Symbols of Christian Faith
DAY THREE
PONDER THIS ENGRAVING
MEDITATE ON THESE VERSES
1 Corinthians 13:6-13 | Hebrews 6:19 | Amos 5:4 | Colossians 2:2 | Ephesians 3:19 | Ephesians 4:3
Till we all come in the unity of the Faith. Ephesians 4:13
POETIC REFLECTION
See on the right, all-glorious, Hope doth stand,
And gives to heavenly Truth the plighted hand;
With Seraph’s wings outspread, Love stands between;
And binds their hearts with his celestial chain.
These are Faith’s emblems: these its Parents three;
To produce Faith, Hope, Truth, and Love agree.
DEVOTION OF INTERPRETATION
Christian Faith is represented by a union of Truth, Hope, and Love. The hope of heaven is represented by the Apostle Paul as the anchor of the soul, consequently Hope is usually depicted leaning on an anchor. She holds Truth by the hand, showing that they must be in close alliance. Truth holds in her hand the Holy Bible as a mirror, whereby sinful men can see the deformity of their hearts. With her right hand she receives the overtures of Hope; she tramples under her feet the mask of Hypocrisy; simple and unadorned, she rejects the cloak of dissimulation and casts aside all concealment. Love holds the middle place, and strengthens the union subsisting between Hope and Truth. Divine Love is drawn with wings to represent her heavenly origin.
Faith is both created and preserved by Hope, Truth, and Love. This triad constitutes its efficient cause. Truth is indeed the mother of Faith. Hope assists in its creation, by its expectations and desires; Love nourishes and reconciles, and this contributes to lay a foundation for Faith.
True faith, as represented in the Scriptures, is always connected with a “good hope through grace.” The truths of God’s Word form the only proper objects for its exercise. Without Love there can be no good works, and “without works faith is dead.” Christian Faith, as described above, is distinguished from the faith of devils, who are said to “believe and tremble” because they have no hope; and from the faith of wicked men, who “love not the Lord Jesus Christ,” and who are consequently “accursed;” and from the faith of the carnal professor, who has sold the truth and has pleasure in unrighteousness.
The proper use of faith is to bring us to God, to enable us to obtain the promises contained in the word or truth of God. If Christ had not been moved to love, he would not have suffered; if he had not suffered, we should have had no promise of pardon; if we had no promises, we should have no hope; if we have no hope, we shall have no saving faith in the mercy of God. Christ is set forth a refuge for sinners; he saves all sho flee for refuge to the hope set before them; but those only who believe in him, flee to him. Faith, then, is an instrument of salvation; “by grace are ye saved through Faith.”
The sinner hears, and gives credence to the Faith of God; the terrors of the Almighty take fast hold upon him; his sins weigh him down to the dust; but hark! the voice of heavenly love is heard proclaiming “ Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He looks upward: Hope springs up; he ventures on the Redeemer, “who justifies the ungodly;” his faith has saved him. It is counted to him for righteousness, and being justified by it, he has peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
A celebrated divine once have his little child an illustration of the nature of Faith in the following manner: The child had a beautiful string of beads, with which she was much delighted. Her father spoke to her, saying, “Come, my child, throw those beautiful beads into the fire, and I will, in the course of a few days, give you something far more beautiful and valuable.” The child looked up in to the face of her father with astonishment; after looking for a time, and seeing he was in earnest, she cast her beautiful toys into the fire, and then burst into tears! Here was Faith. The child believed her father spoke the truth; she expected, or had a hope, he would fulfill his promises; and confiding in his Love, she was willing to obey him, though it cost her tears.
Barber, John Warner, 1798-1885. Bible Looking Glass: Reflector, Companion and Guide to the Great Truths of the Sacred Scriptures, and Illustrating the Diversities of Human Character, and the Qualities of the Human Heart.
Philadelphia, Bradley, Garretson & Co., 1861