El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-09-09
The Faith That Examines.

The Scriptures give no countenance
to the notion that faith and inquiry are
enemies, or hat the intellect is less
the work of God, and is to be less safe
Iy occupied with divine things than
any other powers of our human nature.
cit is worthy of especial consldera-
tion," says Coieridge, that the Scrip
lures are distin guished from all other
writings pretending to inspiration by
the strong and frequent recommended
lions of knowledge and a spirit of in
curry" The Bibl nowhere presents
faith and the intellect or reason a
hostile agents, the one building up
ties to the utmost in attaining a knowl-
edge of God. 1t finds in man an enc
my to faith, but that is the flesh, the
baser self, which would exalt sense
above all higher powers, and thus de-
stroy the right order Of God within
our own natures. 1t finds an enemy to
faith in the laZiness and indifference Of
mems intellects, which TAX up things
at secondhand, and judge not for
themselves the ching that is right. It
praises those who ook for evidence
of the truth brought them even by an
inspired apostle, and calls upon them
by his word to example all things"
and hold fast that which stands the
test by being found good. 1t calls
upon them to prove the spirits to as
certain which are of God, declaring
that, as Christians, they are invested
with the capacity to make such exam
ination for themselves. And nothing
of this is in the least a contradiction
OF the principle Of faith is the
master-key to the knowledge of God.
All hi proceeds upon the assumption
that spiritual truth are realities of
the universe, n not fictions of the
pIous imagination; and that just as
search Will bring US to reality in the
facts of the external world, so it will
bring us there in the things OF the
spirit Much that poses as faith, and
uses the language of faith, is nothing
but a subtle skepticism, which at heart
fears that the truths of the gospel are
mere notions of pious dreamers, which
will not bea the test of Investigation.
This skepticism shows itself in the
timidity with which new truths are
received, as though they must some
how lead to the overthrow of the
things most surely believed among us.
II SuO"S lIStll III Tie ldLiDeSS Win
which men substitute a dull acquies-
cence in traditions instead Of testing
these traditions by the means God Of |
ferS for the purpose. 1t shows itself in
the intrusion of the will into the prov
lnce OF h understanding. as when |
people make up their minds to believe
this or that, without regard to the evil
dence on either side. 1t shows itself |
in the partisan rancor with which /
every teacher of a new point of view
is assailed. as n who is disturbing |
the peaceful SAUNDERS of his brethren. |
1t shows itself in the craving after au-
with which men adopt the nur-
Sery rule: Open your mouth and shut
your eyes, and see what heaven will
END you" 1t is seen in the reversal
Of the apostles maxim, in that many
b in malice are men are content to
remain children in mind. The result
IF this obscuratism is to present the
gospel and the church in a very I'M
light before the world. 1t is made |
@ appear as though free thought could
never be devout thought, but must al
rays end in negation, and as though
every man must make his choice be-
ween accepting the truths of Chris
ianity on bare authority or rejecting !
hem altogether. Such positions are
cry welcome to those who prefer, for
ny reason, to reject them altogether. ;,
hey find a great deal Of comfort in