Copyright©MonergismBooks

WarningstotheChurches

byJ.C.Ryle

TableofContents

TheTrueChurch

NotCorruptingtheWord

GiveYourselfWhollytoThem

PhariseesandSadducees

AllKindsofStrangeTeachings

TheFallibilityofMinisters

ApostolicFears

Idolatry

Copyright

TheTrueChurch

"On this rock I will buildMy church, and the gates of hell will notovercomeit."Matthew16:18

We live in a world in which all things are passing away. Kingdoms,empires, cities, institutions, families—all are liable to change and

corruption.Oneuniversallawseemstoprevaileverywhere—inallcreatedthings there is a tendency to decay. There is something sad anddepressing in this.Whatprofithasaman, in the laborofhishands? Istherenothingthat shall stand? Is therenothing that shall last? Is therenothing that shall endure? Is there nothing of which we can say—Thisshallcontinueforever?

Youhavetheanswertothesequestionsinthewordsofourtext.OurLordJesus Christ speaks of something which shall continue, and not passaway.There isone created thingwhich is anexception to theuniversalruletowhichIhavereferred.Thereisonethingwhichshallneverperishand pass away. That thing is the building founded upon the rock—theChurch of our Lord Jesus Christ. He declares, in the words you haveheardtonight:"OnthisrockIwillbuildmychurch,andthegatesofhellwillnotovercomeit."Therearefivethingsinthesewordswhichdemandyourattention:

1.ABuilding:"MyChurch"

2.ABuilder:Christsays,"IwillbuildMyChurch"

3.AFoundation:"OnthisrockIwillbuildMyChurch"

4.PerilsImplied:"Thegatesofhell"

5.SecurityAsserted:"Thegatesofhellwillnotovercomeit"

MayGodblessthewordsthatshallbespoken.Mayweallsearchourownhearts tonight,andknowwhetherornotwebelong to thisoneChurch.Mayweallgohometoreflectandtopray!

1.First,youhavea"Building"mentioned in the text. The LordJesus Christ speaks of "My Church." Now what is this Church? Fewinquiries can be made of more importance than this. For lack of dueattentiontothissubject,theerrorsthathavecreptintotheChurch,andinto theworld, areneither fewnor small. TheChurch of our text is nomaterialbuilding.Itisnotemplemadewithhands,ofwood,orbrick,orstone,ormarble.Itisacompanyofmenandwomen.Itisnoparticular

visible Church on earth. It is not the Eastern Church or the WesternChurch.ItisnottheChurchofEngland,ortheChurchofScotland—muchlessisittheChurchofRome.TheChurchofourtextisonethatmakesfarlessshowintheeyesofman,butisoffarmoreimportanceintheeyesofGod.

TheChurchofourtextismadeupofalltruebelieversintheLordJesusChrist.Itcomprehendsallwhohaverepentedofsin,andfledtoChristbyfaith,andbeenmadenewcreaturesinHim.ItcomprisesallGod'select,allwhohavereceivedGod'sgrace,allwhohavebeenwashedinChrist'sblood,allwhohavebeenclothedinChrist'srighteousness,allwhohavebeen born again and sanctified by Christ's Spirit. All such, of everynation,andpeople,andtongue,composetheChurchofourtext.ThisisthebodyofChrist.ThisistheflockofChrist.Thisisthebride.ThisistheLamb'swife.ThisistheChurchontherock.

ThemembersofthisChurchdonotallworshipGodinthesameway,oruse thesame formofgovernment.Ourown34thArticledeclares, "It isnotnecessarythatceremoniesshouldbeinallplacesoneandalike."Buttheyallworshipwithoneheart.TheyareallledbyoneSpirit.Theyareallreally and trulyholy. They can all say "Alleluia," and they can all reply"Amen."This is thatChurch, towhichall visibleChurchesonearthareservants.Whether they areEpiscopalian, Independent, orPresbyterian,they all serve the interests of the one true Church. They are thescaffolding, behindwhich the greatbuilding is carriedon.They are thehusk,underwhichthelivingkernelgrows.

Theyhavetheirvariousdegreesofusefulness.Thebestandworthiestofthem,isthatwhichtrainsupmostmembersforChrist'strueChurch.ButnovisibleChurchhasanyrighttosay,"WearetheonlytrueChurch.Wearethemen,andtruthshalldiewithus."NovisibleChurchshouldeverdaretosay,"Weshallstandforever.Thegatesofhellwillnotovercomeus."ThisisthatChurchtowhichbelongtheLord'spreciouspromisesofpreservation, continuance, protection, and final glory. "Whatever," saysHooker, "we read in Scripture, concerning the endless love and savingmercywhichGodshowstowardsHisChurches,theonlypropersubjectisthisChurch,whichweproperlytermthemysticalbodyofChrist."SmallanddespisedasthetrueChurchmaybeinthisworld,itispreciousand

honorableinthesightofGod.ThetempleofSolomoninallitsglorywasnothing,incomparisonwiththatChurchwhichisbuiltuponarock.

Menandbrethren,seethatyouholdsounddoctrineonthesubjectof"theChurch."Amistakeheremayleadtodangerousandsoul-ruiningerrors.TheChurchwhichismadeupof truebelievers, is theChurchforwhichwe, who are ministers, are specially ordained to preach. The ChurchwhichcomprisesallwhorepentandbelievetheGospel,istheChurchtowhichwedesireyoutobelong.Ourworkisnotdone,andourheartsarenotsatisfied,untilyouaremadenewcreatures,andaremembersof theonetrueChurch.OutsideofthisChurch,therecanbenosalvation.Ipassontothesecondpoint,towhichIproposedtocallyourattention.

2.Ourtextcontainsnotmerelyabuilding,buta"Builder".TheLordJesusChristdeclares,"IwillbuildMyChurch."ThetrueChurchofChrististenderlycaredforbyallthethreepersonsoftheblessedTrinity.Intheeconomyofredemption,beyondalldoubt,GodtheFatherchooses,and God theHoly Spirit sanctifies, every member of Christ's mysticalbody. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, threePersonsinoneGod,cooperateforthesalvationofeverysavedsoul.Thisis truth, which ought never to be forgotten. Nevertheless, there is apeculiarsenseinwhichthehelpoftheChurchis laidontheLordJesusChrist.He ispeculiarlyandpreeminently theRedeemerand theSavior.Thereforeitis,thatwefindHimsayinginourtext,"Iwillbuild—theworkofbuildingismyspecialwork."ItisChristwhocallsthemembersoftheChurchinduetime.Theyare"thecalledofJesusChrist"(Romans1:6).ItisChristwhogivesthemlife."TheSongiveslifetowhomheispleasedtogive it" (John 5:21). It is Christ who washes away their sins. He "wholovesusandhasfreedusfromoursinsbyhisblood"(Revelation1:5).ItisChristwho gives them peace. "Peace I leavewith you;my peace I giveyou" (John14:27). It isChristwhogives themeternal life. "Igive themeternal life, and they shall never perish" (John 10:28). It is Christwhogrants them repentance. "God exalted him to his own right hand asPrinceandSavior,thathemightgiverepentance"(Acts5:31).ItisChristwhoenablesthemtobecomeGod'schildren."Toallwhoreceivedhim,tothosewhobelievedinhisname,hegavetherighttobecomechildrenofGod"(John1:12).ItisChristwhocarriesontheworkwithinthem,when

itisbegun."BecauseIlive,youalsowilllive"(John14:19).

Inshort,"Godwaspleasedtohaveallhisfullnessdwellinhim[Christ]"(Colossians1:19).Heistheauthorandfinisheroffaith.FromHimeveryjointandmemberofthemysticalbodyofChristiansissupplied.ThroughHimtheyarestrengthened forduty.ByHimtheyarekept fromfalling.Heshallpreservethemtotheend,andpresentthemfaultlessbeforetheFather'sthronewithexceedinggreatjoy.Heisallthings,andallinalltobelievers.

ThemightyagentbywhomtheLordJesusChristcarriesoutthisworkinthenumberofHisChurches, is,withoutdoubt,theHolySpirit.Heit iswho applies Christ and His benefits to the soul. He it is who is everrenewing, awakening, convincing, leading to the cross, transforming,takingoutof theworld, stoneafter stone,andadding it to themysticalbuilding.ButthegreatChiefBuilder,whohasundertakentoexecutethework of redemption and bring it to completion, is the Son ofGod—theWordwhowasmadeflesh.ItisJesusChristwho"builds."

In building the true Church, the Lord Jesus condescends to usemanysubordinate instruments. Theministry of theGospel, the circulation ofthe Scriptures, the friendly rebuke, the word spoken in season, thedrawinginfluenceofafflictions—all,allaremeansandmethodsbywhichHiswork is carriedon.ButChrist is thegreat superintendingarchitect,ordering,guiding,directingallthatisdone.Whatthesunistothewholesolarsystem—thatChrististoallthemembersofthetrueChurch."Paulmayplant,andApolloswater,butGodgivestheincrease."Ministersmaypreach,andwritersmaywrite,buttheLordJesusChristalonecanbuild.AndexceptHebuilds,theworkstandsstill.

GreatisthewisdomwithwhichtheLordJesusChristbuildsHisChurch.Allisdoneattherighttime,andintherightway.Eachstoneinitsturnisput in the right place. Sometimes He chooses great stones, andsometimesHechoosessmallstones.Sometimestheworkmovesfast,andsometimesitmovesslowly.Manisfrequentlyimpatient,andthinksthatnothingishappening.Butman'stimeisnotGod'stime.AthousandyearsinHissightarebutasasingleday.ThegreatBuildermakesnomistakes.He knows what He is doing. He sees the end from the beginning. He

works by a perfect, unalterable and certain plan. The mightiestconceptions of architects, like Michaelangelo are mere insignificantchild's play, in comparison with Christ's wise counsels respecting HisChurch.

Greatisthecondescensionandmercy,whichChristexhibits inbuildingHisChurch.Heoftenchoosesthemostunlikelyandrougheststones,andfitsthemintoamostexcellentwork.Hedespisesnoone,andrejectsnone—onaccountofformersinsandpasttransgressions.Hedelightstoshowmercy.Heoftentakesthemostthoughtlessandungodly,andtransformsthemintopolishedcornersofHisspiritualtemple.

Great is the powerwhich Christ displays in building His Church. Hecarriesonhisworkinspiteofoppositionfromtheworld, theflesh,andthe devil. In storm, in chaos, through troublesome times—silently,quietly, without noise, without stir, without excitement—the buildingprogresses. "I will work," He declares, "and none shall hinder it."Brethren,thechildrenofthisworldtakenointerestinthebuildingofthisChurch, theycarenothing for theconversionof souls.Whatarebrokenspiritsandpenitentheartstothem?Itisallfoolishnessintheireyes.Butwhilethechildrenofthisworldcarenothing,thereisjoyinthepresenceoftheangelsofGod.ForthepreservingofthatChurch,thelawsofnaturehave oftentimes been suspended. For the good of that Church, all theprovidentialdealingsofGodinthisworldareorderedandarranged.Forthe elect's sake, wars are brought to an end, and peace is given to anation. Statesmen, rulers, emperors, kings, presidents, heads ofgovernments, have their schemes and plans, and think them of vastimportance.

But there isanotherworkgoingonof infinitelygreatersignificance, forwhichtheyareallbutastheaxesandsawsinGod'shands.ThatworkisthegatheringinoflivingstonesintotheonetrueChurch.HowlittlearewetoldinGod'sWordaboutunconvertedmen,comparedwithwhatweare told about believers! The history of Nimrod, themighty hunter, isdismissed in a few words. The history of Abraham, the father of thefaithful,occupies several chapters.Nothing inScripture is so importantas the concerns of the trueChurch. Theworldmakes up little ofGod'sWord.TheChurchanditsstorymakeupmuch.

Forever letus thankGod,mybelovedbrethren, that thebuildingof theone trueChurch is laid on the shoulders ofOnewho ismighty. Let usblessGodthatitdoesnotrestuponman.LetusblessGodthatitdoesnotdependonmissionaries,ministers,orcommittees.ChrististhealmightyBuilder.HewillcarryonHiswork,thoughnationsandvisibleChurchesdo not know their duty. Christ will never fail. That which He hasundertaken He will certainly accomplish! I pass on to the third point,whichIproposedtoconsider—

3.TheFOUNDATIONuponwhichthisChurchisbuilt.TheLordJesusChristtellsus,"OnthisrockIwillbuildmychurch."WhatdidtheLordJesusChristmean,whenHespokeofthisfoundation?DidHemeantheApostlePeter,towhomHewasspeaking?Ithinkassuredlynot.Icanseenoreason,ifhemeantPeter,whydidHenotsay,"Onyou"willIbuildMychurch.IfHehadmeantPeter,Hewouldhavesaid,IwillbuildMyChurchonyou,asplainlyasHesaid,"Iwillgiveyouthekeys."No!itwasnot thepersonof theApostlePeter, but thegoodconfessionwhich theApostlehadjustmade.ItwasnotPeter,theerring,unstableman;butthemighty truth which the Father had revealed to Peter. It was the truthconcerning Jesus Christ himself, which was the Rock. It was Christ'sMediatorship, and Christ's Messiahship. It was the blessed truth, thatJesus was the promised Savior, the real Intercessor between God andman.Thiswastherock,andthiswasthefoundationonwhichtheChurchofChristwastobebuilt.

Mybrethren,thisfoundationwaslaidatamightycost.ItwasnecessarythattheSonofGodshouldtakeournatureuponHim,andinthatnaturelive,suffer,anddie,notforHisownsins,butforours.Itwasnecessarythat in thatnatureChrist shouldgo to thegrave,and riseagain. ItwasnecessarythatinthatnatureChristshouldgouptoheaven,tositattherighthandofGod,havingobtainedeternalredemptionforallHispeople.NootherfoundationbutthiscouldhavebornetheweightofthatChurchof which our text speaks. No other foundation could have met thenecessitiesofaworldofsinners.

That foundationonceobtained, isverystrong.Itcanbear theweightofthesinofall theworld. Ithasbornetheweightofall thesinsofall the

believerswhohavebuilt on it. Sinsof thought, sinsof the imagination,sinsoftheheart,sinsofthehead,sinswhicheveryonehasseen,andsinswhichnomanknows,sinsagainstGod,andsinsagainstman,sinsofallkindsanddescriptions—thatmightyrockcanbeartheweightofallthesesins, and not give way. The mediatorial office of Christ is a sufficientremedyforallthesinsofalltheworld.

TothisonefoundationeverymemberofChrist'strueChurchisjoined.Inmanythingsbelieversaredisunitedanddisagreed.Inthematteroftheirsoul'sfoundationtheyareallofonemind.Theyareallbuiltontherock.Askwheretheygettheirpeace,andhope,andjoyfulexpectationofgoodthings to come. You would find that it all flows from that onemightytruth—Christ the Mediator between God and man, and the office thatChristholds,astheHighpriestandPromiseofsinners.

Here is thepointwhichdemandsourpersonalattention.Areweon therock?Arewereally joinedto theone foundation?Whatdoes thatgodlyman, Leighton say? "God has laid this precious stone for this verypurpose—that weary sinners may rest upon it. The multitude ofimaginarybelieverslieallaroundit,buttheyarenotanybetterforthat,anymorethanstonesthat lie looseinheaps,nearafoundation,butnotjoinedtoit.ThereisnobenefittousbyChrist,withoutunionwithHim."

Look to your foundation, my beloved brethren, if you would knowwhetherornotyouaremembersoftheonetrueChurch.Itisapointthatmay be known to yourselves. Your public worship we can see—but wecannot see whether you are personally built upon the rock. YourattendanceattheLord'stablewecansee—butwecannotseewhetheryouarejoinedtoChrist,andonewithChrist,andChristinyou.Butallshallcometolightoneday.Thesecretsofallheartsshallbeexposed.Perhapsyougo to church regularly and you pray faithfully. All this is right andgood,sofarasitgoes.Butseethatyoumakenomistakeaboutyourownpersonalsalvation.Seethatyourownsoulisontherock.Withoutthis,allelseisnothing.Withoutthis,youwillneverstandinthedayofjudgment.Betterathousandtimesinthatdaytobefoundinapoorcottageontherock,thaninastatelypalaceonthesand!Iproceed,inthefourthplace,tospeakof—

4. The implied TRIALS of the Church, to which our text refers.Thereismentionmadeof"thegatesofhell."Bythatexpressionwearetounderstandthepowerofthedevil!ThehistoryofChrist'strueChurchhasalwaysbeenoneofconflictandwar.Ithasbeenconstantlyassailedbyadeadly enemy, Satan, the prince of thisworld. The devil hates the trueChurch of Christ with an undying hatred. He is ever stirring upoppositionagainstallitsmembers.Heiseverurgingthechildrenofthisworldtodohiswill,andinjureandharassthepeopleofGod.Ifhecannotbruise the head, he will bruise the heel. If he cannot rob believers ofheaven,hewillaggravatethemastheytraveltheroadtoheaven.

Forsixthousandyearsthishostilityhasgoneon.Millionsoftheungodlyhavebeenthedevil'sagents,anddonethedevil'swork, thoughtheydidnot know it. The Pharaohs, the Herods, the Neros, the Julians, theDiocletians,thebloodyMarys—wereSatan'stools,whentheypersecutedthedisciplesofJesusChrist.Warfarewiththepowersofhellhasbeentheexperience of the whole body of Christ. It has always been a bushburning,thoughnotconsumed—awomanfleeingintothewilderness,butnot swallowedup. The visible Churches have their times of prosperityand seasons of peace, but never has there been a time of peace for thetrueChurch.Itsconflictisperpetual.Itsbattleneverends.

Warfare with the powers of hell is the experience of every individualmemberofthetrueChurch.Eachhastofight.Whatarethelivesofallthesaints,butrecordsofbattles?WhatweresuchmenasPaul,andJames,and Peter, and John, and Polycarp, and Ignatius, and Augustine, andLuther,andCalvin,andLatimer,andBaxter—but soldiersengaged inaconstant warfare? Sometimes their persons have been assailed, andsometimes their property. Sometimes they have been harassed byslander,andsometimesbyopenpersecution.ButinonewayoranotherthedevilhasbeencontinuallywarringagainsttheChurch.The"gatesofhell"havebeencontinuallyassaultingthepeopleofChrist.

Men and brethren, we who preach the Gospel can hold out to all whocome to Christ, exceeding great and precious promises. We can offerboldly to you in ourMaster's name, the peace of Godwhich passes allunderstanding. Mercy, free grace, and full salvation, are offered toeveryonewhowill come toChrist,andbelieveonHim.Butwepromise

you no peace with the world, or with the devil. We warn you, on thecontrary,thattheremustbewarfare,solongasyouareinthebody.Wewouldnotkeepyouback,ordeteryoufromChrist'sservice.Butwewouldhave you count the cost, and fully understand what Christ's serviceentails.Hellisbehindyou.Heavenisbeforeyou.Homeliesontheothersideofatroubledsea.

Thousands, tensof thousandshavecrossed thesestormywaters,andinspiteofallopposition,havereachedthehavenwheretheywouldbe.Hellhasassailedthem,buthasnotprevailed.Goforward,belovedbrethren,andfearnottheadversary.OnlyabideinChrist,andthevictoryissure.Marvelnotatthehatredofthegatesofhell."Ifyouwereoftheworld,theworldwouldloveasitsown."Solongastheworldistheworld,andthedevil the devil—theremust bewarfare, and believers in Christmust besoldiers!TheworldhatedChrist,andtheworldwillhatetrueChristians,aslongastheearthstands.Asthegreatreformer,Luther,said,"CainwillgoonmurderingAbelsolongastheChurchisonearth."

Bepreparedforthehostilityofthegatesofhell.PutonthewholearmorofGod.ThetowerofDavidcontainsathousandshields,allreadyfortheuse of God's people. The weapons of our warfare have been tried bymillionsofpoorsinnerslikeourselves,andhaveneverbeenfoundtofail.Be patient under the bitterness of the gates of hell. It is all workingtogetherforyourgood.Ittendstosanctify.Itkeepsyouawake.Itmakesyouhumble.ItdrivesyounearertotheLordJesusChrist.Itweansyoufromtheworld.Ithelpstomakeyoupraymore.Aboveall,itmakesyoulongforheaven,andsaywithheartaswellaslips,"Come,LordJesus."

Donotbecastdownbythehatredofhell.ThewarfareofthetruechildofGodisasmuchamarkofgraceastheinwardpeacewhichheenjoys.Nocross, no crown!No conflict, no saving Christianity! "Blessed are you,"saidourLordJesusChrist, "whenpeople insultyou,persecuteyouandfalselysayallkindsofevilagainstyoubecauseofme."Thereremainsonethingmoretobeconsidered—

5.TheSECURITYofthetrueChurchofChrist.Thereisagloriouspromise given by the mighty Builder, "The gates of Hades will notovercomeit."Hewhocannotlie,haspledgedHisroyalword,thatall the

powersofhell shallneveroverthrowHisChurch. It shall continue, andstand,inspiteofeveryassault.Itshallneverbeovercome.

All other created things perish and pass away, but not the Church ofChrist. The hand of outward violence, or the moth of inward decay,prevail over everythingelse,butnotover the church thatChristbuilds.Empires have risen and fallen in rapid succession. Egypt, Assyria,Babylon, Persia, Tyre, Carthage, Rome, Greece, Venice—where are allthesenow?Theywereall thecreationsofman'shand,andhavepassedaway.ButtheChurchofChristliveson.Themightiestcitieshavebecomeheapsofruins.

The broad walls of Babylon are sunk to the ground. The palaces ofNineveh are mounds of dust. The hundred gates of Thebes are onlymatters of history. Tyre is a place where fishermen hang their nets.Carthage is a desolation. Yet all this time the true Church stands. Thegatesofhelldonotprevailagainstit.

TheearliestvisibleChurcheshave inmanycasesdecayedandperished.WhereistheChurchofEphesusandtheChurchofAntioch?WhereistheChurchofAlexandriaandtheChurchofConstantinople?WherearetheCorinthian,andPhilippian,andThessalonianChurches?Where,indeed,are theyall?Theydeparted fromtheWordofGod.Theywereproudoftheirbishops,andsynods,andceremonies,and learning,andantiquity.TheydidnotgloryinthetruecrossofChrist.TheydidnotholdfasttheGospel. They did not give JesusHis rightful office, or faith its rightfulplace.Theyarenowamongthethingsthathavebeen.Theircandlestickhasbeentakenaway.ButallthistimethetrueChurchhaslivedon.

Has the true Church been oppressed in one country? It has fled toanother.Hasitbeentrampledonandoppressedinonesoil?Ithastakenroot and flourished in some other climate. Fire, sword, prisons, fines,punishments—haveneverbeenabletodestroyitsvitality.Itspersecutorshavediedandgonetotheirownplace,buttheWordofGodhaslived,andgrownandmultiplied.

Weak as this true Churchmay appear to the eye ofman, it is an anvilwhichhasbrokenmanyahammerintimespast,andperhapswillbreak

manymorebeforetheend.Hewholayshandsonit,istouchingtheappleofGod'seye!

The promise of our text is true of the whole body of the true Church.Christwillneverbewithoutawitnessintheworld.Hehashadapeopleintheworstoftimes.HehadseventhousandinIsraeleveninthedaysofAhab.Thedevilmayragehorribly.TheChurchmayinsomecountriesbebroughtexceedinglylow.Butthegatesofhellshallneverentirelyprevail.ThepromiseofourtextistrueofeveryindividualmemberoftheChurch.

