Show SPIRITUAL CERTAINTY bomon watchman Wat cAnan much of the religious unrest unreal that marks our time is due to the demand for demonstrative evidence in the realm of spiritual truth cardinal newman newmand New account t of the steps by which h be e was led to the roman church shows that he was waa in quest of some external ground for reaching an almost mathematical certainty regarding his convictions the R aman man theory of an infallible church professed to supply his need the fattore cardinal nals s brother F W newman apparently patently ly was waa moved by the same desire he wished external evidence for spiritual spiritual truth carried to the point of demonstration he could not find it in rome borne he be could not find bud it anywhere and he became not only an agnostic but a thorough going skeptic those who demand demonstrative external evidence for spiritual truth will usually follow one of these courses cours esthey they will become roman catholics or agnostics cardinal newman tells us that early in life he was greatly influenced by bishop butlers butler Is doctrine that probability is the guide of life had he be followed that chat principle it is doubtful if he could have ever entered the roman church the sphere of certainty in human reasoning and affairs is much smaller than is commonly supposed it hardly exists outside the realm of pure mathematics in id the affairs of dally daily life and in the formation of convictions vict ions we are compelled to balance probabilities and the wise man is not one who has found some demonstrative stra tive evidence for his belief belie fand and action which no cue cne else has hag discovered but he be who best judges of the force of probabilities in n the case of any d of the christian faita for exi example mple that of the inspiration of the scriptures it is palpable at once that it is useless to attempt to demonstrate it so that a man if he have good logical powers will be compelled to admit it christians are led to the conviction that the bible is inspired by a great number of considerations side rations seme semb of which considered apart apparently do not have great weight others have much but taken all together they throw the force of an enormous probability in spiritual truth such truth has haa a self evidence ing quality like the sun it shines by its own light this internal evi evidence dance for truth may become as an certain as the facts of conscience god gives his people the witness in themselves they may say 1 I know PJ but outwardly here in t thia h to world they walk among shadows probabilities are strong often overwhelming wh wb elming but external grounds for reaching demonstrative certainty are not granted the external arguments for truth abundantly bantly evidence it but the final certainty of the truth to Is only reached by man when the eyes of the heart hearte are opened and the outward and inward evidences meet and sustain each other like ho mhd springing aidee of a perfect arch i |