What has made the path of faith a steep one to tread
is partly that it has got terribly encumbered with ecclesiastical
traditions; it has been mended, like the Slough of Despond, with
cartloads of texts and insecure definitions. And partly too the old
simple undisturbed faith in the absolute truth and authority of the
Bible has given way. It is admitted that the Bible contains a
considerable admixture of the legendary element; and it requires a
strong intellectual and moral grip to build one's faith upon a
collection of writings, some of which, at all events, are not now
regarded as being historically and literally true. "If I cannot
believe it all," says the simple bewildered soul, "how can I be
certain that any of it is indubitably true?" Only the patient and
desirous spirit can decide; but whatever else fades, the perfect
insight, the Divine message of the Son of Man cannot fade; the
dimmer that the historical setting becomes, the brighter shine the
parables and the sayings, so far beyond the power of His followers
to have originated, so utterly satisfying to our deepest needs.
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