SomeofGod'speoplehavebeenbroughtverylow,sothattheydespairedoftheirsafety.Somehavefallensadly,asDavidandPeterdid.Somehavedepartedfromthefaithforatime.Manyhavebeentriedbycrueldoubtsandfears.Butallhavegottensafelyhomeatlast,theyoungestaswellastheoldest, theweakestaswellas the strongest.Andso itwillbe to theend.Canyouprevent tomorrow's sun fromrising?Canyoupreventthetideinthechannelfromebbingandflowing?Canyoupreventtheplanetsmovingintheirrespectiveorbits?Then,andthenalone,canyoupreventthesalvationofanybeliever,howeverfeeble—ofanylivingstoneinthatChurch which is built on the rock, however small or insignificant thatstonemayappear.

ThetrueChurchisChrist'sbody.Notoneboneinthatmysticalbodyshalleverbebroken.The trueChurch isChrist'sbride. TheywhomGodhasjoined in everlasting covenant, shall never be put asunder. The trueChurch is Christ's flock. When the lion came and took a lamb out ofDavid'sflock,Davidaroseanddeliveredthelambfromhismouth.Christwill do the same. He is David's greater son. Not a single sick lamb inChrist's flock shall perish!Hewill say toHis Father in the last day, "Ihavenotlostoneofthoseyougaveme!"ThetrueChurchisthewheatoftheearth.Itmaybesifted,winnowed,buffeted,tossedtoandfro.Butnotone gain shall be lost. The tares and chaff shall be burned. Thewheatshallbegatheredintothebarn.

ThetrueChurchisChrist'sarmy.TheCaptainofoursalvationlosesnoneofhissoldiers.Hisplansareneverdefeated.Hissuppliesneverfail.Hisroll call is the sameat the end—as itwasat thebeginning!Of thementhatmarched gallantly out of England a few years ago in the Crimean

war,howmanynevercameback!Regimentsthatwentforth,strongandcheerful, with bands playing and banners flying, laid their bones in aforeignland,andneverreturnedtotheirnativecountry.Butit isnotsowithChrist's army.Not one ofHis soldiers shall bemissing at last.HeHimselfdeclares"Theyshallneverperish."

ThedevilmaycastsomeofthemembersofthetrueChurchintoprison.Hemaykill,andburn,andtorture,andhang.Butafterhehaskilledthebody, there is nothing more that he can do. He cannot hurt the soul.When theFrench troops tookRomea fewyearsago, they foundon thewallsofaprisoncell,undertheInquisition,thewordsofaprisoner.Whohe was, we do not know. But his words are worthy of remembrance.Thoughdead,hestillspeaks.Hehadwrittenonthewalls,verylikelyafteranunjust trial, and a stillmore unjust excommunication, the followingstriking words, "Blessed Jesus, they cannot cast me out of Your trueChurch!"Thatrecord is true.Notall thepowerofSatancancastoutofChrist's trueChurchonesinglebeliever!Thechildrenof thisworldmaywagefiercewarfareagainsttheChurch,buttheycannotstoptheworkofconversion.

What did the sneering Emperor Julian say, in the early ages of theChurch, "What is the carpenter's son doing now?" An aged Christianmade answer, "He is making a coffin for Julian himself." But a fewmonthspassedaway,whenJulian,withallhispompandpower,diedinbattle.WherewasChristwhen the firesofSmithfieldwere lighted, andwhenLatimerandRidleywereburntatthestake?WhatwasChristdoingthen?HewasstillcarryingonHisworkofbuilding.Thatworkwillevergoon,evenintroublesometimes.

Fear not, beloved brethren, to begin serving Christ. He to whom youcommityoursoulshasallpower inheavenandearth,andHewillkeepyou.Hewillneverletyoubecastaway.Relativesmayoppose.Neighborsmaymock. Theworldmay slander and sneer. Fear not! Fear not! Thepowersofhellshallneverprevailagainstyoursoul.GreaterisHewhoisforyou—thanallthosewhoareagainstyou.

FearnotfortheChurchofChrist,mybrethren,whenministersdie,andsaintsare takenaway.Christ canevermaintainHisowncause,Hewill

raise up better and brighter stars. The stars are all in His right hand.Leaveoffallanxiousthoughtaboutthefuture.Ceasetobecastdownbythe measures of statesmen, or the plots of wolves in sheep's clothing.ChristwilleverprovideforHisOwnChurch!Christwilltakecarethatthegatesofhellshallnotprevailagainstit!Allisgoingonwell—thoughoureyes may not see it. The kingdoms of this world shall yet become thekingdomsofourGodandofHisChrist.

Allowmenow to say a fewwordsofPRACTICALAPPLICATIONofthissermon.Ispeaktomany,whomIspeaktoforthefirsttime.Ispeak,perhaps,tomanywhomIspeaktoforthelasttime.Letnotthisserviceconcludewithoutanefforttopresshomethesermononeachheart.

1.MyfirstwordofapplicationshallbeaQUESTION.Whatshallthatquestionbe?HowshallIapproachyou?WhatshallIask?Iaskyou,whetheryouareamemberof theone trueChurchofChrist?AreyouamemberoftheChurchbuiltupontherock.Iaskyou,withallsolemnity—Are you amember of that oneChurch ofChrist?Are you joined to thegreat Foundation? Have you received the Holy Spirit? Does the Spiritwitness with your spirit, that you are one with Christ, and Christ withyou?Ibeseechyou,inthenameofGod,tolaytoheartthisquestion,andtoponder itwell.Takeheed toyourselves,dearbrethren, if youcannotgiveasatisfactoryanswertomyinquiry.Takeheed,takeheed,thatyoudonotmake shipwreckof faith.Takeheed, lest at last thegatesofhellprevailagainstyou,thedevilclaimyouashisown,andyoubecastawayforever.Takeheed, lestyougodown to thepit fromthe landofBibles,andinthefulllightofChrist'sGospel.

2.My secondword of application shall be an INVITATION. Iaddress it toallwhoarenotyet truebelievers. I say toyou—ComeandjointheonetrueChurchwithoutdelay.ComeandjoinyourselvestotheLordJesusChristinaneverlastingcovenantnottobeforgotten.CometoChristandbesaved.Thedayofdecisionmustcomesometime.Whynotthisveryevening?Whynottoday,while it iscalledtoday?Whynotthisverynight,beforethesunrisestomorrowmorning?CometomyMaster,JesusChrist.Come,Isay,forallthingsarenowready.Mercyisreadyforyou,heavenisreadyforyou,angelsarereadytorejoiceoveryou,Christisready to receive you. Christ will receive you gladly, and welcome you

amongHischildren.Comeintotheark,thefloodofGod'swrathwillsoonbreakupontheearth,comeintothearkandbesafe.Comeintothelife-boat. The old world will soon break into pieces! Do you not hear thetremblingsofit?Theworldisbutawreckstuckonthesandbar.Thenightis far spent—thewaves arebeginning to rise—thewinds are rising—thestormwillsoonshattertheoldwreck!Butthelife-boatislaunched,andwe, theministers of theGospel, beseech you to come into the life-boatandbesaved.

Doyouask—HowcanIcome,mysinsaresomany?Doyouaskhowyoushall come? Hear the words of that beautiful hymn: "Just as I am:withoutoneplea,ButthatYourbloodwasshedforme,AndthatYoubidme come toThee,OLambofGod I come."That is theway to come toChrist.You should come,waiting fornothing, and tarrying fornothing.Youshouldcome,asahungrysinner,tobefilled;asapoorsinnertobeenriched;asavile,undeservingsinnertobeclothedwithrighteousness.Socoming,Christwouldreceiveyou."Himthatcomes"toChrist,He"willnotcastout."Oh!come,cometoJesusChrist!!

3. Last of all, let me given a word of EXHORTATION to mybelievinghearers. Live a holy life,my brethren.Walkworthy of theChurch towhichyoubelong.Live likecitizensofheaven.Letyour lightshinebeforemen,sothattheworldmayprofitbyyourconduct.Letthemknowwhoseyouare,andwhomyouserve.BeepistlesofChrist,knownandreadbyallmen;writteninsuchclearletters,thatnonecansay—wedonotknowwhetherheisamemberofChristornot.Liveacourageouslife, my brethren. Confess Christ before men. Whatever station youoccupy, in that station confess Christ.Why should you be ashamed ofHim?Hewasnotashamedofyouonthecross.HeisreadytoconfessyounowbeforeHisFather inheaven.WhyshouldyoubeashamedofHim?Bebold.Beverybold.Thegood soldier isnotashamedofhisuniform.ThetruebelieveroughtnevertobeashamedofChrist.

Live a joyful life,mybrethren. Live likemenwho look for thatblessedhope—thesecondcomingofJesusChrist.This is theprospect towhichwe should all look forward. It is not so much the thought of going toheaven,asofheavencomingtous,whichshouldfillourminds.Thereisagood time coming for all the people of God—a good time for all the

ChurchofChrist—agood time for all believers.But there is a bad timecoming for the impenitent and unbelieving—a bad time for those whoservetheirownlusts,andturntheirbacksontheLord—butagoodtimefortrueChristians.Forthatgoodtime,letuswait,andwatch,andpray.The scaffolding will soon be taken down—the last stone will soon bebrought out—the top-stone will be placed upon the edifice. In a littlewhile,andthefullbeautyofthebuildingshallbeclearlyseen.Thegreatmaster Builder will soon come himself. A building shall be shown toassembledworlds, inwhich there shall be no imperfection. TheSaviorand the saved shall rejoice together. The whole universe shallacknowledge,thatinthebuildingofChrist'sChurchallwaswelldone!

NotCorruptingtheWord

"Unlike somany,we do not peddle theword ofGod for profit. On thecontrary,inChristwespeakbeforeGodwithsincerity,likemensentfromGod."2Corinthians2:17

ItisnolightmattertospeaktoanyassemblyofimmortalsoulsaboutthethingsofGod.Butthemostseriousofallresponsibilitiesis,tospeaktoagatheringofministers,suchasthatwhichInowseebeforeme.Theawfulfeeling will come across my mind, that one single word said wrong,sinking intosomeheart,andbearing fruitatsome future time, insomepulpit,mayleadtoharm,ofwhichwecannotknowtheextent.Butthereare occasions when true humility is to be seen, not so much in loudprofessionsofourweakness,asinforgettingourselvesaltogether.Idesireto forget self at this time, in turning my attention to this portion ofScripture. If I say littleaboutmyownsenseof insufficiency,dome thejusticetobelieve,thatitisnotbecauseIamnotwellawareofit.

TheGreekexpression,whichwehavetranslated,"peddle,"eithermeansatradesman who does his business dishonestly, or a wine maker, whoadulteratesthewinewhichheoffersforsale.Tyndalerendersit,"WearenotofthosewhochopandchangetheWordofGod."Anotherversionof

theBiblesays,"Wearenotasmany,whoadulteratetheWordofGod."Inourmarginweread,"Wearenotasmany,whodealdeceitfullywiththeWordofGod."

Intheconstructionof thesentence, theHolySpirithas inspiredPaultouseboththenegativeandthepositivewayofstatingthetruth.Thismodeof constructionadds clearnessandunmistakableness to themeaningofthe words, and intensity and strength to the assertion, which theycontain. Itwill be found, therefore, that there are contained in the textbothnegativeandpositivelessonsfortheinstructionoftheministersofChrist.Somethingsweoughttoavoid.Othersweoughttofollow.

The first of the negative lessons is, a plain warning againstcorrupting or dealing deceitfully with the Word of God. TheApostlesays,"Unlikesomany"whodoit,pointingouttousthateveninhis time therewere thosewhodidnotdeal faithfullyandhonestlywithGod'struth.HereisacompleteanswertothosewhoassertthattheearlyChurchwasoneofunmixedpurity.Themysteryof iniquityhadalreadybegun to work. The lesson which we are taught is—to beware of alldishoneststatementsofthatWordofGod,whichwearecommissionedtopreach.Wearetoaddnothingtoit.Wearetotakenothingaway.

Whencanitbesaidofus,thatwecorrupttheWordofGodinthepresentday?Whataretherocksandreefswhichweoughttoavoid,ifwewouldnot be of the "many" who deal deceitfully with God's truth? A fewsuggestionsonthiswouldbeuseful.

1. We corrupt the Word of God most dangerously, when wethrowanydoubtontheabsoluteinspirationofanypartofHolyScripture. This is not merely corrupting the cup—but the wholefountain!Thisisnotmerelycorruptingthebucketoflivingwater,whichweprofesstopresenttoourpeople,butpoisoningthewholewell.Oncewrongonthispoint,thewholesubstanceofourreligionisindanger.Itisaflawinthefoundation.Itisawormattherootofourtheology.Onceweallow this worm to gnaw the root, thenwewill not be surprised if thebranches,theleaves,andthefruit,decaylittlebylittle.Thewholesubjectof the inspiration of Scripture, I am well aware, is surrounded withdifficulty. All I would say is, that, in my humble judgment,

notwithstandingsomedifficultieswhichwemaynotbeablenowtosolve,theonlysafeandtenablegroundtomaintainisthis—thateverychapter,and every verse, and every word in the Bible has been "given by theinspirationofGod."

Weshouldneverdesert agreatprinciple in theology, anymore than inscience,becauseofapparentdifficultieswhichwearenotableatpresenttoremove.

Permit me to mention an illustration of this important axiom. Thoseconversantwithastronomyknow,thatbeforethediscoveryoftheplanetNeptunethereweredifficulties,whichgreatlytroubledthemostscientificastronomers,respectingcertainaberrationsof theplanetUranus.Theseaberrations puzzled the minds of astronomers, and some of themsuggestedthattheymightpossiblyprovethewholeNewtoniansystemtobe untrue. But at that time a well-known French astronomer, namedLeverrier,readbeforetheAcademyofScienceapaper, inwhichhe laiddown this great axiom—that it waswrong for a scientist to give up aprinciple,becauseofdifficultieswhichcouldnotbeexplained.Hesaidineffect,"WecannotexplaintheaberrationsofUranusnow;butwemaybesurethattheNewtoniansystemwillbeprovedtoberight,soonerorlater.Something may be discovered one day, which will prove that theseaberrationsmaybeaccountedfor,andtheNewtoniansystemwillremaintrueandunshaken."A fewyears later, theanxious eyesof astronomersdiscoveredthelastgreatplanet,Neptune.Theplanetwasshowntobethetrue cause of all the aberrations of Uranus; and what the Frenchastronomerhadlaiddownasaprincipleinscience,wasprovedtobewiseandtrue.

The application of the story is obvious. Let us beware of giving up anyfirst principle in theology. Let us not give up the great principle ofabsoluteinspirationbecauseofdifficulties.Thedaymaycomewhentheywill all be solved. In the mean time, we may rest assured that thedifficulties which beset any other theory of inspiration, are ten timesgreaterthananywhichbesetourown.

2. Secondly, we corrupt the Word of God when we makedefectivestatementsofdoctrine.WedosowhenweaddtotheBible

—theopinionsoftheChurch,oroftheChurchFathers,asiftheywereofequalauthority.WedosowhenwetakeawayfromtheBible,forthesakeof pleasingmen.Wedo sowhen froma feeling of false liberality, keepbackany statementwhich seemsnarrow,andharsh,orhard.Wedo sowhen we try to soften down anything that is taught about eternalpunishment, or the reality of hell. We do so when we bring forwarddoctrinesintheirwrongproportions.Weallhaveourfavoritedoctrines,and ourminds are so constituted that it is hard to see one truth veryclearlywithout forgetting that there are other truths equally important.WemustnotforgettheexhortationofPaul,tominister"accordingtotheproportionoffaith."

Wedosowhenweexhibitanexcessiveconcerntofence,andguard,andqualify such doctrines as justification by faithwithout the deeds of thelaw, for fear of the charge of antinomianism; or when we flinch fromstrongstatementsaboutholiness,forfearofbeingthoughtlegal.WealsodothiswhenweshrinkbackfromtheuseofBiblelanguageingivinganaccountofdoctrines.Weareapttokeepbacksuchexpressionsas"bornagain," "election," "adoption," "conversion," "assurance," and to use aroundaboutphraseology, as ifwewere ashamedofplainBiblewords. Icannot expand these statements because we are short of time. I amcontentwithmentioningthemandleavethemtoyourprivatethought.

3. In the third place, we corrupt theWord of God when wemakeadefectivepracticalapplicationofit.Wedosowhenwedonotdiscriminatebetweenclassesinourcongregations—whenweaddresseveryoneasbeingpossessedofgrace,becauseoftheirbaptismorchurch-membership,anddonotdrawthelinebetweenthosewhohavetheSpiritandthosewhohavenot.Arewenotapttokeepbackclear,directappealsto the unconverted?Whenwe have eighteen hundred or two thousandpersonsbeforeourpulpits,avastproportionofwhomwemustknowareunconverted,arewenotapttosay,"Nowifthereisanyoneofyouwhodoesnotknowthethingsthatarenecessaryforeternalpeace"—whenweought rather to say, "If there are any of you who has not received thegraceofGod?"

Arewenot indangerofdefectivehandlingof theWord inourpracticalexhortations, by not bringing home the statements of the Bible to the

various classes inour congregations?Wespeakplainly to thepoor;butdowealsospeakplainlytotherich?Dowespeakplainlyinourdealingswiththeupperclasses?Thisisapointonwhich,Ifear,weneedtosearchourconsciences.

InowturntothePOSITIVElessonswhichthetextcontains."InChristwe speak beforeGodwith sincerity, likemen sent fromGod."Afewwordsoneachpointmustsuffice.

1.Weshouldaimtospeak"withsincerity."Sincerityofaim,heart,andmotive;tospeakasthosewhoarethoroughlyconvincedofthetruthofwhattheyspeak;asthosewhohaveadeepfeelingandtenderloveforthosewhomweaddress.

2.Weshouldaimtospeak"likemensentfromGod."Weoughtto strive to feel like men commissioned to speak for God, and on Hisbehalf. In our dread of running into Roman Catholicism, we too oftenforget the language of the Apostle, "Imakemuch ofmyministry."WeforgethowgreatistheresponsibilityoftheNewTestamentminister,andhowawfulthesinofthosewhowhenarealmessengerofChristaddressesthem,refusetoreceivehismessage,andhardentheirheartsagainstit.

3.Weshouldaimtospeak"beforeGod."Wearetoaskourselves,not,What did the people think ofme? but,Whatwas I in the sight ofGod?Othatthismaybethespiritinwhichwemayalwaysexpressfromour pulpits—not caring whether men are pleased or displeased—notcaringwhethermensaywewereeloquentorfeeble;butgoingawaywiththewitness of our conscience—I have spoken as standing before God'ssight.

4.Finally,weshouldaimtospeak"asinChrist."Themeaningofthisphraseisdoubtful.Grotiussays,"WearetospeakasinHisname,asambassadors." Beza says, "We are to speak about Christ, concerningChrist."Thisisgooddoctrine,buthardlythefullmeaningof thewords.Otherssay,Weare tospeakasourselves joined toChrist,as thosewhohavereceivedmercyfromChrist,andwhoseonlytitletoaddressothersisfromChristalone.Otherssay,WeshouldspeakasthroughChrist,inthestrength of Christ. No meaning, perhaps, is better than this. The

expression in the Greek exactly answers to Philippians 4:13, "I can doeverything through him who gives me strength." Whatever sense weascribe to thesewords,one thing isclear:weshouldspeakinChrist,asthosewhohavethemselvesreceivedmercy;asthosewhodesiretoexalt,notthemselves,buttheSavior;andasthosewhocarenothingwhatmenthinkofthem,solongasChristismagnifiedintheirministry.

In conclusion, we should all ask, Do we ever handle theWord of Goddeceitfully?DowerealizewhatitistospeakasofGod,asinthesightofGod,andinChrist?

Letmeputtoeveryoneonesearchingquestion—IsthereanytextinGod'sWordwhichwe shrink fromexpounding? Is thereany statement in theBiblewhichweavoidspeakingabouttoourpeople,notbecausewedonotunderstand it, but because it contradicts some pet notion of ours as towhat is truth? If this is true, let us ask our conscienceswhether this isverymuchlikehandlingtheWordofGoddeceitfully.IsthereanythingintheBiblewekeepbackforfearofseemingharsh,andofgivingoffensetosomeofourhearers?Isthereanystatement,eitherdoctrinalorpractical,whichwemangle,mutilateordismember?Ifso,arewedealinghonestlywithGod'sWord?LetuspraytobekeptfromcorruptingGod'sWord.Letneither fear nor the favor ofman induce us to keep back, or avoid, orchange,ormutilate,orqualifyany text in theBible.Surelyweought tohaveholyboldnesswhenwespeakasambassadorsofGod.Wehavenoreasontobeashamedofanystatementwemakeinourpulpits,solongasitisScriptural.

IhaveoftenthoughtthatonegreatsecretofthemarveloushonorwhichGodhasputonamanwho isnot inourdenomination (Iallude toMr.Charles Spurgeon) is, the extraordinary boldness and confidence withwhichhestandsupinthepulpittospeaktopeopleabouttheirsinsandtheirsouls.Itcannotbesaidhedoesitfromfearofany,ortopleaseany.He seems to give every class ofhearers itsportion—to the richand thepoor,thehighandthelow,thekingandthepeasant,thelearnedandtheilliterate. He gives to every one the plain message, according to God'sWord.IbelievethatveryboldnesshasmuchtodowiththesuccesswhichGodispleasedtogivetohisministry.Letusnotbeashamed to learnalessonfromhiminthisrespect.Letusgoanddolikewise.

GiveYourselfWhollytoThem

"Giveyourselfwhollytothem."1Timothy4:15

WhentheApostlesays,"Giveyourselfwhollytothesethings,"heseemsto look at the "things" ofwhichhehadbeen speaking in the precedingverses, beginning with the words, "Set an example for the believers inspeech,inlife, inlove, infaithandinpurity."WehavehereatargetsetbeforetheministersoftheNewTestament,atwhichwearealltoaim—andofwhichwemust all feelwe fall short.Yet it is anold saying, "Hewhoaimshighisthemostlikelytostrikehigh;andhewhoshootsatthemoonwillshootfurtherthanthemanwhoshootsatthebush."

TheApostleappearstometosuggestthattheministermustbeamanofone thing: to use his own words, a "man of God."We hear of men ofbusiness, and men of pleasure, and men of science. The aim of theministershouldbe,tobe"amanofGod;"ortoemployaphraseusedinsomecountries,tobe"JesusChrist'sman."Thisshouldbetheaimwhichweshouldplacebeforeus;weshouldseektobe"everyinchtheministerofJesusChrist."We shouldaim tobe the samemenat all times, in allpositions, and places; not on Sunday only, but on week days also; notmerely in the pulpit, but everywhere—in our living rooms, and in thehouseofthepoorman.

Therearethose,ofwhomtheircongregationshavesaid,thatwhentheywereinthepulpit—theyweresogood,thatneverwishedthemtocomeout;andwhentheywentoutofthepulpit—theyweresobsd,theyneverwishedthemtogoin!MayGodgiveusallgracetotakethattoheart!Mayweseeksotolive,sotopreach,sotowork,sotogiveourselveswhollytothe business of our calling, that this bitter remarkmay never bemadeaboutus.

Our profession is a very special one. Others have their seasons ofrelaxation,whentheycancompletelylayasidetheirwork.Thiscanneverbedoneby the faithfulministerofJesusChrist.Onceputon,hisofficemustneverbeputoff.Athome,abroad,relaxing,goingtotheseaside—hemustalwayscarryhisbusinesswithhim.Agreatlawyercouldsayofhisofficialrobes,"Liethere,LordChancellor."SuchoughtnevertobethemindoftheministerofChrist.

There are some thingswhich the high demand of this text suggests, asneedfultobefollowedafterandpracticed.

