I. Philosophic doubts. All men are not philosophers, and cannot reason as Descartes did from self to all outside. We must accept some axioms without proof.
II. Rationalistic doubts. The withholding faith in spite of evidence. They mistake the use of reason in matters of faith. Men act upon three propositions in determining what is right.
1. That is right which we think to be right.
2. There is no telling what right is.
3. That there is a final arbiter.
The objections of the rationalists are based on foregone conclusions.
1. It is declared a priori that the Infinite cannot be a person.
2. That nature is uniform. These are urged against the Bible. But miracles have been wrought. Will a man stand on the wharf as the steamboat is departing and declare that steam is an absurdity?
III. Spiritual doubts. Such are pestered with fears of a different kind.
1. They believe that death is a crisis.
2. That the soul is guilty. Are we pardoned?
3. Some are troubled by the doctrine of election. (F. L. Patton, D. D.)
Religious doubts
1. There is a sense in which Christianity is accountable for the doubts with which it is often assailed. It fosters the spirit of thoughtfulness, inquiry, of mental activity. There are bodily states-of liver and stomach-that may contribute to affect us with temporary gloom of doubt. There are states of the social atmosphere that may contribute to affect us in the same way; when the general air is charged with doubt, we can hardly help being affected by it. Some doubts are the sign of mental quickening. But we must be careful to distinguish these from those resulting from moral deterioration and decline. What used to be a beautiful certainty has paled away in the mist, not, though, under research, but through too much business care; it has come upon him like a change of weather in the night. Sometimes, again, it is a deeper understanding, or a more vivid perception of one particular link, that renders us doubtful in relation to other things. We must be careful in yielding too readily to the apparent inevitable destructiveness of a truth that has burst upon us with new and fascinating power. The contradiction may be a temporary illusion. Again, men often come to doubt what they have ceased to require so urgently as they did; wanting it less, they believe it less. (S. A. Tipple.)
Doubts and fears
I. From whence arise those doubts and fears so distressing to many? Many fruitful sources from whence they spring.
1. Sin is often the cause. Inward foes, etc.
2. Carelessness will often lead to uncertainty and doubt.
3. Disobedience, neglected duty, etc.
4. Worldliness necessarily produces them.
5. Seasons of temptation are often seasons of doubt. “Satan worries whom he cannot devour with a malicious joy.”
6. Ignorance is perhaps the most fruitful source. Ignorance of what is written was evidently the cause of doubt here. How many appear not to understand (Psa_103:12; Rom_8:1; Joh_10:28, etc.). Salvation is a present certain reality (Eph_2:8; Eph_1:7; Heb_10:14). It may be ignorance as to the work of the Holy Spirit. Losing sight of Christ, many become taken up with feelings and self.
II. Their baneful influence. They by no means prove a state of high spirituality.
1. Doubts dishonour God; rob Him of the praise that is due to Him.
2. Mar our comfort.
3. Weaken our strength for service, conflict, and devotion.
4. They chill our affection.
5. They stunt our spiritual growth.
6. Unfit us to witness for Christ.
7. Influence others unfavourably.
III. Their remedy. As faith is a fruit of the ever-blessed Spirit, no assurance can be obtained but from the same Divine source.
1. Look and get away from self.
2. Study the sacred word more.
3. Live nearer the Lord.
4. Seek to have a more simple, child-like faith-faith that takes God at His word; that raises no cavilling questions; that lives above circumstances, appearances, and feelings, even upon “Thus saith the Lord.” (G. Cobb.)
Scepticism
I. Doubting in matters of religion. Doubt which arises from ignorance. Doubts which mark the course of inquiry. Doubts which indicate moral perversity. Doubts about our personal religion.
II. The practical influence of doubting in matters of religion. It is no apology for indifference. It ought to stimulate inquiry. It contains an element of belief-doubt, not denial. It may be an ultimate benefit.
1. Christianity is not doubtful because it has been doubted.
2. Its truths are so great that occasional doubting is not wonderful.
3. All classes of doubters should not be treated with indiscriminate harshness.
4. There are broad marks of distinction between the doubts of the saint and of the sinner. (D. Young, D. D.)
Doubt not to abandon truth
When the ship shakes, do not throw yourself into the sea. When storms of doubt assault spiritual truths, do not abandon yourself to the wild evil of the world that “cannot rest”. The ship rolls in the wind, but by the wind advances. (T. Lynch.)
We must not let go manifest truths because we cannot answer all questions about them. (J. Collier.)
Some doubted
1. You hesitate because you are measuring by human standards and taking your level from nature.
2. You want more proof than God is pleased to give.
3. You judge that God should do something extraordinary.
4. Your faith depends upon what is rare and accidental.
5. Perhaps an interval of carelessness has dimmed the moral eye.
6. There was some temptation to doubt.
7. To God it is no little thing to be doubted by His child.
8. I feel sure that some who have doubted are now in heaven. (J. Vaughan, M. A.)
Good doubting
Hedoes not doubt wisely who, though stopping short of being an accomplished unbeliever, allows doubt to get ahead of belief; who does not, in fact, make believing his object, using the power and right of doubting only to preserve him against premature and crude and false conclusions. The truth-loving man will read and search, and think, and, let me add, pray, with the view to enlarge, and build, and beautify such a home for his soul as we are reminded of by the words of Solomon. “Every wise woman buildeth her house, but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands;” and “wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.” I believe in the palace-home of wisdom, with its seven pillars. But what home for the soul will the mere habit of doubting-and especially of doubting, for doubting sake-ever build, and what would be the pillars thereof?(H. H. Dobney.)
