The Wave of Scepticism and the Rock of Truth

THE WAVE OF SCEPTICISM AND THE ROCK OF TRUTH.
A REPLY TO SUPERNATURAL RELIGION: AN INQUIRY INTO THE REALITY OF DIVINE REVELATION.
Animus ad amplitudinem mysteriorum pro modulo suo dilatetur, non mysteria ad angustias animi constringantur. —Lord Bacon.
London: HODDER AND STOUGHTON, 27 & 31, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXXV.
CORRECTIONS.
Title-page. For anima, read animi. Page iv. For Wann Warden, read Wann Wurden. xii. For one allowed, read one version allowed. 28 line 3. For and that Paul, read and that as for Paul. 52 line 3. For first century, read second century. 77 For He suffered martyrdom on, read He suffered martyrdom, it is said, on. 77 For in the amphitheatre at Antioch, read in the amphitheater, not at Rome, but at Antioch. 78 line 4. For letters, read versions. 109 line 8 from bottom. For whoever, read whomsoever. 123 line 7. For dead, read read. 177 line 7. For at the name of Jesus, read in the name of Jesus.

Every wave which beats against the rock of eternal truth seems to rise out of the trough caused by some receding wave, and raises its threatening crest as if it would wash away the rock. It is of the nature of truth, that the more it is tested the more sure it becomes under the trial. These attacks of opponents are among the means whereby fresh evidences of the certitude of the Gospels are called out. Translator of Tischendorf's Wann Wurden Unsere Evangelien Verfasst.
This volume is an amplified and expanded essay read before the members of the Young Men's Society in connection with Park Church, Highbury, on the evening of the 2nd of November, 1874. The original purpose of the author was to indicate to the associates of that Christian institution how the influence of German anti-Christian literature, made plain to English readers by such books as the one under review, might be withstood and neutralised, and to supply an antidote to the poisonous insinuations respecting Christianity which many of the periodicals of the day disseminate in noticing works of this character. Those that are not professedly hostile to religion have a way of treating Truth and Error as if nothing had been proved, and as if the question were quite an open one whether Divine Revelation is, or is not, a reality. The present design of the author has a wider range than he first intended. He desires to induce, not only young men, but those nearer his own age, and placed, much as himself, in the great centres of business, who have not much time for research into such matters, to bring their intelligence fairly alongside the bold pretensions of the cavillers and quibblers who presume to know that there is no God, or that He has not spoken. He desires to remind those who are doubting that there is a knowledge that creates doubts which nothing but a larger knowledge can satisfy, and that he who stops in the difficulty will be perplexed and uncomfortable for life. Having investigated for himself, the author indicates the result, and would like, if he can, to facilitate the inquiry which it is, unquestionably, the duty and interest of every one to make. If to rest on a foregone conclusion on a matter of such momentous importance is not altogether justifiable on the Christian side of the question, how much less so on the other! For it should be remembered that, on the one side, looking at the question from a primâ facie point of view, we have a faith which has the endorsement of the highest civilisation, the best morality, the truest culture, the noblest aspirations, and the greatest happiness which humanity has ever experienced; in contrast with a negation which has nothing to offer as a substitute, taking away the light that illumines the path of life, and leaving it in utter darkness.