Our series of essays are such that this requires no argument here. There
are certain analogies that we may, nevertheless, speak of, which will
not _down_ at the bidding of David's fool. The facts stand thus: a
supply for each and every one of our other faculties, sufficient in
quantity for all their necessities, is placed within our reach for their
use. Now let us look at the analogy. I have food to eat, good water to
drink, light for the eye, air to breathe, and a good earth to walk upon
and space in which to move, beauties of nature to admire, its music to
listen to with rapture, and things with their combinations to perceive
and think of.
Now, Mr. Skeptic, you know that man has religious faculties, otherwise
he could never become religious, no more than he could see without eyes
and hear without ears. Now, what say you? Did the author of all things
make a mistake here by conferring upon us a power that would be of no
use? Is this the reason of your rejection of religion? Do you say it is
of no use? Or do you say that the Great Creator and wise and merciful
Provider forgot to give a supply just here? Come! You boast of reason.
Give us your _reason_. Will you? To one or the other of these
conclusions you are irresistibly driven. No other retreat is open. Take
either, and, if true, the harmony of the universe is destroyed. Take
either, and your folly is so plain that it needs no words of mine to
point it out. This is the true conclusion; all analogy points directly
and clearly to the probability and fact of a revelation.