Further； within limits that I need not discuss； personally I think the virtue of Confession which it inculcates great； since thereby is brought the whole weight； wisdom and merit of the Church to the aid of the particular case。 I am aware that Confession is allowed to Anglicans and even； in a sense； enjoined upon them。 But by how many is the rite employed？ And why is it not employed？ The question may be answered by another。 Who wishes to make confessions of his failings — to lay bare that wonderful and sometimes awful thing； the secret soul of man； to Mrs。 Rector or Mrs。 Archdeacon； or even to a selection of the father confessor’s brothers and priests？ It may be retorted； not without indignation； that such a thing would not happen。 Perhaps。 Yet the average man feels a risk which he will not face。 Many of us have known worthy but much married clergymen whose conjugal confidences are famous。 In consequence； rightly or wrongly； other confidences are withheld from them； and with the abolition of a one…doctrined； properly controlled； responsible and non…amateur celibate priesthood； Confession has gone out of fashion。 This； however； is by the way。
The trouble about the Roman Church is not only its notorious intolerance and bigotry； of which history tells； but the fact that some of the doctrines； as I understand them； are not to be found in the New Testament； which after all is the Christian’s only charter。 Since the Scriptures are of no private interpretation what is not written there is； so far as they are concerned； presumably non…existent。 It is this truth that keeps so many from the gates of Rome。 Perhaps in some day to e she will modify her attitude in certain directions； as we may modify ours； and the two greatest divisions of the Church of Christ will draw together again。 I trust and pray that this may be so and that thus an united front may be presented to the evil that is in the world； which lessens little； if at all； with the passage of the ages。
In the same way that I admire and respect the Roman Church do I admire and respect a Body which stands at the other religious pole — I refer to the Salvation Army。 But this Body； splendid as is its work； makes what I consider the mistake of omitting the use of the Sacraments which seem to me to be clearly enjoined by the New Testament。 As the Roman Church elaborates the sum total of the corpus of our faith； so the Salvation Army deducts from that sum。 But it has been explained to me that the late General Booth did this of set purpose； because he did not think that the people with whom he had to deal understood the Sacraments。
I do but quote these two extremes； however； each of which I think so admirable in its own fashion； as evidence of the statement with which I opened these remarks； to the effect that whatever I may or may not be； I am no bigot。 Now I will try to show why I believe in the simple and unadulterated doctrines of Christianity as these appear within the four corners of the New Testament and are preached by the Church to which I belong。
There are； of course； many varieties of what is known as Faith。 There is； for instance； the unquestioning Faith which many profess because it is there； because they inherited or were taught it in childhood。 Such persons have looked and need to look no further。 Theirs not to reason why； and they are fortunate and happy in this attitude。
Others have a more difficult experience。 When the intellect awakes it begins to question； and often enough finds no satisfactory answer。 It bees aware that all these divine events happened a long while ago； also that the evidence for them is not of a nature that forces conviction per se； at any rate at first sight。 For instance； no judge would send an accused person to gaol on the testimony which； for some purpose beyond our ken； has been considered sufficiently strong to enable mankind to accept a very wonderful story and to build thereon the hope or rather the certainties of redemption and eternal life beyond the chances and changes of this mortality。 Some are thereby entirely discouraged and； rejecting what they conclude must be a fable； set themselves sadly to make the best of things as they are； awaiting the end with resignation； with terror； or with the callous indifference of despair； according to their individual temperaments。 Others start out on wild searches of their own。 They examine the remaining religions； they try spiritualism； they bring themselves； or so imagine； into some faint and uncertain touch with the dead； the Unseen and the Powers that dwell therein； only after all to return unsatisfied； unsettled； hungry — frightened also at times — and doubtful of the true source of their vision。 For in all these far seas they can find no sure； anchored rock on which to stand and defy the storms of Fate。 Those alien religions may suit and even be sufficient to the salvation of their born votaries； but to these philosophical inquirers they are not sufficient。 Moreover； they find that Christianity embodies whatever is true and good in every one of them； rejecting only the false and evil。 To take but one example； all； or very nearly all； of the beautiful rules and maxims of Buddha are to be found in the teaching of our Lord。 but there is this difference between the faiths they preached。 Whereas that of Buddha； as I understand it； is a religion of Death； holding up cessation of mundane lives and ultimate extinction as the great reward of virtue； Christianity is a religion of Life； of continued individual being； full； glorious； sinless and eternal； to be won by those who choose to accept the revelation of its Founder。 Who then can hesitate between the two？ Who wishes to be absorbed into the awful peace of Nothingness？ Why； such； without its precedent preparation； was the refuge of the Roman who opened his veins when things went wrong or Caesar frowned！
