Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1914-09-04
IN The NORSHIPER PLACE FAITH FIRST
Foundation Stone Upon Which
All Christian Virtues Must
Be Founded.

Let US consider some of the the ele-
ments of service or waiting on the
Lord and some of the reasons why we
should be of good courage. The nrsI
requisite of service is loyalty. Inc
subject who hates his king, the cltl-
zen who does not love the flag or hls
country cannot render to king or coun-
try a service of honor or of value.
There must be faith In the character
and virtues of the ruler, faith In the
| beneficent laws of the country to IN
spire devotion and loyalty. To walt
upon the Lord faith must exist as the
foundation principle from which
springs devotion and loyalty, and from
! this comes loving service.
The greatest rulers the world has
known were not free from weakness
and imperfections.
The best governments that have
ever existed have furnished their es-
cutcheons by deeds Of injustice and
wrong. Yet In all ages faith and
trust In the governments of men has
stirred the hearts of subjects and
kindled the most intense fires of pa
triotism. Men have willingly offered
their lives as a sacrifice upon the al
| tars Of their country.
If we have faith and loyalty to rem
der service for what we know to be
imperfect, why should we not have
faith and loyalty to render service for
a ruler and a government that Is with
out imperfections of any kind or ma
ture.
Best of All Faith.
What acts of injustice or wrong are
perpetrated by Gods government, that
we should have less loyalty and less
readiness for willing service to It.
than we have for the governments OF
men? 1t is we'll to have faith, love
and loyalty for our country; but is 1t
not more important to put our great
est trust and center our dearest hopes
in that government which Is perfect
and permanent?
All other governments pass away.
! The kings of earth die and are forgot
| ten. The kingdoms, empires and re-
publics decline and fall, and the pass
I ing ages obliterate all traces of their
glory and renown; yet we know that
in all the cycles of time that have al
ready been or that are yet to be, God
reigns and his government stands in
all its untarnished luster and undi-
minished splendor.
Why should we not wait on the
Lord and be Of good courage? There
is no reason for faint-heartedness. for
He shall strengthen thine heart"
God invites all to citizenship in his
government The oath of allegiance
! to him does not lessen, but increases
loyalty to our earthly government
1t requires us to renounce nothing
! that it is well for us to keep, and
promises all things that are for our
greatest good here and hereafter.
- The hopes and expectations of the
future should cause every Christian
to be of good courage. There can be
no failure on Gods part. He IS the
shield and buckler of every subject in
his kingdom. All needed strength is
| impaired in the hours of trial and trib-
ulation, so that the tried ones may
even glory in them, knowing that their
Affections work out "a far more ex-
ceeding and eternal weight of glory
"All things are now ready for you
to wait upon the Lord" if you only
will.
Mercy lnexhaustible.
Untold millions have accepted God
| as their Sovereign and experienced the
| fulness Of his mercy and the COM
pleteness of his care and protection.
Why not you?
His mercy is inexhaustible When
the last sinner comes to God, though
1t be in the hour when the mighty
angel, standing with one foot upon
the land and one upon the sea, pro-
claims that time was, and time is, but
time shall be no longer, even then
the riches of the grace of God will be
as full as when first offered at the
gates of Eden.
The resources Of God are undimin-
ishable. Be Of good courage. All is
yours if yours are Christ's. The
thought of the great reward ought to
inspire both loyalty and courage to
overcome all enemies. 1t is written:
Him that overcometh, will make a
pillar in the temple of my God and he
shall go no more out; and will write
upon him the name of my God, and
the name Of the city of my God"
1t Is counted great honor to be
granted the freedom of earth's great
cities; but how incoaceivably glorious
the distinction accorded the humblest
Christian in receiving the freedom of
heavens imperial capital.
Il will write upon him the name of
the city Of my Cod