1. First, it demands ENTIREDEVOTION to the greatwork towhichweareordained.WhenonewascommandedbytheSaviortofollowHim, he replied, "Lord, first letme go and burymy father;" butthentherecamethatsolemnsaying,"Letthedeadburytheirowndead,butyougoandproclaimthekingdomofGod."Stillanothersaid,"Iwillfollowyou,Lord;butfirstletmegobackandsaygood-bytomyfamily;"and tohim there came the remarkable sentence, "Noonewhoputshishandtotheplowandlooksback,isfitforserviceinthekingdomofGod.""Do not greet anyone on the road," was Christ's charge to the seventydisciples. Surely these Scriptural expressions teach us, that in all ourdealingsinourministry,wemusthaveahighstandard.Wemuststrivetobemenofonething—thatthingbeingtheworkofJesusChrist.

2.Secondly,itdemandsathoroughseparationfromthethingsoftheWORLD. Ihold it tobeof thegreatest importance tokeep theministerialoffice,sofaraswecan,distinctandseparatefromeverythingthat is secular. I trust we shall hear every year of fewer and fewerministers of the Gospel who are magistrates, and fewer and fewerministerswho takepart in agriculturalmeetings, andwinprizes for fatpigs,enormousbulls,andlargecropsof turnips.There isnoapostolicalsuccessioninsuchoccupations.

Nor yet is this all. We should be separated from the pleasures of theworld—as well as from its business. There are many innocent andindifferentamusements,forwhichtheministerofChristoughttohavenotime.Heoughttosay,"Ihavenotimeforthesethings!Iamdoingagreatwork—andIcannotcomedown!"

3. Thirdly, it demands a jealous watchfulness over our ownSOCIALconduct.Weoughtnot tobe alwayspaying social functions,anddiningout,asothersdo.Itwillnotdotosay,thatourLordwenttoamarriage feast, andsatat supper in thePharisee'shouse,andthereforewe may do the same. I only reply—Let us go in His spirit, with Hisfaithfulness and boldness, to say a word in season, and to give theconversationaprofitable turn—and thenwemaygowithsafety!Unlesswedothis,we shouldbecarefulwherewego,withwhomwesitdown,andwherewespendourevenings.

There was a quaint saying of John Wesley to his ministers, whichcontainsthegermofmuchtruth."Don'taimatbeingthoughtgentlemen;youhavenomoretodowithbeinggentlemen,thanwithbeingmastersatdancing."Ouraimshouldbenottoberegardedasagreeablepersonsatthe dinner table—but to be known everywhere as faithful, consistentministersofJesusChrist!

4. Fourthly, it demands a diligent redemption of TIME. Weshouldgiveattentiontoreading,everydaythatwelive.Weshouldstrivetobringallourreadingtobearonourwork.Weoughttokeepoureyesopen continually, and be ever picking up ideas for our sermons—aswetravel by the way, as we sit by the fireside, as we are standing on theplatformattherailwaystation.Weshouldbekeepinginourmind'seyeour Master's business—observing, noting, looking out, gathering upsomethingthatwill throwfresh lightonourwork,andenableus toputthetruthinamorestrikingway.Hewholooksoutforsomethingtolearnwillalwaysbeabletolearnsomething.

Havingsuggestedthesethings,Iwillnextproceedtoask,Whatwillbethe CONSEQUENCE of our giving ourselves wholly to thesethings?Remember,weshallnotreceivethepraiseofmen.Weshallbethought extreme, and ascetic, and over-righteous. Those who want toserveGodandservemoneyatthesametime,willthinkourstandardtoohigh,ourpractice toostringent.Theywill say, thatwearegoing too farandtoofastforaworldsuchasthatinwhichwelive.Maywenevercarewhatmensayofus,solongaswewalkinthelightofGod'sWord!Maywestriveandpraytobewhollyindependentof,andindifferenttoman'sopinion, so long as we please God! May we remember the woe

pronounced by ourMaster, when He said, "Woe to you when all menspeakwellofyou,"andthewordsofPaul,"IfIwerestilltryingtopleasemen,IwouldnotbeaservantofChrist."

Thoughby"givingourselveswhollytothesethings"weshallnotwinthepraiseofmen—weshallattainthefarmore importantendofusefulnesstosouls.IcompletelyacknowledgethedoctrineofthesovereigntyofGodinthesalvationofsinners.Iacknowledgethatthosewhopreachbest,andlive nearest toGod, have not always been honored in their lives to thesavingofmanysouls.Butstill,themanwhoismostentirelyandwhollyJesusChrist'sman—amanofonething,wholivesSundayandweekday,everywhere,athomeandabroad,asamanwhose single endeavor is togive himself to the work of Jesus Christ—this is the man, this is theminister,whowillgenerally,inthelongrun,dothemostgood.

The case of Mr. Simeon will apply here. You all know how he waspersecutedwhenhebegantotestifyforChrist, inCambridge.Youknowhowmany there were who would not speak to him, how the finger ofscorn was pointed at him continually. But we know how he went onpersevering in the work, and how, when he died, all Cambridge cameforthtogivehimhonor,andhowheadsofhouses,andfellowsofcolleges,andmenwhohadscoffedathimwhilehelived,honoredhimathisdeath.Theytestified,thatthelifehehadlivedhadhaditseffect,andthattheyhadseenandknownthatGodwaswithhim.

I once saw in Dundee one who had known much of that godly man,RobertMurrayMcCheyne. She toldme that thosewho read his lettersandsermonshadaveryfaintideaofwhathewas.Shesaidtome,"Ifyouhavereadallhisworks,youjustknownothingatallabouthim.Youmusthave seen theman, and heard him, and known him, and have been incompanywithhim—toknowwhatamanofGodhewas."

Furthermore,givingourselveswhollytothesethingswillbringhappinessandpeacetoourconsciences.Ispeaknowamongfriends,andnotamongworldlypeople,whereIshouldneedtofenceandguardandexplainwhatImean.IshallnotbesuspectedofholdingjustificationbyworksbythoseIseebeforeme.IspeakofsuchaclearconscienceastheApostlerefersto.Wetrustwehavea"clearconscience"(Hebrews13:18).Tohavethisclear

conscience is clearly bound up with high aims, high motives, a highstandardofministerial life,andpractice.Iamquitesure, thatthemorewe give ourselveswholly to thework of theministry, themore inwardhappiness, the greater sense of the light of God's countenance, are welikelytoenjoy.

Thesubjectisadeeplyhumblingone.Whodoesnotfeel,"Myweakness,my weakness!my unprofitableness! How far short I come of this highstandard?"What reason have we, having received mercy, not to faint!What reason have we, having been spared by God's great patience, toabound in the work of the Lord, and to give ourselves wholly to ourbusiness!Thegreatsecretis—tobealwayslookingtoJesus,andlivingalifeofclosecommunionwithHim!

At Cambridge, the other day, I saw a picture of Henry Martyn,bequeathed byMr. Simeon to the public library.A friend informedmethat thatpictureused tohang inMr.Simeon's room,and thatwhenhewasdisposedtotrifleintheworkoftheministry,heusedtostandbeforeitandsay,"Itseemstosaytome,CharlesSimeon,don'ttrifle,don'ttrifle;Charles Simeon, rememberwhose you are, andwhom you serve." Andthen theworthyman, in his own strange way, would bow respectfully,andsay,"Iwillnottrifle,Iwillnottrifle;Iwillnotforget."

May we, in conclusion, look to a far higher pattern than any man—Martyn, McCheyne, or any other. May we look to the Great ChiefShepherd,thegreatpattern,inwhosestepswearetowalk!Mayweabidein Him, and never trifle! May we hold on our way, looking to Jesus,keepingclear of theworld, its pleasures, and its follies—caringnothingfor the world's frowns, and not much moved by the world's smiles—lookingforwardtothatdaywhentheGreatShepherdshallgivetoallwhohavedoneHiswork,andpreachedHisGospel,acrownofglorythatdoesnotfadeaway!ThemorewehavethemindofChrist, themoreweshallunderstandwhatitisto"giveourselveswhollytothesethings."

PhariseesandSadducees

"Becareful,"Jesussaid to them."Beonyourguardagainst theyeastofthePhariseesandSadducees!"Matthew16:6

Every word spoken by the Lord Jesus is full of deep instruction forChristians. It is thevoiceof theChiefShepherd. It is theGreatHeadofthe Church speaking to all itsmembers—theKing of kings speaking toHis subjects—the Master of the house speaking to His servants—theCaptainofoursalvationspeakingtoHissoldiers.Aboveall,itisthevoiceofHimwhosaid,"Ididnotspeakofmyownaccord—buttheFatherwhosentmecommandedmewhattosayandhowtosayit."(John12:49)TheheartofeverybelieverintheLordJesusoughttoburnwithinhim—whenhehearshisMaster'swords,heoughttosay,"Listen!ItisthevoiceofMyBeloved!"(SongofSolomon2:8).

EverywordspokenbytheLordJesus,isofthegreatestvalue.Preciousasgold, are all His words of doctrine and teaching; precious are all Hisparablesandprophecies; precious are allHiswords of comfortand ofconsolation;precious,thenotleastofwhich,areallHiswordsofcautionandofwarning.WearenotmerelytohearHimwhenHesays,"Cometome—allwho are weary and heavy burdened;" we are to also hearHimwhenHesays,"Becareful—andbeonyourguard."

I amgoing todirect attention tooneof themost solemnand emphaticwarningswhichtheLordJesuseverdelivered:"BeonyourguardagainsttheyeastofthePhariseesandSadducees."OnthistextIwishtoerectabeacon for all who desire to be saved, and to preserve some souls, ifpossible, frommaking their lives a shipwreck.The times call loudly forsuchbeacons:thespiritualshipwrecksofthelasttwenty-fiveyearshavebeendeplorablynumerous.ThewatchmenoftheChurchoughttospeakoutplainlynow,orforeverholdtheirpeace.

I. First of all, I askmy readers to observeWHOare those towhomthewarningofthetextwasaddressed.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was not speaking to men who were worldly,ungodly, and unsanctified—but to His own disciples, companions, and

friends.Headdressedmenwho,withtheexceptionoftheapostateJudasIscariot,were right-hearted in the sightofGod.He spoke to the twelveApostles,thefirstfoundersoftheChurchofChrist,andthefirstministersoftheWordofsalvation.AndyeteventothemHeaddressedthesolemncautionofourtext:"Becarefulandbeonyourguard!"

Thereissomethingveryremarkableinthisfact.WemighthavethoughtthattheseApostlesneededlittlewarningofthiskind.Hadtheynotgivenup all for Christ's sake? They had.Had they not endured hardship forChrist's sake? They had. Had they not believed Jesus, followed Jesus,lovedJesus,whenalmostalltheworldwasunbelieving?Allthesethingsaretrue;andyettothemthecautionwasaddressed:"Becarefulandbeon your guard!"Wemight have imagined that at any rate the discipleshadlittletofearfromthe"yeastofthePhariseesandoftheSadducees."They were poor and unlearned men, most of them fishermen or taxcollectors;theyhadnodesiretofollowtheteachingsofthePhariseesandtheSadducees;theyweremorelikelytobeprejudicedagainstthemthanto feel anydrawing towards them.All this is perfectly true; yet even tothem there comes the solemn warning: "Be careful and be on yourguard!"

There is useful counsel here for all who profess to love the Lord JesusChrist in sincerity. It tells us loudly that themost eminent servants ofChristarenotbeyond theneedofwarnings,andought tobealwaysontheirguard.Itshowsusplainlythattheholiestofbelieversoughttowalkhumblywith hisGod, and towatch and pray so that hewon't fall intotemptation,andbeovertakenwithsin.Noneissoholy,thathecannotfall—not ultimately, not hopelessly—but to his own discomfort, to thescandaloftheChurch,andtothetriumphoftheworld.Noneissostrongthathecannotforatimebeovercome.ChosenasbelieversarebyGodtheFather, justified as they are by the blood and righteousness of JesusChrist, sanctified as they are by theHoly Spirit—believers are still onlymen—theyarestillinthebody,andstillintheworld.Theyareeverneartemptation. They are ever liable to misjudge, both in doctrine and inpractice. Their hearts, though renewed, are very feeble; theirunderstanding, thoughenlightened, isstillverydim.Theyought to livelike those who dwell in an enemy's land, and every day to put on the

armorofGod.Thedevilisverybusy:heneverslumbersorsleeps.Letusremember the falls of Noah, and Abraham, and Lot, and Moses, andDavid,andPeter;andrememberingthem—behumble,andbecarefulsothatwedon'tfall.

I may be allowed to say that none need warnings so much as theministersofChrist'sGospel.Ourofficeandourordinationarenosecurityagainst errors andmistakes. It is true, that the greatest heresies havecrept into theChurchofChristbymeansofordainedmen!Ordinationdoesnot confers any immunity fromerror and falsedoctrine.Our veryfamiliaritywiththeGospeloftencreatesinusahardenedstateofmind.We are apt to read the Scriptures, and preach theWord, and conductpublicworship,andcarryon the serviceofGod, inadry,hard, formal,callous spirit. Our very familiarity with sacred things, unless we watchourhearts,islikelytoleadusastray."Nowhere,"saysanoldwriter,"isaman'ssoulinmoredanger—thaninaminister'sstudy."ThehistoryoftheChurch of Christ contains many dismal proofs that the mostdistinguishedministersmay fora time fallaway.WhohasnotheardofCranmerrecantingandgoingbackfromthoseopinionshehaddefendedso stoutly; though, by God's mercy, raised again to witness a gloriousconfessionat last?WhohasnotheardofJewellsigningdocumentsthathemost thoroughly disapproved, and ofwhich signature he afterwardsbitterlyrepented?Whodoesnotknowthatmanyothersmightbenamed,whoatone time or another, have been overtaken by faults, have fallenintoerrors,andbeen ledastray?Andwhodoesnotknow themournfulfact that many of them never came back to the truth—but died inhardnessofheart,andheldtheirerrorstotheend!

These things ought to make us humble and cautious. They tell us todistrustourownhearts,andtopraytobekeptfromfalling.Inthesedays,whenweareespeciallycalledupontocleavefirmlytothedoctrinesoftheProtestantReformation,letusbecarefulthatourzealforProtestantismdoes not puff us up, andmake us proud. Let us never say in our self-conceit,"IshallneverfallintotheerrorsRomanCatholicismoranyNewTheology: those viewswill never suitme." Let us remember thatmanyhavebegunwell and run well for a season—and yet afterwards turnedasideoutoftherightway.Letusbecarefulthatwearespiritualmen—as

well as Protestants, and real friends of Christ—as well as enemies ofantichrist.Letuspraythatwemaybekeptfromerror,andneverforgetthat the twelve Apostles themselveswere the men to whom the GreatHeadof theChurchaddressed thesewords: "Becarefulandbeonyourguard!"

II.Ipropose,inthesecondplace,toexplain—whatwerethoseDANGERS against which our Lord warned the Apostles. "Becareful,"He says, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Phariseesand of the Sadducees." The danger of which He warns them is falsedoctrine.Hesaysnothingabouttheswordofpersecution,ortheloveofmoney,ortheloveofpleasure.AllthesethingsnodoubtwereperilsandsnarestowhichthesoulsoftheApostleswereexposed;butagainstthesethingsourLordraisesnowarningvoicehere.Hiswarningisconfinedtoonesinglepoint:"Theyeastof thePhariseesandof theSadducees."WearenotlefttoconjecturewhatourLordmeantbythatword"yeast."TheHolySpirit,afewversesaftertheverytextonwhichIamnowdwelling,tells us plainly that by yeastwasmeant the "doctrine" of the Phariseesandof theSadducees.Letus try tounderstandwhatwemeanwhenwespeakofthe"doctrineofthePhariseesandoftheSadducees."

(a) The doctrine of the PHARISEESmay be summed up in threewords: they were formalists, tradition-worshipers, and self-righteous.Theyattachedsuchweight to thetraditionsofmenthat theypracticallyregardedthemofmoreimportancethantheinspiredwritingsoftheOldTestament. They valued themselves on excessive strictness in theirattention to all the ceremonial requirements of the Mosaic law. Theythought much of being descended from Abraham, and said in theirhearts,"WehaveAbrahamforourfather!"Theyimagined,becausetheyhadAbraham for their father—that theywerenot indangerofhell likeothermen,andthattheirdescentfromhimwasakindoftitletoheaven.Theyattachedgreatvalue towashingsandceremonialpurifyingsof thebody,andbelievedthattheverytouchingofthedeadbodyofaflyorgnatwould defile them. Theymade a great deal about the external parts ofreligion, and such things that could be seen bymen. Theymade broadtheir phylacteries, and enlarged the fringes of their garments. Theypridedthemselvesonpayinggreathonortodeadsaints,andgarnishing

the graves of the righteous. They were very zealous to make converts.Theypridedthemselvesinhavingpower,rank,andpreeminence,andofbeingcalledbymen,"Teacher,Teacher."Thesethings,andmanythingslikethese,thePhariseesdid.Everywell-informedChristiancanfindthesethings in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark (See Matthew 15 and 23;Mark7).

Remember,all thistime,theydidnotformallydenyanypartof theOldTestamentScripture.Buttheybroughtin,overandaboveit,somuchofhuman invention, that they virtually put Scripture aside, and buried itundertheirowntraditions.Thisisthesortofreligion,ofwhichourLordsaystotheApostles,"Becarefulandbeonyourguard."

(b) The doctrine of the SADDUCEES, on the other hand, may besummed up in threewords: free-thinking, skepticism, and rationalism.Their creed was far less popular than that of the Pharisees, and,therefore, we find them mentioned less often in the New TestamentScriptures.SofaraswecanjudgefromtheNewTestament,theyappearto have held the doctrine of degrees of inspiration; at all times theyattached greater value to the Pentateuch [first five Books of the OldTestament]abovealltheotherpartsoftheOldTestament,ifindeedtheydidnotaltogetherignorethelatter.

Theybelieved that therewasno resurrection,noangels, and no spirits,and tried to laughmen out of their belief in these things, by bringingforward difficult questions. We have an instance of their mode ofargument,inthecasewhichtheypropoundedtoourLordofthewomanwho had had seven husbands, when they asked, "At the resurrection,whose wife will she be of the seven?" And in this way they probablyhoped,byrenderingreligionabsurd,anditschiefdoctrinesridiculous,tomake men altogether give up the faith they had received from theScriptures. Remember, all this time, we cannot say that the Sadduceesweredownrightinfidels—thistheywerenot.Wemaynotsaytheydeniedrevelation altogether; this they did not do. They observed the law ofMoses. Many of them were found among the priests in the timesdescribedintheActsoftheApostles.CaiaphaswhocondemnedourLord,was a Sadducee. But the practical effect of their teachingwas to shakemen's faith inanyrevelation,andto throwacloudofdoubtovermen's

minds,whichwasonlyonedegreebetterthaninfidelity.Andofallsuchkind of doctrine: free thinking, skepticism, rationalism, our Lord says,"Becarefulandbeonyourguard!"

Now the question arises—Why did our Lord Jesus Christ deliver thiswarning?Heknew,nodoubt, thatwithin forty years the schools of thePharisees and the Sadduceeswouldbe completely overthrown.Hewhoknewallthingsfromthebeginning,knewperfectlywellthatinfortyyearsJerusalem,withitsmagnificenttemple,wouldbedestroyed,andtheJewsscatteredoverthefaceoftheearth.WhythendowefindHimgivingthiswarningabout"theyeastofthePhariseesandoftheSadducees"?

Ibelieve that ourLorddelivered this solemnwarning for the perpetualbenefitofthatChurchwhichHecametoearthtoestablish.Hespokewithapropheticknowledge.Heknewwellthediseasestowhichhumannatureisalwaysliable.HeforesawthatthetwogreatplaguesofHisChurchonearthwouldalwaysbe thedoctrineof thePhariseesandthedoctrine oftheSadducees.Heknew that thesewould like two large rocks,betweenwhichHistruthwouldbeperpetuallycrushedandbruiseduntilHecamethesecondtime.HeknewthattherealwayswouldbePhariseesinspirit,andSadduceesinspirit,amongprofessingChristians.Heknewthattheirsuccessionwouldnever fail, and theirgenerationneverbecomeextinct,andthatthoughthenamesofPhariseesandSadduceeswerenomore,yettheirprincipleswouldalwaysexist.HeknewthatduringthetimethattheChurchexisted,untilHisreturn,therewouldalwaysbesomewhowouldaddtotheWord,andsomewhowouldsubtractfromit,somewhowouldtoneitdown,byaddingtoitotherthings,andsomewhowouldbleedittodeath,bysubtractingfromitsprincipaltruths.AndthisisthereasonwhywefindHimdeliveringthissolemnwarning:"BecarefulandbeonyourguardagainsttheyeastofthePhariseesandoftheSadducees!"

Andnowcomes thequestion,DidnotourLordJesusChristhave goodreasontogivethiswarning?IappealtoallwhoknowanythingofChurchhistory—was there indeed not a cause? I appeal to all who rememberwhattookplacesoonaftertheapostlesweredead.Dowenotreadthatinthe primitive Church of Christ, there rose up two distinct parties; oneever inclined to err, like theArians, in holding less than the truth; theotherever inclinedtoerr, liketherelicworshipersandsaintworshipers

oftheRomanCatholicChurch,inholdingmorethanthetruthasitisinJesus?Dowe not see the same thing coming out in later times, in theformofRomanCatholicism?Theseareancient things. Inashortpaperlike this it is impossible forme to entermore fully into them.Theyarethingswellknowntoallwhoarefamiliarwithrecordsofpastdays.

There alwayshavebeen these twogreatparties—theparty representingtheprinciplesofthePharisee,andthepartyrepresentingtheprinciplesofthe Sadducee. Therefore our Lord had good cause to say of these twogreatprinciples,"Becarefulandbeonyourguard."

But,Idesiretobringthesubjectevenneareratthepresentmoment.Iaskmy readers to consider whether warnings like this are not especiallyneededinourowntimes.Wehave,undoubtedly,muchtobethankfulforinEngland.Wehavemadegreatadvancesinartsandsciencesinthelastthree centuries, and havemuch of the formand showofmorality andreligion.But,Iaskanybodywhocanseebeyondhisowndoor,orhisownliving room,whetherwedonot live in themidstofdangers from falsedoctrine?

Wehave among us, on the one side, a group ofmenwho,wittingly orunwittingly, are paving the way to the Church of Rome—a school thatprofesses todraw itsprinciples fromprimitive tradition, thewritingsoftheFathers,andthevoiceoftheChurch—ateachingthattalksandwritesso much about the Church, the ministry, and the Sacraments, that itmakes them like Aaron's rod which swallows up everything else inChristianity, a teaching that attaches vast importance to the outwardformandceremonyof religion—togestures,postures,bowings, crosses,holywater, seats of honor for the clergy, altar cloths, incense, statues,banners, processions, floral decorations, and many other like things,aboutwhichnotaword is tobe found in theHolyScripturesashavingany place in Christian worship. I refer, of course, to the school ofChurchmencalledRitualists.Whenweexamine theproceedingsof thatschool, there can be but one conclusion concerning them. I believewhateveristhemeaningandintentionofitsteachers,howeverdevoted,zealous,andself-denying,manyof themare, thosewhomhas fallen thecloakofthePharisees.

We have, on the other hand, a school of men who, wittingly orunwittingly,appeartopavethewaytoSocinianism—aschoolwhichholdsstrange views about the absolute inspiration of Holy Scripture, andstrangerviewsaboutthedoctrineofsacrifice,andtheAtonementofourLord and Savior Jesus Christ, strange views about the eternity ofpunishment, and God's love to man, a school strong in negatives—butvery weak in positives, skillful in raising doubts—but impotent inremoving them, clever in unsettling and unscrewing men's faith—butpowerlesstoofferanyfirmrestforman.And,whethertheleadersofthisschoolmeanitornot—IbelievethatonthemhasfallenthecloakoftheSadducees.

