Think for the moment of the subordinate part played by reason in
relation to both heroism and love. Heroism is universally admired. It
springs spontaneously from within. It makes few calculations. It
seldom weighs the pros, and cons. It may act rationally or in defiance
of reason. It cannot stop to argue. It may court certain destruction.
The challenge is accepted. The heroic action is done. And is it not
the same with the affections? Whoever met the lover who became so
through his intellect? Who can know what love is except by loving?
The lover does not sit down and reason the matter out, and after
weighing all considerations say, "Yes, I will now love." Tell him to
act thus and he will laugh outright. Love it is which draws him and
causes him to act. He finds himself acting as he does just because he
is in love, that is all. 'Tis true that reason exercises her part.
Reason may show him that his love is harmful, or on the contrary that
it has the sanction of his best judgment. But it can do no more.
Evidence can be found everywhere to the fact of love recklessly
pursuing its career in spite of reason. Reason has its limitations and
love goes beyond it; outstrips it like heroism. It is exactly the same
with faith. If you want to know what faith is, give yourself up to its
influence, let yourself go out in response to it, let it carry you
along, until by experience you will come to know the power of faith and
the illumination of faith and the reality of faith. Other faculties
will come to your aid to assist and to guide, but they can never be a
substitute for faith. The personal knowledge of God can only be
reached through faith. (Heb. II. 6.).