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A Steadfast Faith

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 9, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 32.

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A Steadfast Faith

By H. F. PHELPS

H. F. PHELPS
There are some things in the Bible that I do not understand. Is this a thing to cause wonder? The Bible is the product of an infinite mind, thoughts of an infinite God? Is it to be expected that a finite man shall comprehend and readily grasp all that is revealed in the Bible? Shall I accept the tenets of the Higher Critics, and sit in judgment upon such portions as, to my mind, seem incomprehensible? To this we present a most emphatic, No! while faith says, I will believe all that I do understand, and feast my soul upon it; and I will believe all that I am not able to understand, and patiently wait until my Saviour shall make everything plain. He will do this in the future life, if not in this.
Some fifty or more years ago, the writer had the privilege of reading “Early Writings,” the first production of the spirit of prophecy among us as a people. I believed it. It was a feast to my soul. In after years I was thrown under an influence that led me into doubting castle. I did not mention my doubts to any soul, but waited patientlytill God led me into the light again. This was mainly through reading the “Spirit of Prophecy” and “Testimonies for the Church.”
Time passed on. Added pages, communications, and volumes have come from the same source. But the very same Spirit of God permeates the whole. To say that I can explain every utterance, that I perfectly understand the whole, would be saying too much. There are some things that I do not understand. Shall I accept the principle of higher criticism and sit in judgment and dissect that which breathes the Spirit of God?—Once more a most emphatic, No! I have been in doubting castle once, and that will do. My faith says, I will believe what I do understand, and will rejoice in it and feast upon it; and I will also believe what I do not understand, and will wait until Christ my Redeemer shall make plain to his sanctified, glorified saints all that seemed dark to them here in this land of mist and darkness. Thus living, I expect to meet him, when he comes, with rejoicing.
Minneapolis, Minn.