Homilist 1 John 5:9-10 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he has testified of his Son.… We acquire knowledge by different witnesses. There is — 1. The witness of the senses. 2. The witness of testimony. All history is but a collection of human testimony regarding past events. 3. The witness of logic. There is a class of truths, a species of knowledge which we reach by conclusions drawn from known facts. 4. The witness of consciousness. Consciousness assures us of the reality of all our mental impulses and states. The text brings under our notice the witness of Christian consciousness. I offer three remarks concerning this witness. I. IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL WITNESSES. Why is it the most important? Because it bears witness to the most momentous realities. 1. The truth of the gospel. Fully acknowledging the value of other evidences in favour of Christianity, such as that of history, prophecy, miracle, and success, none are to be compared in value to that of consciousness. The gospel "commends itself to every man's conscience." This is the witness that gives to the majority of believers in Christianity their faith. 2. The soul's interest in the gospel. II. IT IS THE MOST INCONTROVERTIBLE OF ALL WITNESSES. The evidence of the senses, which often deceive; of human testimony, which is fallible; of logic, which often errs, is all controvertible. Doubts may be raised at all the statements of these witnesses. But what consciousness attests is at once placed beyond argument, beyond debate, beyond doubt. It never lies, it never mistakes. What consciousness attests, lives, despite the antagonism of all philosophy and logic. The verities attested by consciousness burn as imperishable stars in the mental hemisphere of the mind. "One thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I see." III. IT IS THE MOST AVAILABLE OF ALL WITNESSES. In some cases, logic, through the natural feebleness of the understanding, and in other cases, through the lack of data, without which, however naturally strong, it cannot speak, is not always available even with its feeble testimony. But the witness of consciousness is always in the court. The availableness of the witness, it must be remembered, depends upon the possession of personal Christianity. If we have it not, consciousness cannot attest it. Have we this witness? It is no transient phenomenon. It is a Paraclete that comes to abide with him forever. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. |
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