Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-15

and zeal are in demand. The blow We
strike in the defense of right, the burden
which we lift from those too weak to
bear 1t, the forward step we take when
we have nothing but the promises of God
on which to lean, these are the proofs OF
what we have professed.
This is wonderful array of Scripture
which We have as proof-teXtS for Our
proposition. The wise old prophet Sam
uel is there, with his rebuke of Sauls un-
faithfulneSS. and all the Christian world
may stop with profit to its soul, and list
to the message which he brings from God
to 1Srael'S erring king
St. James is there: he who for all time
must stand forth as the practical mys-
tic" What a sharp rebuke is this to
those who et.profession take the place of
action. in their service for God, and for
the fellowmab
Jesus is there: closing the Sermon on
the Mount with a parable SO sharp and
clear that mans eternal destiny is stalk
ed, not on his knowledge of the truth OF
God; nor on his firm belief in that truth,
but rather in the doing of the things
which Gods dear Son demands Of those
who claim to love Him and believe His
word.
Three thoughts are here:
1.-THE NATURE OF GENUINE FAITH.
Genuine faith is twofold in its eX-
preston. First, it believes: believes that
God is God, sovereign and supreme, and
that to save the erring sons of men He
sent His only Son to die for them. Be-
lieves that Jesus was the Son Of God.
and that His word has all authority in
everything pertaining to the conduct Of
mankind.
second, This "g genuine faith acts:
acts in the light of what it knows of
Gods revealed will. Genuine faith can
no more idly sit and see the world for
which the master died want anything,
from guidance in things divine to daily
food, without at once responding to the
call. than a brave swimmer can
helpless one drown, a wise guide see
travellers lose their way. Such faith works
while it waits and waits while it works,
leaving 1.-The times and season. to the
Lord.
H-WORkMEN FOR GOD.
No man or woman, boy or girl, greedy
miser or preying charlatan can ever put
forth a genuine endeavor without some
measure of faith Only the insane or
wholly degenerate are capable of effort
without faith. But it Isl easier to imag-
Inc such d condition than to conceive of
a true believer in the word and Son of
God as being anything else but work
man for Cod
"Workmen for God"--what a title for
the children of faith! The work is His.
and we are His, and out of this divine CO.
partnership, in which the God we serve
gives us at once d title and task,
there comes this all-compelling thought,
that we are ''workmen for Cod"
IU-THE THREEFOLD WITNESS.
Genuine faith has threefold wit
ness. First, and because of it's very
nature, there is the witness in our souls.
There. upon the sensitized plate of our
spiritual nature. the Sun of Righteous
ness stamps His own image and we
know 1t is from this consciousness OF
the divine that the most self-sacrificing
deeds are done.
Second There is the witness in our
words We are not only to act as though
we had Il measure of Gods liberal love
within our souls We are to tell men of
the blessedness that comes through faith.
We are sent forth ito tell as we'll as
toll We are His witnesses.
Third. There is the witness in our
work. The world may never know the
holy glow which God betoWs upon the
trusting soul 1t may discount our verbal
testimony concerning our faith in Him,
but it cannot doubt the witness in our
work That stands at once challenge
to an idle world and good voucher for
the fact of our faith.
o Thou whose life was one of cease
less toll. who gave to all the witness of
word and work, give us such faith in
Thee that we shall know the holy glow
that finds expression in earnest zeal and
willing service that shall prove our faith.
Amen.