to others; for we thereby glorify God. If we have the Spirit of Christ,
this will be the great business of our lives.

Another fruit of the Spirit is FAITH. Although this is mentioned last
but two in the catalogue, yet it is by no means the least important.
Indeed, it may be called the father of all the rest. The proper
definition of faith is, a _belief of the truth_. Faith is a very common
principle of action, by which is transacted all the business of this
life. People universally act according to their faith. If a person is
fully convinced that his house is on fire, he will make haste to escape.
If a man really believes a bank-note is good, he will receive it for its
professed value. If the merchant believes that his customer is able to
pay for them, he will give him goods upon credit. If a child really
believes his parent will punish him for doing mischief, he will keep out
of it. And so, in everything else, we act according to our belief. No
person ever fully believes a truth which concerns himself, without
acting accordingly. That faith which is the fruit of the Spirit is a
hearty belief of all the truths of God's word. And in proportion as we
believe these truths, in their application to ourselves, we shall act
according to them. The reason why the sinner does not repent and turn to
God, is that he does not fully believe the word of God, as it applies to
himself. He may believe some of the abstract truths of the Scriptures,
but he does not really believe himself to be in the dreadful danger
which they represent him. The reason why Christians live so far from the
standard of God's word is that their belief in the truths contained in
it is so weak and faint. We all profess to believe that God is
everywhere present. Yet, Christians often complain that they have no
lively sense of his presence. The reason is, that they do not fully and
heartily believe this truth. So strong and vivid is the impression when
this solemn truth takes full possession of the soul, that the apostle