24 LIFE AND HABIT. 



opposite conclusion, inasmuch as it insists upon the 

 fact that what is most true and best known is often 

 least susceptible of demonstration, owing to the very 

 perfectness with which it is known ; nevertheless, the 

 fact remains that many men in many ages and countries 

 the subtlest thinkers over the whole world for some 

 fifteen hundred years have hunted for a demonstration 

 of God's personal existence ; yet though so many have 

 sought, so many, and so able, and for so long a time 

 none have found. There is no demonstration which 

 can be pointed to with any unanimity as settling the 

 matter beyond power of reasonable cavil. On the con- 

 trary, it may be observed that from the attempt to prove 

 the existence of a personal God to the denial of that 

 existence altogether, the path is easy. As in the case 

 of our own existence, it will be found that they alone 

 are perfect believers in a personal Deity and in the 

 Christian religion who have not yet begun to feel that 

 either stands in need of demonstration. We observe 

 that most people, whether Christians, or Jews, or 

 Mohammedans, are unable to give their reasons for the 

 faith that is in them with any readiness or complete- 

 ness ; and this is sure proof that they really hold it 

 so utterly as to have no further sense that it either 

 can be demonstrated or ought to be so, but feel 

 towards it as towards the air which they breathe but 

 do not notice. On the other hand, a living prelate was 

 reported in the " Times " to have said in one of his 

 latest charges : " My belief is that a widely extended 

 good practice must be founded upon Christian doc- 

 trine." The fact of the Archbishop's recognising this 



