The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-08-21
SABBATH-DAY READING.
THE PRACTICAL TEST.


fidelity as well as more intelligent
and at the same time more reticent UNI
belief. The authority of the doctrine
of Christ is impeached; the scientific
incerrectness of the cosmogony of
Moses Is asserted; the genuineness and
authenticity of the Pentateuch Is de-
MED; the historical inaccuracies of the
Old Testament writers are pointed out;
and no end of other difficulties are
alleged as the ground of the unbelief
of those who profess to be intelligently
skeptical. 1t is true that this age is
not peculiar in this respect Again
and again have these waves OF unbelief
rolled over the generations of Chris
tianity only to roll back again, leaving
the foundation of faith more manifest
than ever before. If, in some respect.
the infidelty of to-day is not so bold as
in the beginning of the century when
what is known as the French intidelity
was the fashion, it is perhaps more
dangerous, because 1t is English in
fidelity, and, therefore, based on more
serious grounds.
Skepticism is not so much surprise
to US as that, after all, it Is so HARM
less. The overthrow of Christianity
has again and again been prophesied
and proclaimed by its adversaries for
centuries past; but. in spite OF all,
every thing goes on just as if no assault
had been made and NJ enemies were
prophesying defeat. Every institu ion
of the church is beng steadily
strengthened; the churches are being
multiplied all over the land; believers
more and more by the tens and hum
dreds of thousands are being added to
the church; home ID foreign missions
are increasing the &c of their oper-
ations; Christian b.A Ncence is grow
ing with each decades the 8 BILE is be-
ing printed and circulated as never
before; Christian scholarship is stead
lily advancing; Christian education is
constantly moving forward on to bigh-
er ground, and, in word, the faith
once delivered to the saints seems not
in the least to be affected by all the
multiplied attacks which are made
upon it; and it would seem that the
words of Christ were, with every gen.
Grafton, being made more manifestly
true 1.-The gates of He'll shall not pre-
vail against it,"
This is certainly true as general
survey of the field; nevertheless there
are those who are very near and dear
to us all who have been caught in this
undertow of intidelity and dragged UNI
der. Some of them cry out to us for
help while others seem Indifferent to
their fate. In either case it is incum-
bent upon us to attempt their rescue.
1t becomes every believer not only to
be able to give reason "to every one
that asketh him for the hope which he
has within hioi," but to do more; and
be able to extend saving hand to
those WHO have no hope. In order to
do this ws must needs be acquainted
with the grounds of unbelief. and also
with this answers to the various objec-
tions and difficulties which are pre-
sented to us. Every Christian should
be thus inter gent and so prepared to
"lend hama" to the perishing about
him.
Skepticism is rooted both in the in
tellectual and moral nature of man.
One man says: II am askeptic because
fail to find sufficient proof of the truth
| of the claim of Christianity" He denies
| the inspiration OF the Bible until it is
proved. He denies the supernatural
history of revelation, because, he says,
| the supernatural is incredible. The in
| carnatiNn and resurrection of Christ,
| which are efundamentalto to Christian truth
and power, he will not accept on any
authority, or HpOn any testimony, be-
cause, he says, both are impossible
| and, therefore, no amount of testi-
| mony can serve to establish them. OF
| course this line of objection is most un-
reasonable as we look at it; neverthe-
less the skeptic of this school takes his
ground stubbornly here and holds it.
When we meet with such case it is of
little use to hold an argument with
him. We may leave our testimony
and offer for his consideration our line
! of proof, but there we have come to an
end
OF course it is not our purpose to
argue the question of the truth of the
doctrine of Christ n this column. We
have but one purpose in writing what
we have; and that is to suggest not
to the skeptic of either kind, whose
eye may pass over these lines, but
especially to the believer who has to do
with these unbelievers to a greater or
less degree, the simple test Of sincerity
which our Lord has left us, and which
| Ilc pCcScuIS IO I'LL Llcu. 20 tnC
skeptical Jews, Jesus ans cd and
said: my doctrine is NOT. ae, but
His that sent Me. If any man willeth
to do His will, he shall know of the
doctrine whether it be of God, or
whether 1 speak of Myself" This is
the simple and infallille test of sim
cerity offered to the professed skeptic;
and at the same time it is the practical
test to which our Lord subjects His
doctrine. 1t is the internal and experi-
mental proof of Christianity which,
after all, is the only absolutely true
one. The blind man who could not
maintain an argument with the Jews
as to whether Jesus was sinner or a
prophet, could say this and stand by it
against all comers: "One thing know,
that whereas was blind, now I see. :"
This proof every man may have in him.
self who is willing to ''do the will of
God" Let us take our stand on this
line of experimental demonstration.
and we are sure to become established
ourselves, and we will, every one of
us, be able to meet even the Goliaths
of unbelief. And though we have but
this smooth stone from the book of
truth we shall not fail to overthrow
the enemy, in spite of his armor and
mighty weapons. The writer recent
ly spent several hours with gentle
man in discussion of the various
questions in debate between the mod
ern infidcl and Christianity, He pro-