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Home / Publications / Free Presbyterian Magazine / 1998 to 2003 / January 2002 / The Strength of Faith

The Strength of Faith

Faith shows the soul the glorious, invisible things of God and of His grace, and brings them near unto the soul. It was a hard thing for Moses to leave all the pleasures and profits and preferments of Egypt. He did it though, choosing rather the afflictions of Pharaoh with God’s people. Why? Says Hebrews 11: “He saw Him that is invisible”. But how did he see Him? By faith, says the text: “By faith he saw Him that is invisible”. Faith opens the eyes for to see that a man hath more with him than against him. And the works of God in Christ are not seen by the world; God’s pardoning mercy is not seen by the world; the union with Jesus Christ and the privilege thereof are not seen by the world; the satisfaction of Jesus Christ for a poor sinner is not seen by the world; the great power of God is not seen – or if so, at a distance, where it does not much affect the soul. “Faith is the substance . . . of things not seen” (Heb 11:1); it does not only show a man things that are otherwise unseen, but brings them near – salvation near, pardoning mercy near, the privileges of union with Christ near, Christ’s satisfaction near. And so, when difficulties and discouragements do arise, the soul says through faith: “Why should I not be satisfied with any condition, seeing Christ hath satisfied for me? I am one with Christ. When Christ died, I died; when Christ rose, I rose; when Christ ascended, I ascended; because Christ sits in heaven, I sit there.” Thus faith raises up the soul into heaven; it carries it over all the difficulties and discouragements that it can meet with.

Again, true, saving faith tells the soul that all things are its own. “All things are yours;” says the apostle, “life or death, or things present or things to come; all are yours” (1 Cor 3:22). Faith speaks the same language: all things are yours, soul, all things are yours: difficulties are yours, and natural impossibilities are yours; things present are yours, and things to come are yours. Will you be afraid of that which is your own? Will the owner be afraid of his own dog? A mastiff falls upon a stranger and worries him, and the stranger is afraid of him; but the owner is not afraid, the mastiff leaps and fawns upon him, but he does not worry him. Says faith: All these difficulties and all these temptations are your own; they will not worry you; they may leap upon you, they may fawn upon you, but they will not worry you; they are all your own, part of the purchase that Jesus Christ hath made for you. Faith holds this steadily upon the soul, and so a man breaks through difficulties.

Again, true, saving, justifying faith shows a man greater excellencies in Christ than all difficulties and natural discouragements can amount unto on the other side. You know how it is with a dog, if the greyhound sees the game a great way off, he gives it over; but when it comes near, he will rush through the very bushes for to take the hare, throw himself upon his back that he may take it; a natural hope makes him do it. So faith raises a mighty hope in the soul, presents the soul with many excellencies, and raises a mighty hope in the soul for the obtaining of them; it spreads more excellencies before the soul than can be lost by the hand of difficulties. For example, if a man hath been a prodigal and now is returning to Christ, the world says, friends say, If you take this course you will lose all; you will lose all your acquaintance, lose your liberty, lose your estate, maybe lose your life. Be it so, says faith, though thou losest thy friends, thou shalt gain better; and though thou losest thy liberty, thou shalt gain better, and though thou losest thy life itself, thou shalt gain a better. It is but a while, says faith, that thou shalt lose these things and thou shalt have them better, in a better form. When a man’s eyes are open to behold the excellencies of Christ, then they are shut up to outward discouragements. When a man hath beheld the sun in its glory, his eyes dazzle to the things that are below; now faith opens a man’s eyes to see the excellencies of Jesus Christ, and so the soul is carried through difficulties and discouragements, though they be never so many.

Again, true, saving faith enables the soul to leave the success and the event of all unto God Himself. Nothing strengthens the hands of difficulties and discouragements so much as solicitude about the success and event of things. True, saving faith helps a man to leave the success to Christ; it commits the soul unto God, unto Christ; there is a mutual committing between Christ and a believer: Christ commits Himself unto a believer, and a believer commits himself again unto Christ. Christ commits Himself unto a believer: you know what is said in the Gospel, “Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because He knew all men” (John 2:24), arguing that He did commit Himself unto others that did believe Him. And believers commit themselves unto Jesus Christ. “Commit thy way unto the Lord” (Ps 37:5). There is a mutual way of committing: Christ commits His grace, He commits His Spirit, He commits His truth unto a believer; a believer commits his estate and his name and himself again unto Christ. Christ commits His work unto a believer; and a believer again commits the success of the work unto Jesus Christ. Faith now leaves the event and the success again unto Jesus Christ.

