INCIDENT FROM DR. HACKETT.
By W. Lamson, D. D.
"Give me something better to stand on, and I'll step off." Many years ago, while I was a pastor at Brooklyn, I took a seat in the cars one morning for Boston by the side of Professor Hackett. I always felt that such a position was a providential privilege to be improved. Soon, therefore, I drew my learned friend into conversation, by mentioning a skeptical work I had lately read, remarking that some of the infidel objections in the work were new to me, and seemed very strong. "Strong, strong?" said he in his nervous way. "I see stronger difficulties than any which infidelity ever presented, but give me something better than Christianity to stand on, and I'll step off. Till that better something is presented, I stand and shall stand where I am." The remark, like many another from the good Professor's lips, has abode with me and done me good. When some new skeptic comes forward to try his hand at demolishing Christianity, I ask, Can you offer anything firmer and better? If not, spare your pains and leave the believer the one standing-place to which he clings, and on which millions are reposing. Amid the troubled sea of life there floats this one ark of refuge. If you know a stronger and safer one, do for humanity's sake point it out, and guide me and struggling souls everywhere to its rest.—W. Lamson, D. D.