He knows that there can be no practical religion without faith in Providence and confidence in prayer; for "he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is _the rewarder_ of them that diligently seek Him." Mr.Holyoake does not err in supposing that this is the general belief of Christians, or that it is explicitly sanctioned in Scripture.

He may, and we think he does err in his interpretation of the Bible doctrine, and the inferences which he deduces from it; but assuredly Christianity would be robbed of its most attractive and endearing attributes, were it represented as silent on the paternal character of God and His providential care.

He is right in saying that "the Providence man needs, the Providence the old theologies gave him, was a personal Providence, an available help....

I care only to add, that there is hardly any feature in the Christian system which is so seductive as this doctrine of a special Providence....

Do you not know that in all your appeals your success depends upon your telling all orders of people that there is One in heaven who cares for them, that every prayer will be answered, that every hair of their head is numbered, that not a sparrow falls to the ground without their heavenly Father's knowledge, and are not they worth more than many sparrows ?"[292] He sees the necessity, and seems to feel the attractiveness, of the doctrine; yet he denies its truth: why?
because it is contradicted, as he conceives, by experience.