An Agnosticism That Need Not Despair

“Who is among you that fcareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His servant that walketh in darkness, and hath no light f Let him trust in the name * f thj Lord.” — Isaiah 1. lo.

A GOD-FEARING agnostic ! — that is an expression which one never hears in this world; it seems a contradiction in terms. Yet in this passage a man is described in almost exactly these words. There is brought before us one who fears God, obeys the servant of God, and yet walks in darkness. When the prophet asks, ‘’ What man is hcf “we are disposed to answer, ‘’ He is a creature of the imagination.” And yet verily he is a creature of the street; you will meet him every day. There is among us a man who keeps the law of Sinai, though he has never seen the smoke and flame of Sinai. He has no light from the mount; yet he stumbles very little on the plain. He is a sceptic about Elijah’s chariot; but he ministers to Elijah’s hunger. He does not say “Our Father, which art in heaven;” but he makes an excellent son to his parents on earth. He does not attach himself to a church; but he is enrolled in the brotherhood of man. He does not speak the words, “Thy will be done;” but he bears bravely many human ills. He prays not publicly for daily bread; but he answers many prayers of others for it. He supplicates not the Divine pardon; but he often asks pardon of his brother. How shall I account for this man? As the prophet seems to account for him. I think he is a creature of unconscious faith — faith by heredity, faith derived from ancestors, faith so habitual to generations that its presence has ceased to be perceived. He is like a man in a room where a clock is ticking. He says he does not hear it; it is because he hears it too well.

In the ranks of Thy great army, O Lord, there are souls that never consciously enlisted there. There are souls that have never taken the oath of allegiance, yet who follow Thy march up the arduous way. When I number Thine army, I do not count these in — do not call them Thy soldiers. I am wrong! help me to revise my judgment! I have read of Mary Magdalene meeting Thee at the sepulchre and taking Thee for the gardener. I have read of two disciples walking with Thee toward Emmaus and burning at Thy words, yet knowing not who spoke to them. Both Mary and the disciples would at that time have said, ‘’ I have not seen the risen Christ.” Yet they had seen Thee, they had talked with Thee; the Lord was in that place and they knew it not. Even so, there are many of us who are only on the Emmaus road. There are those who feel the burning at the heart, but attribute its enthusiasm to human causes; they know not that they speak with Thee. Thou shalt enroll them in Thy celestial army! They wrestle for Thee, like Jacob’s angel, until the breaking of the day; but, again like Jacob’s angel, they have assumed no name. Thou shalt give them a name; Thou shalt write Thy name upon their foreheads; Thou shalt fix their designation by pronouncing the words of blessing, ‘’ They shall be called the children of God.”