :35; 1John '3.12l. His. faith in God led to obedience, agd thus he 6ffered the kind of sacrtfice which Cod approved and. accepted: perhaps by Ire: from heaven. z ..jw fs' { :. What Is the second example of f4itii! Ths patriarch, Enocb. ss;who sssvkaIked with Cod (the Septuagint. used here, has it was we'll pieasfns to God and Ne was not; fos God took him." This proves his faith, for no one caneGo to God without faith in
 what is the third example of faith, Noah, whose faith in Coda warnings -o@ the coming. deluge led him to build the. ark. Noah Is the first to re- cefve in Scripture the'name, righteous dGen. 6:S: see also Ezeks 14:14x s20; Pet. zssl. This /. righteousness is looked on. as an inheritance received by all who manifest the faith. ."-El- licott. -slt4r sae-Y < g@.,. :.
 What ..is. the fourth example of faith? The glorious example, of sfaithfulA Afaithfffed -Abrahain, :, {, who proved 6it faith by leaving his native find; hisrfriepds, his home, at the com ndand of God, and going lie knew not whifher, living in tents s.ini the prom iasd land. ahd not even. owning foot os itlexcept q place to bury his dead wife. <
 How does the writer sum. up the leesons of these great lives! By point 'fnfg to the contrast between the earth ly lot of the patriarchs and the expec- tations which their faith led them. to cherish.
 Abraham's Great Test Of Faith.- vs. 17-19. What is the point of the writer's next illustration! The value of tests of faith. Think how many eager hopes we're centered upon young Isaac. what long waiting was rewarded by him, what glorious promises had their fruit in him. In Isaac should his (Abraham's) seed be called (Gen. 21:12); that is, Isaac and his descendants were to be counted especially as Abraham's seed. inherit ing the promises made to him. And now his loving father has offered Isaac ID (R. V. margin)-for Abra- hams submission to Gods will is % entire that the sacrifice Is as good as completed and the lad as good as dead; SO that. when the ram was sub stftufed (Gen. zz:13) for the boy. Abraham may truly be said to have received his son back again fronaAkhe grave.
 How Faith Gives Clear yision.
 vs. 2o.22. What is the point 1T the next three illustrations. tlaooe of Isaac. Jacob and Joseph? In each case..Ake clear vision of the future that faith gives. "
 Moses Great Venture ok Faith Nh. 23.31. How many conspicuous in stances of faith does tho writer note in connection with the exodna from Egypt and conquest of Canaen aven in. all-not because seven ia "f63 per- feet number" nor becauee there were not more than seven. but hecAuae (v. 32) time failed him to recount others. such as the victory at R6phi- dim. the healing wrought by the brasen serpent. the, report of the two faithful spies. These seven are:
 The preservation of Moses by his parents; the choice i made by Moses when he slew the Egyptian (Ex. 2:11. l2), which was . virtual renunciation of the royal court and "the treasures Of Egypt" and an assumption of the cause of the enslaved nation of the reproach of Christi" the forsalking of Egypt by Moses; the celebration of the first passover; the passage of the