Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey him. Does the religion of Christ stand the test of the Baconian philosophy? I. WE SHALL PROBABLY FIND CHRISTIANITY A RELIGION THAT WILL SUBMIT TO THE TEST OF EXPERIENCE, because — 1. It is a religion for all men. There is nothing in Christianity narrow, exclusive, sectarian. Now how can this be unless it be put to the test of fact? The masses cannot reason closely. 2. Only by commending itself to his experience will this religion do for any man all the time. There are times when philosophy and theology cannot sustain a man. In trouble and death mere reason will not sustain him. He must then know his support. 3. The method of experience has been found to be better fitted to give an understanding of things. The world knew little of the sciences till Bacon's time. One pound of fact is worth a ton of argument. It is probable, therefore, that God designing a religion for all men would so arrange that it could be subjected to the most convincing test. II. DOES CHRISTIANITY SUBMIT ITSELF TO TESTS THAT MAN CAN TRY? Yes; let us observe them — 1. A verification of the promises of the Bible as touching (1) charity. Ask any man who has tried charity for twenty or thirty years if it pays. (2) Prayer. 2. Let us come to the heart of Scripture. We are told that he who believes will be saved. Can we know we are saved? If there is a fact in the universe of which we may be certain, it is that Christ reveals Himself to the believer as his Saviour. III. A FEW QUESTIONS TO THOSE WHO STILL OBJECT. 1. Is mystery confined to Christianity? I will undertake to explain the mystery of the Trinity to any man who will unfold the mystery of a single seed. 2. On the testimony of a few competent witnesses we believe in the wonderful revelation of the spectroscope. Millions of competent witnesses declare that they know by experience Christianity to be true. 3. Owen finds a fossil five hundred feet down. He says that animal lived on the surface because there are sockets for eyes. Nature makes nothing in vain. It must have lived where light was. Now in man we find yearnings, hopes that nothing but immortality can satisfy. Can you believe that God made light for the eyes, but nothing for the soul? Conclusion: Many doubt .the possibility of knowing the forgiveness of sins. I say to a man, "Saturn has three rings and eight satellites." Says he, "That cannot be, for I have conversed with many men who have looked at Saturn, but they never saw any rings or moons." I apply the telescope to his eye; he looks, but sees nothing. Why? He is blind. (C. D. Foss, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. |
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