The People's Vindicator

RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
Edited by the Rev. T. J. Hough.
During the present year we have delivered and prepared for publication fifteen lectures. Our want of time, and want of space in this paper, is our excuse for not publishing these lectures in full. If possible we shall endeavor next year to make a more extended publication.
We design commencing in January with Lectures on Bible characters in which we shall notice the history of men and women, of cities and nations spoken of in the Bible, which will be continued until about the first of April. The reading public will at once see that these proposed lectures on Bible characters will require much thought and hard labor; this we are willing to give, and only ask a charitable hearing, which to us will be full compensation.
Many of our friends in the city and country have asked us if we intended to continue the publications of these lectures in the Vindicator? We answer yes, and if they desire to preserve the same it would be well for them to subscribe for the Vindicator by the first of January next, that they may keep up with this series of readings and lectures. Our last lecture was
How to Aid the Memory.
In the study of the Bible we have heretofore explained how these readings and lectures are conducted, by the distribution of tickets, with letters and references on them, showing the place of the verse in the Bible.
A. 1 Cor. 13:13.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Comment: And now, even now, in this present evil fallen world, there 'abideth' in the hearts of the people to a large extent 'Faith' which results from evidence. God does not require us to exercise faith without adequate evidence: does He call on us to have faith in his own existence? He unfolds the volume of nature and bid us look up into the Vaulted Heavens, and see the wheeling solar system held together by the golden chain of attraction, and say, 'that is the work of a God.' Does He require us to have faith in the Holy Bible as a 'Book of Divine origin'? It bears the impress of the hand of God on every page. Does he call on us to pray in faith? He gives us daily answers to prayer, and says, 'without faith it is impossible to please God.'
Hope is the desire of some good with the expectation of obtaining it. St. Paul writing to the Hebrews says, 'which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil:' whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.' The Hope of the christian is distinguished from that of the world in this: The hope of the world is fixed on passing, vanishing objects, all to go to decay and pass into forgetfulness. But the hope of the christian extends beyond this transitory world, and lays hold of eternal truth-as an anchor thrown to the bottom of the sea holds the vessel fast amid the rolling waves and fierce winds, so the christian's hope is like an anchor thrown out into the sea of trouble, care, and disappointment, and holds the soul sure and steadfast in the midst of adversity and conflicting elements of the world.
'Charity' should have been rendered love, and hence the verse should read 'Faith, Hope, Love'-charity or love is said to be the greatest of the three, for the reasons:
1st. Love was in man in his state of purity and innocence, before he had violated the laws of his Creator, at which time there was no necessity for either Faith or Hope, hence Love is greater than faith or hope.
2nd. Faith and Hope are selfish, while Love is broad and comprehensive, and again, Faith and Hope are only the means of salvation, while love is the end to which those means bring us.
3rd. Faith and Hope are graces pertaining to this world only, they cease with this life. If we follow God's commandment we will finally enter Heaven, where faith will end and Hope be realized: but love will continue for ever and grow and deepen, throughout all eternity: 'God is love,' and he who has this principle well and deeply laid in his heart, partakes greatly of the character of God himself.
B. Luke 19:14.
But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying we will not have this man to reign over us.
C. Isaiah 1:58.
Cry aloud and spare not: lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions:
Comment: This was the instruction the Lord gave his servant Isaiah, to cry aloud, and not spare the people, but to show they their transgressions, and so does he require this of his faithful ministers now. Men are wicked and they know it, they are flattered and petted all the week by men who want their money; or their influence, and when they come out to the House of God on the Holy Sabbath days, they do not thank the Preacher for his flattery, they want the truth as it comes from God; the saying of easy, smooth things may tickle the fancy for a moment, but souls will never be saved and born into the Kingdom of Heaven until God's Ministers cry aloud and spare not, and show the people their transgressions, and that they will go to Hell unless they repent.
Suppose while some sermons were being preached that we have heard, some man in the congregation should rise up and cry out as they did under St Peter's sermon, 'men and brethren, what shall we do to be saved.' I think the Preacher would be the most astonished man in the Church House, and would begin to wonder what he had said to awaken such a great desire for salvation in his boisterous hearer.
D. 1 Cor. 9:13 & 14.
Do you not know that they that minister about Holy things, live of the things of the Temple; and they which wait at the alter, are partakers of the alters? Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.
E. Prov. 10:5.
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination unto the Lord.
F. Luke 1:10.
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
G. Psa. 87:3.
Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God-Selah-
Comment: 'City of God' means the church of Christ--'Selah' denotes a pause, that we should pause and reflect on what has just been said.
H. Mich. 6:8.
He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.
I. 1 Tim. 2:1.
I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.
J. John 21:21.
Jesus saith unto him, if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
K. Psa. 34:13.
Keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile.
L. Heb. 12:12.
Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith, who for the Joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
M. Psa. 7:10.
My defense is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
N. John 19:25.
Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother and his mother's sister Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.
O. Habakkuk 3:2.
O Lord I have heard thy speech and was afraid: O Lord, review thy work.
Comment: This should be the prayer of every member of the church 'O Lord review thy work,' had it not been for the great revivals that have swept over the world the churches would have been dead long ago. It would be impossible to withstand the great flood of sin without great awakenings on the subject of religion. Notice any church where there has been no revival for years, and see if they do not lack zeal and earnestness. Let us constantly pray for this revival of Gods work: first in our hearts, secondly in the family circle, thirdly in the church; and then may we look for glorious results manifested throughout our entire community.