The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-10-23

and our bodies
washed with pure water" (Heb. 1929
We give a condensed report below.
The Pastor called attention to the
fact that we are living in the time
when the great falling away predicted
by the Apostles is taking place. Il
Timothy Al; Q Peter 2:1, 2; etc) The
delusions Of the Dark Ages are COM
ing into the full blaze of the New Dis
there is such q conflict between the
light Of the incoming Age and the
darkness Of the past that people are
astontshed, not knowing what to think.
The majority seem to be losing. not
only their faith, but the very founda-
ton of faith-confidencs in the Bible
as Gods Word. He urged his audi
ence to turn from the vagaries and
guesses OF Higher Criticism and Evolu-
hon, as well as from the hideous creed
idols Of the Dark Ages, and to study
the Bible as never before. There alone
can one find the basis for full assur-
ance OF faith.
At this very time, said the speaker,
when Higher Criticism and Evolution
are undermining the faith Of nearly all
thinking people, many Of whom openly
confess that they have lost confidence
In Gods Word, the Bible is becoming
understood as never before. In the
midst OF the turmoil In the denonina-
tons, and amongst the college men
and the learned Of all lands, the people
Of God can truly sing, with the poet:
How firm q foundation. ys saints Of the
Lord.
rs laid for ycur faith IN His excellent
wordr'
The strongest language one could use
would not be strong enough to express
the faith, the confidence, the trust,
which Gods people have in Him
through seeing His real character and
His real Plan as outlined In His Word.
They have full assurance of faith.
There is q vast difference between q
full assurance of faith and q full as
surance Of credulity, however. Credu-
lity Is q readiness to swallow every
thing or anything, without investiga-
ton, without any real basis for believ-
ing, without proof. What most people
call faith is mere credulity. This 10
possible even with the belief Of some
in the Bible. Many people, when asked
as to their real basis Of faith, look be-
wildered, hesitate; and then they
either acknowledge that they have no
clear understanding or else they
change the subject Of conversation.
This is not faith. Heather people
could do as well.
The Bible the Basis For True Faith.
To really believe the Bible it is nee
essary to understand Gods Plan as
therein outlined. e Timothy 2:15.)
Gods Word contains a great Divine
Plan for human salvation. A watch
with wheels revolving in perfect pre-
cision and perfect relationship to each
other, a watch that keeps correct time
without variation, is always the work
Of some skilful hand, guided by an
intelligent mind. Such a piece of
mechanism never came by chance. So
1t Is with the Bible. When we find
the prophecies of the Old Testament,
the types of the Law, and the teach
ings Of our Lord and His Apostles in
terlocking, based and dependent upon
one another In the most marvellous
way, all telling the same story, al
though written in various ages and
under various conditions, we are as
sured that no human being or set of
hYYnn0r hn4rrn hot
In His Word the Lord declares that
by nature all men are sinners, that
Christ Jesus tasted death for every
man, that by and by He will restore
to human perfection all who will ac-
eept the arrangement which He will
soon open up for all mankind. He
also declares that during this Age
there is Call for those who desire to
come out from the world to be pecu-
liar people unto Him, ready to lay
down their lives in the doing Of His
will. Those who have accepted this
Call are Christians.
Whoever can testify that he has for.
saken sin, accepted the Lord Jesus as
his personal Redeemer, consecrated
himself fully to do the Lords will in
all things az that will is made clear to
him through Gods Word, and who
realizes that his standing with God is
only through Christ's imputed merit,
and that he Is gradually growing more
meek, more gentle, more patient, more
long-suffering, more kind and loving
whoever can do so may have full as
surance Of faith that he Is child of
God In full standing, and has the Fa-
theirs smile Of loving approval.