Facts for the Times

REASON AND REVELATION

DR. CLARKE says: FT 136.1

“The doctrine which cannot stand the test of rational investigation, cannot be true. We have gone too far when we have said, such and such doctrines should not be subjected to rational investigation, being doctrines of pure revelation. I know of no such doctrine in the Bible. The doctrines of this book are doctrines of eternal reason, and they are revealed because they are such.” FT 136.2

BISHOP WATSON says: FT 136.3

Whoever is afraid of submitting any question civil or religious, to the test of free discussion, seems to me to be more in love with his own opinion than with truth.” FT 136.4

RICHARD BAXTER says: FT 136.5

“What man dare go in a way which hath neither precept nor example to warrant it, from a way that hath a full current of both?” FT 136.6

ARCHBISHOP WHATELY says: FT 136.7

“It is one thing to wish to have truth on our side, and another thing to wish sincerely to be on the side of truth. There is no genuine love of truth implied in the former. Truth is a powerful auxiliary, such as every one wishes to have on his side; every one is rejoiced to find, and therefore seldom fails to find, that the principles he is disposed to adopt—the notions he is inclined to defend, may be maintained as true. A determination to “obey the truth,” and to follow wherever she may lead, is not so common. In this consists the genuine love of truth; and this can be realized in practice, only by postponing all other questions to that which ought ever to come foremost, ‘What is Truth?’” FT 136.8