i8 7 o] CHRISTIANITY AND SUPERNATURAL in 



I believe many things that cannot be demonstrated 

 the great facts of history, for example ; but the moral 

 evidence by which I support this belief is as little apolo- 

 getical, is as fully constructive, as the demonstrative 

 evidence of geometry. 



How is it then that in supporting our belief in 

 Christianity we must be always rebutting objections, and 

 can never say : Here is a complete and reasoned exposi 

 tion of the grounds of my belief which no new facts and 

 no new arguments can ever shake ? 



There is an ambiguity about the word belief. A man 

 is said to believe a thing when he cannot prove it, but 

 has got something towards a proof. The object of 

 belief is in this case really a hypothesis which suits 

 certain facts so much better than any other hypothesis 

 that I feel bound to accept it till further facts turn up 

 pro, or con. There is a strong tendency to class our 

 belief in Christianity under this head a good instance 

 of which may be found in Butler s Analogy. 



But, if so, whence the moral warmth that mingles 

 with our discussion of Christianity ? Why are we 

 eagerly apologetic in behalf of a hypothesis ? What 

 interest can we have to maintain this hypothesis more 

 than any other which will suit the facts equally well ? 

 I am sure no Christian would feel that a hypothetical 

 Christianity was worth having. And the reason is plain. 

 For the essence of personal Christianity lies in love to a 

 personal Saviour. That such a Saviour really lives and 

 really loves me must be more than a hypothesis if I am 

 really to love Him. 



In the other sense of the word I believe that which I 

 receive as truth from a person whose veracity I trust. 

 It is not possible, as many would do, to reduce this kind 

 of belief under the previous head. This is not the place 

 for a philosophic discussion ; but I do not think that 

 sound philosophy will deny that the relations of person 

 to person are the deepest and truest in human life, and 



