Not at all Absurd

A man said to me some time ago, “Moody, the doctrine you preach is most absurd: you preach that men have only to believe to change the whole course of their life. A man will not change his course by simple believing.” I said, “I think I can make you believe that in less than two minutes.” “No, you can’t,” he said; “I’ll never believe it.”

I said, “Let us make sure that we understand each other. You say a man is not affected by what he believes, that it will not change the course of his actions?” “I do.” “Suppose,” I said, “a man should put his head in at that door and say the house was on fire; what would you do?

You would get out by the window, if you believed it, wouldn’t you?” “Oh,” he replied, “I didn’t think of that!”

“No,” I said, “I guess you didn’t.” Belief is the foundation of all society, of commerce, and of everything else.