THE DAY OF REST. THE RIGHT KIND OF FAITH.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 281, 14 July 1888, Page 6

THE DAY OF REST. THE RIGHT KIND OF FAITH.

(An Address by 13. L Moody.) Ido not know of any more important truth to bring out than the answer to this question, because that is the beginning of everything with regard to the divine lite. A. man must know he is saved before there is any peace, or joy or comfort. The answer to the question is, ' Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ;' and the question that comes right after that from almost every one ie, 'What is it to believe V' J believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God ; I believe that He came into the world to save sinners. • Well, and so do the devils. The devils not only believe, but they tremble. I can believe intellectually that Jesus Christ is able and willing to save, and yet be as far from tho kingdom ot God as any man who never heard about Jesus Chri&t. To believe that He can and is willing to save you, won't save you. I wijl now take up the word ' faith,' which means believing.

THK BIIiLK DEFINITION OK FAITH. People say, ' what is faith ?' Now the Bible definition of faith is perhaps as good as any one that we know of. We are told in Hebrews xi. , ' Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' Now faith is — what? The substance, or, as you have it in the margin, 'ground' or 'confidence.' In other words, faith is dependence upon the veracity of another. Why, all business is carried on on this principle of faith. Let men lose contidence one in another, and sco how quick business would cease here in London. Let men withdraw their confidence, and see what would take plncc in the commercial world to-morrow. It was faith that brought you here. If you had not faith to believe that there would be a meeting in this hall you would not have come. Somebody said there are three things about faith—knowledge, assent, and laying hold, and it is the last clause that is sate. Not the knowledge. A great many poople say, ' I believe Christ i» able to save.' They give their assent, and say, ' I believe ;' but that does not &a\e. It is the last clause, the laying hold, that sa\es, and that is what we want to press upon you. Faith has an outward look, not an inward one. Hundreds of people spend time in looking at their own hearts, but

V'AITH IS A\ OUTWAKD LOOK. We aye to liave taith in (Joel, and nob in man. A great) many people place their faith in men, and they pin their faith to other people's doctrines and creeds. Ib is nob to have faith in this church or that church, this doctiine or that doctrine, this man or that man, but it is to ha\ c iaith in the man Christ Jesus at the right hand of God. That is the only faith that will ever save a soul We are told very plainly by God that we are not to put our trust in this man or that mvii — not to lean upon an arm of fle^h. All the ministers in the world and all the potentates in the church pub together cannot save ono soul. It is thoroughly impobsible. It is the Lord that can save, and the Lord alone ; therefore we want to get our eyes a»vay from man, from the church, and right fetiaight up to the man Christ Jesus. We read in Mark xi. 22 who we are to believe in. Christ says — and how sweet it soundb — 'Have faith in God. 5 I never saw a man or woman in my life that had faith in God who was confounded, I do not care what their troubles or trials were. Have faith in God, and not in man. THE GKEAT DELUSION OF OUR DAY.

Wo are living in very strange days. Some people tell us it does not make any difference what a man believes if he io only sincere. One church is as good as another, if you are only sincere. I do not believe any greater delu.sion ever came out of the pit of hell than that. It is ruining more souls at the present time than anything else. I ne\cr read of any men more sincere or more earne&t than those men ab mount Cannel, those false prophets. They were terribly in earne&t. Some people say, ' Why, if these men are holding, as you say, error, why should they be so in earnest ?' Those prophets of Baal were the most earnest men I ever read of. You do not read of men getting so in earnest now that they take knives and cut themselves. Look at them leaping upon their altars ; hear their cry, ' 0 Baal ! O Baal ! ' We never heard that kind of prayer on this platform. They acted liked madmen. They were terribly in earnest, yet did (Jod heat their ciy? They were all slain. 'I believe one religion is just as good as another, if you are only sincere in what you believe.' It is one of the devil's lies.

HAVK IAITII JX GOO, nol in man. 1 don't care how pood a man is, don'b you put youv faith in him. His bieath departs from him he dies, and where is your help ? Our Ood never die?, our God never will disappoint us if we pub our faith in Him. 'Have faith in God,' says Christ.

