Forty-Eighth Sabbath—Morning. NECESSITY OF FAITH. "But without faith it is impossible to please God."-Heb. xi 6. FAITH is as necessary to spiritual life and the happiness of the soul, as the union of the soul and body is to natural life. What is faith? And how is it necessary in order to please God? What is faith? Faith sometimes means the testimony or truth believed: "He preached the faith which once he destroyed." At other times it means the open profession of divine truth: "Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world." But in the sentence at the head of this sketch, it evidently means the belief of the truth, and is "The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." It is the firm persuasion that all God reveals is true; that all God commands should be obeyed; and that all God promises He will certainly perform. But faith not only believes the truth, but fixes upon the great object revealed in it. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Its seat is the heart, for "with the heart man believeth unto righteousness." As the heart, in physical man, is the source from which the blood flows, and circulates over the whole body, so the heart in moral man, believing in Christ and receiving Christ, is the main spring of all that is pleasing to God. Faith is the gift of God. The truth believed is from God; and when we believe it, this brings us to the threshold of religion. The Saviour embraced is from God, and this brings us into the inner chamber of religion. The enlightening of the understanding, the opening of the heart, and the renewing of the will, are all from God; these bring us into the enjoyments of religion. "This is the work of God that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." Faith is our duty. We are invited, commanded, and urged to believe. We must believe, otherwise we cannot please God. We must believe, or we shall perish. We must believe without delay, otherwise we are condemned already. If we refuse or neglect, the wrath of God abideth on us. We are responsible for believing, so responsible, that if we neglect or refuse, we cannot please God, nor take one step in the way to heaven. How is faith necessary in order to please God? It is necessary, because without it we disown the existence of God. The existence of God is the first and fundamental truth of religion. "He that cometh to God must believe that He is." His works, as well as His word, prove His existence; and he who thinks and acts as if there were no God, is a fool. Reader, how canst thou please God unless thou dost believe in His existence, who is the Author of the Bible, and NECESSITY OF FAITH. 285 the First Cause of all? It is necessary, because without it we disregard or reject the Scriptures as His revealed will to men. The Bible is the only standard of faith and practice. Reason in other men or in me cannot be a standard or guide, for it is different in all men, and in the same men at different times. What appears reasonable to me to-day, may appear very unreasonable to-morrow, or next year, or at some future time. It is necessary, because without it we virtually deny all the perfections and attributes of God. His love, His holiness, His mercy, His truth, His faithfulness, His justice, and His patience, all harmonize. Like the colours of the rainbow, all are beautiful and distinct, and yet form one grand whole. It is necessary, because without it we cannot receive and honour Christ. "All men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father." The Son is the greatest gift God has given to men, the surest proof of His matchless love; and if we disregard this pledge of Divine love, there is no way to God, and no way to heaven, and we cannot please Him. "He that hath not the Son of God hath not life." It is necessary, because without it we cannot obey any of God's commands. Faith without works or obedience is dead, being alone. O my soul, shall the elders obtain a good report by faith? shall Abel, and Enoch, and the whole cloud of witnesses, and wilt not thou? THE SONS OF GOD. "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God."-1 John iii. 1, HERE we have distinguishing honour, the fountain from which it flows, and the attention which it demands. The distinguishing honour-"That we should be called the sons of God." Our parentage is honourable and noble. It is not of man, but of God; it is not of earth, but of heaven. We are Our "born of God." We are "the children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." How much more valuable is this spiritual descent than a descent from kings and nobles! How much more important to be able to trace our descent from above than from a long line of ancestors! privileges are great. As the sons of God, we have inexhaustible provision for the body and the soul, for time, and for eternity. He who feeds the ravens shall feed us. We have powerful protection. The everlasting arms of our Father in heaven are around us, and no evil can befal us. He keeps us every moment; He keeps us night and day. We have free access, sweet communion, and salutary correction. "What son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?" Our prospects, also, are bright and cheering. THE SONS OF GOD. 287 "If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ." An inheritance large and satisfying, and secure is thus provided for us, and, in due time, we shall receive full possession. The fountain from which it flows- "What manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us!" Divine love is the fountain-head of all saving blessings. This love is free. Being by nature children of wrath, we could not merit it. Being destitute and helpless, we could not purchase it. And being far from God, and pursuing other objects, we neither could nor would come nigh it. This love is great, "Herein is love!" to which there is nothing comparable among men. Love among men is but a small stream, but this love is a mighty river. Love among men is but a grain of sand, but this love is a great mountain. Love among men is but a sunbeam, but this love is the unclouded sun, shining from age to age with undiminished splendour. This love flows down to us through the channel of Christ. Without Christ divine love could not have reached us; but through Him, as a channel, its streams refresh and fertilize our souls. Jesus is the gift of this love, presented for our acceptance. It draws us to Him "with cords of a man, with bands of love." This love is unchanging. United to Christ, God rests in His love to us, and Jesus having loved His own, will love them unto the end. The mountains may depart, and the hills |