The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-29
BROOKLYN TABERNACLE.
THE; ANCIENT WORTHLESS.
Hebrews 11:1-19-March 80,

Our fathers trusted in Thee; they
trusted, and Thou didst deliver Them
Psalm 22:4.
The broad foundation of St. Paul's
dissertations on faith is found in the
first verse of this study-'Now faith
is the substance of things hoped for"
etc. AS water is not a solid upon
which our feet can travel, except it be
CONCEALED into ice, so belief, in the
ordinary sense of the word, must be
solidified into faith, to carry us to our
goal
True faith seeks for a positive mes
sage from God, and diligently endeav-
ors to find it. Then it becomes an
evidence, or proof, of things invisible.
BY such faith in Gods promises the
two spies brought back a good report
OF the land of Canaan. Their compan-
ions, lacking that faith, brought back
an unfavorable report
BY faith Abel offered God more
excellent sacrifice than did Cain.
an endeavor to appreciate what sin
is and why the death penalty had
come. From this standpoint he Of
fered animals, typifying the better
sacrifices by which reconciliation will
be effected between God and human
ity.
The story of Enoch's translation is
Vouched for more than once; and by
faith we may accept it. There is no
record as to where he was taken eX-
cept that he did not go to Heaven
(John 3:13.) God may have protect
ed his life throughout these centuries
to illustrate how human life could
have been prolonged by Divine Power,
had God not placed the curse of death
upon the race of mankind
Noah's faith manifested itself in his
building the ark, when there was no
apparent excuse for so doing. Rain
was unknown until the Deluge. CGen-
esis 2:5.) God blessed his faith and
made him channel of blessing to his
family.
The FaithIess Not Acceptable Now.
st. Paul makes a sweeping state
Without faith it is impossible
pleasing to God in proportion to his
1alth- surely here we have an in
centive to growth in faith. since Gods
people desire to please Him.
Falth is not alike easy with all man
kind Some can crystalline their faith
in Gods promises into what is prac-
tIcally absolute knowledge, on which
they dare do anything. Many have less
fa1th. yet are children of God. These
needs must pray, Lord. increase our
faith" and be encouraged by the re-
wards of faith given to others There
are others. however, to whom faith
seems absolutely impossible. They
cannot believe anything beyond their
five senses.
Are these to be debarred from Di-
vine favor to all eternity. because they
cannot please God? This is not the
teaching of scripture. The Bible
teaches that under Messiah's kingdom
1.-The knowledge of the Lord shall fill
the whole EARTH reaching all classes.
1t will not depend upon faith. The
way Will be so plain that even sim
pleton need not err in his endeavor to
know the truth..Isaiah 1913.
Abraham Looked for a City.
Summing up (verse 49,, st. Paul de-
clared that all these noble characters
died in faith, without having received
the things promised. So strong was
their faith that they were content to
be pilgrims and strangers. They
sought a better, a heavenly country
"a city which hath foundations, whose
builder and maker is God"
Did St. Paul mean that Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob wanted to go to
heaven? Were they looking, as the
church is looking. for a place in the
new OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES kingdom
Such is not our thought. They had no
heavenly promises to think about.
They had no word of God to even
suggest a change of nature from hu
man to spirit being.
All of their promises were earthly
''AlI the land that thou seest, to thee
will 1 give it and to thy seed after
thee" etc To our understanding, the
country for which they lookd is the
Paradise of the near future, when
the blessings of the Lord shall sup
plant the curse of sin and death. This
is the country which God purposes