Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-30

truths sake. the heroes and MARTYRS of
faith. What "A noble company they are
sone Of thcm known, very many OF
them unknown to us. but known TO
Cod! They reach from Abel, Adams
son, TO the days OF the apostles and
then through the terrible days of the
zen ltoman prosecutions. aud OH
through the centuries 10 the Chinese
Christians WHO Il few years ago suf-
fcred death rather than deny Christ.
Heroes Of the faith they were. not
counting their lives dear unto teen
selves IL only they might stand stead
fast in their loyalty TO Jesus Christ.
their Master.
There is hardly "a more inspiring
chapter in the Bible. aside from our
Lords words in the gospels than this
eleventh chapter Of the Epstlc to the
Hebrews. II reads line great hymn
or glory and praise. and incites US to
new endcavor to serve our Lord. No
lice how faith is placed AS the power
which enabled all these good people
OF all tho centuries TO live and die
for God. This faith Was hardly rccor-
niZcd as such by many Of the heroes.
They simply trusted their Maker. and
did not stop to analyzc their emotion.
But nevertheless they lived and died
rs the hncst opponents of religious he
roism, and that Is tho trucst kind of
faith George Macdonald in his book
The Seaboard Parish" gives an inter
ter. which has always impressed me:
Now faith /. the essence OF hopes. the
trying Of things unseen" 1t seems to
make SO real the lives OF these men and
women. not ono Of whom could have
given modern theological definition
OF faith: they simply had the very es-
scncc OF hope and were trying or test
ing or proving the worth OF things
unseen. but wonderfully real Know
ing God az their Father just as lit
In HI III
what they knew by an Unborn assur-
ance He wished them TO do. They
proved that love aud goodness were the
greatest powers In the world before
which even death sank into insignifi-
canoe and misunderstanding was disrc-
gardcd.
HEROES WHO STOOD
FOR THINGS OF GOD
Ii helps us in our modern struggles
Of these Old Testament heroes. They
all stood for good things which are
the things OF God. They all commun cd
with God and He was real 10 them.
They all faced danger and the bitter
ness OF contempt. but saw beyond the
danger the glories or Gods Kingdom.
They all stood alone. each ono by him
self, yet, like the men in Ncbuchadnez-
Ears fiery furnace. there was Another
with 'h"m like unto tho Son OF Cod
dan. iii, 25) Whom they saw with
the eye or faith IL ia one OF tho
problems OF life that goodness has 10
contend for its very life against evil.
and even seem 10 lose it's earthly now
er in the contest. Those who deny
the Bible account OF the fall of the
human race in Adams transgrcssion
have a big problem on their hands in
the matter OF the eternal battle against
goodness. Evolution does not solve IT,
Reason falls before II. Only as We see
the struggle upward OF man after his
downfall. and the grace of God assist
ing. that human character might be
hcveloped-only as We see Christ COM
ing from heaven. Himself TO fight the
eternal battle and once for all to CON
puer. and then calling for US To enter
into his victory. can we find any in
telligiblc meaning In life. So faith
comes In. as long ago II came TO Abra-
ham and Moses and the rest. though
they did not know of the victory Christ
would win for them and we believe
tina, right will at last master wrong
That is the vast power of Christian
civilization. witch will not die though
il suffer at times fearful returns to
barbarism.
fright Is right. since God is God
And right the day must win"
GLORIOUS ACCOUNT
OF LASTING VICTORIES
What splendid series of victories
out OF what seemed At the time lamcn-
table defeats, the chapter brings be-
fore MS The heroes subducd king
doms, obtained promises. turned to
flight the armies of aliens, received
their dead raised to life. As we read
IL seems like a glorious account Of
victories from Abel down. and we for
get the slow progress OF the centuries
and the bloodshed and the tears and
sorrows. After all, what seems de-
to g. f,~t
tory. ". W. Story's 'Io Victis"-"Hail
Ia the conquered''-is an example Of
mighty truth:
Speak. history: Who are lfe's victors?
Unroll thy long annals, and say
Arc they those whom the world called
the victors,
Who Won the success of day?
The Martyrs. or Nero? The Spartans
Who fell Mt Thcrmopylac's tryst.
Or the Persians and Ncrxes? His
judges.
or Socrates: PLATE or Christi.
There is to be only one end to the
conflict. Christ will reign, and we can
note His triumphant progress in spite
of awful trouble and seeming defeat
Every brave man who does his part is
not only a hero OF faith. hut is bring
ing nearer the day of perfection.
WITNESSES OF OUR
PnESENT-DAY STRUGGLES
Notice one lesson more. All these
q and martyrs of the past are
,nesses of our prcscnt-day struggles
,chapter l2). They are watching and
VIC can even believe that, in accord
with Gods will. they arc helping us.
What an inspiration! AS ] battle on
with my enemies within and without.
there they stand, an immortal group.
sympathetic. loving, witnessing the
conflict drawing to a close and rcjOic-
ing in my little victories, my patience,
my faith. we must not lose sight Of
the close relationship between heaven
and earth God knows His own. Ills
arm is stretched out rs of old to sue
cor those who are valiant for the truth.
The Christ speaks again as He spoke
on Galilee's lake. BE not afraid" and
1I.I,a Of