THE PROBLEM OF FAITH 21? 



that what a man is will determine what his faith 

 will be, is quite as real. The statements of the 

 Scriptures are in harmony with this teaching. 

 " Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see 

 God." The other text, as a man " thinketh in his 

 heart, so is he," cannot be quoted in reply, for the 

 real meaning of it is that the internal state, not the 

 outward seeming, is the real thing about every 

 man. Before we can answer the question. What 

 should a man believe ? we must be able to answer 

 the other question, What can he and what must he 

 believe ? Few truths can be considered purely in 

 the abstract ; the personal factor is always present, 

 giving colour to the truth according to the nature 

 of him who views it. The difference may not be 

 great, but as there is something individual in each 

 man, so there is always something individual in 

 his way of seeing and interpreting the truths pre- 

 sented to him. It is inevitable, therefore, that to 

 a considerable degree a man's theological beliefs 

 should be according to his intellectual and moral 

 heritage and the circumstances in which he lives. 

 As the will is the man willing, so belief is the man 

 believing. This is not to deny that truth has an 

 objective existence, but to affirm that objective 

 truth will be perceived by the individual in propor- 

 tion to the clearness of his spiritual sight and the 



