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I. The truths revealed by God are beyond our grasp and are mysterious to us, so that we cannot fully see their intrinsic cogency. But they have an extrinsic cogency which is enough to justify us in believing them without comprehending. These are called the motives of credibility. The first of these is the personality of Jesus Christ. To those who have not yet the light of faith He is known historically, and He must be recognized as the noblest, holiest
and most wonderful of beings; His wisdom and probity were superior to all human sagacity and sincerity; He was the greatest intellectual and moral force ever manifested, permanent and inexhaustible, of undying interest and beauty. Jesus declared Himself to be the Son of God. To make such a claim falsely would be an incredible folly which would before long discredit the claimant; it would be an act of wickedness absolutely inconsistent with the life and death of Jesus and the influence He has exercised for ages. His historically known character proves that His claim is necessarily credible, although it does not elucidate the mystery of that claim or explain the fact. The whole system of Christianity with the antecedent system of the Old Testament centers in Christ and is accredited by His authority. Hold firmly in all difficulties to the Lord Jesus. You can explain all things by Him, and believe the most incomprehensible mysteries on His word. "I am not troubled following Thee for my shepherd" (Jer. xvii. 16).
II. The character of the Christian Church is a further evidence of the divine origin and credibility of the doctrines she teaches. The Church is the most marvellous organization ever seen on earth. She is ancient but not decrepit, immense but not unwieldy, most varied in details but simple and uniform. She is always an object of opposition and detestation, yet her ideas and her worship are proved by their persistence to be a universal requirement of mankind. She may be crushed in some of her manifestations, but she (Page 157) reappears at once in others. Her enemies pass into oblivion, all arguments against her, however forcible, become antiquated. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper" (Isa. liv. 17). Her members consist, not of perfected saints, but of sinners in process of sanctification, full of human tendencies to independence, profane novelties, and deterioration. Scandals therefore must needs come, yet she survives even the cruel injuries of her domestic foes. Her life is a standing miracle, which affords a reason to all men to examine her doctrines and claims; and honest investigation leads infallibly to kindlier thoughts, the extinction of ignorant prejudice, and the recognition of her doctrines as divine. It is your great honour and privilege to be a member of such a Church. Prove yourself to be worthy of it.
III. A further motive for accepting the incomprehensible mysteries of religion is to be found in their general character and effects. They stand together in perfect consistency; and any one that may present difficulties is certified by the others. They exhibit a true, if partial, idea of God, the best explanation of the problems of the universe, and the noblest ideal for human life. They have inspired the most difficult virtues, and especially those which are necessary for our well-being and social progress. The revelation of future hope gives men an object to live for, and prevents that pusillanimity and weariness of life, and sense of disappointment, which lead to the decline of nations. From religious impulse has proceeded that benevolence which alleviates the destructive effects of selfish greeds and lusts. The great ideas of brotherly unity, mutual respect, progress, liberty authority, the dignity of labour, which are the bases of civilization are corollaries of Christian doctrine. The Christian system may say with its Divine Founder, "Though you will not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father" (John x. 38).
Meditations on Christian Dogma,
Right Rev. James Bellord, D. D.,
The Newman Press, 1961
