Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1917-03-22

I&2{S2 <Hl souSHl. 10 say
IU the least this
whole conception
seems to be out of harmony with the
gospel of salvation by grace, yet our
text appears TO favor II.
II will clear up matters considerably
to note the change of translation In
the Revised Version which instead of
saying, add TO your faith" reads, Gin
your faith supply virtue" etc. In 9th.
er words, faith Is the root from which
all these graces blossom forth. They
are not entities TO be added but flow.
ers which will bloom IL we care for the
root Of faith. We shall notice these
graces in order.
First comes virtue" The root idea
of this word in both Greek and Eng.
fish is manliness, vigor, firmness.
strength of will. The thought is EN-.
bodied in hymn Mr. Sankey used TO
sing with great effect.
Dare TO be n Daniel,
Dare TO stand alone!
Dare to have purpose true
Dare to make II known,
such 'firmness Is the fruit of faith.
Men who have tried other cures for
enslaving habits, but in vain, have
found help here.
After virtue comes knowledge"
How appropriate that this should fol-
low virtue, for no man Is more dan.
gcrous than he who has a strong will
hut is not instructed in the use of il.
He is related TO the mule rather than
to the ideal man. But the new spirit
which comes through faith in Christ
brings light as To our duties and the
word of God is found lamp to our
feet. CThe knowledge referred to here
Is practical rather than speculative:
we may not be told the dimensions of
heaven, but the way TO get there is
made plain)
Temperance" or self-control, comes
next. What commentary ON our ma.
tlondl sin that the word suggests alb
stinencc from drink, But its meaning
Is much broader, for our judgments.
our tastes, our speech must be con.
trolled, (Here is found one of the Sc
crcts of greatness of character; great
men impress us by their reserve, while
little men put all their goods in the
showcase.)
Patience" may be defined as cheer
full or hopeful endurance. II is far re-.
moved from the st0ical idea IL is not
the patience Of the Indian at the stake.
but Of the Christian who sings as he
suffers. 1t grows out Of faith but is
nourshed by the hope Of Christ's ap.
pearing, for We read often Of the pa.
thence of hope"
The next grace Is goodness" the
fundamental idea of the word being
reverence toward God. There Is Il no.
table lack Of this virtue today. Would
that we could keep ever before US such
II revelation Of God as is found In
Isaiah 4O, where we see him holding
the oceans In the hollow Of his hand,
weighing the mountains in scales, call.
Ing the stars by name, and accounting
the nations us the small, invisible dust
Of the balance!
Following godliness Is "brotherly.
kindness" or as the Revised Version
reads, "love Of the brethren" This l.
Christian, for those who
are near to Christ will love one an.
other. Many young Christians have
been helped to assurance by the text.
I'VE know we have passed from death
unto life because we love the brethren"
Finally, we have charity" or love.
This Is love TO all men, In the most
general sense. Hence, Christians are
melted TO do all that mere humnnitn.
rians will do, and more.
1t Is TO be noted In this cluster of |
graces, growing out of faith, that two
are active, virtue" and knowledge :" /
two are passive, Temperance" arl |
Patience" one, goodness" has ref. |
renee To God another. "brotherly love" |
has reference TO the church; the last.
love has reference To all mankind. |
How appropriate that they should he |
Just seven in number, for this Is the |
number Of completeness!
We cannot urge sufficiently that
these gr0ccs are not 10 be added. one |
ut n time, hut are To grow and develop |
simultaneously. out Of cur .aith In
Christ. Galatians 500 speaks not of |
the fruits of the Spirit, but Of the |
fruit growing IN the onr cluster.
Old Jeremy Taylor speaks Of this
text MS IA rosary of Christian grnccs."
Let us tell over It's beads frequently. |
with much prayer that these things
may he In us and abound.