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134 How Can We Know the Christian Scriptures Are True?
if they can come at no evidence of the truth of Christianity, sufficient
to induce them to sell all for Christ, in any other way but this [path
of historical reasoning]. 11
You might think that Edwards is leading us to say that faith in the message
of the Bible is a leap in the dark rather than a valid sight of real,
objective foundations that provide a basis for firm and justified knowledge.
But, no, that is not where he is leading us. To be sure, he insists that
historical argumentation cannot provide the deepest and surest ground
of faith for the nonhistorian (or for the historian either, as we shall see).
Nevertheless, he still maintains that ordinary people can have a “certainty
of divine things” founded on “real evidence” and “good reason.” 12
Unwarranted Trust Is No Honor to the Trusted One
Edwards is deeply persuaded, as I think we all should be, that the fruit
of Christian faith is no better than nonsupernatural virtue unless this
faith is rooted in “a reasonable persuasion or conviction.” 13
Before I let him explain, think of it this way: suppose you meet a
man on the street whom you do not recognize, and he gives you a bag
with $50,000 in cash and asks you to deposit it in the bank for him. He
says that his account number is in the bag. You are surprised because
you do not know him at all. You ask, “Why do you trust me with this?”
Suppose he says, “No reason; I’m just taking a risk.” What is the effect
of that faith in you? Does it honor you? No, it does not. It shows the
man is a fool.
But suppose he said, “I know that you don’t know me, but I work
in the same building you do, and I have watched you for the last year. I
have seen your integrity in a dozen ways. I have spoken to people who
know you. The reason I am trusting you with this money is that I have
good reason to believe you are honest and reliable.” Now, what is the
effect of that faith? It truly honors you. Why? Because it is based on
real evidence that you are honorable. The fruit of such faith is not folly.
The fruit of such faith is wisdom, and that faith and wisdom honor the
person who is trusted.
11
Edwards, Religious Affections, 304.
12
Ibid., 291, 295.
13
Ibid., 295.