These things sound harsh. It saves a vast deal of trouble—to shut oureyes,andsay,"Iseenodanger,"andbecauseitisnotseen,thereforenotto believe it. It is easy to cover our ears and say, "I hearnothing," andbecausewehearnothing, therefore to feel no alarm.Butwe knowwellwho theyare that rejoiceover the stateof thingswehave todeplore insome quarters of our ownChurch.We knowwhat theRomanCatholicthinks:weknowwhattheSocinianthinks.TheRomanCatholicrejoicesovertheriseoftheCatholicism:theSocinianrejoicesovertheriseofmenwho teach such views as those set forth in modern days about theatonementandinspiration.Theywouldnotrejoiceastheydoiftheydidnotseetheirworkbeingdone,andtheircausebeinghelpedforward.

Thedanger,Ibelieve,isfargreaterthanweareapttosuppose.Thebooksthat are read inmany quarters aremostmischievous, and the tone ofthoughtonreligioussubjects,amongmanyclasses,andespeciallyamongthe higher ranks, is deeply unsatisfactory. Theplague is abroad! If welove life,weoughttosearchourownhearts,andtryourownfaith,andmakesurethatwestandontherightfoundation.Aboveall,weoughttotakeheedthatweourselvesdonotdrinkthepoisonoffalsedoctrine,andgobackfromourfirstlove.

I feel deeply the painfulness of speaking out on these subjects. I knowwellthatspeakingplainaboutfalsedoctrineisveryunpopular,andthatthe speaker must be content to find himself being thought of as veryuncharitable, very troublesome, and very narrow-minded.Most peoplecan never distinguish differences in religion. To the bulk of men a

clergyman is a clergyman, and a sermon is a sermon, and as to anydifference between one minister and another, or one doctrine andanother, they are utterly unable to understand it. I cannot expect suchpeopletoapproveofanywarningagainstfalsedoctrine.Imustmakeupmymindtomeetwiththeirdisapproval,andmustbear itasIbestcan.But Iwillaskanyhonest-minded,unprejudicedBible reader, to turn totheNewTestament and seewhat hewill find there.Hewill findmanyplainwarningsagainstfalsedoctrine:

"Watchoutforfalseprophets!"(Matthew7:15).

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptivephilosophy!"(Colossians2:8).

"Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings!" (Hebrews13:9).

"Donotbelieveeveryspirit—but test thespirits toseewhethertheyarefromGod."(1John4:1).

He will find a large part of several inspired epistles taken up withelaborate explanations of true doctrine, and warnings against falseteaching.IaskwhetheritispossibleforaministerwhotakestheBibleforhisruleoffaith—toavoidgivingwarningsagainstdoctrinalerror?

Finally, I askanyone tomarkwhat isgoingon inEnglandat this veryday.Iaskwhether it isnottruethathundredshave left theEstablishedChurchandjoinedtheChurchofRomewithinthelastthirtyyears?Iaskwhetheritisnottruethathundredsremainwithinourboundaries,whoinheartarelittlebetterthanRomanists?Iaskagainwhetheritisnottruethatscoresofyoungmen,bothatOxfordandCambridge,arespoiledandruinedbythewitheringinfluenceofskepticism,andhavelostallpositiveprinciples inreligion?Sneersat religiousnewspapers, louddeclarationsofdisliketo"denominations,"high-sounding,vaguephrasesabout"deepthinking, broad views, new light, free handling of Scripture, and thebarren weakness of certain schools of theology," make up the wholeChristianityofmanyoftherisinggeneration.Andyet,inthefaceofthesenotoriousfacts,mencryout,"Holdyourpeaceabout falsedoctrine.Let

falsedoctrinealone!"Icannotholdmypeace.FaithintheWordofGod,loveto thesoulsofmen, thevowsI tookwhenIwasordained,allalikeconstrainmetobearwitnessagainsttheerrorsoftheday.AndIbelievethatthesayingofourLordiseminentlyatruthforthetimes:"BeonyourguardagainsttheyeastofthePhariseesandoftheSadducees!"

III. The third thing to which I wish to call attention is—thepeculiarNAMEbywhichourLordJesusChrist speaksof thedoctrinesofthePhariseesandoftheSadducees.

ThewordswhichourLordusedwerealwaysthewisestandthebestthatcould be used. He might have said, "Be careful and be on your guardagainst the doctrine, or of the teaching, or of the opinions of thePhariseesandoftheSadducees."ButHedoesnotsayso:Heusesawordofapeculiarnature—Hesays,"Becarefulandbeonyourguardagainstthe'yeast'ofthePhariseesandoftheSadducees."Nowweallknowwhatisthetruemeaningoftheword"yeast."Theyeastisaddedtothelumpofdoughinmakingaloafofbread.

This yeast bears but a small proportion to the lump into which it ismixed;justso,ourLordwouldhaveusknow,thefirstbeginningoffalsedoctrine is but small, compared to the body of Christianity. It worksquietly and silently; just so, our Lord would have us know, falsedoctrine works secretly in the heart in which it is once planted. Itinsensibly changes the character of the whole mass with which it ismingled; just so, our Lord would have us know, the doctrines of thePharisees and Sadducees turn everything upside down, when onceadmittedintoaChurchor intoaman'sheart.Letusmarkthesepoints:theythrowlightonmany things thatwe see in thepresentday. It is ofvast importance to receive the lessonsofwisdomthat thisword "yeast"containsinitself.

False doctrine does notmeetmen face to face, and proclaim that it isfalse.Itdoesnotblowatrumpetbeforeit,andendeavoropenlytoturnusaway from the truth as it is in Jesus. It does not come before men inbroad day, and summon them to surrender. It approaches us secretly,quietly, insidiously, plausibly, and in such a way as to disarm man'ssuspicion,andthrowhimoffhisguard.Itisthewolfinsheep'sclothing,

andSataninthegarbofanangelof light,whohavealwaysprovedthemostdangerousfoesoftheChurchofChrist.

IbelievethemostpowerfulchampionofthePhariseesisnotthemanwhobidsyouopenlyandhonestlycomeoutandjointheChurchofRome:itisthemanwhosaysthatheagreesonallpointswithyouin"doctrine."Hewouldnottakeanythingawayfromthoseevangelicalviewsthatyouhold;wouldnothaveyoumakeanychangesatall;allheasksyoutodo is to"add" a little more to your belief, in order to make your Christianityperfect."Believeme,"hesays,"Wedonotwantyoutogiveupanything.WeonlywantyoutoholdafewmoreclearviewsabouttheChurchandthe sacraments.We want you to add to your present opinions, a littlemore about the office of the ministry, and a little more about theauthorityofBishops,andalittlemoreaboutthePrayer-book,andalittlemoreaboutthenecessityoforderandofdiscipline.Weonlywantyoutoadd"alittlemore"ofthesethingstoyoursystemofreligion,andyouwillbequiteright.

Butwhenmen speak to you in thisway, then is the time to rememberwhatourLordsaid,andto"Becarefulandbeonyourguard!"Thisisthe,yeast of the Pharisees, against which we are to stand upon our guard.Why do I say this? I say it because there is no security against thedoctrine of the Pharisees—unless we resist its principles in theirbeginnings!

1.Beginningwitha"littlemoreabouttheChurch"—YoumayonedayputtheChurchintheplaceofChrist.

2.Beginningwith a "littlemore about theministry"—Youmay one dayregardtheministeras"themediatorbetweenGodandman."

3.Beginningwitha"littlemoreaboutthesacraments"—Youmayonedayaltogethergiveupthedoctrineofjustificationbyfaithwithoutthedeedsofthelaw.

4.Beginningwitha"littlemorereverenceforthePrayer-book"—YoumayonedayplaceitabovetheHolyWordofGoditself.

5.Beginningwitha"littlemorehonortoBishops"—YoumayatlastrefusesalvationtoeveryonewhodoesnotbelongtoanEpiscopalChurch.

Ionlytellanoldstory—Ionlymarkoutroadsthathavebeentroddenbyhundreds of members of the Church of England in the last few years.They began by faultfinding at the Reformers, and have ended byswallowing the decrees of the Roman Catholic church. They began bycryingaboutthewaythingswere,andhaveendedbyformallyjoiningtheChurchofRome. I believe thatwhenwe hearmen asking us to "add alittle more" to our good old plain Evangelical views, we should standuponour guard.We should remember ourLord's caution: "Be on yourguardagainsttheyeastofthePharisees!"

Iconsider themostdangerouschampionof theSadduceeschool, isnotthemanwhotellsyouopenlythathewantsyouto layasideanypartofthetruth,andtobecomeafree-thinkerandaskeptic.Itisthemanwhobeginswithquietlyinsinuatingdoubtsastothepositionthatweoughttotake up about religion, doubts whether we ought to be so positive insaying "this is truth, and that falsehood," doubts whether we ought tothinkmenwrongwhodifferfromusonreligiousopinions,sincetheymayafterallbeasmuchrightasweare.Itisthemanwhotellsusweoughtnot to condemn anybody's views, lestwe err on the side of the lack oflove. It is themanwhoalwaysbeginstalking inavaguewayaboutGodbeingaGodof love,andhints thatweought tobelieveperhaps thatallmen,whateverdoctrinetheyprofess,willbesaved.It isthemanwhoiseverremindingusthatweoughttotakecarehowwethinklightlyofmenof powerful minds, and great intellects (though they are deists andskeptics),whodonotthinkaswedo,andthat,afterall,"greatmindsareallmoreorless,taughtofGod!"Itisthemanwhoiseverharpingonthedifficultiesofinspiration,andraisingquestionswhetherallmenmaynotbefoundsavedintheend,andwhetherallmaynotberightinthesightofGod. It is theman who crowns this kind of talk by a few calm sneersagainst what he is pleased to call "old-fashioned views," and "narrow-mindedtheology,"and"bigotry,"andthe"lackofliberalityandlove,"inthepresentday.Butwhenmenbegintospeaktousinthiskindofway,thenisthetimetostanduponourguard.ThenisthetimetorememberthewordsofourLordJesusChrist,and"Becarefulandbeonyourguard

againsttheyeast!"

Oncemore,whydoIsaythis?IsayitbecausethereisnosecurityagainstSadduceeism, any more than against Phariseeism, unless we resist itsprinciplesinthebud!Beginningwithalittlevaguetalkabout"love,"youmayend in thedoctrineofuniversalsalvation, fillheavenwithamixedmultitude ofwicked as well as godly, and deny the existence of hell.Beginningwithafewhigh-soundingphrasesaboutintellectandtheinnerlightinman,youmayendwithdenyingtheworkoftheHolySpirit,andmaintainingthatHomerandShakespearewereastrulyinspiredasPaul,andthuspracticallycastingasidetheBible.Beginningwithsomedreamy,misty idea about "all religions containingmore or less truth," youmayendwithutterlydenyingthenecessityofmissions,andmaintainingthatthe best plan is to leave everybody alone. Beginning with dislike to"Evangelicalreligion,"asold-fashioned,narrow,andexclusive—youmayend by rejecting every leading doctrine of Christianity—the atonement,theneedofdivinegrace,andthedivinityofChrist.

AgainIrepeatthatIonlytellanoldstory—Ionlygiveasketchofapathwhichscoreshavetroddeninthelastfewyears.TheywereoncesatisfiedwithsuchdivinityasthatofNewton,Scott,Cecil,andRomaine;theyarenow fancying they have found a more excellent way in the principleswhich have been propounded by theologians of the Broad school! Ibelieve there is no safety for a man's soul—unless he remembers thelesson involved in those solemn words, "Be on your guard against theyeastoftheSadducees!"

Letusbeonourguardagainstthe"insidiousness"offalsedoctrine.Likethe fruitofwhichEveandAdamate,at firstsight it lookspleasantandgood,anda thing tobedesired. "Poison" isnotwrittenupon it, and sopeople are not afraid. Like counterfeit coin, it is not stamped "bad." Itpassesfortherealthing,becauseoftheverylikenessitbearstothetruth.Let us be on our guard against the "very small beginnings" of falsedoctrine.Everyheresybeganatonetime,withsomelittledeparturefromthetruth.Thereisonly"alittleseedoferror"neededtocreateagreattreeofheresy.Itisthelittlestoneswhichmakeupthemightybuilding.Itwasthe little pieces of lumber,whichmade the great ark that carriedNoahandhisfamilyoveradelugedworld.Itisthelittleleavenwhichthewhole

lump.Itisthelittleflawinonelinkofthechaincablewhichwrecksthegallantship,anddrowns thecrew. It is theomissionoradditionofonelittle iteminthedoctor'sprescription,whichspoils thewholemedicine,andturnsitintopoison.Wedonottoleratequietlyalittledishonesty,ora littlecheating,ora little lying.Just so, letusneverallowa little falsedoctrine to ruin us, by thinking it is but a "little one," and can do noharm.TheGalatians seemed to be doing nothing very dangerouswhenthey "were observing special days andmonths and seasons and years;"yetPaulsays,"Ifearforyou"(Galatians4:10,11).

Finally,letusbeonourguardagainstsupposingthat"weatanyratearenotindanger.""Ourviewsaresound;ourfeetstandfirm.Othersmayfallaway—butwearesafe!"Hundredshavethoughtthesame,andhavecometo a dreadful end. In their self-confidence they tampered with littletemptationsand little forms of false doctrine; in their self-conceit theywent near the brink of danger; and now they seem lost forever! Theyappear given over to a strong delusion, so as to believe a lie. Some ofthemareprayingtotheVirginMary,andbowingdowntoimages.Othersof them are casting overboard one doctrine after another, and arestrippingthemselvesofeverysortofreligion,butafewscrapsofDeism.Verystriking is thevisioninPilgrim'sProgress,whichdescribesthehillError as "very steep on the farthest side;" and "when Christian andHopeful lookeddowntheysawatthebottom,severalmendashedall topieces by a fall they had from the top." Never, never let us forget thecautiontobewareof"yeast;"andifwethinkwestand,letus"becarefulthatwedon'tfall!"

IV. I propose in the fourth and last place, to suggest someSAFEGUARDS and treatment against the dangers of thepresent day—the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of theSadducees.

Ifeelthatweallneedmoreandmore,thepresenceoftheHolySpiritinourhearts, toguide, to teach,and tokeepussound in the faith.Weallneedtowatchmore,andtopraytobeheldup,andpreservedfromfallingaway.Butstill,therearecertaingreattruths,which,inadaylikethis,wearespeciallyboundtokeepinmind.Therearetimeswhensomecommonepidemic invadesa land,whenmedicines,atall timesvaluable,become

ofspecialvalue.Thereareplaceswhereauncommonmalariaprevails,inwhichremedies, ineveryplacevaluable,aremorethanevervaluable inconsequenceofit.

SoIbelievetherearetimesandseasonsintheChurchofChristwhenweareboundtotightenourholduponcertaingreatleadingtruths,tograspthemwithmore thanordinary firmness in ourhands, topress them toourhearts,andnottoletthemgo.SuchdoctrinesIdesiretosetforthinorder,asthegreatprescriptionagainsttheyeastofthePhariseesandoftheSadducees.WhenSaulandJonathanwereslainbythearchers,DavidorderedthechildrenofIsraeltobetaughttheuseofthebow.

(a) For one thing, ifwewouldbe kept sound in the faith,wemust takeheed toourdoctrineabout the"totalcorruptionofhumannature."Thecorruptionofhumannatureisnoslightthing.Itisnopartial,skin-deepdisease—butaradicalanduniversalcorruptionofman'swill, intellect,affections,andconscience.Wearenotmerelypoorand pitiable sinners in God's sight—we are guilty sinners; we areblameworthy sinners: we deserve justly God's wrath and God'scondemnation. Ibelieve therearevery fewerrorsand falsedoctrinesofwhich the beginningmaynot be tracedup to unsound views aboutthecorruptionofhumannature.Wrongviewsofadiseasewillalwaysbringwiththemwrongviewsoftheremedy.Wrongviewsofthecorruptionofhuman nature will always carry with them wrong views of the grandtreatmentandcureofthatcorruption.

(b)Foranotherthing,wemusttakeheedtoourdoctrineabout"the inspiration and authority of theHoly Scriptures." Let usboldlymaintain,inthefaceofalltheopposers,thatthewholeoftheBibleisgivenbyinspirationoftheHolySpirit,thatall is inspiredcompletely,notonepartmorethananother,andthatthereisanentiregulfbetweentheWordofGodandanyotherbookintheworld.Weneednotbeafraidof difficulties in the way of the doctrine ofabsolute inspiration. Theremay be many things about it, which are far too high for us tocomprehend. Scripture inspiration is a miracle, and all miracles arenecessarilymysterious.Butifwearenottobelieveanythinguntilwecanentirelyexplainit,thereareveryfewthingsindeedthatweshallbelieve.

Weneednotbeafraidofall theassaultswhichcriticismbrings to bearupontheBible.FromthedaysoftheapostlestheWordof theLordhasbeen incessantly "tried," and has never failed to come forth as gold,uninjured,andspotless.

We need not be afraid of the discoveries of science. Astronomers maysweeptheheavenswithtelescopes,andgeologistsmaydigdownintotheheartoftheearth—andnevershaketheauthorityoftheBible!"ThevoiceofGod,andtheworkofGod'shands—neverwillbefoundtocontradictoneanother."Weneednotbeafraidoftheresearchesoftravelers.TheywillneverdiscoveranythingwhichcontradictsGod'sBible.Ibelievethatif a man were to go over all the earth and dig up a hundred buriedNinevehs, there would not be found a single inscription which wouldcontradictasinglefactintheWordofGod.

Furthermore,wemustboldlymaintainthatthisWordofGodistheonlyruleoffaithandofpractice—thatwhateverisnotwrittenin it—cannotbe required of any man as needful of salvation; and that howeverplausiblynewdoctrinesmaybedefended,iftheyarenotintheWordofGod—theycannotbeworthourattention.Itmattersnothingwhosaysathing, whether he be bishop or minister; pastor or pope. It mattersnothingthatthethingiswellsaid,eloquently,attractively, forcibly,andinsuchawayas to turn the laughagainstyou.Wearenot tobelieve itexceptitisprovedtousbyHolyScripture.

Last—butnotleast,wemustusetheBibleasifwebelieveditwasgivenbyinspiration.Wemustuseitwithreverence,andreaditwithall the tenderness with which we would read the words of an absentfather.WemustnotexpecttofindnomysteriesinabookinspiredbytheSpiritofGod.Wemustratherrememberthat innaturetherearemanythingswecannotunderstand;andthatasitisinthebookofnature,soitwillalwaysbeinthebookofRevelation.

We should draw near to the Word of God in that spirit of pietyrecommended by Lord Bacon many years ago. "Remember," he says,speakingofthebookofnature,"thatmanisnotthemasterofthatbook—buttheinterpreterofthatbook."Andaswedealwiththebookofnature,sowemustdealwith theBookofGod.Wemustdrawnear to it,not to

teach—buttolearn;notlikethemasterofit—butlikeahumblescholar,seekingtounderstandit.

(c) For another thing, we must take heed to our doctrinerespecting"theatonementandpriestlyofficeofourLordandSaviorJesusChrist."WemustboldlymaintainthatthedeathofourLord on the cross was no common death. It was not the death of amartyr. Itwasnot the death of onewho only died to give us amightyexample of self-sacrifice and self-denial. The death of Christ was anofferingup toGodofChrist'sownbodyandblood, tomakeanatoningsacrifice forman's sin and transgression. This sacrifice was typified ineveryofferingoftheMosaiclaw—asacrificeofthemightiestinfluenceonallmankind.Withoutthesheddingofthatbloodtherecouldnotbe,thereneverwastobe—anyremissionofsin.

Furthermore, we must boldly maintain that this crucified SaviorevermoresitsattherighthandofGod,tomakeintercessionforallwhocometoGodbyHim;thatHethererepresentsandpleadsforthosewhoputtheirtrustinHim;andthatHehasdelegatedHisofficeofPriestandMediatortonoman,orsetofmenonthefaceoftheearth.Weneednonebesides. We need no Virgin Mary, no angels, no saint, no priest, nopersonordainedorunordained—tostandbetweenusandGod—but theoneMediator,ChristJesus.

Furthermore,wemustboldlymaintainthatpeaceofconscienceisnottobeboughtbyconfessiontoapriest,andbyreceivingaman'sabsolutionfrom sin. It is to be had only by going to the greatHigh Priest, ChristJesus;by confessionbeforeHim,notbeforeman.Absolution can comefromHimwhoalonecansay,"Yoursinsareforgiven!Goinpeace."

Last—butnot least,wemustboldlymaintain thatpeacewithGod,onceobtained by faith in Christ, is to be kept up, not by mere outwardceremonialactsofworship,notbyreceivingthesacramentoftheLord'sSupper every day—but by the daily habit of looking to the Lord JesusChristbyfaith,eatingbyfaithHisbody,anddrinkingbyfaithHisblood;that eating and drinking of which our Lord says that he who eats anddrinksshallfindHis"bodytobefoodindeed—andHisbloodtobedrinkindeed."

Godly John Owen declared, long ago, that if there was any one pointmore than another that Satan wished to overthrow, it was the PriestlyofficeofourLordandSaviourJesusChrist. "Satanknewwell,"hesaid,that it was the "principal foundation of faith and consolation of theChurch."RightviewsaboutChrist'soffice,areofessentialimportanceinthepresentday,ifmenwouldnotfallintoerror.

(d)Onemore remedy Imustmention.Wemust takeheed toour doctrine about "the work of God the Holy Spirit." Let ussettleitinourminds,thatHisworkisnouncertaininvisibleoperationonthe heart—and that where He is, He is not hidden, not unfelt, notunobserved.Webelievethattherain,whenitfalls,canbefelt.Webelievethat where there is life in a man—it can be seen and observed by hisbreath.SoisitwiththeinfluenceoftheHolySpirit.Nomanhasanyrighttolayclaimtoit—exceptitsfruits,itsexperimentaleffects,canbeseeninhis life.WhereHeis,therewilleverbeanewcreation,andanewman.WhereHeis,therewilleverbenewknowledge,newfaith,newholiness,newfruitsinthelife,inthefamily,intheworld,inthechurch.Andwherethese new things are not seen, wemay well say, with confidence, thatthere is no work of the Holy Spirit in that person. These are times inwhichweallneedtobeonourguardaboutthedoctrineoftheworkoftheSpirit.Onesaid,longago,thatthetimewouldperhapscomewhenmenmighthavetobemartyrsfortheworkoftheHolySpirit.Thattimeseemsnotfardistant.Atanyrate,ifthereisonetruthinreligionwhichseemstohavemorecontemptshowereduponitthananother,itistheworkoftheSpirit.

Idesiretoimpresstheimmenseimportanceofthesefourpointsuponallwhoreadthispaper:

(a)clearviewsofthesinfulnessofhumannature.

(b)clearviewsoftheinspirationofScripture.

(c) clear views of the Atonement and Priestly office of our Lord andSaviorJesusChrist.

(d)clearviewsoftheworkoftheHolySpirit.

I believe that false doctrines about the church, the ministry, and theSacraments,abouttheloveofGod,thedeathofChrist,andtheeternityofpunishment—will findno foothold in theheartwhich issoundon thesefourpoints.IbelievethattheyarefourgreatsafeguardsagainsttheyeastofthePhariseesandoftheSadducees.

I will now conclude this paper with a few remarks by way ofPRACTICALAPPLICATION.Mydesire is tomake thewholesubjectuseful,tothoseintowhosehandsthesepagesmayfall,andtosupplyananswer to thequestionswhichmaypossiblyarise insomehearts.Whatarewetodo?Whatadvicehaveyougottoofferforthesetimes?

