Sunday at Home.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 1, 31 March 1893, Page 9

Sunday at Home.

Following the example of Lloyd's Newspaper, London, we purpose giving each week a sermon, not exceeding 500 words in length, specially written for readers of Thk Southkka Cross. This, we believe, will prove a welcome feature, particularly in outlying districts, where religions services can only he held at considerable intervals, and wc shall he glad to receive the co-operation of ministers throughout the colony in carrying’ out the experiment. Sermons will he published in the order in which they are received. COHCEILNTLTG- FAITH. (By the Ecu - . J. Ferguson, Pastor of the First Church, Invercargill). “ Thy faith hath, made thee whole.”—hlark, 52, On learning that Jesus was so near, blind Bartinitous became intensely excited. Higher than the loud rebuke of the crowd, rose the keen cry of the beggar, not for silver or gold, but for sight. Jesus granted him this, saying, “ Thy faith hath made thee whole.”

To take the firings he had heard, ahout Jesus as true, and- to he divrededl by them, was the doing of faith. These things were real, apart from any man’s opinion of them ; but only faith made them true to the blind man. Without faith there is no proving - of truth. We bare the gospel tolling - us of Jesus, who came to save us from sin, and make us one in mind and deed with God. Many are indifferent to the gospel, and some deny it; but its truth stands all the same. In those who take it as true and obey it, that is have faith, it is the power of God unto salvation. Without faith the man’s blindness remained. Neithor the fame nor the presence of Jesus healed him. Ho might seek the sunniest comforts, hut the power of darkness was upon him until he believed. So too, wc may stay ourselves with the excitements and labours of life, yet the power of sin is in our hearts, in our consciences, in our souls, in our flesh ; and we cannot escape ruin until wc take as true the ■word win eh leads to Jesus.

ITis faith in ilia things he had heardled Ba-rtim-iieii-s to faith in Jesus. His intense feeling of need, and Ids sense of tlie might of Jesus, merged, in tire passion of utter trust in Him. Are we really seeking to be saved from sin P Then let us take tire witness of the gospel as true, and frankly and utterly trust Jesus to Ireal us in His own way. Faith is the venturehand of cxpcrieu.ce which, laying hold of Jesus, becomes the sinewy grip that never gives. Faith may he stifled. Jesus gives Bantimrcus a measure of credit — “ Thy faith.” To the Jews He said — “Ye will not come.” The blind man might have cultivated sceptical views. Tie did not, for he wanted his sight. And if we with downright earnestness wish to overcome sin, we si rail not be disposed to foster doubt and justify non-belief, but rather to nourish, that feeling for holiness which, makes Jesus as much a necessity to us as light is for seeing to the blind. The nurture of faith is the plainest of dirties, inasmuch as without it we can never prove the highest things. But evil lusts are pleasing, and therefore we allow' ourselves to bo deceived. blowy however, we will shake off tire spell of sinks deceitfulxiess, and give ourselves up to Jesus as our Saviour, so that He, through our obedience, may work in ns by His truth and spirit, that change in nature which God desires —holiness and life eternal.