Faith and Works Illustrated by Dudley Marvin Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 30, 1868

Faith and Works Illustrated.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

I ONCE heard the following beautiful illustration of faith and works: A ferryman had painted in large letters, on one of his oars, “Faith,” and on the other, “Works.” When asked what that was for, he answered by putting one oar, “Faith,” in the boat and then rowing hard with the other, “Works.” The effect was to turn the boat round and round without getting ahead any. Then he put “Works” in the boat and rowed with “Faith” alone. The effect was just the same; the boat turned round and round, but did not advance any. He then put both oars, “Faith” and “Works,” into the water, one on each side, and pulled on them equally. The result was that the boat advanced rapidly straight ahead. “So,” said the ferryman, “it is in serving God, we must use both faith and works united. Either one alone is useless.”

This beautifully illustrates an important fact. Some cry, “Faith, faith,” and make little account of works; with others it is all works with little or no faith. The true Christian has them both equally united.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Washington, N. H.