(1)Inthefirstplace,Iwillaskeveryreaderofthispapertofindoutwhetherhehas"savingpersonalreligionforhisownsoul."This is theprincipal thing,afterall. Itwillprofitnoman tobelong toasoundvisiblechurch—ifhedoesnothimselfbelongtoChrist.Itwillavaila man nothing to be intellectually sound in the faith, and to approvesounddoctrine—ifheisnothimselfsoundatheart.Isthisthecasewithyou? Can you say that your heart is right in the sight of God? Is itrenewedbytheHolySpirit?DoesChristdwellinitbyfaith?O,restnot,restnot—untilyoucangiveasatisfactoryanswertothesequestions!Theman who dies unconverted, however sound his views—is as truly lostforeverastheworstPhariseeorSadduceethateverlived!

(2)Inthenextplace,letmeentreateveryreaderofthispaperwho desires to be sound in the faith—to study the Biblediligently. That blessed book is given to be a light to our feet, and alanterntoourpath.Nomanwhoreadsitreverently,prayerfully,humbly,and regularly—shall ever be allowed to miss the way to heaven! By itevery sermon,andevery religiousbook,andeveryministryought tobeweighedandproved.

Wouldyouknowwhatistruth?Doyoufeelconfusedandpuzzledbythewarofwordswhichyouhearoneverysideaboutreligion?Doyouwanttoknowwhat you ought to believe, andwhat you ought to be and do, inorder to be saved? Take down yourBible—and cease listening toman!ReadyourBiblewithearnestprayer for the teachingof theHolySpirit;readitwithhonestdeterminationtoobeyitslessons.Dososteadilyand

perseveringly,andyoushallseelight—youshallbekeptfromtheyeastofthePhariseesandSadducees,andbeguidedtoeternallife.Thewaytodoathingistodoit.Actuponthisadvicewithoutdelay!

(3) In thenextplace, letmeadviseeveryreaderof thispaperwhohasreasontohopethatheissoundinfaithandheart,to"take heed to the PROPORTION of truths." I mean by that, toimpress the importance of giving each truth of Christianity the sameplaceandpositioninourhearts—whichisgiventoitinGod'sWord.Thefirstthingsmustnotbeputsecond—andthesecondthingsmustnotbeput first in our religion. The church must not be put above Christ.MinistersmustnotbeexaltedabovetheplaceassignedtothembyChrist.Means of grace must not be regarded as an end instead of ameans.Attentiontothispointisofgreatconsequence:themistakeswhicharisefrom neglecting it are neither few nor small. Here lies the immenseimportanceofstudying thewholeWord ofGod, omitting nothing, andavoidingpartialityinreadingonepartmorethananother.HereagainliesthevalueofhavingaclearsystemofChristianityinourminds.

(4)Inthenextplace,letmeentreateverytrueheartedservantofChrist"nottobedeceivedbythesuperficialdisguise"underwhichfalsedoctrinesoftenapproachoursouls in thepresentday. Beware of supposing that a teacher of religion is to be trusted,becausealthoughheholds someunsoundviews—thathe yet "teaches agreatdealoftruth."Suchateacherispreciselythemantodoyouharm!Poison is always most dangerous when it is given in small doses andmixedwithwholesome food. Beware of being taken in by the apparentearnestness of many of the teachers and upholders of false doctrine.Remember that zeal and sincerity and fervor—are no proof whatever,thatamanisworkingforChrist,andoughttobebelieved.

Peternodoubtwasinearnest—whenhetoldourLordtospareHimself,andnotgotothecross;yetourLordsaidtohim,"GetbehindMe,Satan."Saul no doubt was in earnest—when he went to and fro persecutingChristians; yet he did it ignorantly, and his zeal was not according toknowledge. The founders of the Spanish Inquisition no doubt were inearnest—in the burning alive of God's people. They thought theyweredoingGod'sservice—yettheywereactuallypersecutingChrist'smembers

andwalkinginthestepsofCain!

It is an dreadful fact, that "Satan himself masquerades as an angel oflight"(2Corinthians11:14).Ofallthedelusionsprevalentinthese latterdays,thereisnonegreaterthanthecommonnotionthat"ifamanis inserious about his religion—he must be a good man!" Beware of beingcarried away by this delusion; beware of being led astray by "serious-mindedmen!"Seriousness is in itself anexcellent thing;but itmustbeseriousness in behalf of Christ andHiswhole truth—or else it isworthnothingatall.Thethingsthatarehighlyesteemedamongmen—areoftenabominableinthesightofGod.

(5)Inthenextplace,letmecounseleverytrueservantofChrist—to"examinehisownheart"frequentlyandcarefullyastohisstatebeforeGod. This is a practicewhich is useful at all times—it isespeciallydesirableatthepresentday.WhenthegreatplagueofLondonwas at its height, peoplemarked the least symptoms that appeared ontheirbodiesinawaythattheynevermarkedthembefore.Aspothere,ora spot there,which in time of healthmen thought nothing of, receivedclose attention when the plague was decimating families, and strikingdownoneafteranother!Soitoughttobewithourselves,inthetimesinwhichwe live.Weought towatchourheartswithdoublewatchfulness.We ought to give more time to meditation, self-examination, andreflection.Itisahurrying,bustlingage—ifwewouldbekeptfromfalling,wemustmaketimeforbeingfrequentlyalonewithGod.

(6)Lastofall,letmeurgealltruebelievers"tocontendforthefaith thatwasonce forallentrusted to thesaints."Wehavenocausetobeashamedofthatfaith.Iamfirmlypersuadedthatthereisnosystem so life-giving, so calculated to awaken the sleeping, lead on theinquiring, and build up the saints—as that system which is called theEvangelical system of Christianity. Wherever it is faithfully preached,and efficiently carried out, and consistently adorned by the lives of itsprofessors—itisthepowerofGod.Itmaybespokenagainstandmockedbysome;butso itwas inthedaysof theApostles.Itmaybeweaklysetforthanddefendedbymanyofitsadvocates;but,afterall,itsfruitsanditsresultsareitshighestpraise.

Noothersystemofreligioncanpointtosuchfruits.Nowherearesomanysouls converted toGod—as in those congregationswhere theGospel ofJesus Christ is preached in all its fullness, without anymixture of thePhariseeorSadduceedoctrine.Wearenotcalledupontobenothingbutcontroversialists;butweneveroughttobeashamedtotestifytothetruthasitisinJesus,andtostandupboldlyforEvangelicalreligion.Wehavethe truth, and we need not be afraid to say so. The judgment-day willprovewhoisright—andtothatdaywemayboldlyappeal!

AllKindsofStrangeTeachings

"Donotbecarriedawaybyallkindsofstrangeteachings!Itisgoodforourhearts tobe strengthenedbygrace,notby ceremonial foods,whichareofnovaluetothosewhoeatthem."Hebrews13:9

The text which heads this paper is an apostolic caution against falsedoctrine. It forms part of a warning which Paul addressed to HebrewChristians. It is a caution just asmuchneedednow—as itwaseighteenhundred years ago. Never, I think, was it so important for Christianministerstocryaloudcontinually,"Donotbecarriedawaybyallkindsofstrangeteachings!"

Thatoldenemyofmankind,thedevil,hasnomoresubtleinstrumentforruining souls, than that of spreading false doctrine. "Amurderer and aliar from the beginning!" "Be careful! Watch out for attacks from theDevil,yourgreatenemy.Heprowlsaroundlikearoaringlion,lookingforsomevictimtodevour!"

OutsidetheChurch,heiseverpersuadingmentomaintainsinfullives,anddestructive superstitions.Human sacrifice to idols, gross revolting,cruel, worship of disgusting and abominable false deities, persecution,slavery,cannibalism,childmurder,devastatingreligiouswars—all theseareapartofSatan'shandiwork,and the fruitofhis suggestions!Likeapirate,hisobjectisto"sink,burn,anddestroy!"

Inside the Church he is ever laboring to sow heresies, to propagateerrors,tofosterdeparturesfromthefaith.Ifhecannotpreventthewatersflowing from the Fountain of Life, he tries hard to poison them. If hecannot destroy the remedy of the Gospel, he strives to adulterate andcorruptit.Nowonderthatheiscalled"Apollyon,thedestroyer."

The Divine Comforter of the Church, the Holy Spirit—has alwaysemployedonegreatweapontoopposeSatan'splans.ThatweaponistheWordofGod. TheWord expounded andunfolded, theWord explainedand opened up, theWordmade clear to the head—and applied to theheart. The Word is the chosen weapon by which the devil must beconfronted and confounded. TheWord was the swordwhich the LordJesuswielded inHis temptations. To every assault of the Tempter,Hereplied,"Itiswritten!"TheWordistheswordwhichHisministersmustuse in the present day, if they would successfully resist the devil. TheBible, faithfully and freely expounded—is the safeguard of Christ's trueChurch.

Idesiretorememberthislesson,andtoinviteattentiontothetextwhichstandsattheheadofthispaper.Weliveinanagewhenmenprofesstodislike dogmas and creeds, and are filled with a morbid dislike tocontroversial theology. He who dares to say of one doctrine that "it istrue,"andofanotherthat"it isfalse,"mustexpecttobecallednarrow-mindedanduncharitable, and to lose the praise ofmen.Nevertheless,theScripturewasnotwritteninvain.Letusexaminethemightylessonscontained in Paul's words to theHebrews. They are lessons for us—aswellasforthem.

I.First,wehavehereabroadwarning: "Donotbe carried awayby allkindsofstrangeteachings."

II. Secondly, we have here a valuable prescription: "It is good for ourheartstobestrengthenedbygrace,notbyceremonialfoods."

III.Lastly,wehavehereaninstructivefact:"Ceremonialfoodsareofnovaluetothosewhoeatthem."

OneachofthesepointsIhavesomethingtosay.Ifwepatientlyplowup

thisfieldoftruth,weshallfindthatthereisprecioustreasurehiddeninit!

1.First,wehavehereaBROADWARNING."Donotbenotcarriedawayby all kindsof strange teachings."Themeaningof thesewords isnot a hard thing to understand. "Be not tossed back and forth," theApostleseemstosay,"byeveryblastoffalseteaching,likeshipswithoutcompassorrudder.Falsedoctrineswillariseaslongastheworldlasts,inmanynumbers,withvaryingminordetails—inonepointalonealwaysthesame—strange, new, foreign, and departing from the Gospel of Christ.Theydoexistnow.TheywillalwaysbefoundwithinthevisibleChurch.Rememberthis,anddonotbecarriedaway."SuchisPaul'swarning.

The Apostle's warning does not stand alone. Even in the midst of theSermon on the Mount, there fell from the loving lips of our Savior, asolemn caution: "Watch out for false prophets! They come to you insheep'sclothing,butinwardlytheyareferociouswolves!"(Matthew7:15).EveninPaul'slastaddresstotheEphesianelders,hefindstimetowarnhisfriendsagainstfalsedoctrine:"Evenfromyourownnumber,menwillarise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them"(Acts20:30).

Notewhat theSecondEpistle to theCorinthianssays: "Iamafraidthatjust as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds maysomehowbeledastrayfromyoursincereandpuredevotiontoChrist"(2Corinthians 11:3). Note what the Epistle to the Galatians says: "I amastonishedthatyouaresoquicklydesertingtheonewhocalledyoubythegraceofChristandareturningtoadifferentgospel.""Whohasbewitchedyou?""AfterbeginningwiththeSpirit,areyounowtryingtoattainyourgoalbyhumaneffort?""Howisitthatyouareturningbacktothoseweakandmiserableprinciples?" "Youareobserving specialdaysandmonthsandseasonsandyears!""Ifearforyou.""Standfirm,then,anddonotletyourselvesbeburdenedagainbyayokeofslavery."(Galatians1:6;3:1,3;4:9,10,11;5:1).

NotewhattheEpistletotheEphesianssays:"Nolongerbeinfants,tossedbackandforthbythewaves,andblownhereandtherebyeverywindofteaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful

scheming"(Ephesians4:14).NotewhattheEpistletotheColossianssays:"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptivephilosophy,whichdependsonhumantraditionandthebasicprinciplesofthisworld,ratherthanonChrist"(Colossians2:8).NotewhattheFirstEpistletoTimothysays:"TheSpiritclearlysaysthatinlatertimessomewillabandonthefaith"(1Timothy4:1).NotewhattheSecondEpistleofPeter says: "There will be false teachers among you. They will secretlyintroducedestructiveheresies"(2Peter2:1).NotewhattheFirstEpistleofJohnsays:"Donotbelieveeveryspirit.Manyfalseprophetshavegoneout into the world" (1 John 4:1). Note what the Epistle of Jude says:"Contend for the faith thatwasonce for all entrusted to the saints.Forcertainmenhavesecretlyslippedinamongyou"(Jude1:3,4).

Thesethingswerewrittenforourlearning.Whatshallwesayaboutthesetexts?How theymay strikeothers I cannot say. I only knowhow theystrikeme.Totellus,assomedo,inthefaceofthesetexts,thattheearlyChurches were a model of perfection and purity—is absurd. Even inApostolicdays, itsappears,therewereabundanterrorsbothindoctrineandpractice.Totellus,asothersdo,thatpastorsoughtnevertohandlecontroversialsubjects,andnevertowarntheirpeopleagainsterroneousviews—issenselessandunreasonable.Ifwedidthisthenwewouldhaveto ignore most of the New Testament. Surely the dumb dog and thesleepingshepherdarethebestalliesofthewolf,thethief,andtherobber!It isnotfornothingthatPaulsays,"Ifyoupointthesethingsouttothebrothers,youwillbeagoodministerofChristJesus"(1Timothy4:6).

Aplainwarningagainstfalsedoctrineisespeciallyneededinthepresentday.TheschoolofthePharisees,andtheschooloftheSadducees,thoseancient mothers of all mischief, were never more active than they arenow! Between those who bury truth under additions—and those whomutilateitbysubtractions;betweensuperstition—andinfidelity;betweenRoman Catholicism—and New Theology; between Ritualism—andRationalism; between these upper and lower millstones the Gospel isnearbeingcrushedtodeath!

Strange views are continually propounded by pastors about subjects ofthedeepestimportance.Abouttheatonement,thedivinityofChrist, theinspiration of the Bible, the reality of miracles, the eternity of future

punishment,abouttheChurch,theministerialoffice,theLord'sSupper,Baptism,theconfessional,thehonorduetotheVirginMary,prayersforthe dead. About all these things there is nothing too outrageous to betaught by some ministers in these latter days. By the pen and by thetongue,bythepressandbythepulpit,thecountryisincessantlydelugedwithafloodoferroneousopinions.Toignorethefactismereblindness!Othersseeit,evenifwepretendtobeignorantofit.Thedangerisreal,great, and unmistakable! Never was it so needful to say, "Do not becarriedawaybyallkindsofstrangeteachings!"

Many things combine to make the present inroad of false doctrinepeculiarlydangerous.Thereisanundeniablezealinsomeoftheteachersoferror—andtheir"earnestness"makesmanythink theymustberight.Thereisagreatappearanceoflearningandtheologicalknowledge—andmany imaginethatsuchcleverand intellectualmenmustsurelybesafeguides.There is a general tendency to free thoughtand free inquiry inthese latter days—and many like to prove their independence ofjudgment,bybelievingnovelties.Thereisawide-spreaddesiretoappearcharitableand liberal-minded—andmany seemhalf ashamedof sayingthatanybodycanbeinthewrong.Thereisagreatquantityofhalf-truthtaught by the modern false teachers—and they are incessantly usingScripturaltermsandphrasesinanunscripturalsense.Thereisamorbidcravinginthepublicmindforamoresensuous,ceremonial,sensational,showyworship—andmenare impatientof inward, invisibleheart-work.There is a silly readiness in every direction—to believe everybody whotalkscleverly,lovingly,andearnestly—andadeterminationtoforgetthatSatan oftenmasquerades himself "as an angel of light" (2 Corinthians11:14).Thereisawide-spread"gullibility"amongprofessingChristians—andeveryhereticwhotellshisstoryplausiblyissuretobebelieved—andeverybodywhodoubtshimiscalledabigotandanarrow-mindedman.

Allthesethingsarepeculiarsymptomsofourtimes.Idefyanyobservingpersontodenythem.Theytendtomaketheassaultsoffalsedoctrineinourdaypeculiarlydangerous.Theymakeitmorethaneverneedfultocryaloud,"Donotbecarriedawaybyallkindsofstrangeteachings!"

If any one should ask me, What is the best safeguard against falsedoctrine? I answer in one word, "The Bible—the Bible regularly read,

regularly prayed over, regularly studied." We must go back to the oldprescriptionofourMaster:"DiligentlystudytheScriptures"(John5:39).IfwewantaweapontowieldagainsttheplansofSatan,thereisnothinglike "the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God." But to wield itsuccessfully, we must read it habitually, diligently, intelligently, andprayerfully.Thisisapointonwhich,Ifear,manyfail.Inanageofhurryandactivity, few read theirBibles asmuchas they should.Morebooksperhapsarereadthanever—but lessof theoneBookwhichmakesmanwisetosalvation!

TheRomanCatholicChurch andnew theology, couldneverhavemadesuchhavoc intheChurch inthe last fiftyyears—if therehadnotbeenamost superficial knowledge of the Scriptures throughout the land. ABible-readingcongregationisthestrengthofaChurch."DiligentlystudytheScriptures!"

Great are the difficulties of unbelief—it requires more faith to be anunbeliever than a Christian. But greater still are the difficulties ofRationalism. Free handling of Scripture—results of modern criticism—broad and liberal theology—all these are fine, swelling, high-soundingphrases,whichpleasesomeminds,andlookverygrandatadistance.Butthemanwholooksbelowthesurfaceofthingswillsoonfindthatthereisnosurestanding-groundbetweenultra-RationalismandAtheism.

"DiligentlystudytheScriptures."MarkwhataconspicuousabsencethereisintheNewTestamentofwhatmaybecalledtheSacramentalsystem,and the whole circle ofRitualistic theology. Mark how extremely littlethere is said about the effects ofBaptism. Mark how very seldom theLord'sSupperismentionedintheEpistles.Find,ifyoucan,asingletextinwhichNewTestamentministers are called sacrificing priests, or theLord's Supper is calledasacrifice, or private confession toministers isrecommended and practiced. Turn, if you can, to one single verse inwhich sacrificialvestmentsare named as desirable, or inwhich lightedcandles, and pots of flowers on the Lord's Table, or processions, andincense,andflags,andbanners,andbowingdowntothebreadandwine,orprayertotheVirginMaryandtheangels,aresanctioned.Markthesethingswell,andyouwillfinditveryhardtobeaRitualist!Youmayfindyour authority forRitualism in garbledquotations from theFathers, in

long extracts frommonkish mystics, or from Popes—but you certainlywillnotfindit intheBible!BetweentheplainBible,honestlyandfairlyinterpreted, and extreme Ritualism—there is gulf which cannot bepassed.

"Ifwewouldnotbe carriedawaybyall kindsof strange teachings,"wemustrememberthewordsofourLordJesusChrist:"DiligentlystudytheScriptures." Ignorance of the Bible is the root of all error.Knowledge of the Bible is the best antidote against modernheresies.

II. I now proceed to examine Paul's VALUABLEPRESCRIPTION:"Itisgoodforourheartstobestrengthenedbygrace,notbyceremonialfoods."Therearetwowordsinthisprescriptionwhichrequirea littleexplanation.A rightunderstandingof them isabsolutelyessential to a proper use of theApostle's advice.One of thesewords is"foods,"andtheotheris"grace."

Toseethefullforceoftheword"foods"wemustremembertheimmenseimportanceattachedbymanyJewishChristianstothedistinctionsoftheceremonial law about food. The flesh of some animals and birds,according toLeviticus,mightbeeaten—andthatofothersmightnotbeeaten. Some foods were, consequently, called "clean," and others werecalled "unclean."Toeat certainkindsof fleshmadeaJewceremoniallyunholybeforeGod,andnostrictJewwouldtouchandeatsuchfoodonanyaccount.Nowwerethesedistinctionsstilltobekeptup,afterChristascended into heaven—or were they done away by the Gospel? WereheathenconvertsunderanyobligationtoattendtotheceremonialoftheLeviticallawaboutfood?WereJewishChristiansobligedtobeasstrictaboutthefoodstheyate—astheywerebeforeChristdied,andtheveilofthetemplewastornintwo?Wastheceremoniallawaboutfoodsentirelydoneaway—orwas itnot?Was theconscienceofabeliever in the LordJesustobetroubledwithfear,lesthisfoodshoulddefilehim?

Questions like theseappear tohave formedoneof thegreat subjectsofcontroversy in theApostolic times.As isoften thecase, theyassumedaplaceentirelyoutofproportiontotheirrealimportance.TheApostlePaulfounditneedfultohandlethesubjectinnolessthanthreeofhisEpistles

totheChurches."Food,"hesays,"doesnotbringusnear toGod." "Thekingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking." "Do not letanyonejudgeyoubywhatyoueatordrink."(1Corinthians8:8;Romans14:17;Colossians2:16).Nothingshowsthefallennatureofmansoclearly—as the readiness ofmorbid and scrupulous consciences to turn triflesintoseriousthings.At last the controversy seems tohave spread so farand obtained such dimensions, that "foods" became an expression todenoteanythingceremonialaddedtotheGospelasathingofprimaryimportance,anyRitualtriflethrustoutofitslawfulplaceandmagnifiedinto an essential of religion. In this sense, I believe, thewordmust betakeninthetextnowbeforeus.

By "foods" Paul means "ceremonial observances," either whollyinvented by man, or else built on Mosaic precepts which have beenabrogatedandsupersededby theGospel. It is anexpressionwhichwaswell understood in theApostolic days. Theword"grace"on the otherhand,seemstobeemployedasacomprehensivedescriptionofthewholeGospelofJesusChrist.OfthatgloriousGospel,graceisthemainfeature,grace in the original scheme, grace in the execution, grace in theapplication toman's soul. Grace is the fountain of life fromwhich oursalvation flows. Grace is the agency through which our spiritual life iskeptup.

Arewejustified?Itisbygrace.

Arewecalled?Itisbygrace.

Haveweforgiveness?Itisthroughtherichesofgrace.

Havewegoodhope?Itisthroughgrace.

Dowebelieve?Itisthroughgrace.

Areweelect?Itisbytheelectionofgrace.

Arewesaved?Itisbygrace.

WhyshouldIsaymore?Thetimewouldfailmetoexhibitfullythepartwhichgracedoesinthewholeworkofredemption.NowonderthatPaul

says to theRomans, "Wearenotunder the law,butundergrace!"AndtellsTitus,"ThegraceofGodwhichbringssalvationhasappearedtoallmen."(Romans3:24;Galatians1:15;Ephesians1:7;2Thessalonians2:16;Acts18:27;Romans1:15;Ephesians2:5;Romans6:15;Titus2:11).

Such are the twogreatprincipleswhichPaul puts in strongcontrast inthe prescription we are now considering. He places opposite to oneanother "foods" and "grace"; Ceremonialism and theGospel; RitualismandthefreeloveofGodinChristJesus.Andthenhelaysdownthegreatprinciple that it is by "grace," and "not foods," that the heart isstrengthened.

Now "strengthening of the heart" is one of the great wants of manyprofessing Christians. Especially is it longed after by those whoseknowledge is imperfect,andwhoseconscience ishalfenlightened.Suchpeopleoftenfeelinthemselvesmuchindwellingsin,andatthesametimesee very indistinctly God's remedy and Christ's fullness. Their faith isfeeble,theirhopedim,andtheirconsolationssmall.Theywanttorealizemoretangiblecomfort.Theyfancytheyoughttofeelmoreandseemore.They are not at ease. They cannot attain to joy and peace in believing.Where shall they turn?What shall set their consciences at rest? Thencomes the enemy of souls, and suggests some shortcut road toestablishment.Hehintsatthevalueofsomeadditiontothesimpleplanof theGospel, someman-madegimmick, someexaggerationof a truth,someflesh-satisfyinginvention,someimprovementontheoldpath—andwhispers,"Onlyusethis,andyoushallbestrengthened."Plausibleoffersflowinatthesametimefromeveryquarter,likequackmedicines.Eachhasitsownpatronsandadvocates.Oneverysidethepoorunstablesoulhears invitations to move in some particular direction, and then shallcomeperfectstrength.

