Scripture itself furnishes a test from which it emerges triumphant. "Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. WHEREFORE BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM" (Matt. 7:17-2017Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:17‑20)). There could not be a finer test than this.
The fruit of the Bible is good and only good. Earl Baldwin, the famous statesman, once Prime Minister of Great Britain, speaking at an annual meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society, said, " No living man can tell or know how THE Book in its journeyings through the world has startled the individual soul in ten thousand different places into a new life, a new world, a new belief, a new conception, and a new faith." Millions of lives can testify to the truth of this.
A striking example of good and bad fruit is seen in the following incident. An uncle and nephew were traveling with a large sum of money over a wild and very thinly populated prairie land of America. Nightfall came on, and the travelers had to look for a shelter. They discovered a log cabin, and knocked at the door. An old man with long shaggy beard and unkempt appearance answered their call. They asked for accommodation, which was willingly accorded. They were shown into a room where they could sleep on the floor. It was arranged that the uncle should lie down to rest, and the nephew should sit up with loaded revolver to make sure that their treasure was safe. Presently the uncle saw the nephew preparing to sleep. He reminded him of the vigil he had promised to keep.
The nephew replied, " There is no need to sit up with loaded revolver. We are perfectly safe here. I looked through the keyhole to see what the old man was doing. I saw him take a Bible down from the shelf, and read a chapter to his wife. I then heard him pray for the blessing of God to rest on the travelers under his roof."
I ask, Would the sight of a pack of cards, a whiskey bottle, a copy of Tom Paine's Age of Reason, and a handy revolver, have produced the confidence and sense of security that the sight of the open Bible and bended knee did? This incident was told me when quite young, and made a great impression on my mind. And well it might. The story is worth repeating.
Wherever a life is molded by the Word of God you get purity, honesty, truthfulness, goodness, kindness. Wherever its teaching and influences are refused you get evil of every kind abounding. Who are the murderers, thieves, adulterers, forgers? Certainly not Christians. Where one Christian disgraces his Christian profession by evil deeds, a thousand men and women, unrestrained by the Bible, are found doing evil.
Take these totalitarian dictators. Are they not shame-less liars, wanton murderers, truce-breakers, cruel ruthless aggressors? Is this not sufficient evidence of the truth of the Bible? Volumes could be written to prove that the tree of Christianity bears nothing but good fruit, and infidelity nothing but bad.
I have heard of infidels saying that the Bible is a bad unclean book. It is true that it faithfully plumbs the deepest depths of man's sin and folly. It courageously exposes what man is. But if it is an unclean book, why is it that the unclean and wicked do not read it with avidity, whereas they shun it as if it were the plague? The good read it, and extract nothing but purity and good conduct from its pages. Dr. Paley in his Evidences of Christianity well says, speaking of the Apostles of our Lord, " If bad men, what could have induced them to take such pains to promote virtue? If good men, they would not have gone about the country with a string of lies in their mouths."
Surely the Bible stands its own test triumphantly, " By their fruits ye shall know them."