Gospel Herald, 1860-12-23

              GOSPEL HERALD.
Devoted, to Ohr-istiarLity, Morality, th.e Interests of Sab'btith. Scliools, Social ImproTemerrt, Temperartce, Bdixcation., and General Ne-wre.
"BEHOLD,   I   BEING   TOTJ   GOOD   TIDINGS   01'   GREAT   JOY  ....  ON   EARTH   PEACE,   GOOD   'WILL   TOWARD   MEN.'
VOL. 17.
DAYTON, 0., SATURDAY, DEC. 23,1860
NO. 33.
POETRY.
[selected.] Katie Lee and Willie Gray.
BY MAKOARET VEKNE.
Two brown heads with tossing curU, Red lips shutting over pearls. Bare feet white and wet with dew, Two eyes black and two eyes blue; Little boy and girl were they — Katie Lee and Willie Giey.
They were standing where a brook. Bending like a shepherd's crook, Flashed its silver; and thick ranks Of green willows lined the banks; HaU'iu thought aud half in play- Katie Lee aad Willie Grey.
They had cheeks like cherries red. He was taller—'most ahead; She, with arms like wreathe ofsnow. Swung a basket to and fro. As she loitered, half in play. Chattering to Willie Grey.
Pretty Katie, Willie said, And there came a flush of red Through the brownnesa of his cheek- Boys are strong and girls are weak. And I'll carry, so I will, Katie's basket up the bill.
Katie answered, with a laugh. You shall carry only half; Aud then, tossing back her curia— Boys are weak as well as girls:— Do you think that Katie guessed Half the wisdom she expressed ?
Men are only boys grown tall. Hearts don't change much, after all, And when, long years from that day, Katie Lee and Willie Giey Stood again beside the brook. Bending like the shepherd's crook,—
It is strange that Willie said—
While again a flush of red
Crossed the brownnessof his cheek,—
I am strong and you are weak;
Life is but«i!rlippery steep.
Hung with shadows cold and deep :—
Will you trust me, Katie dear? Walk beside me without fear ? May I carry, if I will, All your burdens up the hill? And she answered, with a laujlh.— No I but you may carry half.
Close beside the little brook. Bending like a shepherd's croOK, Washing with its silver Hands, Late aiid early at the sands, Is a cottage, where, to-day, Katie lives with Willie Grey.
In the porch she aits, and lo I Swings a basket to and fro. Vastly different from the one ¦ That she swung in years agone; This is long—and deep and wide— And has—rockers at the side!
ORIGINALITIES.
Written/orthe Qoapel Ilerald.
The Love of God   in the Gift of a Sa¬ vior.
[CONCOTBED.]
BY  M.   GUSTIN.
"God so laved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."    John 3; 16
My eecond object was to show, that the expression of His love was the highest tliat it possibly could be. This is implied in the text; "God so loved the world, that he gave his only be¬ gotten Son." In illus'trating this point,
1. That Christ was the greatest, or
highest gift that heaven could make. .This will be plain, when we contem¬ plate tho true dignity and character of tho Lord Jesus. It is obvious, from the plain teaching of the Bible, that Christ was something more than simply man; that he possesses more than haman or angelic dignity; and that next to God, he is the highest in¬ telligence in tho universe. The offices which Christ sustains as Savior of the world, the one Mediator between God and men, the Prince of life, and Judge of all man, are incompatible with the idea of simple humanity. No other be¬ ing was ever entrusted with a mis¬ sion so sublime, and so great in its results, as that filled by the Son of God. It is but reasonable and natu¬ ral to suppose, that for so lofty a function, God would select the highest and noblest among the intelligences of heaven, rather than simply a man.
Some of the titles given to Christ, imply that he was more than a man. He is styled the "Son of God." True, men and angels are called "Sons of God." But this title is given to Christ in a diiferent sense. He is styled, "God's own Son—God's well-beloved Son—the Son of tholiving God—God's, only begotten Son;" language never used of any other being in the uni¬ verse. This fact seems to designate a rank superior to that of any other be¬ ing. Tho Christianshaveheen preach¬ ed against for believing that Christ was nothing more than man. Never was there a greater mistake. The Christians believe that Christ is di¬ vine; "that he is the Lord from heav¬ en," that God is his Father, and he partakes of the nature of his Father. We. believe that Christ is the only be¬ gotten Son of God; that he sustained .tfie relation of a Son to his Father in his pre-exisi "'T .state; that he was God's Son before men or angels exist¬ ed; that by him, God made, saves, and will judge the world. Paul says that "God made the world by His Son.'" Heb. 1: 1-3, He must, then, have been the Son ot God before the crea¬ tion of the world. Gal. 1: 1,, we read "Paul an apostle, not of man, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ." "The Gospel preached by me is not after man; for I neither received it of men, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." llth. verse. Again, "ISTo man (mark that) no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither un der the earth, was able to open the book." "Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed to open the book." "And ho came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne." Eev. 6.
It is obvious, from these passages, that Christ is not a mere man, but a being of heaven, whose Father is the JSternal God. Hence, we conclude that the Savior possessed more than human dignity^ that "he was the Lord from heaven," and next to the Infinite Jehovah the greatest being in the uni¬ verse. Now, to give such a' being to die for a lost and ruined world, was more than to give an angel—nay, more than all the angels of heaven. Yet, God so loved us, that He was willing to give up the darling of His bosom, to, die for our salvation. This is the most glorious and sublime exhibition of the love of God to man.