I saw some time ago some men arranging to go up in a balloon fastened to the car. They had one lope fastened, and by some mistake that rope got untied, and instead of seizins' hold of the car they seized hold of the rope. One of fchem let go ; the other just hung on, and he was swept away in the heavens and lost. clt did not make any difference ; if he had huner on to the car it would have been jusfc the same,' you say, 'if he was only sincere.' Why, that man was very sincere when he seized hold of bhao rope, yet he was lost— perished in his earnestness. My friends, bear in mind if you do not believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you must perish. It is God that says it — noL man. Some people say, *He is such a good man, I cannot help but believe him ; it is all right because he is such a good man, and he holds that doctrine.' Paul says, If a man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.' And if Gabriel should come right down here to-night, and commence to proclaim a different gospel from this platform, I would get out of the hall, and would not listen to him. DECKIVEKS AND DARK DAYS.

Deceivers are going out into the world who -would deceive even the very elect if they could. I believe we are living in dark days. Error is coming in on all sides, and it is a time when we mupfc maintain the faith. ' 1 have kept the faith,' says Paul. The good old doctrine of our forefathers, and of the Puritans, is a good deal better than your new doctrine at the present time, that is jusl doing away with Christ, with hell, and even with heaven. Let us cling to the word of God, and have faith in God. There have always been false teachers, men trying to teach us it does not make any difference what a man believes if he is only sincere. My friends, let us have faith in the living God, and then it will be light where it is darkness now. THE RIGHT KIND OF FAITH.

Now, jusfc turn to, John xx. I can imagine some of you saying, ' I would like to have faith in Go'J, but I do not know how to get it ; I have been praying a long time

or faith.' I used to pray, ' 0 God, give me faith,' and at the same time I was all the time noglecting the Bible. Hero it stands ; see how we are to got faith : ' But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ; and that believing ye might have life through His name. 1 Now, John took up his pen and wrote the gospol for one express purpose. What was it ? That men might believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Every chapter but two in John speaks of belioving and if you run through the gospel and mark out the word ' believe,' you would find what that gospel is written for. It is, 1 Believe, believe, bcliove, believe,' and it keeps right on to that one thing. He took up his pen and wrote that gospel that we might believe, and by believing we get life. Then turn to Romans x. 15 : 4 How shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things ! But they" have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath bolioved our report ? So then faith cotneth by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' Do you want to know how to get faith ? It is to get acquainted with Cod. Jehovah says, * Acquaint now thyself with me, and be at peace.' We find the people that arc best acquainted with God have the most peace. It is the people that do not know Uod that do not trust Him. The people that know God put their trust in Him. I never knew a man to be well acquainted with God who did not trust Him. If you know God you cannot help trusting Him.

LITTLE WILLIE. J wanted to teach my little boy what faith was some time ago, and so 1 pub him on a table. He was a little fellow two yeais old. I stood back three or four feet, and t^aid, ' Willie, jump.' The little iellow said, ' Pa, I'se afraid.' 1 said Willio, 'I will catch you ; just look right at me, and jump ;' and the little fellow got all ready to jump, and then looked down again, and says, ' I'se afraid.' * Willie, didn't I tell you I would catch you ? Will Pa deceive you ? Now, Willie, look me right in the eye, and jump, and 1 will catch you :' and the little fellow pot all the third time to jump, but he looked on the floor, and said, « I'se afraid.' 'Didn't I toll you I would catch you?' 'Yes.' At last 1 said, ' Willie, don't take your eyes off me,' and I held the little fellow's eyes and I said, ' Now jump ; don't look at the floor ;' and lie leaped into my arms. Then he faaid to me, ' Let me jump again. ' I put him back, and the moment he got on the table, he jumped, and after that, when he was on the tableandlwasstandingfiveorsixfeet, I heaid him cry, ' Pa, I'se coming,' and had just time to rush and catch him. He seemed to put too much confidence in me. But you cannot put too much confidence in God. Now taith never looks down ; it looks right up. God says, ' Trust me,' and God will bring us through all our difficulties, if we will only trust Him. Who will trust Him ? Who will have faith in Him. ' Whatsoever He saifch unto thee, do it,' is what the mother of Christ said at the wedding ; and whatsoever God speaks to you, do it. If God tells you to run, run. If God says, 'Believe,' believe, and you will always be safe in doing just what God tells you to do. UNDELIKK THE URBATfT ENEMY.

