Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-11
THE SKEPTIC ANSWERED.
His Inconsistencies Plainly Demonstrated
to Him by 4 Fellow-Travelcr.

Ills lncOnSiStencies Hfst1iy behOHstEutcu
to Him by a FellOwTravelcr.
81 don't believe in personal Col"
remarked a skeptic to Rev. X. F.
Jones, Welsh Presbyterian minister,
| who was fellow-traveler in a railroad
train between Toledo and Cleveland
some time ago.
'.Why not?e" asked the minister.
because [ can't see Him. His ex-
istence is not demonstrate, capable of
proof. like facts in science"
The minister asked: Don't you be-
lieve that you are alive, and that l am
| alive?'
Yes" he answered.
"Why do you believe it?'
"Becausc can see you move.
"Well," said the minister. 1.-The loco
moves-is it aliye9n
No" he answered. ''but the enGi-
neer who runs it is alive
"Please tell me-" said the minister,
"whether the engineer is a part of the
machinery or a living pelson?'
'.He is living person." replied the
skeptic.
Now, SIR" retorted the minister,
CONSISTENCY is a jewel-piease tell me
why you attribute the movement OF the
locomotive to living person, but deny
that God who sets the universe in mo-
ton. is q living person."
He could not answer. Silenced on
this argument, he branched off into an
other objection against Christianity.
what | hate said he, sin ortho-
creed, creed, thrust upon us every
where and at all times"
what do YOU mean by mans
crccd?" asked his opponent.
Il understand by a creed that which
q man believes
We'll, sir" rejoincd the minister.
'you have just as much creed as |
have. / believe there is q personal
God: you believe the opposite doctri ne.
I believe in the incarnation of the Son
of God for our redemption; you be-
lieve the opposite. | believe in the
ruined estate of man; yoa believe the
opposite What difference is there in
the bulk of our creed, only that l be-
lievc one side of the question and you
believe the other? Now, sir, when we
come to that point you have just as
much creed on your side as | have on
mine: but you want the ii ght to advO-
cate your sentim ,nts, but wish to deny
me the right on my side.
He was silenced again.
"But," said the skeptic, resuming
the attack by another argument, COM
mon at this day, christianity is not
| capable of scientific demonstration.
When we take the sciences all truths
are capable of demonstration by ex-
Seriments which prove them. You
can put them to the test. take pc
culiar pleasure in the study of chem
istry. Its propositions are plain and
capable of proof by facts and expert
ments which appeal to the senses.
"You have studied chemistry, have
you?" inquired the minister.
'.Yes, SIR he answered.
! well" resumed the minister, eff
you arc student of chemistry you are
| acquainted with the fact that charcoal
! and diamond are the same in their
Overwhelmingly. carbon. Now can
you take moleculc out of the charcoal
and put it into the diamond and get a
perfect thing of it?''
He acknowledged lie could not.
where, them said the minister,
sis your demonstration in chemistry?
! But as far rs Christianity is concerned
your objection is not valid, for it is
capable of spiritual demonstration.
You can try it and find it all that God
has represented it to be. God says 10
all: oh. taste and see Try it, and
experience will attest its truth.
Millions have put it to the test of their
experience, and have found it the
power of God unto salvation to every
| one that believeth'."
The skeptic. then. in a somewhat
conciliatory spirit. acknowledged that
his father and mother were orthodox,
Christian people.
The minister inquired: "Were they
good people?,'
I ayes. excellent; my father was an
excellent good man."
We'll" inquired the minister. "what
practical benefit do you get by chang
ing the religion of your parents tor
.skepticism2 Does it make you . bet
ter man? Are you better husband to
your wife; better father to- your