252 PRESENT-DAY RATIONALISM 



bring all mental and moral phenomena into line with 

 bodily secretions. But it cannot be done. Worship and 

 bile are as incompatible as to ask for a gallon of know- 

 ledge or reduce life to foot-pounds in weight. 



So with Religion, it is said we gain nothing by calling 

 " force " " God ". Names are not of importance : but it 

 is, to believe in God as a Living Being, whom you, at 

 least, think you can trust and look to for help in distress 

 — not for temporal matters, as Rationalists suppose we 

 only do — but for spiritual help to bear up against the 

 trials and troubles of this world, the continual source of 

 wholesome discipline for man's soul. Those who know 

 what this means, laugh to scorn the impotent wailings of 

 the Rationalist ; who is continually carping at the so- 

 called "physical evils of this world (as incompatible with 

 a " good and merciful God ") because he has not perfect 

 conditions about him. 



The Christian can no more escape from tribulation 

 than the Materialistic Monist, and, from his point of 

 view, it would not be the best thing for him if he could. 

 " No Cross, no Crown " is the Christian's motto ; while 

 faith leads him to believe that " eye hath not seen, 

 nor ear heard, nor hath it entered the heart of man to 

 conceive what God hath prepared for them that love 

 Him ". 



His experience is that it is better to live by faith as 

 well as, and not only by sight — with the sure and certain 

 hope of Everlasting Life. Far better and happier and 

 encouraging than to look forward to annihilation at 

 death ! 



The intellectual Rationalist and Haeckelian Monist 

 may do so philosophically ; but his creed will not help 

 the untutored masses to be pure in heart and body and 

 righteous as a "social duty " only. If you have no taste 



