The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-08
THE HONEST SREPTTC.
BY REV. ALEXANDER CLARK.


There is an honest skeptic in almost every
little community of dozen souls, as in GER
tain upper room there was Thomas long ago.
And he is not to be ruled out as q reprobate.
The man who doubts and, for aught we know,
honestly denies the truth is worth looking at
and talking to face to face. We cannot frown
him aside He is character of interest and
importance; and, alone, he balances over against
O thousand mere credulous professors who are
unable to give q reason for the hope that is
within tbem-who satisfy themselves and their
mates by saying, Eyes, just so; it's all right-al
right" in the mumbling response Of schoolish
stupidity
There is modern skepticism which appeals
to the passions of the thoughtless crowd that
insidiously pronounces its infdel jeers and
Jokes, inuendoes and blasphemies, to the outer
masses who care nothing for truth. 1t points
out the Judases, but knows no Johns. 1t exag
Qerates exceptions until rule and reason lose
significance 1t appeals to the illiterate and
unrefecting multitudes. But the honest skeptc
u goes TO the man who believes and says openly,
r personally, and respectfully ~ cannot believe
LIN the doctrines you offer, unless you give
|'|me more evidence" He is inquiring, anxious,
aconvincible. You do not talk to granite
when you talk to him. He puts himself
1squarely before the leverage of your logic; and
LII error be not uprooted from his mind and
heart the fault is yours not his. Honest doubt
+ is always earnest and active, and steadily urges
q after certainty. Who rightly apprehending,
|E does not admire Thomas? He has honor, and
Apurpose, and feeling. Skepticism like his, out
|4spoken and emphatic, has more virtue in an
hour than all the traditional faith Of schools in
centuries. Inquiring unbelief will meet and
recognize Christ and be satisfied, sooner than
olaA ond oo1f
vi complaisant saintship under the sun.
"a How does Jesus himself deal with the skep-
Il tic? in his manner, rather than in any method
ism of the sects, shall we discover the true cri-
n terion. Does the Risen One denounce him,
exclude him from the select circle, hesitate to
enter the room because Thomas, doubling and
determined as ever, is within? Let sectarians
Fl who fence away all from their communion that
NJ do not subscribe to every line of letters in a
Il narrow tenet-who turn over into perditlon all
that move beyond the rim of their own little
church-note well the Sayiour's dealing with
"A the skeptic. Here is man who deliberately
"A ayews his unbelief. Jesus knows him, seeks
him. nears him, fastens his loving eye upon him
81 as worthiest now of special attention in al
II the group, and says:-"Reach hither thy
Fl finger, and behold my hands; and reach hithel
81 thy hand and thrust it into my side; and be moi
faithless, but believing" Here is plain per
sonal dealing, without upbraiding or reproach
N Here is preaching condensed to single point
" stinging, sharp, and keen with love, and pressed
into the individual soul. The Saviour did no
E generalize on the subject of doubt, and leav
N the doubter to select and apply to himself wha
N he had a mind to. The Redeemer deals specifi
cally with the doubter In the tangle of hi
doubts. The liberating message is exclusivel,
1 for the captive. The ten emancipated disciples
happy and strong in the truth, are but casua
4 witnesses of new sublimity now-that of th
risen Christ lifting great soul from the gloon
of its unbelef!