Scriptures with any
preconceived opinions, and are more desirous to put that sense upon the
text which coincides with our sentiments rather than with the truth, it
then becomes the analogy of _our_ faith rather than that of the whole
system." Horne, _ubi supra_. In this substitution of "the analogy of
_our_ faith" for the analogy of Scripture lies the foundation of
sectarian controversy.

Again; he who follows the true analogy of faith will not allow a
doctrine which runs through the whole tenor of divine revelation to be
weakened or set aside in the interest of some other scriptural doctrine.

The Scriptures teach, for example, with great frequency and
clearness that men are saved, not from the merit of their good
works, but solely by God's free grace through faith in Jesus
Christ. They teach also with equal frequency and clearness that
without repentance and obedience to the divine law there is no
salvation. These two deductions are not contradictory, but
supplementary to each other. They present two sides of one and
the same way of salvation. Yet it may happen that a Biblical
student will find himself unable to reconcile in a logical way
two such deductions as the following: "Therefore we conclude
that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law"
(Rom. 3:28); "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 7:21). What then
shall we counsel him to do? Plainly it is his duty, first of
all, to receive and hold _both_ doctrines. _Afterwards_ he may
properly seek to reconcile them with each other in a logical
way; but if he fails to accomplish this task to his
satisfaction, he must not deny one truth, or sink its
importance, in the interest of the other. The same general
principle applies to various other doctrinal difficulties, which
need not be here specified.

Finally, a true regard to the analogy of faith will make our system of
belief and practice _entire and well proportioned_ in all its parts.
Every declaration of God's word is to be received in a reverent and
obedient spirit. But inasmuch as the Scriptures insist much more
earnestly and fully on some things than on others, it is our wisdom to
follow, in this respect, the leadings of the Holy Spirit. It will be the
aim of the enlightened believer to give to