Difficulties and natural discouragements arise and say, “What wilt thou do now? What wilt thou do now to be preserved? What wilt thou do to continue now? What wilt thou do to be delivered now? What will become of you now?” Then a believer may answer, “O Satan, thou hast mistaken the question; my question is not, What shall become of me? I have left the success of things to God. But my question is, What shall I do for God? My question is, How shall I love Jesus Christ? My question is, How shall I be like unto Jesus Christ? My question is, How shall I serve my generation and own Jesus Christ in these times? This is my question.” Faith – true, saving faith – leaves the success and the event of things unto Christ, and so thereby the soul is carried through all difficulties and natural discouragements unto Jesus Christ.

True, saving faith is that grace whereby the soul takes up the yoke of Christ and the burden of Christ upon his soul. Christ’s burden does unburden all other burdens; the very taking of Christ’s burden upon a man does ease him of all other burdens. This may seem strange to you, that the taking of a new burden should ease one of the former. If a man be carrying coals or wood, the taking of a new burden would not ease him of the former; but the burden of Christ, beloved, is of another nature. Augustine distinguishes them: there is a burden burdening, and a burden supporting. He expresses it thus: the feathers that a bird or a fowl is clothed with have a weight in them – a pound of feathers is as heavy as a pound of lead – yet, notwithstanding, they bear up the burden of the body. Or, as it is with your coaches, the wheels are heavy; yet notwithstanding, being fastened unto the body of the coach, they make the body to go away the lighter, though they be heavy in themselves. So now it is here, the burden of Jesus Christ makes all other burdens to go away the lighter. True, saving faith is the grace that takes up the burden of Christ upon the soul, and so thereby all other burdens are made the lighter, and difficulties and discouragements are overcome.

True, saving faith does teach a man to pick out the love of God from under the anger of God. God never makes His pills so bitter, but He mingles some sugar withal, and true faith can find it out. When our Lord and Saviour Christ said, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come” (John 2:4,5), the next words that she says are to the servants, “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it”. They wanted wine; she came to Him for wine, and He answered her so. It may seem a hard answer, yet she says to the servants, “Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it”. For our Saviour had said, “My hour is not yet come”, implying therefore that He would do it. Implication is enough for faith – for Mary’s faith. Faith acquaints a man with the ways of God; it tells the soul that, when Christ seems to be the greatest enemy, He intends the greatest friendship. He, says faith, does then intend to raise us up when He seems most to cast us down. Whereupon, when difficulties and discouragements do arise, a believing soul asks, “Is this His way indeed? Why then should I be borne down with so many discouragements, though they be never so many?”

True, saving, justifying faith fills the soul with God’s infinity. God’s way is not as your way, says faith, nor His thoughts as your thoughts; but as the heavens are above the earth, so are His thoughts beyond yours, and His ways beyond yours. Faith lodges this principle into the soul, that God is infinite. Difficulties and discouragements arise which say, “You see now into what distress you are brought; now you see there is no hope at all for your deliverance”. “True indeed,” says the believer; “through the strength of faith, I see there is no way in any one reason but that God is infinite. I see many difficulties, but God is infinite.” The soul being filled by faith with the apprehension of God’s infiniteness is hereby carried through all difficulties and discouragements to Jesus Christ.

Endnotes:
1. An extract from the Works of the Puritan minister of Great Yarmouth.

