Arizona republican., 1908-11-16
CHRIST'S EVIDENCE
 FOR THE DOUBTERS
Whose Doubts Are Given Them as
 Trials of Their Faith.

Yesterday morning the pastor of
 the Presbyterian church, Rev. Henry
 NJ Campbell, preached on the theme,
 Christ and the Doubter." using as
 his text the fourth and fifth verses
 of the eleventh chaper or Matthew,
 Jesus answered and said unto them;
 Go and show John again those things
 which ye do hear and see; the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk
 the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf
 hear, the dead are raised up, and the
 poor have the gospel preached to
 them" Rev Mir Campbell spoke, in
 part, as follows:
 Tn this text we have the challenge
 of the Lord Jesus Christ to the
 world. He spoke directly for the sake of John the Baptist, and yet it
 is a challenge to the world at the present time. Christ stands today on the record of what he has done and asks the world to believe on him be- cause of that record.
 J"There is marked evidence in this that we here have the real word of God. John, than whom no one ever had more reasons for believing on the Master; John, the man who came into the world as Christ's fore runner. the man who had baptized him, the man who had pointed him out to his disciples as the Lamb of God, really doubted. Biographies now try to cover up mems weak nesses. God writes it down whether His children are false or true. The fact that it is here recorded that John doubted is a proof that we are reading the word of God.
 We have the picture of a good man passing through the experiences of doubt. There is comfort in that thought, not imerely from the stand point of misery's loving company. but in the fact that the man who really has a hold upon God must have his faith tried. if it is to be increased. Our faith is proved by trial. Abra- ham, whose faith was accounted to him for righteousness, had to be tried Job, David, Elijah, Thomas, all the true children of God have had their trials and periods of test ing. Why was it that the Master let John stay there alone in the prison2 Let us remember that it was better for him in the light of possibilities of his faith that he should not be given the privilege of being released from his imprisonment. As the oak is strengthened by the blow ing of the stormy winds, and as the gold is purified by the fire, so our faith is strengthened and purified by the trials of our lives. We become able to endure by enduring. Arthur T. Pierson, the writer of the book, Many Infallible Proofs had such a faith in God as he expressed in his writings, because he had been so full of doubts-honest doubts. Often it is only by trusting us that God can lift us up to a higher level.
 Notice the attitude of the Lord Jesus Christ toward the doubter. It was an attitude of kindliness, pa tience and sympathy. John should have known better than to doubt, he should have been trustful. He had much of evidence. but Christ pa tiently gave him his answer. That should be our attitude toward the man who is an honest doubter.
 What about honest doubters? There are a few of them, but only leW. T ne honest uOuDltT IS dH earnest doubter, he is concerned, con l stantly anxious. seeking; he will get up in the middle of the night to inquire into the truths of God. There | is too much at stake to be any other than an earnest dOubter.
 Now the answer. Go and tell John ! what you sec Tn this day of the | world in all ordinary things of life, 1. seeing is believing. That was the l test Christ applied here.
 Does the test apply to the religion ! of Jesus? Last Friday was Tag Day ] Do you find such evidences of hu- 1 man love and sympathy in heather |. Iands2 It was a manifestation of the | spirit of love that comes only from the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 The more of Christ's religion a man ! has the more Unslfish he is. The | religion of Christ takes the poor, ig- | degraded savage and makes 1 of him a man of intelligence, and | power. and culture-a spiritual force | In the world. It touches a man and | makes him new. The transformation l # human lives by the power of the ] religion of Christ is the miracle of | the ages.
 Don't stay away from the Master | Work for him; die with him, and | then the time will come when you l will look into his face and praise | him that you ever put your hand in l his"
 Artistic, clean, smooth. pleasant |