The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 438

FAITH

398

Two men

present themselves to the shipowner; both are provided

with excellent testimonials signed by creditable and trustworthypersons. is

Of the absolute truth

thoroughly convinced.

And

of these testimonials the

shipowner

yet in spite of this testimony one

is

engaged and the other dismissed. Conversing with both, the owner has found the first a very reasonable fellow, readily allowing him, as the owner of the ship, to issue orders; in fact, as captain he would have nothing to say. But the other, a real sailor, demanded absolute control of the ship, otherwise he would not take the reAnd, since the shipowner enjoyed issuing orders, he sponsibility. preferred the meek and tractable captain and dismissed the rough sailor. Consequently the tame commander, obeying orders, lost the ship the first voyage, while the rival ship commanded by that Jack-tar returned

home laden with a

We distinguish

here two kinds of

in testimony presented

whom

this

;

First, faith or

faith.

no

faith

second, faith or no faith in the persons to

testimony refers.

kind was perfect.

rich cargo.

In the illustration, faith of the

first

Those testimonies were accepted as genuine;

the shipowner had perfect faith in the signatures.

And

yet

it

did

not follow that he was immediately ready to entrust his property to either one of these captains.

This required another faith; not

only faith in the contents of those papers, but faith also that these contents would prove true regarding the

command

of his ship.

Hence he carefully considered both men, and discovering that the one left no room for his self-assertion, it was natural that he engaged the other, who flattered his egotism. And, influenced by he did not place that second faith in the right person. His neighbor, not so egotistically inclined, kept the end in view, had faith in the bold seaman, and his profits were almost fabulous. this egotism,

Hence both men had unconditional faith in the testimonies but the one, denying himself, had also faith in the excellent captain, and the other, refusing to deny himself, had not. Apply this to our relation to Christ. That vessel is our soul. The voyage is long, It is tossing upon the waves and needs a pilot. and we ask: "Who will safely pilot it?" Then a testimony is laid before us concerning One wonderfully skilled in the art of safely guiding souls into the desired haven. That testimony is Sacred ;

Scripture,

which throughout

all its

pages offers but one, ever-con-

tinued, divine testimony concerning the unique excellence of the

Christ as leading souls to the safe haven.

With

this

testimony be-

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