unconsciously, as an essential condition of human
happiness and progress.

FAITH A BOND OF FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD

Faith is required of men, not because God grudges information, but
because He desires for man the unspeakable blessing of a willing,
longing, intimate friendship with Himself. Among the heathen nations
"He left not Himself without witness, if haply they might seek after
Him and find Him." He selected Abram and called him forth from Ur to
be a father of a nation. To that nation, tried and disciplined, He
disclosed Himself "in fragmentary portions and in divers manners," by a
long line of inspired writers and prophets, until at last "in the
fulness of time God sent forth His Son."

The Incarnation discloses the distance the Father will travel to meet
His lost children, if by faith they will return to Him, and live the
life of restored fellowship. Thus we understand why Jesus pleads and
entreats and warns; it is because the loss of faith has such terrible
consequences--consequences which in their harm to oneself and to others
are incalculable. Through Jesus God has revealed the passion of His
heart, His yearning love for the souls of men.

GOD DEMANDS OUR ENTIRE PERSONALITY.

The faith which God requires will include within it the exercise of all
man's capacities and powers; there will be in the end no part of his
personality and no department of his life which is not contributary to,
or influenced by, his faith; for faith will be the means for the
rounding out and the perfecting of the character. It will include the
directing of the will, it will find scope for the emotions, it will
receive the sanction of the intellect--it will be the movement of the
entire man Godwards.

How very necessary it is for people to do some thinking regarding their
religion, and how very little is done. Many people think that what is
good enough for their parents, is good enough for them in religion.
But this is the only department of life to which this idea is attached.
These people make no enquiries, they conform to certain formularies and
rules of conduct, they have prejudices and great limitations. The
fruit of this is an extraordinary haziness existing in men's minds
regarding religion. Here a purely moral life is deemed the same thing
as a life built upon faith in Christ. Or compare the emphasis put upon
ethical duties directed towards one's neighbour (e.g. he is a good
husband and pays his debts); when lit