The greatest enemy God and man have got is unbelief. Now those Christians that have learnb to t v usb God in pa&b years will bear me out. in this, that the more they know of God, the more they can trust Him. Why ? They have found God to be true. When man has failed, God never has failed; and when every one else has disappointed them, God has proved true. Now, you that never trusted Him, won't you just trust Him now. Won't you just take Him at His word, and believe on Him now ? THE GREATEST INSULT TO I.'OD.

It is considered you cannot offer a man a .greater insult than to tell him he is a liar. Unbelief is telling God He is a liar. Why, .suppose a man said. ' Mr Moody, I have no faith in you whatever,' don't you think it would grieve me ? There is not anything that would wound a man much more than to be told that you do not have any faith in him. A great many men say, ' Oh, 1 have profound reverence and respect foi God.' Yes, profound respect, but not faith. Why, it is a downright insult ! Suppose a man &ays, ' Mr Moody, I have piofound respect for you, profound admiration for you, but I do not believe a word you say.' I wouldn't give much for hih respect or admiration ; J wouldn't give much for his> friendship. God wants us to put our faith in Him. How it. would wound a mother's feelings to hear her children say. ' I do love mamma so much, bub 1 don'fc believe what she says.' How it would grieve that mother. And that is about the way a great many of (Jod"b professed children talk. Some men &cem to think it is a great mibfoi tune that they do not have faith. Bear in mind it is not a misfortune, bub ib is the damning sin of the woild. IJOD'h WOKD IS ALWAYS KEPT

Is there any reason why you should nob have faith in (Joel ? Fas God ever broken His word ? I will dofy any inticlel to come ionvard and put his finder on any promise God has ever made to man that Ho has not kept. I can show you for 6,000 years how the devil has lied, and how he has broken every promise lie has made. What a lie he told Adam and Eve ; and yet I can find a thousand men that will believe one at the devil's lies quicker than I can find one man that believes God's truth. Men will believe lies ; but when it gets to real truth, then how few will believe the word of God. Wny should not every man and woman have faith in God? Why should not every one put confidence in Him now, and trust God to save them ? And let me say, if you are ever saved, you will havo to come to this one point of trusting to God for salvation. You never will be saved until you put your trust and confidence in God.

SETTINU THE SEAL. Look at John Hi. 33: 'He that hath received his testimony hat set bo his seal that God is true." In those days men used to wear a feignet ring, with their initials, and in&tead of signing their names, they used to take the ring and seal the document. That wa3 setting to their seal ; that was an endorsement. And now God comes down into this unbelieving world, and says> • Who will set to his seal that I am true ?' And &o I want to ask the friends in this hall, Who will set to his seal or her seal that God is true ? It is a great deal better tor us to make oupsolves liars and God true than to try and make ourselves out true and God a liar. That is what many men will do. Who will set to his seal that God is true? Unbelief says, 'I won't.' Faith says, ' 1 will seb to my seal.' Oh, may God help many now to say, ' I will set to my seal that God is true' this very hour : and, my friends, the moment you do set your seal that God is true, and, put your faith in God, then comos the peace, the happiness you have been looking for so long !

NO PKACE WITHOUT TRUST. A great many people go looking for pehce and happiness before they trust. There will be no' peace, no happiness, no jo?, until you put your trusb in God. The

