“All these arguments I could answer, if I cared to do so. Who wrote the Bible? Who has seen the original manuscripts? Who has ever seen God? It is utterly impossible to know the infinite. Come, and I will make you rich at once in real, solid, practical things. I can give you work instantly, and wages immediately the work is begun. I can give you something in advance. Leave the preacher, the altar, the Bible and the church. Come and work in the open streets, and be doing something that you can handle and about which there is no manner of doubt.”
People begin then to wonder.
They should adopt the policy which was imposed on the children of Hezekiah:
“But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word, for the king’s commandment was: ‘Answer him not.’”
Nothing is to be got out of wordy controversy. Live the Christian life; grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. While the controversialist is contemning you, taunting you and smiting you, show to him that you are growing broader, more massive in character, more tender in disposition, more benevolent in every aspiration and desire and purpose, and thus by well-doing “Put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
Defend your Christianity by the eloquence of your life.
The servants of Hezekiah said to him: “What Rab-shakeh has said may come to pass. Let us go to Isaiah and tell him all.”
Hezekiah himself thought that perhaps there might be something in it, after all. There he and his servants fell into a state of incertitude.
“So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah.” They came to the right man. Standing up like a king, he said: