of it. Some of them plainly admitted that it was an imposture, others called it a pious fraud, but all agreed that it would not be advisable to disturb the faith of the mass of the people, who were thoroughly impressed by the belief that God himself descends, and with his glorious presence kindles the fire over the tomb every year on Holy Saturday. One Greek priest, a kind and earnest man, said to me, privately, "If it were possible, which is rather doubtful, to destroy the wide-spread and deep-rooted reliance on the reality and genuineness of this miracle, we should do more harm than good, for we should at the same time inevitably shake the faith of thousands; they would doubt all things, even the existence of God; they would abandon the Holy Church, and be left without any religion to guide them."
I could sympathize with him heartily, for his was a very difficult position. But I felt more strongly than ever what a mistake it is, to try to support that which is believed to be the truth by that which is known to be false.
Unhappily, the argument used by that amiable but fettered priest is a very common one. Religion has been so incumbered with forms and ceremonies, that the ceremonies are, by the mass of the people, mistaken for or confounded with the essence of religion.
Men fear to disturb them now, lest truth and error should fall at the same time, as if they thought that religion in its simplicity and purity could not stand alone.
When will truth be fully trusted and be permitted to triumph? When will people believe that truth is stronger and safer than trickery and wrong, and that there is always danger in teaching and supporting an error, but no danger in acknowledging one?
- "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John viii, 32.
- "Clothe not the truth with vanity, neither conceal the truth against your own knowledge." Koran, ch. ii, Sale's Translation.
- "The very essence of truth is plainness and brightness."—Milton.
- "Great is the truth and stronger than all things; it liveth and conquereth for evermore; she is the strength, kingdom, power, and majesty of all ages. Blessed be the God of Truth."—Zorobabel.
