The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-11
It is Unfair.

Nearly all persons, when they begin to
grow skeptical, gradually begin to leave
off the usual means necessary to Chris
| tian growth, and the increase of Chris
| tian knowledge. They grow cold, and
; lose interest in prayer In fact, they
doubt the necessity for prayer. The
Bible is the foundation on which true
Christianity rests; but they cease to
| read it, with a devout and prayerful
spirit, searching to know it's inner spir-
ritual meaning They read all the books
they can find against the Bible, books
trying to show that it is not infallible
and divine. They cease, or almost cease,
attending the house of God. If they go,
, it is more in the spirit of critics than of
worshippers. This is manifestly unfair
No man can arrive at truth without hon
estly and thoroughly studying both sides
of a question. There is no other book
like the Bible. 1t is Gods Book. 1t is
inspired. God breathed into holy men of
old the truths it contains. 1t has an in
ward and outward meaning. The out
ward meaning may be comprehended from
a historical scientific and common sense
point of view. The inward meaning can
only be understood by the devout and
spiritual THE natural man receiveth
not the things Of the spirit of God for
they are foolishness unto him; neither
can he know them, because they are
spiritually disconcerned 1t is only the
inner, spiritual meaning that can en-
tighten mems minds, and quicken them
into spiritual life. An unregenerated per-
son can never know the deeper. life
giving meaning of the Bible. Here lies
the great trouble with skeptics. They
have never been made New creatures
in Christ Jesus" or, if they have, they
are living cold, inconsistent Christian
lives. / believe that every genuine Chris
tian will love, believe and obey the
Bible; and will not be troubled with
doubts about it's inspiration, or truthful
ness. The Christians new nature, and
spiritual life are in perfect accord with
the teachings of the Bible. He has a
profound, unmistaken inner conscious
ness that the Bible is true. The great
need of the times is more,not of formal,
but of genuine Christianity. Just in pro-
portion as this prevails, skepticism will
decrease. Genuine Christianity is a SOW
ereign cure for all skepticism and unbe-
lief The skeptic speculates, theorises
and tries to believe his theories, but the
Christian knows; I'VE know that we
have passed from death into life," etc
Il know we know that if this earthly
house of our tabernacle were dissolved
We have an house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavensX / know that
love my mother l know equally we'll
that 1 love Jesus. 1 know that 1 once
loved sin, but 1 now know that l hate
sin and love holiness. This radical
ri n ba h,,
ings of the Bible Nothing else could do
it. The Bible must be true-it is divine
it is not in conflict with reason, or true
science, but rises far above them, as God
is wiser than men.
Millions have believed the Bible. the
whole Bible, and have lived pure. useful
Christian lives, and have died rejoicing
in the full assurance of blessed i'm
mortality. When death comes l would
rather be the humblest Christian than
the most learned critic of the world.
1t is hard to believe that any man can
die an honest doubter of the divine origin
and truthfulness of the Bible. Col. Ethan
Allen, of revolutionary fame, was an
avowed skeptic. His wife was a devoted
Christian. They had lovely daughter.
When Col. Allen was dying, the daugh-
ter said: Father, you have taught me
not to believe in the Bible or Christian
lty, mother has taught me the opposite
Which shall l believer" The father said
with the honesty of dying man: MY
daughter. believe and follow your moth
err IT all doubters, higher critics, and
skeptlcs, would become humble. genuine
Christians and would read and study the
blple as they do books about the Bible,
or against the Bible, then they would
snow fairness-they would see both sides
OF the question; and the side of God and
.he blole would be seen to contain moth
ing but pure, life-giving truth.
j. A. STRADLEY.
Oxford, N. c.