"Come to us!" says theRomanCatholic. "Join theCatholicChurch, theChurchontheRock,theone,true,holyChurch;theChurchthatcannoterr.Cometoherbosom,andrestyoursoulinherprotection.Cometous,andyouwillfindstrength!"

"Come to us!" says the extreme Ritualist. "You need higher and fullerviewsofthepriesthoodandtheSacraments,oftheRealPresence inthe

Lord's Supper, of the soothing influence of daily service, dailymasses,confession to priests, and priestly absolution. Come and take up soundChurchviews,andyouwillfindstrength!"

"Cometous,"saystheviolentLiberationist."Castoff thetraditionsandrulesofestablishedChurches.Enjoyreligiousliberty.ThrowawayformsandPrayer-books.Joinourparty.Cast inyour lotwithus,andyouwillsoonbestrengthened."

"Cometous!"saythePlymouthBrethren."Shakeoffall thebondageofcreedsandChurchesandsystems.Wewillsoonshowyouhigher,deeper,more exalting,more enlightened views of truth. Join the brethren, andyouwillsoonbestrengthened!"

"Cometous!"saystheRationalist."Layasidetheoldworn-outclothesofunfruitfulschemesofChristianity.Giveyourreasonfreescopeandplay.Begin a freer mode of handling Scripture. Be no more a slave to anancientoldbook.Breakyourchains—andyoushallbestrengthened!"

EveryexperiencedChristianknowswell,thatsuchappealsareconstantlymadetounsettledmindsinthepresentday.Whohasnotseenthat,whenboldly and confidently made, they produce a painful effect on somepeople?Who has not observed that they often beguile unstable souls—andleadthemintomiseryforyears?

"What does the Scripture say?" This is the only sure guide.HearwhatPaul says.Heart strength is not to be obtained by joining this party orthat.Itcomes"bygrace,andnotbyfoods."Otherthingshavea"showofwisdom" perhaps, and give a temporary satisfaction "to the flesh."(Colossians2:23).Buttheyhavenohealingpowerabouttheminreality,andleavetheunhappymanwhotruststhemnothingbettered—butratherworse.

AclearerknowledgeoftheDivineschemeofgrace,itseternalpurposes,itsapplicationtomanbyChrist'sredeemingwork;afirmergraspofthedoctrineofgrace,ofGod'sfreeloveinChrist,ofChrist'sfullandcompletesatisfaction for sin, of justification by simple faith, a more intimateacquaintancewithChristtheGiverandFountainofgrace,Hisoffices,His

sympathy,Hispower;amorethoroughexperienceoftheinwardworkofgrace in the heart—this, this, this is the grand secret of heart strength.This is the old path of peace. This is the true panacea for restlessconsciences. It may seem at first too simple, too easy, too cheap, toocommonplace,tooplain.Butallthewisdomofmanwillnevershowtheheavy-ladenabetterroadtoheart-rest.

Secretprideandself-righteousness, I fear,are toooftenthereasonwhythisgoodoldroad isnotused. Ibelieve thereneverwasa timewhen itwasmoreneedfultoupholdtheoldApostolicprescriptionthanitisinthepresent day. Never were there so many weak and worried Christianswanderingabout, and tossed toand fro, from lackofknowledge.Neverwas it so important for faithful ministers to set the trumpet to theirmouths and proclaim everywhere, "Grace, grace, grace, not foods,establishestheheart."

From the days of the Apostles there have never been a lack of quackspiritualdoctors,whohaveprofessed toheal thewoundsof consciencewithman-maderemedies.InourownbelovedChurchtherehavealwaysbeensomewhohaveinheartturnedbacktoEgypt,and,notcontentwiththe simplicity of our worship, have hankered after the ceremonialfleshpots of the Catholic Church. To hear the Sacraments incessantlyexalted,andpreachingplayeddown;toseetheLord'sSupperturnedintoan idol, under the pretext of making it more honorable; to find plainworship overlaid with somany newfangled ornaments and ceremoniesthatitsessentialsarequiteburied—howcommonisallthis!Thesethingswere once a pestilence which walked in darkness. They are now adestructionwhichwastes in noonday. They are the joy of our enemies,the sorrow of the Church's best children, the damage of EnglishChristianity,theplagueofourtimes.Andtowhatmaytheyallbetraced?Theneglect and the forgetfulnessofPaul's simpleprescription: "Grace,andnotfoods,strengthenstheheart."

Let us take heed that in our own personal religion, grace is all. Let ushave clear systematic views of theGospel of the grace ofGod.Nothingelsewilldogoodinthehourofsickness,inthedayoftrial,onthebedofdeath—intheswellingsofJordan.Christdwellinginourheartsbyfaith,Christ's free grace the only foundationunder the soles of our feet—this

alonewillgivepeace.Oncelet inself,andforms,andman's inventions,asanecessarypartofourreligion—andweareonaquicksand!Wemaybeamused,excited,orkeptquietforatime,likechildrenwithtoys,byareligionof "foods." Such a religionhas "a showofwisdom."But unlessour religion is one in which "grace" is all—we shall never feelstrengthened.

III. In the lastplace, Iproceed toexamine the INSTRUCTIVEFACTwhichPaulrecords.Hesays,"Ceremonialfoodsareofnovaluetothosewhoeatthem."

We have no means of knowing whether the Apostle, in using thislanguage,referredtoanyparticularChurches,orindividuals.Ofcourseitis possible thathehad in view the JudaizingChristians ofAntioch andGalatia,ortheEphesiansofwhomhespeakstoTimothyinhispastoralEpistle;ortheColossianswhocausedhimsomuchinwardconflict;ortheHebrewbelieversineveryChurch,withoutexception.Itseemstomefarmoreprobable,however,thathehadnoparticularChurchorChurchesinview.Iratherthinkthathemakesabroad,general,sweepingstatementaboutallwhoinanyplacehadexaltedceremoniesattheexpenseof thedoctrines of "grace." And hemakes a wide declaration about them all.Theyhavegottennogoodfromtheirfavoritenotions.Theyhavenotbeenmore inwardly happy, more outwardly holy, or more generally useful.Theirreligionhasbeenmostunprofitabletothem.

Man-madealterationsofGod'spreciousmedicineforsinners;man-madeadditions to Christ's glorious Gospel, however greatly defended andplausibly supported, do no real good to those who adopt them. Theyconfer no increased inward comfort; they bring no growth of realholiness;theygivenoenlargedusefulnesstotheChurchandtheworld.

Calmly,quietly,andmildly—butfirmly,decidedly,andunflinchingly,theassertion ismade, "Ceremonial foods are of no value to those who eatthem." The whole stream of Church history abundantly confirms thetruth of the Apostle's position.Who has not heard of the hermits andasceticsoftheearlycenturies?WhohasnotheardofthemonksandnunsandreclusesoftheRomanCatholicChurchinthemiddleages?Whohasnotheardof theburningzeal, thedevoted self-denialofRomanists likeXavier, and Ignatius Loyola? The earnestness, the fervor, the self-sacrificeofall these classes, aremattersbeyonddispute.Butnonewhoread the records of their lives carefully and intelligently, can fail to seethat theyhadno solid peace or inward rest of soul. Their very feverishrestlessness is enough to show that their conscienceswere not at ease.Nonecanfailtoseethat,withalltheirfuriouszealandself-denial,theynever did much good to the world. They gathered round themselvesadmiring partisans. They left a high reputation for self-denial andsincerity. They made men wonder at them while they lived, andsometimes canonize them when they died. But they did nothing toconvertsouls.

Andwhatisthereasonofthis?Theyattachedanoverweeningimportancetoman-made ritual and ceremonies, andmade less than they ought tohavedoneoftheGospelofthegraceofGod.Theirprinciplewastomakemuchof"ceremony,"andlittleof"grace."HencetheyverifiedthewordsofPaul,"Ceremonialfoodsareofnovaluetothosewhoeatthem."

TheveryhistoryofourowntimesbearsastrikingtestimonytothetruthofPaul'sassertion.Inthelasttwenty-fiveyears,scoresofclergymenhaveseceded from the Church of England, and joined the Church of Rome.They wanted more of what they called Catholic doctrine and Catholicceremonial.Theyhonestlyacteduptotheirprinciples,andwentovertoRome. They were not all weak, and illiterate, and second-rate, andinferiormen; several of themweremen of commanding talents,whosegiftswouldhavewonforthemahighpositioninanyprofession.Yetwhathave they gained by the step they have taken? What profit have theyfound in leaving "grace" for "ceremonies," in exchanging ProtestantismforCatholicism?Havetheyattainedahigherstandardofholiness?Havethey procured for themselves a greater degree of usefulness? The

religioussystemwhichexaltsceremoniesandman-maderitual,doesnorealgoodtoitsadherents,comparedtothesimpleoldGospelofthegraceofGod.

Letusturnnow,forafewmoments,totheothersideofthepicture,andseewhat"grace"hasdone.LetushearhowprofitablethedoctrinesoftheGospelhaveprovedtothosewhohaveclungfirmlytothem,andhavenottried tomendand improveandpatchthemupbyadding,asessentials,the"foods"ofman-madeceremonies.

Itwas"grace,andnotfoods,"whichmadeMartinLutherdotheworkthathedidintheworld.Thekeytoallhissuccesswashisconstantdeclarationofjustificationbyfaith,withoutthedeedsofthelaw.ThiswasthetruthwhichenabledhimtobreakthechainsofRome,andletlightintoEurope.

It was "grace, and not ceremonial foods," which made our Englishmartyrs,LatimerandHooper,exercisesomightyaninfluenceinlife,andshinesobrightlyindeath.Theysawclearly,andtaughtplainly,thetruepriesthood of Christ, and salvation only by grace. They honored God'sgrace—andGodputhonoronthem.

Itwas"grace,andnotceremonialfoods,"thatmadeRomaineandVenn,and their companions, turn the world upside down in England, onehundred years ago. In themselves they were not men of extraordinarylearningorintellectualpower.Buttheyrevivedandbroughtoutagaintherealpuredoctrinesofgrace.

Itwas"grace,andnotceremonial foods," thatmadeSimeonandDanielWilson and Bickersteth such striking instruments of usefulness in thefirsthalfof thepresentcentury.God's freegracewasthegreat truthonwhichtheyrelied,andcontinuallybroughtforward.ForsodoingGodputhonoron them.TheymademuchofGod'sgrace—and theGodofgracemademuchofthem.

Thelistofministerialbiographiestellsastrikingtale.Whoarethosewhohave shaken the world, and left their mark on their generation, andarousedconsciences,andconvertedsinners,andedifiedsaints?Notthosewho have made asceticism, and ceremonials, and sacraments, and

services,andordinancesthemainthing;butthosewhohavemademostofGod's free grace! In a day of strife, and controversy, anddoubt, andperplexity,menforgetthis.

Factsarestubbornthings.Letuslookcalmlyatthem,andbenotmovedby those who tell us that daily services, processions, incense, bowings,crossings, confessions, absolutions, and the like, are the secret of aprosperousChristianity. Let us look at plain facts. Facts in old history,and facts in modern days, facts in every part of England, support theassertion of Paul. The religion of "ceremonial foods" does "not profitthosethatareoccupiedtherein."It is thereligionofgracewhichbringsinwardpeace,outwardholiness,andgeneralusefulness.

Let me wind up this paper with a few words of PRACTICALAPPLICATION.Weare living inanageofpeculiar religiousdanger. Iam quite sure that the advice I am going to offer deserves seriousattention.

(1) In the first place, let us not be surprised at the rise andprogressoffalsedoctrine.It isathingasoldastheoldApostles.Itbeganbefore theydied.Theypredicted that therewouldbeplenty of itbeforetheendoftheworld.ItiswiselyorderedbyGod,forthetestingofourgrace,andtoprovewhohasrealfaith.Iftherewerenosuchthingasfalsedoctrineorheresyuponearth—IwouldbegintothinktheBiblewasnottrue.

(2)In thenextplace, letusmakeupourminds toresist falsedoctrine, and not to be carried away by fashion and badexample.Letusnotflinch,becauseallaroundus,highandlow,richandpoor, are swept away, like geese in a flood, before a torrent ofCatholicism.Letusbefirmandstandourground.

Let us resist false doctrine, and contend earnestly for the faith oncedeliveredtothesaints.LetusnotbeashamedofshowingourcolorsandstandingoutforNewTestamenttruth.Letusnotbestoppedbythealarmcry of "controversy." The thief likes dogs which do not bark, andwatchmenwhichgivenoalarm.Thedevil is a thiefanda robber. Ifwe

hold our peace, and do not resist false doctrine—we please him anddispleaseGod.

(3) In thenextplace, letus try topreserve theoldProtestantprinciplesof theChurch, and to hand themdownuninjured to ourchildren's children. Let us not listen to those faint-hearted Churchmenwhowouldhaveusforsaketheship,anddeserttheChurchinhertimeofneed.

(4)Inthelastplace,letusmakesureworkofourownpersonalsalvation. Letus seek toknowand feel thatweourselvesare "saved."Thedayofcontroversy isalwaysadayofspiritualperil.Menareapttoconfoundorthodoxywithconversion,andto fancy that theymustgo toheaveniftheyknowhowtoanswerCatholicPriests.Yetmereearnestnesswithoutknowledge,andmerehead-knowledgeoftruedoctrine,alikesavenone.Letusneverforgetthis.

Let us not rest until we feel the blood of Christ sprinkled on ourconsciences,andhavethewitnessoftheSpiritwithinusthatwearebornagain.This is reality.This is truereligion.Thiswill last.Thiswillneverfailus.Itisthepossessionofgraceintheheart,andnottheintellectualknowledgeofdoctrine,whichaloneprofitsandsavesthesoul.

TheFallibilityofMinisters

"WhenPetercametoAntioch,Iopposedhimtohisface,becausehewasclearlyinthewrong.BeforecertainmencamefromJames,heusedtoeatwith the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back andseparate himself from theGentiles because hewas afraid of thosewhobelonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in hishypocrisy,sothatbytheirhypocrisyevenBarnabaswasledastray.WhenIsawthattheywerenotactinginlinewiththetruthofthegospel,IsaidtoPeterinfrontofthemall,"YouareaJew,yetyoulivelikeaGentileandnot likeaJew.How is it, then, thatyou forceGentiles to followJewish

customs?"WewhoareJewsbybirthandnot'Gentilesinners'knowthatamanisnotjustifiedbyobservingthelaw,butbyfaithinJesusChrist.Sowe, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus thatwemay be justified byfaithinChristandnotbyobservingthelaw,becausebyobservingthelawnoonewillbejustified."Galatians2:11-16

Haveweever consideredwhat theApostlePeterdidatAntioch? It is aquestionthatdeservesseriousconsideration.

WhattheApostlePeterdidatRomeweareoftentold,althoughwehavehardly a jot of authentic information about it. Legends, traditions, andfablesaboundonthesubject.Butunhappilyforthesewriters,Scriptureisutterlysilentuponthepoint.There isnothing inScripturetoshowthattheApostlePetereverwasatRomeatall!

ButwhatdidtheApostlePeterdoatAntioch?ThisisthepointtowhichIwant to direct attention. This is the subject from the passage from theEpistle to the Galatians, which heads this paper. On this point, at anyrate,theScripturespeaksclearlyandunmistakably.

The six verses of the passage before us are striking onmany accounts.They are striking, ifwe consider theeventwhich they describe: here isoneApostlerebukinganother!Theyarestriking,whenweconsiderwhothe twomen are: Paul, the younger, rebukes Peter the elder! They arestriking, when we remark the occasion: this was no glaring fault, noflagrantsin,atfirstsight,thatPeterhadcommitted!YettheApostlePaulsays,"Iopposedhimtohisface,becausehewasclearlyinthewrong."Hedoesmore than this—he reprovesPeter publicly forhis error before alltheChurchatAntioch.Hegoesevenfurther—hewritesanaccountofthematter,whichisnowreadintwohundredlanguagesallovertheworld!

It ismy firmconviction that theHolySpiritwantsus to takeparticularnoticeofthispassageofScripture.IfChristianityhadbeenaninventionofman,thesethingswouldneverhavebeenrecorded.AnimpostorwouldhavehushedupthedifferencebetweentwoApostles.TheSpiritoftruthhas caused these verses to bewritten for our learning, andwe shall dowelltotakeheedtotheircontents.

There are three great lessons fromAntioch, which I thinkwe ought tolearnfromthispassage.

I.Thefirstlessonis,"Thatgreatministersmaymakegreatmistakes."

II.Thesecondis,"ThattokeepthetruthofChristinHisChurchisevenmoreimportantthantokeeppeace."

III.Thethirdis,"Thatthereisnodoctrineaboutwhichweoughttobesoprotectiveabout,asjustificationbyfaithwithoutthedeedsofthelaw."

I.The firstgreat lessonwe learn fromAntioch is, "Thatgreatministersmaymake greatmistakes." What clearer proof can wehave,thanthatwhichissetbeforeusinthisplace?Peter,withoutdoubt,was one of the greatest in the companyof theApostles.Hewas an olddisciple. He was a disciple who had had peculiar advantages andprivileges.HehadbeenaconstantcompanionoftheLordJesus.HehadheardtheLordpreach,seentheLordworkmiracles,enjoyedthebenefitoftheLord'sprivateteaching,beennumberedamongtheLord'sintimatefriends,andgoneoutandcomeinwithHimall thetimeHeministeredupon earth. He was the Apostle to whom the keys of the kingdom ofheavenweregiven,andbywhosehandthosekeyswerefirstused.HewasthefirstwhoopenedthedooroffaithtotheJews,bypreachingtothemonthedayofPentecost.HewasthefirstwhoopenedthedooroffaithtotheGentiles,bygoing to thehouseofCornelius,andreceivinghim intotheChurch.Hewasthe first toriseup intheCouncilof the fifteenthofActs,andsay,"WhydoyoutrytotestGodbyputtingonthenecksofthedisciplesayokethatneitherwenorourfathershavebeenabletobear?"AndyetherethisveryPeter,thissameApostle,plainlyfalls intoagreatmistake!

TheApostlePaultellsus,"Iopposedhimtohisface."Hetellsus"becausehe was clearly in the wrong." He says "he was afraid of those whobelongedtothecircumcisiongroup."Hesaysofhimandhiscompanions,that"theywerenotactinginlinewiththetruthofthegospel."Hespeaksoftheir"hypocrisy."HetellsusthatbythishypocrisyevenBarnabas,hisoldcompanioninmissionarylabors,"wasledastray."Whatastrikingfactthisis.ThisisSimonPeter!Thisisthethirdgreaterrorofhis,whichthe

Holy Spirit has thought fit to record!Oncewe find him trying to keepbackourLord,as farashecould, fromthegreatworkof thecross,andseverelyrebukedHim.ThenwefindhimdenyingtheLordthreetimes—andwithanoath!HereagainwefindhimendangeringtheleadingtruthofChrist'sGospel.Surelywemaysay,"Lord,whatisman!"Letusnote,that of all the Apostles there is not one, excepting, of course, JudasIscariot,ofwhomwehavesomanyproofsthathewasafallibleman.

(Note:Itiscurioustoobservetheshiftstowhichsomewritershavebeenreduced,inordertoexplainawaytheplainmeaningoftheverseswhichhead thispaper. Somehavemaintained thatPauldidnot really rebukePeter, but only faked it, for show and appearance sake! Others havemaintained that it was not Peter the Apostle who was rebuked, butanotherPeter—oneoftheseventy!Suchinterpretationsneednoremark.Theyaresimplyabsurd.ThetruthisthattheplainhonestmeaningoftheversesstrikesaheavyblowatthefavoriteRomanCatholicdoctrineoftheprimacyandsuperiorityofPeterovertherestoftheApostles.)

ButitisallmeanttoteachusthateventheApostlesthemselves,whennotwritingunder the inspirationof theHolySpirit,were at times liable toerr.Itismeanttoteachusthatthebestmenareweakandfallible,solongastheyareinthebody.UnlessthegraceofGodholdsthemup,anyoneofthemmaygoastrayatanytime.It isveryhumbling,but it isverytrue.True Christians are converted, justified, and sanctified. They are livingmembers of Christ, beloved children of God, and heirs of eternal life.They are elect, chosen, called, and kept unto salvation. They have theSpirit.Buttheyarenotinfallible!

Willnotecclesiasticalrankanddignityconferinfallibility?No—theywillnot! It matters nothing what a man is called. He may be a Preacher,Minister,orDeacon.Heisstillafallibleman!Neithertheeducation,northeanointingoil,northelayingonofhands,canpreventamanmakingmistakes.

Willnotnumbersconferinfallibility?No—theywillnot!Youmaygathertogetherprincesby the score, andministersby thehundred;but,whengatheredtogether,theyarestillliabletoerr.Youmaycallthemacouncil,or an assembly, or a conference, or whatever you please. It matters

nothing.Theirconclusionsarestilltheconclusionsoffalliblemen.Theircollectivewisdomisstillcapableofmakingenormousmistakes.

Theexampleof theApostlePeter atAntioch isone thatdoesnot standalone. It is only a parallel ofmany a case that we findwritten for ourlearning,inHolyScripture.DowenotrememberAbraham,thefatherofthe faithful, following theadviceofSarah,and takingHagar forawife?DowenotrememberAaron,thefirsthighpriest,listeningtothechildrenofIsrael,andmakingagoldencalf?DowenotrememberSolomon,thewisest of men, allowing his wives to build their high places of falseworship?DowenotrememberJehosaphat,thegoodking,goingdowntohelp wicked Ahab? Do we not remember Hezekiah, the good king,receivingtheambassadorsofBabylon?DowenotrememberJosiah, thelastofJudah'sgoodkings,goingforthtofightwithPharaoh?DowenotrememberJames and John, wanting fire to come down from heaven?These thingsdeserve tobe remembered.Theywerenotwrittenwithoutcause.Theycryaloud,"Noinfallibility!"

Andwhodoesnotsee,whenhereadsthehistoryoftheChurchofChrist,repeated proofs that the best of men can err? The early fatherswerezealous according to their knowledge, and ready to die for Christ. Butmany of them advocated ritualism, and nearly all sowed the seeds ofmany superstitions. The Reformers were honored instruments in thehandofGod for reviving the causeof truthon earth.Yethardlyoneofthemcanbenamedwhodidnotmakesomegreatmistake.Lutherheldtightlytothedoctrineofconsubstantiation.Melancthonwasoftentimidand undecided. Calvin permitted Servetus to be burned. Cranmerrecantedandfellawayforatimefromhisfirstfaith.JewellsubscribedtoRomanCatholicChurchdoctrinesforfearofdeath.HooperdisturbedtheChurchofEnglandbydemandingtheneedtowearceremonialvestmentswhen ministering. The Puritans, in later times, denounced Christianliberty and freedoms as doctrines from the pit of Hell. Wesley andToplady, last century, abused each other in most shameful language.Irving,inourownday,gavewaytothedelusionofspeakinginunknowntongues.

All thesethingsspeakwitha loudvoice.Theyall liftupabeacontotheChurchofChrist.Theyall say, "Donot trustman; callnomanmaster;

callnomanfatheronearth;letnomangloryinman."Hewhoglories,lethimgloryintheLord."Theyallcry—"Noinfallibility!"Thelessonisonethatweallneed.Weareallnaturallyinclinedtoleanuponmanwhomwecansee,ratherthanuponGodwhomwecannotsee.WenaturallylovetoleanupontheministersofthevisibleChurch,ratherthanupontheLordJesus Christ, the great Shepherd andHigh Priest, who is invisible.Weneedtobecontinuallywarnedandsetonourguard.

