The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-04
SreIia1 Contributors.
EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE.
BY REV. c. L. WAITE.
Monroe, Wis.,

There is no other kind of evidence
which brings with it such feeling of
certainty, and which is so we'll adapted
to the great mass of mankind, as exper-
imental evidence. There is no other
kind that is so needed, to-day, in all
our conflicts with sin and unbelief.
Without doubt the soundest mental
discipline, and the largest knowledge
are most favorable to Christian faith.
1t is the half educated, rather than the
thoroughly educated who are the most
inclined to denial. Probably large
class of doubters and deniers would have
been kept from their unbelief, if they
had had more thorough mental train
ing and a wider range of knowledge.
So the friends of Christian faith should
be Jealous friends of mental training,
and be prepared to meet all intellectual
attacks with intellectual weapons. The
records of our Christian faith,-the ac-
counts given us in the gospel histories
can be successfully defended against
all the attacks of skeptical criticism.
The great ideas of God, duty and i'm
mortality-when attacked in the name
of philosophical reasoning can be am-
ply defended in the name Of philosophy.
The facts of science are not hostile to
these great ideas, but can be shown TO
harm or,izn with fhoua
Yet the experimental evidence of
Christianity is that which can bring the
greatest certainty to the mass of men,
and SO is the most needed to- day. For
in the present conditions of human
knowledge and society, it is only the
favored few who can learn and appreci-
ate the intellectual evidence. How
many among the great mass of toiling
and struggling men and women, have
the tine to study the evidences for the
genuineness of the gospels ? How many
have had the mental training needed
for such study2 How many have the
time and means and needed mental dis
cipline to follow the great thinkers in
their discussions of these problems of
life and destiny, and all the questions
with which our Christian faith is con-
cernedP But while only the favored
few can be reached by these evidences,
the experimental evidence can be made
to appeal to the great mass of human
ity. The most unlearned man can un-
derstand and appreciate Christian liv-
ing. He can understand purity and
self-denial, and deeds of mercy and love.
He can understand the devotion that
freely spends itself in the cause of hu-
man welfare. He can understand the
charity that ''thinketh no evil" but
clings to the dagger hope and works in
its spirit. He can understand the COM
passion that would pass by no bruised
and wounded one that needed its min
istries. He can understand the sympa-
thy that rejoices with the glad and
weeps with the sorrowing. He can
understand and appreciate the lesson
of life inspired by zeal for truth and
love, and full of the spirit of helpful
ness. He can appreciate and believe in
the faith which he knows has strength
ened his own soul and purified his own
life. He can trust in that faith which
has enabled him to bear with patience
and resignation the burdens and sor-
rows of life; which has given him
strength to resist in the hour of tempta-
tion; which has inspired him to noble
service; which has given him an ex-
ceeding peace and joy and trust for
time and eternity.
Christianity is its own best evidence.
1t was its own best evidence in the
days of its founder, as it is to-day.
Jesus relied very little upon argument
or upon the support Of ancient author
ity. In the work which he undertook
to do, there was involved great change
in human opinions but there have
been few, if any, teachers who have
used SO little argument as he. He did
not reason much With men about Chris
tianity. He showed them Christianity.
He gave them more faith by giving
them more life. He ennobled their
opinions by ennobling their lives. 1t
was not Old Testament prophecies con-
cerlling himself, so much as it was his
works, to which he appealed. "If l
say the truth, why do ye not believe
mep" were his words upon one occa-
sion. 1t was his life and truth upon