joy that flows through the Christian's heart i 3 the result of trusting Uod. Suppose I meet a man to-night leaping for joy, laughing at the top of his voice, I say, •My friend, what makes you so happy ?' 1 Oh, I don't know ; I am so happy I cannot contain my feelings !' What would you say ? Why, you would say the man had gone mad. But suppose I meet a man whom I havo .seen out hero nightafter night begging, and I say to him, ' Hullo, beggar, ' is that you V ' Don't call me a beggar ; lam no longer a beggar.' ' Are not you tho man who has been begging hero every night? 1 'Yes.' ' Where did you get your good clothos ? How is this you are not a beggar ?' ' No, I am no bog-gar ; I am worth a thousand ponndfa.' ' How is that?' 1 Well, sir, last night 1 was he*o begging, and a man came along and put a thousand poundb in my hand.' 1 How did you know it was good money V ' I took it to the Bank of England, and they gave me gold for it.' l How was it done f ' Well, I ju^t held out my hand, and ho came and pub a cheque right into it, and I took it to the bank and got gold for it.' ' Did you really get it in that way? 1 'Yes.' ' How do you knowifc was the right kind of hand?' 'Why,' j say& the beggar, ' what do I caie about the hand, I have got tho money.' Faith is tho hand that reaches out and takes the blcs— ing. Any f'lith that brings me to Christ is the right kind of faith, and instead of looking at your faith look to Christ. Some one has said, faith sees a thing in (Sod's hand, and .says, ' I will have it. Unbolief aces it thcie, and s>uys», ' (.Jod won't £ue it me.' Look to God by faith and ha\o balvation. wjto wiiii. jiavj; it

Every man and Avoman may ha\o ifc if they will but pub their trust in God. Is not GoJ. woithy of our conscience: 1 Js not God Avorlliy of our trust? You must have a poor opinion ot Clod, if you cannot tru.st Him. We consider wo have a poor opinion ot a man if we cannot trubt him. 11 a man should tell me something, and I did i.ot believe a word ho oaicl, 1 would have a very poor opinion of the man. Faith is putting confidence in God's? word. Take hold of His word. He will save «ili that will come — not only that, but He avill save you when you do come. Away with everything but Chiist, and take Him now. \Vho Avill take (Joel atHiibSVoid? Someonehassaid, 'Faithis saying ye^ to God.' Who will say yes, and takeit? Now, is it too much toask or to expect that every peison in this hall bhould put their faith in God? If God does not save us, who will? Men cannot, the church cannot, creeds and doetiines cannot; the sacraments cannot have ; baptism cannot ea\o. You mu&t ha\e a h\ing personal Christ, and God pi events Him to the world. Who Avill take Him ? Who will have Christ — who will trust Him ? FaiLh .say?, I will. Is it not the veiy best thing you can do ? Can you do a better thing than t'-ust to God for salvation ? ' What must I do to be saved ?' Believe on the Lord Jesus Chiiat, or trust the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and trust Him now. VJOIIY OK A OONUK.MMa) 51 VX.

Away back ■some years ago it its lccoicled in history of a man that wa^ condemned to to be put to death, <liat -when he came to lay liia head on the block the pnnee abked him ii thero \uih anyone petition that ho could jiranb liim, and all that the con demned man asked for was a glabs of water. They went and got him a tumbler ot Mater, and when he gob ib hi& hand biomblcd so that he could not got it to h'\^ mouth. The prince said to him, ' Your life is bate until you drink that water.' Trie took the prince at his word, and dashed the water to the ground. They could notgatherit up, and so he saved his life. My lricnds, you can be .saved by taking (Joel at Hi-* woid. The water of life is offered to ' whosoever will. ' Take ib now, and live.

Oil, the Love of Christ is Bound less !'

Oh, the love of Chri.sl is bonndlebs, Broad and lono- and deep and hurh ' Every doubt and fear is gioundlesfc, Now Uie word ot faith is nigh. Jesus Clnifb. foi my balvation, Came by water and by blood : Clear I fctand fiom condemnation, In the liscn Son of God.

1 was ' wait-ing ' once for put don, I was ' hoping ' to be .saved ; ' Waiting, ' though my heart would harden, ' Hoping ' danger might be bra\ed. When, by Clod's own truth confounded, I a binner stood confest, Richly then His grace abounded — JeaUb gave mo perfect re&t.

Was it weaiy work believing ? Day.s and weeks and years ot toil V Weary woik a gift receiving ? Who would (4od'h|!«al\ ation spoil No ; 'Us faith's delight bo ponder What, the Son of Clod hath done. On the Uironc to sec Him yonder, Holy, crowned, the living One ! 'Tis nob doing, 'bis nob piaying, 'Tis not weeping s>a\es the .soul; Clod is now Hib grace displaying : Je&us died to make me whole. Look bo Him, and life-works follow : Look bo Him without delay ! Sinner, look ! and eic to-morrow Thou wilb weep, and praise, and pray.