Accidentally, at first, we found certain advantages (from our
point of view) accruing to us in wandering too far from the
schoolhouse to hear the signal. What a surprised air we
assumed when, at the middle of the afternoon, we returned
weary with play. How well the excuse "We did not hear you
rap" served to save us from the penalties of truancy. We
worked it "for all it was worth," and for several days "worked
the teacher" finely. There came a day when we were surprised
by the appearance of a towheaded urchin with this ominous
message: "Books is called and teacher says for you boys to
come right along in." Some were incredulous and subjected
the boy to a grueling cross-examination. Mark you, there
was no question in our minds as to what we ought to do, indeed
as to what we ought to have done an hour before. The one
question that we thought it worth while to consider was:



230 STUDIES IN MORAL SCIENCE

Did the teacher really send that boy? Was his message
authoritative? That urchin with his message and our reception
of it is in some respects a homely but fitting analogue to the
relation of the message of Jesus Christ to men in the larger
interest. That boy (if we beUeved him) brought to bear on
our feeble desire for learning and regard for duty the added
motive of regard for the teacher's favor, and a wholesome fear
of his displeasure. It was a prop to a feeble will. Christian
faith brings to bear on weak and vacillating human nature the
added motive of regard for the Divine approval. In each case
the question is not asked as to what duty may be. In each
case duty is sufl&ciently well known. But in each case some
one asks and must be answered, "Is this message credible?"
"Does this messenger speak with authority?" We asked:
"Did the boy really come from the teacher?" In the larger
interest, hesitating, doubting, pleasure-loving men and women
before committing themselves to Him are asking: "Was
Jesus of Nazareth really in fact a messenger sent from God?"
And you and I must produce the reasons for our faith.