Return to Table of Contents for The Free Presbyterian Magazine – January 2002

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        • Meditation – Its Consequences
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        • The Promised Land
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        • What Kind of Faith?
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        • The Shepherd’s Reward
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        • The Jubilee
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        • Christ’s Spiritual Conquests
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        • Protestant View – Queen Invites Cardinal to Sandringham
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        • The Need for Opened Eyes
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        • Offering up Our Desires to God
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        • “A Zealous, Godly Preacher”
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        • Tragedy
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        • Scotland’s Preachers
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        • “Be Strong and of a Good Courage”
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        • Obituary – The late John Angus MacLeod
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Kenya
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        • “Just with God”
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        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Priest
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        • Obituary – The late Rev Alexander McPherson, Perth
        • Pastoral Letter – Rev Alexander McPherson
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        • Blessedness
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        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 1
        • Who Belong to the Visible Church?
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        • Religion in the Highlands After 1688 – Part 3
        • Raising Questions Against Darwinism
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        • Cry Aloud Spare Not
        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 2
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • Our African Missions – an Update
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        • Trinitarian Bible Society Report
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        • Looking Forward
        • Book Review – The Government of the Church
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        • Faith, Its Nature, Origin and Effects
        • Thomas Halyburton and How God May Be Known
        • The Divinity of Christ
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 1
        • Keep a good conscience
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        • What is the Object of Faith?
        • Communion in Singapore
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        • Calling the Sabbath a Delight
        • Notes and Comments
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        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Prophet
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 2
        • Book Review – Daily Prayer and Praise by Henry Law
        • Psalm 122 – Henry Law
        • The enemies of the Christian
        • African Mission News
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        • Protestant View
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        • Book Review – Tell it to the Generation Following
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – Usefulness on the Personal Level
        • The Impossibility of Neutrality
        • “Christian”Entertainment
        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
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        • A View From Zimbabwe
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        • “There They Preached the Gospel”
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        • “He Will Bless Us”
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • “He Delighteth in Mercy”
        • “The Voice of Christianity in Scotland”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Ian M MacLeod, Elder, Dingwall
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Catherine MacKenzie, Stornoway
        • Book Review – Southern Presbyterian Leaders 1683-1911
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        • Sowing the Seed
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        • Obituary – The late Miss Peggy Nicolson, Inverness
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Zimbabwe
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        • The Resurrection of Christ
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        • Blessed Are They That Mourn
        • The Nature of Vital Piety (2)
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        • The Fear of God
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        • He indeed is rich in grace whose graces are not hindered by his riches
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        • The Church of God From Age to Age
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        • Rev Lachlan MacLeod (1918-1998) – Obituary
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        • The Example of the Church in Smyrna
        • Eastern Europe – Spring 2000 Report
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        • Obituary The late Mr Alasdair Gillies, M.A., Elder, Dingwall
        • Report of Mbuma Zending Meeting – 29th April 2000
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        • Ma Donsa One of the Pilgrims at Ingwenya
        • African Mission News
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        • Two Free Churches
        • Sermon The Gracious Invitation of Christ
        • The Rev John Sinclair of Bruan (1801-43)
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
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        • Book Review
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        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
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        • Lift up a Standard for the People
        • At the Westminster Assembly
        • The Earth Corrupt before God
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • Obituary – The late Mr Kenneth Gillies, Elder, Raasay
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        • The Rev. Christopher Munro (1817-85)
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        • Joy and Peace in Believing
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Negotiations in London
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      • January 2000
        • Another Millennium
        • Notes of a Sermon The Earth Filled with His Glory
        • The Second Coming of Christ – Three Main Views
        • The Latter Day Glory
        • Building up the Church of God
        • Princeton Seminary – The Majestic Testimony by David Calhoun.
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        • The Divine Saviour
        • A Sermon by John Kennedy
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • The Late Roderick Macleod,
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      • August 2000
        • Where Are We Now?
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        • Christ Given in His Fulness
        • Alexander Henderson
        • I cannot always come to Christ
        • Obedience to Christ
        • The Nature of Vital Piety
        • The Puritans for Today
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      • April 2000
        • The Family Under Attack
        • Sermon
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        • The King in Scotland
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        • Unsettling the Settlement
        • The pope’s visit to the Holy Land
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        • Declaring All the Counsel of God
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        • God so Loved the World
        • The Rev. James S. Sinclair
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        • Old Testament Types
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        • Alexander Stewart of Cromarty
