For the essential characteristic of faith in the revelation of God
in Christ cannot be adequately accounted for as the result of any
of the factors into which we can psychologically analyze the
process of the origin of our convictions and beliefs. It cannot be
explained as the result of a wish to believe. Both the solemn in-
terests of their souls' salvation, and the renunciations and sacri-
fices involved in the converts* baptism, would demand fullest
conviction as to the objective validity of the word of the truth of
the Gospel. Nor was it produced by the argumentative skill of
preachers or by their impressive eloquence; and not alone by the
preachers' own evident conviction of the truth of their message
and of the reality of their salvation and gift of the Spirit. The
mocking at it on Pentecost, in Athens and in Festus's court
reveals its insufficiency to convince the hearers of the message
even when given by the demonstration of the Spirit and of power
in its preachers. Nor was conviction and full assurance due to the
compelling force of truth. Although three thousand were con-
verted by the Pentecost sermon, even that number was but a
smaD portion of the pilgrim hosts that heard the same sermon,
that were best prepared to respond to it, and yet were not con-
vinced by it. Nor for the same reason of constant rejection of the
Gospel, can faith be due to a responsive chord in the human soul
which is innately attuned to vibrate in unison with the tones of the
message of God's redeeming love, wherever those tones are heard.
