A Sermon Preached by the Rev. A.N. Rowland on July 2, 1922, in Union Church, Shanghai "Lhomas study Let us also- go 11, 16 (Read John, 10, 40-2, 11, that we may die with him'—John, 1-16).
One of the chief conspirators in unhappy Iveland has been boasting of the willingness of the young republicans to die for their cause. Unfortunately they are far more inclined to make others die for it. In their witness to the Republic there is more of murder than of martyrdom. But it is a great and solemn thing for a man to be willing to die for the love of a leader and his cause. It is almost the supreme illustration of that loyalty which is so large an element in faith. And that is the subject which the words of Thomas bring to our mind.
Now Thomas is not generally accepted as an embodiment of faith. He is' popularly known as "doubting Thomas," and it is taken for granted that doubt the opposite of faith. But is it so? I would rather say that Doubt is related to Faith as your left foot is to your right. It is by doubt and assurance alternately, as with two feet, that Faith has to make its way. Don't class yourself as a doubter because you are visited with doubt. That would be like standing on one foot, like Simon Stylites, instead of using it as a means.of going forward. Doubt is a part of the growth of true faith. Jean Ingelow. made no mistake when she wrote You must mix some uncertainty with faith if you would have faith be." Your doubt can contribute to your faith as the left foot challenges its partlier, to come forward. This is one aspect of what is meant by the walk of faith."
In order to make -this point clearer let me take two analogous virtues with which we think ourselves. better acquainted,—I mean patience, and courage. want you to observe to how large an extent they are built up out, of qualities which in our haste we should speak of as opposites.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.