Iseethistendencytoleanonmaneverywhere.Iknownobranchof theProtestantChurchofChristwhichdoesnotrequiretobecautioneduponthepoint.ItisasnaretotheScottishChristianstopintheirfaithonJohnKnox.ItisasnaretotheMethodistsinourdaytoworshipthememoryofJohnWesley.Allthesearesnares,andintothesesnareshowmanyfall!

Weallnaturallylovetohaveapopeofourown.Wearefartooreadytothink, that because some great minister or some learned man says athing,orbecauseourownminister,whomwelove,saysathing—that itmustberight,withoutexaminingwhetheritisinScriptureornot.Mostmendislikethetroubleofthinkingforthemselves.Theylikefollowingaleader.Theyarelikesheep,whenonegoesoverthehillalltherestfollow.HereatAntiochevenBarnabaswascarriedaway.Wecanwellfancythatgoodman saying, "An old Apostle, like Peter, surely cannot be wrong.Followinghim,Icannoterr."

And now let us seewhatPRACTICALLESSONSwemay learn fromthispartofoursubject.

(a)Foronething,letuslearnnottoputimplicitconfidenceinany man's opinion, merely because he lived many hundredyears ago. "When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face,because he was clearly in the wrong." Galatians 2:11. Peter was amanwholived inthetimeofChristHimself,andyethecoulderr.Therearemany who talk much in the present day about the voice of the earlyChurch.Theywouldhaveusbelievethatthosewholivednearestthetimeof the Apostles, must of course know more about truth than we can.There is no foundation for any such opinion. It is a fact, that themostancientwritersinthetrueChurchofChristareoftenatvariancewithoneanother. It is a fact that they often changed their own minds, and

retracted their own former opinions. It is a fact that they often wrotefoolish and weak things, and often showed great ignorance in theirexplanations of Scripture. It is vain to expect to find them free frommistakes. Infallibility isnot tobe found in the early fathers—but in theBiblealone!

(b) For another thing, let us learn not to put implicitconfidence inanyman'sopinion,merelybecauseofhisofficeas aminister. Peter was one of the very chief Apostles—and yet hecoulderr.Thisisapointonwhichmenhavecontinuallygoneastray.ItistherockonwhichtheearlyChurchstruck.Mensoontookupthesaying,"Do nothing contrary to the mind of the minister!" But what areministers, preachers, and deacons?What are the best of ministers butmen—dust, ashes, and clay—men of like passions with ourselves, menexposedtotemptations,menliabletoweaknessesandinfirmities?Whatdoes the Scripture say? "What, after all, is Apollos? Andwhat is Paul?Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord hasassignedtoeachhistask"(1Corinthians3:5).

Ministers have often driven the truth into the wilderness, and decreedthattobetrue,whichwasfalse.Thegreatesterrorshavebeenbegunbyministers! Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of the high-priest, madereligion to be abhorred by the children of Israel. Annas andCaiaphas,thoughinthedirect lineofdescentfromAaron,crucifiedtheLord.It isabsurdtosupposethatordainedmencannotgowrong.Weshouldfollowthem so far as they teach according to the Bible, but no further. Weshouldbelievethemsolongastheycansay,"Thusitiswritten,thussaystheLord,"butfurtherthanthiswearenottogo.Infallibilityisnottobefoundinordainedmen,butintheBiblealone!

(c) For another thing, let us learn not to place implicitconfidence in any man's opinion, merely because of hislearning.Peterwasamanwhohadmiraculousgifts, and could speakwiththe(thenvalid)giftoftongues—andyethecoulderr!

Thisisapointagainonwhichmanygowrong.Thisistherockonwhichmen struck in the middle ages. Men looked on Thomas Aquinas, andPeterLombard,andmanyoftheircompanions,asalmostinspired.They

gaveepithetstosomeofthemintokenoftheiradmiration.Theytalkedof"the indisputable" preacher, "the angelic"minister, "the incomparable"pastor,andseemedtothinkthatwhatevertheseministerssaid—mustbetrue!Butwhatisthemostlearnedofmen,ifheisnottaughtbytheHolySpirit?Whatisthemostlearnedofalldivines—butamerefalliblechildofAdamathisverybest?Vastknowledgeofbooks—andgreatignoranceofGod'struth—maygosidebyside!Theyhavedoneso,theymaydoso,andtheywilldosoinalltimes.

I donot doubt that the one volumeofPilgrim'sProgress, written by amanwhoknewhardlyanybookbuthisBible,andwasignorantofGreekandLatin,willproveinthelastdaytohavedonemoreforthebenefitoftheworld,thanalltheworksoftheschoolmenputtogether.Learningisagift that oughtnot tobedespised. It is an evil daywhenbooks arenotvalued in the Church. But it is amazing to observe how vast a man'sintellectualattainmentsmaybe—andyethow littlehemayknowof thegrace of God! I have no doubt the Authorities of Oxford in the lastcentury, knew more of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, than Wesley orWhitefield.ButtheyknewlittleoftheGospelofChrist.Infallibilityisnottobefoundamonglearnedmen—butintheBiblealone!

(d) For another thing, let us take care that we do not placeimplicit confidence on our own minister's opinion, howevergodlyhemaybe.Peterwasamanofmightygrace, andyethe coulderr.YourministermaybeamanofGodindeed,andworthyofallhonorforhispreachingandexample;butdonotmakeapopeofhim!Donotplacehisword sideby sidewith theWordofGod.Donot spoilhimbyflattery.Donot lethim supposehe canmakenomistakes.Donot leanyourwholeweightonhisopinion—oryoumayfindtoyourcost thathecanerr.ItiswrittenofJoash,KingofJudah,thathe"didwhatwasrightintheeyesoftheLordalltheyearsofJehoiadathepriest"(2Chronicles24:2). Jehoiadadied, and then the religion of Joash died! Just so yourministermay die, and then your religionmay die too.Hemay change,andyourreligionmaychange.Hemaygoaway,andyourreligionmaygo.Oh,donotbesatisfiedwithareligionbuiltonman!

Donot be contentwith saying, "I havehope, becausemyownministerhastoldmesuchandsuchthings."Seektobeabletosay,"Ihavehope,

becauseIfinditthusandthuswrittenintheWordofGod."Ifyourpeaceis to be solid, youmust go yourself to the fountain of all truth. If yourcomforts are to be lasting, youmust visit the well of life yourself, anddrawfreshwaterforyourownsoul.Ministersmaydepartfromthefaith.ThevisibleChurchmaybebrokenup.ButhewhohastheWordofGodwritten inhisheart,hasa foundationbeneathhis feetwhichwillneverfailhim.HonoryourministerasafaithfulambassadorofChrist.Esteemhim very highly in love for his work's sake. But never forget thatinfallibilityisnottobefoundingodlyministers—butintheBiblealone!

ThethingsIhavementionedareworthremembering.Letusbeartheminmind,andweshallhavelearnedonelessonfromAntioch.

II. I now pass on to the second lesson that we learn fromAntioch. That lesson is, "That to keep Gospel truth in theChurch—isof evengreater importance than to keeppeace." Isuppose no man knew better the value of peace and unity than theApostle Paul. He was the Apostle who wrote to the Corinthians aboutlove.Hewas theApostlewhosaid, "Live inharmonywithoneanother;liveinpeacewitheachother;theLord'sservantmustnotquarrel;ThereisonebodyandoneSpirit—justasyouwerecalledtoonehopewhenyouwerecalled—oneLord,onefaith,onebaptism."HewastheApostlewhosaid,"IhavebecomeallthingstoallmensothatbyallpossiblemeansImight save some" (Romans 12:16; 1Thessalonians5:13;Philemon3:16;Ephesians4:5;1Corinthians9:22).

Yet see howhe acts here!Hewithstands Peter to the face.He publiclyrebukeshim.Herunstheriskofalltheconsequenceswhichmightfollow.He takes thechanceofeverything thatmightbesaidby theenemiesofthe Church at Antioch. Above all, he writes it down for a perpetualmemorial, that itnevermightbeforgotten, that,wherevertheGospel ispreached throughout theworld, this public rebukeof an erringApostlemightbeknownandreadbyallmen.

Now,whydidhedothis?Becausehedreadedfalsedoctrine;becauseheknewthatalittleleavenleavensthewholelump,becausehewouldteachusthatweoughttocontendforthetruthjealously,andtofearthelossof

truthmorethanthelossofpeace.

Paul'sexample isoneweshalldowell to remember in thepresent day.Manypeoplewillputupwithanythinginreligion,iftheymayonlyhaveaquietlife.Theyhaveamorbiddreadofwhattheycall"controversy."Theyare filledwith amorbid fear ofwhat they style, in a vagueway, "partyspirit," though they never define clearly what party spirit is. They arepossessed with a morbid desire to keep peace, and make all thingssmoothandpleasant,eventhoughitisattheexpenseoftruth.

Solongastheyhaveoutwardcalm,smoothness,stillness,andorder,theyseem content to give up everything else. I believe they would havethoughtwithAhab—thatElijahwasatroublerofIsrael;andwouldhavehelpedtheprincesofJudahwhentheyputJeremiahinprison,tostophismouth.IhavenodoubtthatmanyofthesemenofwhomIspeak,wouldhavethoughtthatPaulatAntiochwasaveryimprudentman,andthathewenttoofar!Ibelievethisisallwrong.

We have no right to expect anything but the pure Gospel of Christ,unmixed and unadulterated; the same Gospel that was taught by theApostles; todogoodtothesoulsofmen.Ibelievethat tomaintainthispuretruthintheChurch—menshouldbereadytomakeanysacrifice,tohazard peace, to risk dissension, and run the chance of division. Theyshould no more tolerate false doctrine—than they would tolerate sin.They should withstand any adding to or taking away from the simplemessageoftheGospelofChrist.

For the truth's sake, our Lord Jesus Christ denounced the Pharisees,though they sat inMoses' seat, andwere the appointed and authorizedteachers of men. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, youhypocrites!" He says, eight times over, in the twenty-third chapter ofMatthew.Andwho shall dare tobreathe a suspicion that ourLordwaswrong?Forthetruth'ssake,PaulwithstoodandblamedPeter,thoughabrother.What was the use of unity—when pure doctrine is gone? Andwho shall dare to say he was wrong? For the truth's sake, Athanasiusstood out against the world to maintain the pure doctrine about thedivinityofChrist,andwagedacontroversywiththegreatmajorityoftheprofessing Church. And who shall dare to say he was wrong? For the

truth'ssake,LutherbroketheunityoftheChurchinwhichhewasborn,denounced thePopeandallhisways,and laid the foundationof anewteaching. And who shall dare to say that Luther was wrong? For thetruth's sake, Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, the English Reformers,counseledHenryVIIIandEdwardVItoseparatefromRome,andtoriskthe consequencesof division.Andwho shall dare to say that theywerewrong?Forthetruth'ssake,WhitefieldandWesley,ahundredyearsago,denounced themere barrenmoral preaching of the clergy of their day,andwentout intothehighwaysandbywaystosavesouls,knowingwellthattheywouldbecastoutfromtheChurch'scommunion.Andwhoshalldaretosaythattheywerewrong?

Yes!peacewithouttruth—isafalsepeace;itistheverypeaceofthedevil.UnitywithouttheGospelisaworthlessunity;itistheveryunityofhell.Let us never be ensnared by those who speak kindly of it. Let usremember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Do not suppose that Ihavecometobringpeacetotheearth.Ididnotcometobringpeace,butasword"(Matthew10:34)LetusrememberthepraiseHegivestooneoftheChurchesinRevelation,"Iknowthatyoucannottoleratewickedmen,thatyouhavetestedthosewhoclaimtobeapostlesbutarenot,andhavefoundthemfalse"(Revelation2:2).LetusremembertheblameHecastson another, "You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself aprophetess" (Revelation 2:20). Never let us be guilty of sacrificing anyportion of truth—on the altar of peace. Let us rather be like the Jews,who,iftheyfoundanymanuscriptcopyoftheOldTestamentScripturesincorrect in a single letter, burned thewhole copy, rather than run theriskoflosingonejotortittleoftheWordofGod.LetusbecontentwithnothingshortofthewholeGospelofChrist.

InwhatwayarewetomakePRACTICALUSEofthegeneralprincipleswhichIhave just laiddown?Iwillgivemyreadersonesimplepiece ofadvice.Ibelieveitisadvicewhichdeservesseriousconsideration.Iwarntheneveryonewholoveshissoul—tobeveryselectiveastothepreachingheregularlyhears,andtheplaceofworshipheregularlyattends.Hewhodeliberatelysettlesdownunderanyministrywhichisunsound,isaveryunwiseman.Iwillneverhesitatetospeakmymindonthispoint.Iknowwell thatmany think it a shocking thing, for aman to forsakehis local

church. I cannot see with the eyes of such people. I draw a widedistinction between teaching which is defective and teaching which isthoroughlyfalse;teachingwhichisunscriptural.ButIdobelieve,iffalsedoctrine ispreached ina local church,aChristianwho loveshis soul isquiterightinnotgoingtothatlocalchurch.Tohearunscripturalteachingfifty-two Sundays in every year is a serious thing. It is a continualdroppingofslowpoisonintothemind!Ithinkitalmostimpossibleforamanwillfullytosubmithimselftoit,andnotbeharmed.

Isee intheNewTestamentweareplainlytoldto"Testeverything"and"Holdontothatwhichisgood"(1Thessalonians5:21).IseeintheBookofProverbsthatwearecommandedto"Stoplisteningtoinstruction,myson,andyouwillstrayfromthewordsofknowledge"(Proverbs19:27).Ifthese words do not justify aman in ceasing to worship at a church, ifpositivelyfalsedoctrineispreachedinit,Idonotknowwhatwordscan.

Doesanyonemean to tell us, that to attendyour localdenominationalchurchisabsolutelyneedfultoaperson'ssalvation?Ifthereissuchaone,lethimspeakout,andgiveushisname.Doesanyonemeantotellusthatgoing to thedenominational churchwill saveanyman's soul, if hediesunconvertedandignorantofChrist?Ifthereissuchaone,lethimspeakout,andgiveushisname.Doesanyonemeantotellusthatgoingtothedenominational church will teach a man anything about Christ, orconversion, or faith, or repentance, if these subjects are hardly evernamed in the denomination church, and never properly explained? Ifthereissuchaone,lethimspeakout,andgiveushisname.Doesanyonemeantosaythatamanwhorepents,believesinChrist,isconvertedandholy,will lose his soul, because he has forsaken his denomination andlearnedhisreligionelsewhere?Ifthereissuchaone, lethimspeakout,andgiveushisname.

Formypart,Iabhorsuchmonstrousandextravagantideas.IdonotseeaspeckoffoundationforthemintheWordofGod.Itrustthatthenumberofthosewhodeliberatelyholdthemisexceedinglysmall.Therearemanychurches where the religious teaching is little better than RomanCatholicism. Ought the congregation of such churches to sit still, becontent,andtakeitquietly?Theyoughtnot.Andwhy?Because,likePaul,theyoughttoprefertruthtopeace.

Therearemanychurcheswherethereligiousteachingislittlebetterthanmorality. The distinctive doctrines of Christianity are never clearlyproclaimed.Plato,orSeneca,orConfucius,couldhave taughtalmostasmuch.Ought the congregation in such churches to sit still, be content,and take it quietly?They ought not.Andwhy?Because, likePaul, theyoughttoprefertruthtopeace.

I am using strong language in dealing with this part of my subject—Iknow it. I am treading on delicate ground—I know it. I am handlingmatterswhicharegenerallyletalone,andpassedoverinsilence—Iknowit.

I say what I say from a sense of duty to the Church of which I am aminister. I believe the state of the times, and the position of thecongregation require plain speaking. Souls are perishing, in manychurches,inignorance.Honestmembersofthechurchareconfusedandperplexed.Thisisnotimeforsmoothwords.Iamnotignorantofthosemagicexpressions, "division, schism, controversy,"and the like. Iknowthecramping, silencing influencewhich they seem to exercise on someminds.I toohaveconsideredthoseexpressionscalmlyanddeliberately,andoneachofthemIampreparedtospeakmymind.

(a)Thedenominationalchurchisanadmirablethingintheory.Letitonlybewelladministered,andworkedbytrulyspiritualministers,anditiscalculatedtoconferthegreatestblessingsonthenation.Butitisuselesstoexpectattachmenttothedenomination,whentheministerofthe denominational church is ignorant of the Gospel, or a lover of theworld. In such a casewemust never be surprised ifmen forsake theirdenomination, and seek truth wherever truth is to be found. If thedenominationalministerdoesnotpreachtheGospelandlivetheGospel,theconditionsonwhichheclaims theattentionofhis congregationarevirtuallyviolated,andhisclaimtobeheard isatanend.It isabsurdtoexpecttheheadofafamilytoendangerthesoulsofhischildren,aswellashisown—for thesakeof "thedenomination."There isnomention ofdenominationsintheBible,andwehavenorighttorequiremento liveand die in ignorance, in order that they may be able to say at last, "Ialwaysattendedmylocaldenominationalchurch."

(b) Divisions and separations in religion, are mostobjectionable. They weaken the cause of true Christianity. They giveoccasion to the enemies of all godliness to blaspheme. But before weblamepeopleforthem,wemustbecarefulthatwelaytheblamewhereitis deserved.False doctrine and heresy are evenworse than schism. Ifpeople separate themselves from teaching which is positively false andunscriptural,theyoughttobepraisedratherthanreproved.Insuchcasesseparationisavirtue—andnotasin.Itiseasytomakesneeringremarksabout "itching ears," and "love of excitement;" but it is not so easy toconvince a plain reader of the Bible that it is his duty to hear falsedoctrineeverySunday,whenbyalittleexertionhecanheartruth.

(c) Unity, quiet, and order among professing Christians aremighty blessings. They give strength, beauty, and efficiency to thecause of Christ. But even goldmay be bought too dear.Unitywhich isobtained by the sacrifice of truth, is worth nothing. It is not the unitywhichpleasesGod.TheChurchofRomeboasts loudlyofaunitywhichdoesnotdeservethename.It isunitywhichisobtainedbytakingawaytheBible fromthepeople,bygaggingprivate judgment,byencouragingignorance,byforbiddingmentothinkforthemselves.Thereisquietandstillnessenoughinthegrave,butitisnotthequietofhealth,butofdeath.Itwasthefalseprophetswhocried"Peace!"whentherewasnopeace.

(d)Controversyinreligionisahatefulthing.Itishardenoughtofightthedevil,theworldandtheflesh,withoutprivatedifferencesinourowncamp.Butthereisonethingwhichisevenworsethancontroversy,and that is false doctrine tolerated, allowed, and permitted withoutprotestorchallenge.ItwascontroversythatwonthebattleofProtestantReformation.Iftheviewsthatsomemenholdwerecorrect,itisplainweneveroughttohavehadanyReformationatall!Forthesakeofpeace,weoughttohavegoneonworshipingtheVirginMary,andbowingdowntoimages and relics to this very day! Away with such trifling! There aretimes when controversy is not only a duty—but a benefit. Giveme themightythunderstorm,ratherthanthedeadlymalaria.Theonewalksindarkness and poisons us in silence, and we are never safe. The otherfrightensandalarmsforalittlewhile.Butitissoonover,anditclearstheair.ItisaplainScripturaldutyto"contendforthefaiththatwasoncefor

allentrustedtothesaints"(Jude1:3).

IamquiteawarethatthethingsIhavesaidareexceedinglydistastefultomanyminds. Ibelievemanyarecontentwith teachingwhich isnot thewholetruth,andfancyitwillbe"allthesame"intheend.Iamsorryforthem. I am convinced that nothing but the whole truth is likely, as ageneral rule, todogood tosouls. Iamsatisfied that thosewhowillfullyputupwithanythingshortofthewholetruth,willfindatlastthattheirsouls have received much damage. There are three things whichmen never ought to trifle with: a little poison, a little falsedoctrine,andalittlesin.

I am quite aware that when aman expresses such opinions as those Ihave justbrought forward, therearemanywhoareready tosay, "HeisnotfaithfultotheChurch."Ihearsuchaccusationsunmoved.Thedayofjudgment will showwho were the true friends of the Church and whowere not. I have learned in the last thirty-two years that if a ministerleads a quiet life, leaves alone the unconverted part of the world, andpreachessoas tooffendnoneandedifynone—thathewill be calledbymany "a good pastor." And I have also learned that if a man studiesScriptures,laborscontinuallyfortheconversionofsouls,adherescloselyto the great principals of the Reformation, bears a faithful testimonyagainstRomanism,andpreachespowerful, convicting sermons—hewillprobably be thought a firebrand and "troubler of Israel." Let men saywhattheywill.TheyarethetruestfriendsoftheChurch,wholabormostforthepreservationoftruth.

Ilaythesethingsbeforethereadersofthispaper,andinvitetheirseriousattention to them. I charge them never to forget that truth is of moreimportancetoaChurchthanpeace. IaskthemtobereadytocarryouttheprinciplesIhavelaiddown,andtocontendzealously,ifneedsbe,forthetruth.Ifwedothis,weshallhavelearnedsomethingfromAntioch.

III.ButIpassontothethirdlessonfromAntioch.Thatlessonis, that "There is no doctrine about whichwe ought to be sojealousasjustificationbyfaithandnotbyobservingthelaw."

Theproof of this lesson standsoutmostprominently in the passage ofScripturewhichheads this paper.What one article of the faithhad theApostle Peter denied at Antioch?None.What doctrine had he publiclypreachedwhichwasfalse?None.What,then,hadhedone?Hehaddonethis. After once keeping company with the believing Gentiles as "heirstogetherwithIsrael,memberstogetherofonebody,andsharerstogetherinthepromiseinChristJesus"(Ephesians3:6),hesuddenlybecameshyof themandwithdrewhimself.He seemed to think theywere less holyandacceptabletoGod,thanthecircumcisedJews.Heseemedto imply,thatthebelievingGentileswereinalowerstatethanthosewhohadkeptthe ceremonies of the law of Moses. He seemed, in a word, to addsomethingtosimple faithasneedful togiveamanan interest inJesusChrist.Heseemedtoreplytothequestion,"WhatmustIdotobesaved?"notmerely "Believe in theLord Jesus," but "Believe in the Lord Jesus,andbecircumcised,andkeeptheceremoniesofthelaw."Suchconductasthis,theApostlePaulwouldnotendureforamoment.Nothingsomovedhim as the idea of adding anything to theGospel of Christ. "I opposedhim,"hesays,"tohisface."Henotonlyrebukedhim,butherecordedthewhole transaction fully, when by inspiration of the Spirit he wrote theEpistletotheGalatians.

I invite special attention to this point. I ask men to observe theremarkable jealousywhich the Apostle Paul shows about this doctrine,andtoconsiderthepointaboutwhichsuchastirwasmade.Letusmarkin thispassageofScripture, the immense importanceof justificationbyfaithandnotbykeepingthelaw.

(a) This is the doctrine which is essentially necessary to ourownpersonalcomfort.NomanonearthisarealchildofGod,andasavedsoul,untilhe seesandreceives salvationby faith inChrist Jesus.Nomanwilleverhavesolidpeaceandtrueassurance,untilheembraceswithallhisheartthedoctrinethat"wearecountedrighteousbeforeGodbecauseoftheworkofourLordJesusChristonthecross,byfaith,andnotforourownworksandgoodness."Onereason,Ibelieve,whysomanyprofessorsinthisdayaretossedtoandfro,enjoylittlecomfort,andfeellittle peace—is their ignorance on this point. They do not see clearlyjustificationbyfaithwithouttheirown"goodworks."

