The Southern herald., 1886-02-20
A sKEPTIc sILENcEp.

10 film Dy teuOW-IrhVoIers
II don't believe in a personal Col"
remarked a skeptic to Rev. R. F.
Jones, Welsh Presbyterian minister,
who was fellow-travele in railroad
train between Toledo and Cleveland
some time ago.
"Why notP" asked the minister.
because can't see Him His ex-
istence is not demonstrable, capable Of
proof, like facts in science"
The minister asked: Don't you be-
! lieve that you are alive, and that I am
alivep"
eyes" he answered.
"Why do you believe itP'
because can see you move"
"Well," said the minister, "the locU-
motive that is drawing this train also
moves-is it aliveP"
''No," he answered, "but the engi-
neer who runs it is alive"
"Please tell me-" said the minister,
"whether the engineer is part of the
machinery or living personP"
HE is living person." replied the
skeptic.
"Now, SIR" retorted the minister,
consistency is jewel-please 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 living person?"
He could not answer. Silenced on
this argument, he branched off into an
other objection against Christianity.
"What l hate" said he, ''in ortho-
doxy is this endless talk about creed,
creed, creed, thrust upon us every
where and at all times"
"What do you mean by a mans
creedP" asked his opponent.
81 understand by creed that which
o man believes
swell, SIR" rejoined the minister,
"you have just as much creed as l
have. / believe there is personal
God you believe the opposite doctrine.
/ believe in the incarnation of the Son
of God for our redemption; you be-
lieve the opposite. 1 believe in the
ruined estate of man. you believe the
opposite What difference is there in
the bulk of our creed, only that l be-
lieve one side of the question and you
believe the otherP 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 right to advo-
cate your sentiments, but wish to deny
me the right on my side"
He was silenced again.
"But,1' 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-
periments which prove them. You
can put them to the test / take Pc
euliar 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
youP" inquired the minister.
"Yes, sir" he answered.
"Well," resumed the minister, ''ii
you are student of chemistry you are
acquainted with the fact that charcoal
and diamond are the same in their
molecules-namely, carbon. Now can
you take molecule out of the charcoal
and put it into the diamond and get a
perfect thing of itP"
He acknowledged he could not.
"Where, then," said the minister,
sis your demonstration in chemistry
But as far as 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 ia
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 somewhat
Conciliatory spirit, acknowledged that
his father and mother were orthodox,