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        • Resolved to Abolish Episcopacy
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        • Church Information
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        • Rev Alexander Morrison (1925-1999) – Obituary
        • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
        • Casting down the Walls of Jericho
        • A Visit to Singapore
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
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      • May 1999
        • “Upon this rock I will build my church”
        • The Blessed Poor
        • Rev Angus Mackay
        • Is Christ our High Priest?
        • Signs of Religious Declension
        • Protestant View
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        • Church Information
      • March 1999
        • Heaven-provoking Legislation
        • Church Information
        • The Drawing Power of the Cross
        • The Alpha Course Examined
        • Teaching Christianity in Scottish Schools
        • The late Mrs Margaret Tallach, Glasgow
        • Letter by John Love, D.D.
        • Protestant View
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        • African Mission News
      • June 1999
        • Made a Faithful Shepherd
        • Notes and Comments
        • How May Sanctification Be Attained?
        • Protestant View
        • Mbuma Zending Meeting Report
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        • Spiritual Pride in Man
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        • Preaching the Unsearchable Riches of Christ
        • The Free Church and the World
      • January 1999
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
        • Church Information
        • Let me see thy countenance
        • The Religion of the Highlands
        • Personal Creed and Resolutions
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe Mission
      • July 1999
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Pre-eminence of Christ
        • A Man Who Wished to Live Obscurely
        • The Nature of Saving Faith
        • The Light of the World
        • God is: therefore God is to be Worshipped
        • Book Review
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
        • Protestant View
      • February 1999
        • The Purposes of the Lord’s Supper
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society – Appointments
        • The Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God
        • Holy Importunity in Prayer
        • A Heavenly Eternal Crown of Glory
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
      • December 1999
        • The End of a Millennium
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
        • Until the Day Break
        • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
        • The Rev. Donald Macfarlane of Dingwall
        • The Pagan Origin of Christmas A Reminder
        • Ministers Prepared by Temptation
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • August 1999
        • The Advance of Rome under Hume
        • Notes and Comments
        • Eastern Europe Mission
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        • The Marks of a Time of Revival, and the Means of Bringing it About
        • The Free Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Thy Kingdom Come
        • The National Covenant
        • Work of the Trinitarian Bible Society in 1998
        • Unsettled and Discouraged?
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
      • April 1999
        • The Observance of Easter
        • The Smitten Shepherd and His Flock
        • The Prince of Highland Preachers
        • The Inter-Faith Movement
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 1998
        • The Golden Key of Prayer
        • Church Information
        • Weighed in the Balances
        • Christ, the Way
        • Praying as Beggars
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Our African Mission
        • Patrick Mzamo – A sketch of an African elder and lay-preacher
      • October 1998
        • The Westminster Assembly and Romanism
        • African Mission News
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        • Christ Liveth in me *
        • God’s Way of Bringing Sinners to Christ
        • The Effects of Television Violence
        • Sin and Sanctification
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
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        • Philemon Ndebele
      • November 1998
        • Faithfulness or Vilification
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        • The Best Security in Evil Times
        • Pentecostal Dialogue with Rome
        • The Prayers of the Aged
        • The Religion of the Highlands – The Persecution of a Highland Laird
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
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        • Eastern Europe Mission Work
      • May 1998
        • The Mode of Baptism – A Defence
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • A Vessel Meet for the Master’s Use
        • African Mission News
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        • Serving the Lord with Humility
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland on the Internet
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        • The Story of Mamlotshwa
      • March 1998
        • A Minister of God
        • “I will yet for this be inquired of”
        • African Mission News
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        • Godliness With Contentment
        • Protestant View
        • African Mission News
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • Private Prayer and Public Profession
        • Truth and Life
        • The Free Church, Psalms and Hymns
      • June 1998
        • Family Worship
        • Notes and Comments
        • Ma Ngwenya – Mother of the late Rev. B. B. Dube
        • Church Information
        • The Lord is Risen Indeed
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Pastoral Epistles
        • The Church of Scotland and the Bible
        • Mbuma-Zending Meeting – 1998
        • Three Characteristics of True Faith
        • Book Reviews
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        • Three Characteristics of True Faith
      • July 1998
        • The General Assemblies
        • Church Information
        • The Scriptural Warrant for Creedal Subscription
        • The Pastoral Epistles
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • A Cambuslang Case of Conversion
        • Booklet Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
      • January 1998
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • MaHlabangana
        • Winter Visit to Eastern Europe
        • THE NEW YEAR
        • The Church Built and Kept by the Lord
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Fruits of the Declaratory Act In the Free Church of Scotland
        • Redeeming the Time
        • African Mission News
      • February 1998
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • A Mission Day of Prayer
        • Church Information
        • Leaning Upon her Beloved
        • Brought Home to Heaven
        • Observing the Sabbath
        • Church Deputy’s Visit to North America
        • African Mission News
        • A Faithful Ambassador is Health
      • December 1998
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
        • “My grace is sufficient for thee”
        • The People of the Great Faith
        • Sudden Conversions
        • A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ
        • “Give ye them to eat”
        • Protestant View
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      • August 1998
        • The General Assemblies
        • Sermon – The House of Many Mansions
        • Lessons From the Doctrine of Divine Justice
        • Book Notice
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Paul Magaya – Lay Preacher in Shangani
        • Church Information
      • April 1998
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Mode of Baptism – A Defence
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
        • The Manner of Coming to Christ
        • Book Notice
        • A Lily from the Ukraine
        • Eastern Europe Mission
        • Church Information
        • Called of God
        • Threats to our Religious Liberties
        • Mazwabo’s Amazing Transformation
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