SUNDAY READING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 295, 16 May 1914, Page 8

SUNDAY READING.

CHRISTIAN CERTAINTY AND MOD- to EliN DOUBT. ci in Sermon preached by the Rev. T. 11. Rose- t , c veare m St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, New Plymouth. s( . jp« John !). •>.■>, ",Whether he be a sinner or, 1" no I know not; one thing 1 know, where- i\ as I was blind, now i sec." I M There soem to sweep down the ages j waves of thought about the Christian religion sometimes favorable to it and sometimes unfavorable. One only ne'ds to read such a work as Fisher's "History of Christian Doctrine" in order to see, how ages of unbelief have alternated with ': ;, ages of faith. Sometimes it would ap- ' ], pear as though certain heresies were j ( about to sweep away the Christian faith ',, and then there would arise a Luther, a' p Wesley or a Whitfield, and cull men back (_ again to the life of simple - ; la.ith in f Christ. I „ We have been recently passing through s a critical age, and what would not sub- j mit to a scientific analysis has by many r been discarded and despised. But we an 8 profoundly thankful that that spirit is j fast passing away, and that philosophers j like I'lucke.n ami William James and emi-, j nent scientists sucli as Sir Oliver Lodge ] are joining with Christian thinkers and ; ( preachers in proclaiming the reality of t the spiritual, and the need for the cxer-' | eise of faith iii our lives. i' And yet it will bo a long time. I fear,' ( before all doubts and questionings eon- J j cerning the Christian religion are com- | pletely allayed, and we are liable at any < time to be called upon to '"give a reason; i for the faith that is in us." It is always' ] easier to ask questions than it is to' i answer them, and we are not called upon | on every occasion to answer the ques- I tions put to us. Still, we should know/ as much as we can about the ground of our faith that we may not be disturbed j by every question, not yet ''driven about i by every wind'of doctrine." As a guide to our thoughts, we shall consider the case of a man whose FAITH WAS CHALLIEXGED and who, in reply, said practically, "As for your questions, I am not able to! answer them, but one thing I know, I whereas I was 'blind, now I see." | The story as told in the ninth chapter i 1 of John's, gospel is in three parts. In' the first part we are introduced to a' man, boru blind, waiting after the cus- j tomary manner at the temple gates for, ! alms. Jtsus, who by his conversation I has aroused the crowd to fury and is' now leaving them lest, he suffer bodily I harm, catc-nes sight of this poor man, .mi'., regardless any further of his own safety, stops in order to cure him. The introductory part of the narra-i tive, arising out of its connection with' the preceding chapter, throws a flood of light on the tender compassion of the Saviour. Think of hmi ?ov. another occasion, hastening to cure a blight young l girl of twelve, urged on by the father, Jairus, but he stops. And why? Hecause of a poor old helpless woman who f has b-en invalided for twelve rears. i. But she needs Him, am\ wherever'there t was a needy one there' Christ was to bo found, not rushing through with the case in a perfunctory manner to get on to the next one, but sympathetically iiallirr with them, gaining their confidence and doing greater good than was 'nt'eipated. And even still the Saviour's method is the same. It is not might and power, or influence or wealth or nobility or fashion that makes an appeal to his heart. It is need. .Hq draws - near :n His sweet graciousiiess /to the sick, the weary and heavy laden, the J troubled and tried, and, above all, the siiricr who feels his need. ,• Jesus stopped, spoke to the blind man ot this ninth chapter, opened his eyes, and sent him on his wav rejoicin". The second part of the story consists of the PHARISAIC CRITICISMS. When the Pharisees saw what was dine, and the effect it produced, they immediately interviewed the healed mini, who, at first, could give them very little information beyond a simple narrative of the facts. Not satisfied with this, they approach the man's parents, who _ cautiously guard against committing themselves in any way, and refer them buck to their son. This time, the healed nun can see the prejudices, and hence replies: "1 am not concerned about vour question whether this man is a sinner or not; let his works be a sufficient , answer to you about that. One thin" I know, and am able to speak confident ly about, and that is that whereas 1 was blind, now I see." The third part of the story need not detain us. not being' relevant to the subject we are discussing and illustrating, viz. Christian faith and modern doubt. Suffice it is to say that the man was. on the one hand, excommunicated by the Pharisees and, on the other, befr.endcd and blessed by Jesus. - x. ASSURANCE BY EXPERIENCE. ■ What was it that enabled this blind man to stand up and fearlesslv an-ue with the doctors df divinitv of his timeV He uad been well trained to treat the religions opinions of these Pharisees with due diference, and yet, here we find mm - taking an independent stand, and even going as fir as to treat their quest;.;u, L mgs with a touch of riipcule. „•■ pcrh iis contempt. What made him so bold? H was h:s experience; it was the fact that he who mr long had been painfully conscious of the fact that he had been' blind was nc.-,v joyfully conscious of the fact tnat he could see. As for the Pimril. Sos, they may argue and theorize, and :i. spwu.ite and question to their hearts i. content; th"y may even puzzle him with l. hard questions about Jesus but they l. could never argue him out of his experience that his eyes had been opened. l. So, too. w s may be assured of th- rei. "iit.v and value of Christianity bv ex- ,. perieiicing it. That is iea!ly'(!,"' „„|, way by menu of which we'nrtv m" ;'i ~ t" J'"- tot. Clnv.i.„=t, i, more' C-,'.; ~ a tucoiv. irore th.n a s;-t of thcovie*. i. i""re Mm a pyst-tu of du^m-i: i i- , a lite. Ani w,> n:iy km.w tint I'l' i;r , »■ lucre./ lii-cuvsiiig It, m/. b - i«lpm • :;i n,e hieih-ct ~■«:,-. b,t i,;.;,,';;;:,;.; , ! f ■■'** o-.'r he,rt. tli:it U l.v mxVvi l^. 1 '' 10 -"'iu'tiMg prlucip!:. ,-f 0 -, v w:;n r. »■>■ W.Jr; V!(: :; gi f , .„,,:■„ (i:i , t!,,,,.;,.; »'.::' a!iMii-:iH an 1 o '.::' will* , (