Some one writes inquiring how, apart from the Bible itself, evidence could be found for the Bible. Were I permitted to make an inference, it would be that the writer had perhaps been told by some unbeliever that "you can't prove the Bible by the Bible." Well, if it is outside information a man wants, I would advise him not to go to Thomas Paine or Robert G. Ingersoll to get it, as many do; but if, unfortunately, a man has already read such literature, then, to be fair to the Bible and to himself, he ought also to read Watson's "Reply to Paine" and Lambert's "Notes on Ingersoll," which, in the way of thorough, neat refutation, leave nothing to be desired. Among books on "Evidences," there is none better than the clear, fair, convincing work of Brother McGarvey; and for a small, lucid, strong, readable book for the average man, get Torrey's "The Bible and Its Christ," published by F. H. Revell, Chicago, Ill., obtainable at or through any bookstore. But now about the idea that the Bible cannot be proved by the Bible--is that so certainly the case? Is there no such thing as internal evidence? Has it never happened that a piece of testimony has [234] refuted itself? And if so, has it ever been so that, on the other hand, a testimony has been its own strongest evidence? Ask the next lawyer you see, and mark his answer. Now the Bible asks but a fair hearing. It claims for itself that thus comes faith. (Rom. 10:17.) It appeals to reason. It appeals also to conscience for corroboration. (2 Cor. 4:2.) The gospel of John was written with the avowed object of producing life-giving faith (John 20:30, 31), and, therefore, in itself alone contains sufficient evidence to accomplish that end. Has my infidel friend tested that claim? O, but he has read the Bible a great deal, he says! And how did he read it? With what attitude of heart and mind? There were people in the very presence of Jesus and saw him and his works and heard his words, and believed not, but became more hardened. "The sower went forth to sow; and he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside." "The seed is the word of God." Will you hear the word with the right kind of heart? "But," he objects, "do you mean that I shall read with my mind made up to swallow it all?" By no means. God is not unreasonable. The proper frame of mind is indicated in John 7:17. It is that of a man who, seeking after God, is minded to find and do God's will. And that is but fair. For, granted there is a God, it stands, to reason that we should seek to know his will and ought to obey him. If Jesus Christ is the Son of God, our Savior, it is vastly to every man's interest to know it and to follow him. And the only direct evidence on these points is in the Bible.

[TAG 234-235]