The Spectator., 1916-03-10


 fector of our faith.-Heb. 12:1. 2.
 There are two kinds of heroism for which medals are awarded in this country. Congress confers a medal of honor for distinguished services and extraordinary heroism in war. bestows medals and pecuniary recog. milton for heroic deeds performed in preserving and rescuins human life, and the first medal thus issued was given to a boy for rescuing another boy frcm drowning.
 1. Faith Defined, V. i. This Is per. haps the most quoted and succinct definition we have of faith. What fol- lows is but the illustration and ap. plication of the fact. Faith Is an "as- surance" (R. V). The ground of this assurance and conviction is the word of God. tSee Rom. 10:1O. The only sure ground for a dynamic and intel. ligent faith is Gods word: put to the acid test of experience it never fails. II. Faith Declared, w. 4, 5. Faith
 
 many illustrations before the death of Stephen:
 (a) Abel, at the risk of his brothers anger, obeyed the unseen God and earned his approval; his heroic, mar tyred spirit still speaks to men (v 4. (b) Enoch, the diligent seeker after God, in a world of lawlessness lived a life well-pleasing to him through a faith that made his presence real (vv. 5, @.
 (c) Noah (v.O, lonely man of faith (Gen. 6:5), chose the unseen God and preached righteousness rather than avoid the ridicule of his neighbors. Noah reckoning the invisible as tan gible, continued to build his ark and became a blessing to the race.
 (d) Abraham and Sarah (S-12). Not knowing whither they went, by faith these lonely pilgrims unerringly fol. lowed an invisible God to an unseen country; but faith greater still led them to dwell in the land" and not possess it (v. 10). Their faith re- deemed them from the mere emigrant character. They looked for city. which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God"
 Gel Moses (23-2S) showed his faith by a right choice. He weighed values and had respect unto the recompense of reward" His faith endured, as seeing him who is invisible" Moses fo;t ha Nf ct that which Christ suffered for the re- demption of the world. as being of greater riches than the treasures of Egypt"
 These, and others not mentioned, are summarized by their having ac- complished ten different things (32- 40). They performed great deeds of heroism (32-34); they endured great suffering and persecution (35.36). All of this suffering was to issue in greater reward with the glory that was to come (Rom. SIS, II Cor. AIT. 1S). All these men of faith obtained a good report"
 III. Faith Demanded. 12: 1, 2. The Holy Spirit has given us this long list of heroes as an exhortation to stir up those living to the performance of their duty. The roll call of triumphant heroes is not yet completed. All these mentioned are witnesses. not onlook- CTS. These are they who have testi- fled to God and to the truth of his word. In the light of this testimony and on the same ground of their tes- timony. we are to do several things: l 1. To Hay aside every weight" No runner carries any weight beyond that burdens that are not necessarily sins Every such thing flinders our running and should be laid aside.
 2. "The sin that doth so easily beset us" Literally, that wrap themselves about us as an ill-ftting garment. and which trip or impede the runner z progress These sins (not sim arc those little devil habits and practices which must, for that reason, be laid aside.
 8. Run with patience the race sci before us." There must be steadfast ness and endurance. If church mem bers were as faithful in following ul as the average business house Is, w would have less of lapsed church mem bers and fewer boys and girls wht drift away from the Sunday school.
 A. Locking unto Jesus" This is th' keynote to this entire epistle and t' this category of heroes. He is ou "file-leader" and the perfector of ou faith. Once we get our eyes off hin we will stumble and fall in the race For the joy Citerally equal fellow ship with God) set before him, he CT dured the cross" (Phil. 2:6-S). If w would win the race. wo must despis the sin which lies in the path of absc lute loyalty to God.
 The work of Jesus and the bestow ing of the Holy Spirit who is alway with us. is the source. tho author 0 our faith.
 There is far too much easy goin Christianity and too little self-sul