The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-11-15
THE STRENGTH OF FAITH
RELIGION 4. STRONGHOLD.
Unbelief a cuick-sand.

It is hardly possible to doubt the
statement that great ideas have a ten
dency to broaden and deepen the man
who ponders them, while small ideas
have an opposite influence. Large
thinking makes large living. If 1t be I
true that man is known by the com
panions he keeps, the rule may be APP
piled to his thoughts as well as to bis
friends.
What is needed to make men com
plete, to develop human nature until
1t assumes grand proportions, Is Sc
ries of lofty motives. If you feel that
something is very desirable, and that 1t
is possible for you to attain it, you are
aflame with enthusiasm, and the hard
est work YOU can do Is constant de-
light provided it brings you nearer to
the ACCOMPLISHMENT of your purpose.
And the reverse Is equally true; for
if YOU are convinced that it does not
nav to do the hard work, that the
chances are against your reaching the
end YOU seek, your conviction dissipates
all zeal and saps the courage which is
required to overcome difficulties.
Now, there are two widely divergent
honest. cultured and we'll equipped
scholars, and an examination Of their
practical results, or, in other words, a
fair and impartial comparison OF two
lives which represent them, will be
both suggestive and instructive.
The agnostic is one who would like
to believe but cannot He has reach
ed a pretty definite conclusion that Il
man is an exquisite piece of machinery,
composed OF certain chemical elements
which ultimately return to the earth
death The drama is in one act, and
when the curtain drops there is moth
ing more to look forward to. OF i'm
mortality and heaven, of IA soul which
will continue to exist, or God who Is
something more than eternal Energy,
of q Providence which Overlooks and
guides our destiny, temperlrg the wind
to the shorn lamb, he. simply says, Not
proven
The Cnristan-but let us linger q
moment in order to define terms. We
do not refer to the ecclesiastical Christ
ian who has formulated an iron creed
and who sends you to the pit unless
YOU accept every proposition in it, fo1
for no man on earth so crudely misin
terprets the Scripture as he does, or Sc
poorly represents his Master. We have
in our mind that other kind OF MAJ
who is pervaded by the generous, TIT
pitving, the loving spirit of the Naza
rene.
This man, who is no more willing
to be unscientific or unphilosophica
than his brother the agnostic, believe
that God relgns supreme everywhere
that we are all His children can com
municate with the Father by mean
of prayer that life may be rougl
journey, filled with hardships and SOY
rows, but every one OF them may b
turned to good account if we meet then
blavely that above us are unseen be
lngs, cloud Of witnesses, invisible bu
potent, who are always ready to len
a helping hand that beyond us is
Home where those who have departe
are awaiting our arrival.
BE 1t understood that for our presen
purpose we do not engage in any COZ
troyersy as to the truth or falsity {
either theory. Neither do we in tn
slightest degree question the honest
OF either contestant. The aGnostic
just as loyal a lover Of truth as til
Christian. and the Christi: II is as III
willing to be led mentally astIay as til
agnostc. They are both in search
facts which can be trusted and both d.
sire TO be entirely fair and lust. W
can admire these doughty knights WI
fight under different banners. for the
are without fear and without reproac]
1t would be folly to denounce the a