THE PROBLEM OF FAITH 239 



That question carries with it the problem of man- 

 kind, and that question Christianity meets with 

 the gospel as its full and satisfactory answer. 

 The Christian answer vindicates its claim to be 

 the true one, by what it can do and is doing for 

 men. It unites the three strongest motives that 

 can appeal to a human being. It teaches that 

 men are more than cogs in a machine, or even than 

 • individuals in a family; it presents Love pleading 

 with a being able to respond to love and sorely 

 needing it ; and it brings to bear the mighty in- 

 centive of the endless life to stimulate a true 

 self-love, and also to act as a cause of fear. The 

 appeal is to love, self-love, and to fear. Greater 

 inducements to resist evil tendencies and unfa- 

 vourable conditions cannot be conceived. These 

 three motives Christianity puts before all men. 

 Most that has been done for man and by man 

 in the way of culture, in the development of char- 

 ities, in the improvement of the social order, in 

 the inspiration of lofty ideals, has been in response 

 to this appeal. No evidence of the divine origin 

 of Christianity is more convincing than this : it 

 furnishes motives strong enough to inspire the 

 individual and the race to constant effort toward 

 better things. Evolution prophesies a golden age 

 for the race ; it has nothing to offer to the indi- 



