Bible Picture.

ELIJAH ASCENDS TO HEAVEN IN A CHARIOT OF FIRE.

According to the Christian religion, it is generally necessary for one to die before he can get into Heaven; but there are exceptions to this rule, as will be seen by the quotation and the picture: "And it came to "pass as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and parted them both “asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into "Heaven" (2 Kings ii, 11).

Bible Picture.

A LIVELY SKIRMISH IN THE SKIES.

If the missionaries could give an exhibition of this kind in China, it would do more to convert the Chinese than all the preaching in the world.

To face p. 360.

has sufficient faith, he can believe anything. No religion ever has been, or ever can be, founded on fact. Faith must, therefore, necessarily form the basis of all forms of religion.

In the discussions and correspondence that I have had with extremely religious old ladies-of both sexes -parsons, etc., I have ascertained that a good many of these people imagine that the gratification which they derive from believing something that is impossible the enjoyment that they find in believing—is an evidence of the truth of that particular brand of religion with which they are afflicted. The Catholic gets an immense amount of gratification out of the sacrament, while to all other Christians the very idea. of a flesh-and-blood sacrament is not only horrid, but blasphemous.

If it could be shown that an intense belief in a certain faith was peculiar to that faith and not shared by others, it might be construed as a proof of its truth. As a matter of fact, however, the intensity of belief among the Mohammedans, especially the howling dervishes, is quite equal to anything that can be found in the numerous forms of Christianity.

IV. THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE
UPON THE CIVILISATION OF
EUROPE AND AMERICA

Among unthinking religious people we often hear such expressions as these: "The Bible is indeed a great heritage," "The Bible is the basis of our civilisation," "It is the Bible that makes us what we are," "The Bible is the inspired word of God," "The Bible is absolutely true from cover to cover," etc., etc., etc., ad nauseam.