Sincerity Insufficient.
By Christian Chiliast
A POPULAR adage says, "Oh, it makes no difference what a man believes, if he is only sincere." Let us test this practically. A family was recently poisoned by eating toadstools which they sincerely believed to be mushrooms. Three funerals resulted. Did it make no difference? A merchant boards a north-bound train, sincerely believing it to be a south-bound train, and is carried opposite to his desired destination, resulting in the breaking of a financial engagement, and the loss of thousands of dollars. Did it make no difference? If a man sincerely believes a certain thing, while the truth about it is entirely different, will his sincere belief make it all right? The truth is, the popular adage is a lie—and a very transparent one at that! If a man is sincere in desiring truth, he will take pains to ascertain the truth. Where facts are concerned, all the sophistry of the world cannot change them. Hence truth will sanctify the powers of the mind and heart, while error will pervert them. Whether consciously or unconsciously, truth and error entertained, will always generate their legitimate offspring of good and evil. Catholics sincerely believe the Pope to be infallible, yet their sincerity does not insure their salvation through papal absolutions. Sincerity is not the criterion of good; but the word of God is the infallible guide, and without its truth we stumble in a darkness which never substitutes the virtues of light.—Christian Chiliast.