impeach the honesty of the men who tried to help
"Dodd" out of the sad condition into which he
had fallen. Neither would I underrate the
value of religion, in such experiences, nor
impugn its power to save sinking souls from
death. But I cannot help reiterating the fact
that multitudes of young men have drifted on
to the rocks of infidelity as "Dodd" did,
because they have been promised too much by
religious enthusiasts.

There is such an experience as genuine
religion, and it is the most blessed estate that a
soul can aspire to. There is a place for prayer
in the divine economy of God's providence.
But neither religion nor prayer can help a soul
that is sick unto death with the malady of
doubt. "Dodd" was thus circumstanced. It
was the zealous overstatements, the ultra
promises, the unwarranted inducements held
out to him, which, unrealized, threw him into
this condition.

And then doubt is such a breeder of its own
kind! As a single bacterium will, in a few
hours, under favorable conditions, develop
millions like unto itself, and poison a man's
blood to the last drop, even so doubt grows in
the soul, when once its germs are planted
there, and its noxious growth blights all one's