8-2 EMANCIPATION DAY-FAITH 215 Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him. Hebrews 11: 6. Like the bird be thou That for a moment rests Knowing that he has wings. -Victor Hugo. ITHOU W THOUT an active faith, one which enables us to walk with God, and to become like God, it is impossible for us to please him. We can readily understand that it is impossible to please God, except as we manifest utter confidence in his promises, his wisdom and his love. We certainly must believe that he is before we can render him any form of service, for if we deny his existence, necessarily all relations to him at once cease. If a man will not believe the word of the living God, how can he please God? You cannot insult a man more than to express doubt as to his word. Is not the same thing true of God? And yet men constantly doubt his word, refuse to listen to his warnings, recklessly reject his tender invitations, and despise his sacred promises. Blessed be Jehovah, my rock, my lovingkindness, and my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and He in whom I take refuge. Ps. 144: I, 2. Our fathers trusted in Thee; they trusted and Thou didst deliver them. They cried unto Thee and were delivered; they trusted in Thee and were not put to shame. Ps. 22: 4, 5. Lord, increase our faith. Amen. Luke 17: 5. And be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, even as God also in Christ forgave you. Eph. 4: 32. The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle dew from heaven The thronéd monarch better than his crown. ONGSUFFERING is the patient bearing of the reproaches received for Christ's sake. It is also a manifestation of patience with the frailties of others. It is the spirit which leads us to forgive the wrongs of others, because God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us. He who can bear false charges, upheld by the consciousness of noble motives and exalted aims, is superior to the bitterness of such charges. He is a king among men; he can be calm as a June morning, however much others storm against him and at him. Let us rather suffer wrong than do wrong; let us rather hope all things and believe all things than be guilty of uncharitableness of thought, or unkindness of action. Let us bear with whatever is trying, and mean, and wrong, for even Christ, when he was reviled, reviled not again. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matt. 6: 12. Thou, O Lord, art a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth. Amen. Ps. 86: 15. 8-4 KINDNESS-LOVING THE BRETHREN 217 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. I John 3: 14. Have love, not love alone for one, But man as man thy brother call, Thy charities on all. -Johann Christopher Von Schiller. EN of the world love and seek their own; so Christians should love and seek the things of the new life and love. A man who is born of God must also love those who have been born of God. We may not love all equally. Christ did not. He loved Peter, James and John with a special affection; he loved Martha and Mary and Lazarus. with a peculiar tenderness. We also shall have our preferences, but no true believer can hate his brother. We must, of course, understand that the love here spoken of is the love toward God, and love to men of which God is the author. Differences in social conditions, in intellectual attainments, and in spiritual acquirements will exist among true Christians; but they should love one another notwithstanding these differences. From the life of Jesus, John learned this truth, and years after he learned the lesson, he became the apostle of love. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Eph. 6: 23. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. John 15: 11. Joy is a duty, so with golden lore The Hebrew Rabbis taught in days of yore, And happy human hearts heard in their speech But one bright peak still rises far above, -Rev. Henry J. Van Dyke. HE joy given by Christ to his people is not dependent on external conditions. It springs from internal possessions. Joy, therefore, is a much greater possession than mere happiness. Happiness comes or goes, according to the frowns or smiles of external fortune. But joy remains because it has its origin within, rather than without, and because it springs up from deep and inexhaustible sources within the soul itself. All without may be dark as deepest midnight, but all within may be bright as clearest noonday; without may be only the world's harsh discords, but within there may be celestial harmonies. This joy was the blessed gift of Christ to his followers before his crucifixion and after his resurrection; it was also his parting legacy as he went back to take his place on his Father's throne. This is the blessed peace which the world can neither give nor take away. Jehovah is my strength and my shield; my heart hath trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him. Amen. Ps. 28: 7. Dear Mr Treat: to comply with your request to contri bute a message to the gift book you have in Press by the Reverend Doctor MacArthur and others. Herewith I enclose a se lection from my book, "Love is all", Falk Photo. EVANGELINE BOOTH New York Yours very faithfully, "CHARITY which by virtue of its capaci to engine, needs suffering to call forth its ful pits s will soothe your Qu It Vour sufferings and stay your tears. It will nerve a heart Mr. B.tine art your pathway in deateommander. 24v Weiblt fe3rdot champion the th these three Cegiments that march in the army of ice -Faith, Hope and Charity."-From Love is .All. |