Homely Illustration of Faith.
SAM JONES was talking to a man of weak faith the other day. The doubter asked if Mr. Jones could not give him a demonstration of religion. "None," was the reply. "You must get inside the fold, and the demonstration will come of itself. Humble yourself, have faith, and you shall know the truth." "In other words, I must believe, accept it before it is proved, and believe it without proof." "Now, hold on right here. Out West they have a place for watering cattle. The cattle have to mount a platform to reach the troughs. As they step on a platform their weight presses a lever, and this throws the water into the troughs. They have to get on the platform through faith, and this act provides the water and leads them to it. You are like a smart steer that slips around to the barn-yard and peeps in the trough, without getting on the platform. He finds the trough dry, of course, for it needs his weight on the platform to force the water up. He turns away disgusted, and tells everybody there is no water in the trough. Another steer, not quite so smart, but with more faith, steps on the platform. The water springs into the trough, and he marches up and drinks. That's the way with religion. You've got to get on to the platform. You can't even examine it intelligently until you are on the platform. If you slide around the back way, you'll find the trough dry. But step on the platform, and the water and the faith come together without any trouble—certain and sure, and abundant."—Detroit Free Press.