The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-19
THE yICTonY or rAlTu.
Selected for The Times-Dispatch, )

tSelcctcd Tor The Time S-DiSpatch.)
For whatsoever is born OF Cod over
cometh the world and this is the vic
tory that overcomcth the world even
our faith. Who is he that ovcrcome.h
tho world. but he that bclievet;l that
Jesus is tho Son OF God ?r-I John =.
4, 5.
There arc two words in the system
OF Christianity which have received n
, meaning so new and SO emphatic AS
to be In a way peculiar to It, and TO
distinguish il from all other systems
OF morality and religion These two
words arc tho world and faith. Tie
legislator prohibits cri,ne--the nno:o,Ist
transSress the reigionist. sin TO
these Christianity adds a new enemy
the world and the things of The world
IT any man love the world. the love
OF thc Father is not In him
The other word used in a peculiar.
sense Is faith. It is said to work
miracles, remove mountains. Justify
the soul. tramnlc upon Representatives,
These two words--the world and faith
are brought into diametrical opposition
IN the text. so that 1t branches into
g twofold limo of thought-the Chris
tian's enemy, the world; and The VIC
tory of faith
Now. in endeavoring to understand
what is meant by tho world though
the expression is used in many WAYS.
VIC feel that 1t essentially mean, a
tyranny And the tyranny of tho
present is one that weighs heavily
Christ" says the Apostle Paul. "hatb
redeemed MS from this present evil
world : And again, "Demaz hath for
sakcn Me. having loved tho present
world
Worldliness is the attractive mower
OF something present In opposition TO
something to come It is the spirit OF
childhood carried into manhood Esau
illustrates this in selling his birth
right--a future blessing--for the pres.
cnt mess OF po,tage. SO also Is the
incorporate man when he says: sum
cient unto the day is the OWL ana tho
good thereof; let me have my portion
now"
So one Of the worlds great powers
lies in tho attraction OF that world
now 50 is It with the tyranny Of the
sensual, that is, with the onjoymcnts
Of the world We hear men complain
OF the love Of gold; but gold Is mere
ly a medium OF exchange for other
things. Gold Is land. titles, name com
fort. all the world can give, and all
these idolatrics belong to tho present.
ana arc only various forms OF one
great tyranny.
Again. tile world means the spirit of
the day-thc voice OF society Our
saviour says. III We were OF the
world the world would love his own !,
me apostle says BE not confornned
10 this world The spirit of the world
Is forever altering. In the days OF
Noah the spirit of the world was
violence; in tho days OF Elijah. 1t was
idolatry: In tho days Of Christ, 1t was
power, concentrated In the govern
mcnt of Rome; In our day It is perhaps
the love of money. But this thing the
spirit Of tho world. Is different for
every heart and each heart must win
its own victory. That Is why we
speak Of the victory OF faith.
Faith in religion Is the same thing
as failh in worldly matters; 1t only
diners in the object 1t seeks, When n
man abstains from alcohol or sclf-in-
diligence because he knows he will feel
bcttcr for.!t, he Is exercising faith, hut
faith OF a low order, The merchant
who exercises prudence. judgment.