theism resolves itself into practical atheism." Religion presupposes absolute being and objective truth. It implies, not a Deity conformed to the individual conceptions, but a Deity whose readied attributes are the paradigm for individual conceptions. It presupposes, not truths which derive their validity from the reasonings and convictions of the inquirer, but truths which furnish an immutable standard of validity for those reasonings and convictions.—Religion claims definite knowledge from authentic sources; and as it relates to the Infinite Being, it claims definite knowledge from Him who alone knows Himself, and can alone teach us of Himself.—The Divine revelations and manifestations all culminate in Jesus Christ, as the representative, the image, of the invisible Creator: so that 'God in Christ' comprises all that we know or can know of God."[1]
This is the great Christian truth: it is that which distinguishes Christianity from all previous religious systems, and makes it the crown of them all. We can now know our God—we can see our God: the Invisible has made Himself visible to us; the Infinite has assumed a finite form: God has become MAN. When, therefore, we would look to God in our prayers, or contemplate Him in our thoughts, we have no longer to strain the mind in an effort to conceive of that which is inconceivable,—but we behold in thought the Lord Jesus, at once the Creator and the Saviour of the world—standing meekly yet majestically before us, saying tenderly, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."[2]
