FAITH AND DOUBT

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 September 1912, Page 3

FAITH AND DOUBT

In his address on Sunday night last Mr Milner dealt with the respective positions of the Believer and the Sceptic. H6 emphasiod the fact that there could be no neutral position between faith and doubt, belief and unbelief, that it is impossible to sit on a note of interrogation between those two op posing forces. "We aro on the ocean of life, with its mysterious depths, its brooding tempests anl violent storms, some chait must be chosen, some course adopted, sail we must-; if we cast oveibroad the chart of faith, we choose the chart of doubt; if we refuse to follow tho well defined course which steers clear of lurking dangers leads unerringly to the haven of rest, then we choose to drift, which is in itself a course and wither it leads ye know the way.'* The speaker then contrasted the two opposing charts of faith and doubt. " Doubt is like hunger, and if it is satisfied it leads to a deeper belief and firmer farth; unsatisfied it mear.s starvation and death. It creates mistrust and uncertainty, aud undermines tho very foundations of all social life, Onco let doubt come between husband and wife, children and parents and the home is turned into a den of misery. It continued in, it becomes a rule of conduct which will manifest its destroying effect in all spheres of life. On the other hand faith is that principle which biiilds up in every depaitment of life : • Every moment of our lives we are exercising faith, the bank, the tramway Company and all commercial enterprises are ÜBeleßK unless they have tho faith of the public, and if faith is necessary in everyday life, how much more so in the moral and spiritual life. I'aith creates and works through love, and therefore it is, I contend, and essential principle in human character. On the other hand the doubt of the sceptic destroys all the finer forces of nature, and in his dyinp1 hour leaves him without hope, " play the man and trust " said a sceptic to a dying friend of like belief. Trust, trust what have Ito trust in." We are treading lifes. pathway with it snares and clangors ; our barque is on the tempestuous sea. Cau we afford to refuse .to hand the helm of our heart to the Pilot who knows the way and who has brought thousands safely to the haven of rest ? " The speaker then referred to the state of the world to-day, illustrating the words of Christ. "When the son of Man shall come, shall he find faith on the earth ? "