Norwich bulletin., 1911-03-27
ham, ths Fathsr Of BsIievsrs-Per-
sonaI Notes.

Rev. C. n. Ricketts, preached at the
Congregational church Sunday morn
ing on Abraham, the Father of Be-
Hevers. His text was taken from Ro-
mans fv:11, That he might be the
father Of all that believe He said
in part:
Two main thoughts viii occupy our
minAs In this sermon: First, Abra-
hams faith and secondly the effect
of this faith on him, and possibly on
al subsequent generations. Faith is
grounded in the individual reason. Man
las his religious belief because II
appeals to him as reasonable. If
reason says it is right to believe no
man has any right to disbelieye be-
cause of any outside influences which
may be borne in upon him. That is,
il anything is presented to his reason
worthy Of BELIEF he ought to believe
it. even II he 10 the o4ly man in the
world who does. Matters of belief
ought never to he settled by the opin-
lem Of the msSltitade but always by
the Individual reason. There would
never have been any reforms in this
world II some great spirits had not
had the merM eegeage to break away
Themselves. UniveEsal faith in itself
does not prove anything. At the most
itztan offer only strong presumptive
Evidence.
I. Abraham's Faith. What did he
believe? First of all no believed in
GOD, and that in . mighty article of
faith. Unless ane starts out in the
great activities OF life with belief in
o0a his life j. a failure from the
standpoint of his mission, but if he
has q death4ess belief in the divine
rulership, all other necessary things
come in their order. Seek We first
the kingdom of God and His right
eeusness and al these things shall be
added unto yeu." Faith in God, pro
vided It is deep and genuine, always
leads TO this result: It urges a man
to separate himself, that IL, to set
himself apart to something definite
and distinctive.
abraham showed his faith in God
in seeking in Him the answer to the
deepest and most imperative needs of
his nature Abraham like every 9TH
er man, wanted something to tie up to
that would be both "sure and stead
fast" and Abraham was wiser than
many men fn that he found in God the
source Of his help and strength.
Abraham not only believed in God,
but also the Eyeat promise of the
covenant-'In thy seed shall all the
families Of the earth be blessed"
Whether the Lord assumed material
form and addressed Abraham in the
matter OF conjecture. The announce
ment of that Mission furnishes one of
the most dramatic episodes of all his
tory, for practically human history be-
gins with the calling Of Abraham to
be the father Of the faithful.
2. The Eject ~ This Faith on Alb
raham. Conspicuous among the many
things that came in response to mis-
faith was that he had acceptance with
God. In the language Of the Scrip
lures 1T was accounted to him for
righteousness." Not only did he re-
ceive the outward promise, but that
outward promise was in perfect &C
cord with the inner consciousness that
he was received, approved and justi-
ned. 1t was the unshaken conscious
ness Of unity with the divine.
I Again, we md that through faith
Abraham grew to be . most wonder
full personatity. He waa not perfect
man, and perhaps that is why we like
him. 1t puts him into the class with
ourselves as representative Of our