There are difficulties connected with our faith, such as the problems of pain and suffering, or inequality of opportunity, the prosperity of the ungodly, which require much thought. Besides all this the trust which men repose in God, not only in their everyday affairs, but also in those crises that happen from time to time, is strengthened immensely when the intellect contributes its support, when man knows he is passing through a desolating experience, but knows also that many others have passed through the like upheld in the darkness by faith. Every Churchman should make an effort to bring his intellect by reading and study to the support of his faith.
And the emotions, too, have their right place in the development of faith. Have we not been somewhat suspicious of the emotional element in religion, due perhaps to a disproportionate and exaggerated use of it by some religious bodies? Has there not been a tendency to suppress the emotions because there are emotional religious cults almost divorced from morality and the intellect? Perhaps, too, it has something to do with temperament? British people used to be little moved by feelings; lately they have changed somewhat. We need the vision of Jesus Christ, Who is the revelation of God the Father, as One to be supremely loved above all others—as Mary Magdalene, as St. Peter and St. John, loved Him. It would help us in worship if we used fewer subjective hymns and more hymns of the type of S. Bernard's, "Jesu the very thought of Thee," or "O Love, how deep! how broad, how high!" if we could have some simple litanies of devotion bringing to the mind of the worshipper the purity, gentleness, tenderness, patience, sympathy and meekness of Jesus Christ; our faith in him would become more tender, warmer, more personal, and without this our faith cannot be complete.
FAITH MUST ISSUE IN CHRIST'S SYSTEM OF MORALS.
A further feature in this venture after the knowledge of God is the moral one. It is only to the pure in heart that the vision of God will become a reality. To believe in Jesus is to accept His teaching in the sphere of morals quite as much as to appropriate His promises of present pardon and future rewards. In fact the promise of pardon is interwoven with the condition of doing His will, and the heavenly life is held out as a reward to those who follow His example. Jesus claims the sovereignty over man's whole personality. Those who call Him "Lord, Lord," must do the things He says. It is just at this point that the world tests the Christian faith. The world is practical; it demands not profession, but works. It knows that Jesus bequeathed a system of morals to His followers, especially in the Sermon on the Mount; and, while it is ignorant of the grace Jesus bestows to enable human nature to rise above itself, yet in its rough and ready way it holds faith of no value which is not shown in "fruits". When Society talks about the "failure" of Christianity what it usually has in mind is the failure of Christian people to conform to the Christian standard of truthfulness and justice, of honesty and straight dealing, of continence and self-respect; being like other people, lovers of money and applause rather than examples of that love for their neighbour commanded in the Gospels. The human will needs supernatural strength to live Christ's system of morals. God demands that the entire personality, intellect, emotion, will, should be committed to Him in an all-embracing, loving faith.
A FINAL PERSONAL WORD.
A few words must be said as to the outcome of vital Christian faith. How will it be recognized or known? We answer by its interest in, and its works on, behalf of others' good. Christian faith must justify itself in service. The sphere and the nature of that service must be sought from Him Who has drawn the disciple to Himself. Sometimes it means the taking up of the old task in an unselfish way; sometimes it will lead to a new departure or an additional undertaking; sometimes it sends one far off among the Gentiles. It is not so much the kind of work that needs the emphasis, but rather the fact that if faith is being perfected it falls short of completion unless the disciple views all his activities, even the most humble ones, as occasions for service for others' good.
There is need of caution, however. We live in a busy age, and activity is nearly idolised. It is not that we must always be busy, but rather that what we do is not a mere fad or notion taken up enthusiastically and, when difficulties present themselves, then just as quickly dropped. The outcome of faith is a task done for God on behalf of others, when toil will cheerfully be borne, drudgery endured, trials met with patience, and—through evil report and good report—the work continued.