THE FAITH OF CICERO. 1 73 



in the fifteenth century, form but a loose basis for "rea- 

 sonable" faith. Nevertheless his faith is not shaken by 

 discovering how weak is its foundation in reason. It is 

 far easier to show men that they have no ground for be- 

 lieving the accepted history of Greece and Rome, than to 

 overthrow the trustworthiness of the histories bearing the 

 names of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John ; but men will 

 believe the profane history in spite of arguments which 

 show that it lacks evidence, and men will believe the sa- 

 cred history though all the powers of reason seek to un- 

 dermine their faith. 



Here then is a mental force, faculty, action, call it what 

 you will, which is not within the understanding of ration- 

 alism, and with which it has no weapons to deal. The 

 grandeur of the position, " I believe that I am immortal," 

 is above the appreciation of reason, beyond the province 

 of reason even to attack. You who think reason the 

 highest faculty of the human soul have to learn that there 

 is yet a higher, namely, faith which is the gift of God. I 

 know none higher, since it smiles serenely at impotent 

 reason, it alone takes hold of the supernatural, and brings 

 the unseen and eternal within the inspection, the knowl- 

 edge, the affection, the devotion of humanity. 



Sneer at this faith of mine if you will, for surely I care 

 not now and shall not care hereafter. I say with Cicero, 

 " Quod si in hoc erro (quod animos hominum immortales 

 esse credam), libentur erro ; nee mihi hunc errorem quo 

 delector, dum vivo extorqueri volo ; sin mortuus (ut qui- 

 dam minuti philosophi censent) nihil sentiam, non vereor 

 ne hunc errorem meura mortui philosophi irrideant." 



In yonder thicket is a grave. The headstone tells me 

 that a young girl was buried there a hundred years ago. 

 Do you want proof that the headstone tells the truth ? 



