Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

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BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED
in the top of the tree all the summer long, is by going down to
the roots first and from thence ascending to the bough. H. W.
Beecher.
452. "A farmer went with his son into a wheatfield to see if
it was ready for the harvest. 'See, father,' exclaimed the boy,
'how straight these stems hold up their heads ! They must be
the best ones. Those that hang their heads down, I am sure,
cannot be good for much.' The farmer plucked a stalk of each
kind, and said : 'See here, foolish child ! This stalk that stood
so straight is light-headed, and almost good for nothing, while
this that hung its head so modestly is full of the most beautiful
grain.'
453. "The London Times awhile ago told the story of a
petition that was being circulated for signatures. It was a time
of great excitement, and this petition was intended to have great
influence in the House of Lords ; but there was one word left
out. Instead of reading, 'We humbly beseech thee,' it read,
'We beseech thee.' So it was ruled out. My friends, if we
want to make an appeal to the God of heaven, we must humble
ourselves ; and if we do humble ourselves before the Lord, we
shall not be disappointed."
INFIDELITY
454. Much infidelity is caused through men's hatred of Christian
principles and those who endeavour to practise them. Many
know the truth and right, but deliberately choose error and evil.
They are infidels because an attitude of unbelief best accords
with their manner of living. "This is the judgment, that the
light is come into the world, and men love the darkness rather
than the light, for their works were evil" (John 3:19). Such
"hold down the truth of God in unrighteousness," and have
"exchanged the truth of God for a lie," and "refused to have
God in their knowledge" (Rom. 1 : 18, 25, 28). The root of their
scepticism is sin.
Pascal has said : "There
is in Christianity light enough for
those who sincerely wish to see, and darkness enough to confound
those of an opposite direction." It may safely be said,
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