Thus it es about that these seekers after spiritual truth remain drifting to and fro in their little boats of hope； that grow at length so frail and old； and mayhap in the end founder altogether。
Or perhaps they turn in despair and； aware of the overwhelming importance； of the awfulness of the issue indeed； to which all other things are as naught； face the situation afresh； study afresh； think afresh； pray afresh； perchance for years and years。 If so； there is really only one work with which they need trouble themselves； the New Testament； and parts of the Old such as the Psalms。 At least that is my experience — the experience of a plain man in search of truth。
I suppose that for the last fifteen or twenty years； except very occasionally through accident or a sense of unworthiness； scarcely a day has gone over my head on which I have not once （the last thing at night） and often more than once； read a portion of the Bible。 The result is that now I find it fresher； stronger； more convincing； more full of hidden meaning than I did when I began this exercise。 “Search the Scriptures” was a very great and potent saying； for in them I think is life。
What； it may be asked； do you find there； beyond picturesque narrative and the expression of hopes natural to the hearts of members of a race that in a few short years must throb itself to silence？ I answer that in all their main facts they are true。 I have been accustomed to write fiction for a space of nearly a whole generation； and I know something of the business。 Having this experience at my back I declare earnestly that； with a single exception； I do not think it possible that the gospels and the rest can be the work of man’s imagination。 That exception is the Book of Revelation； which might possibly have been conceived by some noble human mind in a wonderful period of spiritual exaltation。 I hasten to add that I am certain this was not the case； that on the contrary it was divinely inspired； whatever the actual meaning of parts of it may be。 All I say is that； in my view； it alone of the books of the New Testament might perhaps be a fruit of human powers of creation。
With the remainder of them it is different。 These； I am sure； are records of things that were said or happened very much as they are written down。 Who； for instance； could have invented the account of the Last Supper in St。 John？ A thousand touches； patent enough to the eye of one who poses romance； show that this view is true； the very inconsistencies or variations in the different accounts of certain incidents； due for the most part to the varying temperaments of the recorders that cause them to dwell upon that aspect of the matter in hand which appealed to them； rejecting or slurring over the others； suggest that it is true。 Any person who has been accustomed to hear evidence knows that such evidence is most suspicious when a number of witnesses tell exactly the same story； especially as to events that happened a while before； and most credible when that story es from sundry mouths with differences of detail。
So； the critic will say； you are prepared to swallow the miracles at a gulp？ Yes； I am — or most of them。 I do not see how they are to be explained away； moreover； I have known so many miracles to occur in my own time and experience that a few more or less make no difference to me。 To state that miracles； which after all may be but the partial manifestation of some secret law veiled from us as yet； have ceased is； in my opinion； a profound mistake； they happen often； especially in the heart of man。 Moreover； the whole circumstances of life are a miracle； the wireless instrument that at this moment I hear doing its work is a miracle； we are surrounded by miracles； unappreciated； unvalued； because so mon。 This； though a truism； is one from which we may argue。
I believe； therefore； that these things took place substantially as they are recorded； that a God…endowed Being of supernatural strength did show signs and wonders before the eyes of His generation； and for the subsequent instruction of mankind。 If this is not true； or rather； if the greatest of these signs is not true； then Christianity falls to the ground； it is a well dug in sand that will hold no water； and what tens of millions have believed and believe to be a gateway to a better and enduring world is but a glorious morning cloud which melts away and is lost in the vast