Wriiteafor the Gctpel Berdtd.
Faith,
BY N,  SUMMERBELL.
Not a subject in the whole range of Christian Theology has a more promi¬ nent place in the Bible, or the systems of men, than faith. It is a subject, ev¬ er new, and always interesting. On this subject men vary in their views most widely, and I design in this arti¬ cle to make some quotations, and from them deduce some truths.
1st. "Without faith, it is impossible to please God." Ergo. Those who have faith, please God.
2d. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for." Ergo. Those who are without hope, are likewise without faith.
3d. "All thatbelievearejustified ftom
[ things."—Acts 13 : 38. Ergo. No sinner is a true believer, as no sinner is justified.
James mentions a dead faith. Christ mentions a little faith and a great faith; anrl surely the latter and not the former must be meant by the woi-d faith un¬ qualified. So that Righteousness will be imputed to him that worheth not, but believeth on him that justifieth the un¬ godly, Eomans 4: 3-9, 23-24. In this chapter faith is seven times declared the means of remission; and positively stated as that which is imputed to us for Righteousness, which is never said of works. But it is said that we find peace in believing; faith works by love, and we add to our faith, virtue. And following faith, first named is hope and charity. Hence, "by grace we are sav¬ ed, through faith—not of works, lest any man should boast." "Now to him that worketh is the reward not reck¬ oned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."— Kom. 4 : 4-5. Hence, by faith, we are the "children of Abraham.
Paul, in the 4th chapter of Romans, teaches:
Verse 2d That Abraham was not justified by works.
Verse 3d, That his faith was count¬ ed to him for Eighteousness.
Verse 4th, That had he worked, the reward would have been a debt; but as it was reckoned before he worked, it is of grace and not of works.
Verse 5th, For those who work not, but believe on him that justifies; their faith is' counted for righteousness.
Verse 6th, Even as David counted those blessed to whom God imputed righteousness without works.
Note, these works cannot mean the works of the law alone, for the law was not given till after the days of Abraham, and hiencethey must mean any worlcs—works before tho law, works of the law, or workn under the Gospel.
So .(\brah'am received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteous¬ ness of the faith which he had, yet be¬ ing uncir(iumci»o<l—thus p.rovin'g that he and all others might bo ju.itified by faith, "without works"—thus—that he might bo the father of them that be¬ lieve, though they be not circumcised, thatriiihtcousnoss might be imputed to them also, Eom. 4:11. Hence all: that is said against justification by works applies: Jst, to circumcision, to prove that Abraham was justified by I
faith without circumcision, 2d, to works of the Jewish law; proving that David counted those blessed to whom God imputed righteousness without works of the Law,—Eom, 4:6. And 3d, to those under the Gospel, to whom God imputes righteoasnee.s without works of baptism or penance ; and who are thus the (.'Jhildren of Abraham, to whom God imputes the righteousness of faith, without works. Eom. 4:6.
Nor can the words of James bo wrested from their legitimate meaning, viz : that the Christian is also justified by works, after his conversion; be wrested, I say, to prove that wo can¬ not at first be justified by faith, "without works," For although it is necessary and Scriptural that he that believes should have bis faith counted for righteousness, and be justified, be¬ fore he performs good works; yet it is equally necessary, that he should, like Abraham, perform good works, so that his faith may be made perfect. We conclude then, that what Paul in the second chapter of Gal, fourth of Eom., and second of Bphesiana, sayS against works, he aims at all, viz: circumcis¬ ion—law, orbaptism—all works : that his words have no local meaning, but a general one; and that good works are the fruit of this fiaith, and follow instead of procuring justification.— Thus:        .
jg@»"By grace are we saved, through "faith, and that (salvation) notofyour- "selves (your own procurii;g by good "works,) it is the gift of God: Not "of works, lest any man should boast; "For we are his workmanship, created "IN Christ Jesus, unto good works, "which God had before ordained that "we should walk in them,"
There are many who have a great horror of the words "justified by faith alone;" yetthewords justified by faith without works, and not of works, seem to ineto mean much the same. Eead carefully Eom, 4th, Gal, 2d, and Eph, -d, and see if wo are not "justified by faith without works."
Conclusion.—1. This accounts for the prominent place which truth holds in the Bible and all Theology,
2. It accounts for the fact that Jesus blest so many, even before baptism.
3. It accounts for the fact that no impenitent persons are said to have faith.
4. It accounts for the fact that faith is always placed after repentance in the Word of God.
5. It accounts for the fact that, not sorrow, but some good thing, always follows faith, in the Bible ; as, faith, hope, &c,, &c. ,.
6. It accounts for the fact that re¬ pentance always precedes faith, as "re¬ pent and believe."
7. It accounts for the fact that "all that believe are justified from all things."
8. Bat, conclusively proves that all men have not faith ; for if all had, then all would be justified ; for "all that believe arc justified."
9. And "being justified by faith, we "^ have peace 'with God," and muy "work out our salvation," show our faith by our works," so that  "men seeing our > good works may glorify God."
Tho man who strictly adheres to truth will bo respected.