Arizona republican., 1909-10-25

i forgive their sin; and if not. blot
 me, I pray thee, out of thy book
 which thou hast written That was tine measure of responsibility Moses felt. Paul had such a conception of
 his responsibility when ne said that he could wish himself accursed for
 his kinsmen's sake. Such a concep-
 tion made John Knox pray: Give
 me Scotland, or 1 die; and led Henry
 Martyr to long to burn out for God.' It takes the missionary back 10 dan
 ger and privation; it took Christ to
 the cross. I would that something
 of this conception of our responsi-
 bility might come to each of us dur
 ing the weeks that lie before us.
 The secret of the failure of the church. Because of your unbelief.'
 think the disciples must have been disappointed to hear that. Lack of faith is Christ's answer to tine ques-
 tion, Why does not the church ad-
 vance?' Let that question go abroad among the members of the church
 today and you will have nearly as
 many different kinds of answers as
 there are members. One will say.
 There are too many denominations'
 There may he something in that.
 but very little. for am convinced that it was part of Gods plan that there should be different denomina- tions for different people Some say. The failure of the church is due to the fact that the church is out of date l am convinced that there is little in that explanation: it is the old truth that counts. Another says. We haven't perfect enough organiza- ton No, it is not that. We have wheels within wheels. and oftentimes strength is lost because of the com plexity of organization. Another says. The church is a failure because its leaders are not cultured enough God doesn't need our ignorance, and He doesn't need our education. to ac- complish His purpose in the world. God takes the weak things of the earth to confound the mighty. No. these are not any of them sufficient reasons for the seeming failure of the church. It is because of unbe- lief. The Scripture tells us that Jesus could not do many mighty works in a certain place because of their un- 4 belief. Some years ago there was division between two branches of the | leaders Of the church, one laying | great emphasis on the culture and | education of the ministry. and at the | same time filing to measure fully l the training that comes from com munion with the Most High Even | the most radical of these are com | ing to realize that they must con cern themselves with the spiritual | as we'll as the intellectual to have power. After all. there is only one way to reach the world with the salvation of Christ. and that is by | the proclamation of the truth as it | He has made for men.
 How are we going to come into | possession of this faith? How cani we rid ourselves of our unbelief? | First. we must realize what such 1 faith would do for us. and then we should come to know what our hay ing such faith would do for others | It would make us hold to the serv- ices of the King Sturgeon has said: Nothing can stand against the man who believes It makes us courage ous to do the will of God if we have the right kind of faith in Him. This faith makes it possible for us to adopt the right kind of 8 purpose; il makes us choose consecration as servants of Christ
 "One more thought: It costs to have faith. He who went farthest in the salvation of the world placed | this message in the path He trod and nailed it with a nail from his cross. He that would be My disciple. let him deny himself. and take up his cross. and follow Me We must i give ourselves in our service. The man who folds his arms and ex- poets to be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease will not have any sheaves to bring with him: but he who lays himself at the foot of the cross for service makes his life tell for the glory of God.
 Some years ago it was said that the average life of Methodist min ister in New York city was only eight years after he began his serv- ice, so hard he worked for the ac-