Many Christians resemble this
judge. They make a wise and worthy profession of faith; but when they
attempt to give reasons for their belief, they betray the most
lamentable ignorance. They _have_ good reasons, but they cannot put them
into words. They do not always know what their reasons for believing
are. The reasons they assign are not their real reasons. They believed,
and believed on good grounds, for sufficient reasons, years before they
heard of the reasons they give for their belief to those who question
them on the subject. The reasons they assign did not at first convince
them, and they are not the kind of reasons likely to convince others.
And it would be better if, instead of assigning them, they were to say:
'Well; I do not know that I can tell you the reasons why I believe the
Bible; but I have reasons. I am satisfied my belief is right. I am
satisfied the Bible is the right thing for me. I meet with things in it
that make me feel very happy. I meet with things in it that will not let
me do wrong; that will keep impelling me to do right, to do good. I meet
with things in it that support me in trouble; that make me thankful in
prosperity; that fill me with good thoughts, good feelings, good
purposes, good hopes, great peace, sweet rest, strong confidence, and a
blessed prospect of a better life.
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