"They warn us, in the first place, not to permit our eyes to be dazzled by any story, because it has obtained an extensive circulation, and been credited by many, and even by some not altogether destitute of caution and prudence. Human nature is prone to fiction; and men easily...receive stories fabricated by others, when they are calculated to exhibit to advantage any thing to which they are warmly attached. Instances of the truth of this remark might be produced in abundance...It is natural for all men, without due investigation, to give instant and easy credit to reports which they ardently wish to be true; and promptly to make use of them, to serve a hypothesis" (Herman Witsius, Sacred Dissertations).
This quotation exhibits the truth that everyone possesses, adheres to, begins with indemonstrable axioms or presuppositions regarding what he will believe or what he will not believe; what he considers to be credible or incredible; what he supposes to be possible or impossible, etc. If there is a demand for "evidence," the presuppositions will determine what is and is not "evidence." Here are a few instances of this from Scripture:
“Then they said, Come and let us plot schemes against Jeremiah. For the Law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor word from the prophet. Come and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not attend to any of his words” (Jeremiah 18:18).
God's report through Jeremiah was not something to which these evil plotters were warmly attached.
"Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good" (Jeremiah 18:11).
They wished "to give instant and easy credit to reports which they ardently wish to be true." They wished not to give credit to Jeremiah's words because they were not calculated to encourage them in their evil ways. Those desirous of striking Jeremiah with the tongue might possess a proclivity to credit all (except Jeremiah, of course). But the supposition of their credulity and inconstancy in crediting all, would be qualified with: that is, willing to credit all that contradicts Jeremiah's words, or that which encourages them in their evil way.
A related quote by Pascal:
“The incredulous are of all men the most credulous; they believe the miracles of Vespasian, in order not to believe those of Moses” (Blaise Pascal).
These evil rebels might believe a variety of false reports in order not to believe the non-affirming and intolerant report of Jeremiah.
Another passage:
"Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" (Acts 26:28)
Good question. Because unbelieving presuppositions determine what is thought to be incredible or credible. These unbelieving presuppositions suppress the knowledge of God (cf. Romans 1:18).
"And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this [matter]" (Acts 17:32).
Regarding those who mocked the resurrection of the dead. Why mock? Because their presuppositions inform their understanding of what is possible and what is impossible. Suppression can also include distortion and misrepresentation of the truth presented. This way, the unbeliever can feel intelligent, reasonable, and confident that he has torched and rejected his own fabricated strawman. A more honest and fair approach for the unbeliever would be to accurately represent the Christian's actual position, and then attack that. Of course, the unbeliever may make false inferences and illogical conclusions, but this is better than inferring and concluding things from a position that the Christian does not hold.
