XIX.

MAN'S GREATEST VICTORY.

For whatsoever is begotten of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that hath overcome the world, even our faith. And who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?—1 John v. 4, 5 (Revised Version).

PAUL names faith first among the three graces that are to abide forever, tho he declares that love is still greater. Faith is the eye of the soul. The author of Hebrews declares that it is "the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen."

It is not only in religion that faith is a dominant and necessary quality. Unbelievers sometimes talk as tho Christianity was unnatural and unreasonable in making so much of faith. But Christianity does not make any more of faith than the Chamber of Commerce does, or the Stock Exchange. Faith is just as essential a factor in the financial world as it is in the spiritual world.

A man said to Mr. Moody a while ago:

"Moody, the doctrine you preach is most absurd; you preach that men only have to believe to change

the whole course of their life. A man will not change his course by simply believing."

Mr. Moody said: "I think I can make you believe that in less than two minutes."

"No, you can't," he said; "I'll never believe it." Mr. Moody said: "Let us make sure that we understand each other. You say a man is not affected by what he believes, it will not change his

"Supposing," said Moody, "a man should put his head in at that door and say the house was on fire, what would you do? You would get out by the window if you believed it, wouldn't you?"

"Oh," he replied, "I didn't think of that!"

"No," the great evangelist said quietly, "I guess you didn't."

Faith is at the foundation of all society, of commerce, of everything else.

Faith is a source of that enthusiasm of life which overcomes what otherwise would be impossibility.

Dr. Stalker, of Glasgow, remarks on the change in value of that word "enthusiasm." People used to be warned against enthusiasm. I have a book in my library by a great man in his day, and have sermons by so famous a man as Dr. South, warning against enthusiasm. The history of words is very interesting. A word that is despised in one age often comes to be a special favorite in another. One hundred and fifty years ago in English litera

ture "enthusiasm" was a term of contempt. We are coming now to understand the value of enthusiasm. It is born of the three great principles of faith, hope, and love. Its chief source is in faith. It has the power to overcome the world. It is more important in an army than thousands of men. Faith in a leader may mean all the difference between glorious victory and shameful defeat. That is the secret of the remarkable victories achieved a hundred years ago by the first Napoleon. Every Frenchman believed in Napoleon, in his military genius-that he was invincible in battle. young men of the country were ready to risk body and soul on their faith in him. This faith wrought wonders. When he went through the hospital, even the sick and dying sprang up as if new life had been put into them by the very sight of him; and if he was in danger of his life there were hundreds ready to thrust themselves between his body and danger. On the day of battle the men believed that he would certainly lead them to victory, and that faith made them win the victory.

The

It is that same enthusiasm of faith, lifted up and exalted into the spiritual realm, that gives men and women victory over the world. Many people when urged to be Christians think about the duties of a Christian life with reference to their own strength to resist evil, and they say: "I could not hold out; the sinful, wicked world is too strong; it would overcome me and defeat me in disgrace.”

But that is leaving out Christ. If you will think of his power and his wisdom and love, and throw that into the balance, it will outweigh everything on the other side.

Plutarch tells us that Antigonus, king of Syria, being ready to give battle near the Isle of Andreos, sent out his squadron to watch the motions of his enemies and to descry their strength. Return was made that they had more ships, and better manned than his own. "How?" said Antigonus. "That can not be; for how many dost thou reckon me?" That brave man rightly felt that his own daring and skill, coupled with the faith that his men had in him, outweighed the larger numbers of the enemy.

The man who gives himself to be a soldier of Jesus Christ allies himself with the valor, the experience, and the power of his Lord. Every true Christian can say with Paul, "We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

There is no doubt or fear or threat of the world that can defeat the soul that gives itself to Christ in the frank confidence of childhood.

There is a story of a poor man who was passing through a very trying experience. And a self-sufficient and bad-humored doctor came along and said to him:

"Good-morning, poor man."

"I never had any bad morning," said the sorely tried man.

"No?" said the doctor. "You are a miserable,

poor man; you are ragged, and without friends; there is no prospect of your troubles being relieved; how can it then be true, what you say, that you never had any bad morning?"

"I'll tell you," said the other.

"Whether I am

sick or in health, whether it be warm or cold weather, whether I be ragged or well clothed, rich or poor, I bless God for all."

"Oh, but, friend," said the doctor, "what if Christ should cast you into hell?"

"If he should, I would be contented; but I have two arms-the one of faith, the other of lovewherewith I would lay such fast hold on him that I would have him along with me, and then I am sure that hell would be heaven if he were there."

No wonder that with such a faith Paul could say, "All things work together for good to them that love God." Are there not those who hear me tonight, to whom it would be a blessed boon to drop all the burden of your sins at the foot of the cross, and face the future with the same sweet hope in your heart?

The soul whose faith is in Jesus Christ knows that there is no limit to the resources that have been set aside by the Divine love to supply all the needs of his nature.

Many years ago, in the days of Spanish wealth and glory, a Spanish ambassador, coming to see the famous Treasury of St. Mark, in Venice, dropped on his knees and groped at the bottom of