(b)This is thedoctrinewhich thegreatenemyof soulshates,andlaborstooverthrow.He knows that it turned theworldupsidedownatthefirstbeginningoftheGospel,inthedaysoftheApostles.Heknows that it turned the world upside down again at the time of theReformation. He is therefore always tempting men to reject it. He isalways trying to seduce Churches andministers to deny or obscure itstruth.NowonderthattheCouncilofTrent[RomanCatholicCouncilthatestablishedtheirpresentdoctrines]directed its chief attackagainst thisdoctrine, and pronounced it accursed and heretical. No wonder thatmanywhothinkthemselveslearnedinthesedays,denouncethedoctrineas theological jargon, and say that all "serious minded people" arejustifiedbyChrist,whethertheyhavefaithornot!Theplaintruthisthatthe doctrine is all bitterness and poison to unconverted hearts. It justmeets thewants of the awakened soul. But the proud unhumbledmanwho knows not his own sin, and sees not his own weakness, cannotreceiveitstruth.

(c)Thisisthedoctrine,theabsenceofwhichaccountsforhalfthe errors of theRomanCatholicChurch. The beginning of halftheunscripturaldoctrinesofCatholicismmaybetraceduptorejectionofjustificationbyfaith.NoCatholicteacher,ifheisfaithfultohisChurch,cansaytoananxioussinner,"BelieveintheLordJesus—andyouwillbesaved." He cannot do it without additions and explanations, whichcompletelydestroythegoodnews.HedarenotgivetheGospelmedicine,without adding something which destroys its effectiveness, andneutralizes its power. Purgatory, penance, priestly absolution, theintercession of saints, theworship of theVirgin, andmany otherman-made services ofRomanCatholicism, all spring from this source. Theyareallrottenpropstosupportwearyconsciences.Buttheyarerenderednecessarybythedenialofjustificationbyfaith.

(d) This is the doctrine which is absolutely essential to aminister'ssuccessamonghispeople.Obscurityonthispointspoilsall. Absence of clear statements about justification will prevent theutmostzealdoinggood.Theremaybemuchthatispleasingandniceinaminister'ssermons,muchaboutChristandunionwithHim,muchaboutself-denial,muchabouthumility,muchaboutlove.Butallthiswillprofit

little,ifhistrumpetgivesanuncertainsoundaboutjustificationbyfaith.

(e) This is the doctrine which is absolutely essential to theprosperity of a Church. No Church is really in a healthy state, inwhichthisdoctrineisnotprominentlybroughtforward.Adenominationorchurchmayhavegoodformsandregularlyordainedministers,butadenominationorchurchwillnotseeconversionofsoulsgoingonunderitspulpits,whenthisdoctrineisnotplainlypreached.Itsschoolsmaybefoundineverytown.Itschurchbuildingsmaystriketheeyeallovertheland. But there will be no blessing fromGod on that denomination orchurch—unless justification by faith is proclaimed from its pulpits.Soonerorlateritscandlestickwillbetakenaway.WhyhavetheChurchesof Africa and the East fallen to their present state? Did they not haveministers?Theyhad.Didtheynothaveformsandceremony?Theyhad.Didtheynothavecouncils?Theyhad.Buttheycastawaythedoctrineofjustificationbyfaith.Theylostsightofthatmightytruth,andsotheyfell.

Why did our own Church (Church of England) do so little in the lastcentury,andwhydidtheIndependentsandBaptistsdosomuchmore?Wasitthattheirsystemwasbetterthanours?No.WasitthatourChurchwas not sowell adapted tomeet thewants of lost souls?No. But theirministerspreachedjustificationbyfaith,andourministers,intoomanycases,didnotpreachthedoctrineatall.

WhydosomanyEnglishpeoplegotodissentingchurchesinthepresentday?WhydowesooftenseeasplendidGothiclocalchurchasemptyofworshipers as a barn in July, and a little plain brick building, called aMeetingHouse,filledtosuffocation?Isitthatpeopleingeneralhaveanyabstract dislike of formal worship, the Prayer-book, and theestablishment?Not at all! The simple reason is, in the vastmajority ofcases,thatpeopledonotlikepreachinginwhichjustificationbyfaithisnotfullyproclaimed.Whentheycannothearitinthelocalchurch—theywillseekitelsewhere.Nodoubtthereareexceptions.Nodoubtthereareplaceswhere a long course of neglect has thoroughly disgusted peoplewiththeChurch,sothattheywillnotevenheartruthfromitsministers.ButIbelieve,asageneral rule,when the localchurch isemptyand themeeting-housefull,itwillbefoundoninquirythatthereisacause.

Ifthesethingsbeso,theApostlePaulmightwellbejealousforthetruth,andopposePetertohisface.Hemightwellmaintainthatanythingoughttobesacrificed,ratherthanendangerthedoctrineofjustificationintheChurchofChrist.Hesawwithapropheticaleyecomingthings.Heleftusallanexamplethatweshoulddowelltofollow.Whateverwetolerate,letusneverallowanyinjurytobedonetothatblesseddoctrine—thatwearejustifiedbyfaithwithoutanyofourown"goodworks."

Letusalwaysbewareofany teachingwhicheitherdirectlyor indirectlyobscures justificationby faith.All religious systemswhichput anythingbetween theheavyburdenedsinnerandJesusChrist theSavior, exceptsimplefaith,aredangerousandunscriptural.Allsystemswhichmakeoutfaith to be anything complicated, anything but a simple, childlikedependence, the hand which receives the soul's medicine from thephysician, are unsafe and poisonous systems. All systems which castdiscredit on the simple Protestant doctrine which broke the power ofRoman Catholicism, carry about with them a plague-spot, and aredangeroustosouls!

BaptismisasacramentordainedbyChristHimself,andtobeusedwithreverence and respect by all professing Christians. When it is usedrightly,worthily andwith faith, it is capableofbeing the instrumentofmightyblessingstothesoul.Butwhenpeoplearetaughtthatallwhoarebaptized are as a matter of course born again, and that all baptizedpersonsshouldbeaddressedas"childrenofGod,"Ibelievetheirsoulsareingreatdanger.Suchteachingaboutbaptismappearstometooverthrowthedoctrineofjustificationbyfaith.TheyonlyarechildrenofGod—whohavefaithinChristJesus.Andallmendonothavefaith.

The Lord's Supper is a sacrament ordained by Christ Himself, andintendedfortheedificationandrefreshmentoftruebelievers.Butwhenpeople are taught that all persons ought to come to the Lord's table,whethertheyhavefaithornot;andthatallalikereceiveChrist'sbodyandbloodwhoreceive thebreadandwine, Ibelieve their soulsare ingreatdanger. Such teaching appears to me to darken the doctrine ofjustificationbyfaith.NomaneatsChrist'sbodyanddrinksChrist'sblood,exceptthejustifiedman.Andnonearejustifieduntiltheybelieve.

Membershipinthelocalchurchisagreatprivilege.Butwhenpeoplearetaughtthatbecausetheyaremembersofachurch,theyareasamatterofcoursemembersofChrist,Ibelievetheirsoulsareingreatdanger.Suchteachingappearstometooverthrowthedoctrineofjustificationbyfaith.TheyonlyarejoinedtoChristwhobelieve.Andallmendonotbelieve.

Wheneverwehearteachingwhichobscuresorcontradictsjustificationbyfaith,wemaybesurethereisascrewloosesomewhere.Weshouldwatchagainstsuchteaching,andbeuponourguard.Onceletamanturnawayfrom justification by faith alone, and he will bid a long farewell tocomfort, to peace, to lively hope, to anything like assurance in hisChristianity.Anerrorhereisdecayattheroot.

(1) In conclusion, letme first of all ask every onewho readsthis paper, to armhimselfwith a thorough knowledge of thewrittenWordofGod.Unlesswedo thiswe are at themercy of anyfalseteacher.We shallnot see through themistakesof anerringPeter.WeshallnotbeabletoimitatethefaithfulnessofacourageousPaul.Anignorant congregation will always be the curse of a Church. A BiblereadingcongregationmaysaveaChurchfromruin.LetusreadtheBibleregularly, daily, and with fervent prayer, and become familiar with itscontents.Letusreceivenothing,believenothing,follownothing,whichisnotintheBible,norcanbeprovedbytheBible.Letourruleoffaith,ourtouchstoneofallteaching,bethewrittenWordofGod.

(2)Inthenextplace,letmeentreatallwhoreadthispapertobealwaysreadytocontendforthefaithofChrist,ifneedful. Irecommendnooneto fosteracontroversialspirit. IwantnomantobelikeGoliath,goingupanddown,saying,"Givemeamantofightwith!"Always feedinguponcontroversy, ispoorwork indeed.It is like feedinguponbones!But I do say thatno love of falsepeace shouldpreventusstriving jealously against false doctrine, and seeking to promote truedoctrinewhereverwepossiblycan.TrueGospelinthepulpit,trueGospelinthebooksweread,trueGospelinthefriendswekeepcompanywith—letthisbeouraim,andneverletusbeashamedtoletmenseethatitisso.

(3)Inthenextplace,letmeentreatallwhoreadthispaperto

keep a jealous watch over their own hearts in thesecontroversialtimes.Thereismuchneedofthiscaution.Intheheatofthebattleweareapttoforgetourowninnerman.Victoryinargument—is not always victory over theworld or victory over the devil. Let themeekness of Peter in taking a reproof, be asmuch our example as theboldness of Paul in reproving.Happy is the Christianwho can call thepersonwhorebukeshimfaithfully,a"dearbrother"(2Peter3:15).Letusstrivetobeholyinallourlife,andnotleastinourtempers.Letuslabortomaintainanuninterruptedcommunionwith theFatherandwith theSon,andtokeepupconstanthabitsofprivateprayerandBible-reading.Thusweshallbearmedfor thebattleof life,andhave theswordof theSpiritwellfittedtoourhandwhenthedayoftemptationcomes.

(4) In the last place, letme entreat allmembers of a churchwhoknowwhatrealprayingis,topraydailyfortheChurchtowhichtheybelong.LetuspraythattheHolySpiritmaybepouredoutuponit,andthat itscandlestickmaynotbetakenaway.Letusprayforthose churches in which the Gospel is now not preached, that thedarknessmaypassaway,andthetruelightshineinthem.Letusprayforthoseministers who now neither know nor preach the truth, that Godmaytakeawaytheveilfromtheirhearts,andshowthemamoreexcellentway. Nothing is impossible. The Apostle Paul was once a persecutingPharisee;Lutherwasonceanunenlightenedmonk;Latimerwasonceabigoted Catholic; Thomas Scott was once thoroughly opposed toevangelical truth.Nothing, I repeat, is impossible. The Spirit canmakeministers preach that Gospel—which they now labor to destroy. Let usthereforebeurgentinprayer.

Icommendthematterscontainedinthispapertoseriousattention.Letus ponder themwell in our hearts. Let us carry them out in our dailypractice. Let us do this, andwe shall have learned something from thestoryofPeteratAntioch.

ApostolicFears

"IamafraidthatjustasEvewasdeceivedbytheserpent'scunning,yourmindsmaysomehowbeledastrayfromyoursincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."2Corinthians11:3

Thetextwhichheadsthispage,containsonepartoftheexperienceofaveryfamousChristian.NoservantofChristperhapshasleftsuchamarkforgoodontheworld,astheApostlePaul.Whenhewasborn,thewholeRoman Empire, excepting one little corner, was sunk in the darkestheathenism;whenhediedthemightyfabricofheathenismwasshakentoitsverycenterandreadytofall.AndnoneoftheagentswhomGodusedtoproducethismarvelouschangedidmorethanSaulofTarsus,afterhisconversion.Yeteveninthemidstofhissuccessesandusefulnesswefindhimcryingout,"Iamafraid."

There is a melancholy ring about these words which demands ourattention. They show a man of many cares and anxieties. He whosupposesthatPaullivedalifeofease,becausehewasachosenApostle,workedmiracles,foundedChurches,andwroteinspiredEpistles—hasyetmuch to learn. Nothing can be more unlike the truth! The eleventhchapterofthesecondEpistletotheCorinthianstellsaverydifferenttale.Itisachapterwhichdeservesattentivestudy.Partlyfromtheoppositionof the heathen philosophers and priests, whose craft was in danger—partlyfromthebitterhatredofhisownunbelievingcountrymen—partlyfromfalseorweakbrethren—partlyfromhisownthornintheflesh—thegreatApostleoftheGentileswaslikehisMaster—"amanofsorrows,andfamiliarwithsuffering"(Isaiah53:3).

But of all the burdens which Paul had to carry, none seems to haveweighedhimdownsomuchasthattowhichherefers,whenhewritestotheCorinthians,"myconcernforallthechurches"(2Corinthians11:28).The scanty knowledge ofmany early Christians, their weak faith, theirshallow experience, their dim hope, their low standard of holiness—allthesethingsmadethempeculiarlyliabletobeledastraybyfalseteachers,andtodepartfromthefaith.Likelittlechildren,hardlyabletowalk,theyrequired to be treated with immense patience. Like exotic plants in ahothouse,theyhadtobewatchedwithincessantcare.Canwedoubtthattheykept theirApostolic founder inastateofconstant tenderconcern?

Can we wonder that he says to the Colossians, "How much I amstrugglingforyou,"andtotheGalatians,"Iamastonishedthatyouaresoquicklydeserting theonewhocalledyouby thegraceofChristandareturningtoadifferentgospel.""YoufoolishGalatians!Whohasbewitchedyou?"(Colossians2:1;Galatians1:6;3:1).

No attentive reader can study the Epistles without seeing this subjectrepeatedly cropping up. And the text I have placed at the head of thispaper is a sample of what I mean: "I am afraid that just as Eve wasdeceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be ledastrayfromyoursincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."Thattextcontainsthreeimportantlessons,whichIwishtopressontheattentionofallmyreaders.Ibelieveinmyconsciencetheyarelessonsforthetimes.

I. First, the text shows us a spiritual "disease to which we are allsusceptible, andwhichwe ought to fear." That disease is corruption ofourminds:"Iamafraidyourmindsmaysomehowbeledastray."

II.Secondly,thetextshowsusan"examplewhichweoughttoremember,asabeacon:""Evewasdeceivedbytheserpent'scunning."

III. Thirdly, the text shows us "a point about which we ought to beespeciallyonourguard."Thatpointisbeingledastray"fromsincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

Thetextisadeepmine,andisnotwithoutdifficulty.Butletusgodownintoitboldly,andweshallfinditcontainsmuchpreciousmetal.

I. First, then, there is "a spiritual disease,whichweought tofear:""Mindsthatareledastray."

I take "Minds that are led astray" tomean injury of ourminds by thereceptionoffalseandunscripturaldoctrinesinreligion.AndIbelievethesenseoftheApostletobe,"Iamafraidthatyourmindswouldpartakeoferroneous and unsound views about Christianity. I am afraid that youshouldreceiveas truths,principleswhicharenot the truth. Iamafraidthat youwould depart from the faith once delivered to the saints, andembraceviewswhichareintrinsicallydestructiveoftheGospelofChrist."

The fear expressed by the Apostle is painfully instructive, and at firstsight,maycreatesurprise.Whowouldhavethoughtthatundertheveryeyes of Christ's own chosen disciples—while the blood of Calvary washardlyyetdry,while theageofmiracleshadnotyetpassedaway—whowould have thought that in a day like this there was any danger ofChristiansdepartingfromthefaith?Yetnothingismorecertainthanthat"the secret power of lawlessness" began already to work before theApostlesweredead(2Thessalonians2:7)."Evennow,"saysJohn,"Manyantichrists have come" (1 John 2:18). And no fact in Church history ismoreclearlyprovedthanthis—thatfalsedoctrinehasneverceasedtobetheplagueofChristendomforthelasteighteencenturies.

Looking forward with the eye of a prophet, Paulmight well say "I amafraid:""Iamnotonlyafraidofthecorruptionofyourmorals,butofyourminds."Theplaintruthisthat"falsedoctrine"hasbeenthechosendevicewhichSatanhasemployedineveryagetostoptheprogressoftheGospelof Christ. Finding himself unable to prevent the Fountain of Life frombeingopened, he has labored incessantly to poison the streams whichflow from it. If he couldnot destroy it, he has too oftenneutralized itsusefulnessbyaddition,subtraction,orsubstitution.Inawordhehas"ledastraymen'sminds."

(a) False doctrine soon spread throughout the Early ChurchafterthedeathoftheApostles,despitewhatsomemaywishtosayofthe Early Church's purity. Partly by strange teaching about the Trinityand the Person of Christ, partly by an absurd multiplication ofnewfangledrituals,partlybytheintroductionofmonasticismandaman-made asceticism, the light of the Church was soon dimmed and itsusefulness destroyed. Even in Augustine's time rituals grew to such anumberthatthestateofthechurchwasinaworsecaseconcerningthismatterthanweretheJews.Herewastheleadingastrayofmen'sminds.

(b) False doctrine in the middle ages so completely spreadthroughout the Church, that the truth as it is in Jesus wasnearlyburiedordrowned.DuringthelastthreecenturiesbeforetheReformation,itisprobablethatveryfewChristiansinEuropecouldhaveanswered the question, "What must I do to be saved?" Popes andCardinals, Archbishops and Bishops, Priests and Deacons, Monks and

Nuns, were, with a few rare exceptions, steeped in ignorance andsuperstition. They were sunk into a deep sleep, from which they wereonlypartiallyrousedbytheearthquakeoftheReformation.Here,again,wastheleadingastrayofmen'sminds.

(c) False doctrine, since the days of the Reformation, hascontinuallybeenrisingupagain, andmarring theworkwhich theReformersbegan.NeologianisminsomedistrictsofEurope,Socinianismin others, formalism and indifferentism in others, have witheredblossoms which once promised to bear good fruit, and madeProtestantism a mere barren form. Here, again, has been the "leadingastrayofthemind."

(d) False doctrine, even in our own day and under our owneyes,iseatingouttheheartoftheChurchandendangeringherexistence.OneschoolofprofessorsdoesnothesitatetoavowitsdisliketotheprinciplesoftheReformation,andtravelsovertheseaandthelandto Romanize the Establishment. Another school, with equal boldness,speaks lightly of inspiration, sneers at the very idea of a supernaturalreligion,andtrieshardtocastoverboardmiraclesasbeinguselessextraweight. Another school proclaims liberty to every shade and form ofreligiousopinion,andtellsusthatallteachersareequallydeservingourconfidence,howeverheterogeneousandcontradictorytheiropinions—solong as they are only clever, earnest, and sincere. To each and all thesameremarkapplies.Theyillustratethe"leadingastrayofmen'sminds."Inthefaceofsuchfactsasthese,wemaywellrememberthewordsoftheApostle in the textwhichheads the paper. Likehimwehave abundantcause to feel afraid. Never, I think, was there such need for EnglishChristianstostandontheirguard.Neverwastheresuchneedforfaithfulministerstoproclaima loudwarning. "If the trumpetdoesnot soundaclearcall,whowillgetreadyforbattle?"(1Corinthians14:8).

IchargeeveryloyalmemberoftheChurchtoopenhiseyestotheperilinwhichhisownChurchstands,andtobewarelest it isdamagedthroughapathyandamorbid loveofpeace.Controversy is anodious thing;buttherearedayswhenit isapositiveelement.Peaceisanexcellentthing;but,likegold,itmaybegottentoodear.Unityisamightyblessing;butitisworthlessifitispurchasedatthecostoftruth.OncemoreIsay,Open

youreyesandbeonyourguard!

The nation that rests satisfied with its commercial prosperity, andneglectsitsnationaldefenses,becausetheyaretroublesomeorexpensive,islikelytobecomeapreytothefirstNapoleon,whochoosestoattackit.TheChurchwhichis"rich;andhasacquiredwealth,"maythinkit,"doesnotneedathing,"becauseofitsantiquity,traditions,andendowments.Itmaycry"Peace,peace,"andflatteritselfthatitseesnoevil.Butifitisnotcarefulaboutthemaintenanceofsounddoctrineamongitsministersandmembers,itmaybesurprisedsomedaywhenitslightistakenaway.

Idenounce, fromthebottomofmyheart,despondencyorcowardiceatthiscrisis.AllIsayis,letusexerciseagodlyfear.Idonotseetheslightestnecessityforforsakingtheoldship,andgivingitupforlost.Badasthingslookinsideourark, theyarenotonebitbetteroutside.ButIdoprotestagainst that careless spirit of slumber which seems to seal the eyes ofmanyChristians,andtoblindthemtotheenormousperilinwhichweareplacedbytheriseandprogressof falsedoctrine in thesedays.Iprotestagainst thecommonnotionsooftenproclaimedbymen inhighplaces,that"unity"isofmoreimportancethansounddoctrine,andpeacemorevaluablethantruth.IcalloneveryreaderwhoreallylovestheChurchtorecognizethedangersofthetimes,andtodohisduty,courageouslyandenergetically,inresistingthembyunitedactionandbyprayer.LetusnotforgetPaul'swords,"Beonyourguard;standfirminthefaith;bemenofcourage;bestrong"(1Corinthians16:13).

OurnobleReformersboughtthetruthatthepriceoftheirownblood,andhandeditdowntous.Letusbecarefulthatwedonotcheaplysellitforsomebreadandstew,undertheseemingnamesofunityandpeace.

II. Secondly, the text shows us an "example we ought toremember, as a beacon:" "Eve was deceived by the serpent'scunning."

IneedhardlyremindmyreadersthatPaulinthisplacereferstothestoryofthefall inthethirdchapterofGenesis,asasimplehistorical fact.HedoesnotaffordtheleastappearancetothemodernnotionthatthebookofGenesisisnothingmorethanapleasingcollectionofmythsandfables.

Hedoesnothintthatthereisnosuchbeingasthedevil,andthattherewasnotanyliteraleatingoftheforbiddenfruit,andthatitwasnotreallyinthiswaythatsinenteredintotheworld.Onthecontrary,henarratesthestoryof the thirdchapterofGenesisasa truthfulhistoryof a thingthatreallytookplace.

Youshouldremember,also,thatthisreferencedoesnotstandalone.Itisa noteworthy fact that several of the most remarkable histories andmiracles of the Pentateuch are expressly mentioned in the NewTestament,andalwaysashistoricalfacts.CainandAbel,Noah'sark,thedestructionofSodom,Esau'ssellinghisbirthright,thedestructionofthefirst-born inEgypt, thepassageof theRedSea, thebrazen serpent, themanna, thewater flowing fromtherock,Balaam'sdonkeyspeaking—allthesethingsarenamedbythewritersoftheNewTestament,andnamedasmattersoffactandnotasfables.Letthatneverbeforgotten.

ThosewhoarefondofpouringcontemptonOldTestamentmiracles,andmakinglightoftheauthorityofthePentateuch,woulddowelltoconsiderwhether theyknowbetter thanourLordJesusChrist and theApostles.Tomymind,totalkofGenesisasacollectionofmythsandfables,intheface of such a text of Scripture as we have before us in this paper, isunreasonableandprofane.WasPaulmistakenornot,whenhenarratedthestoryofthetemptationandthefall?Ifhewas,hewasaweak-mindednaiveperson,andmayhavebeenmistakenonfiftyothersubjects.Atthisrate, thatwouldbetheendofallhisauthorityasawriter!Fromsuchamonstrousconclusionwemaywellturnawaywithscorn.Butitiswelltoremember that much infidelity begins with irreverent contempt of theOldTestament.

Thepoint,afterall,whichtheApostlewouldhaveusmarkinthehistoryofEve'sfall,isthe"cunning"withwhichthedevilledherintosin.Hedidnottellherflatlythathewishedtodeceiveheranddoherharm.Onthecontrary,hetoldherthatthethingforbiddenwasathingthat"wasgoodforfoodandpleasingtotheeye,andalsodesirableforgainingwisdom"(Genesis 3:6). He did not hesitate to assert that she could eat theforbidden fruit and yet "not die."Heblindedher eyes to the sinfulnessanddangerofsin.HepersuadedhertobelievethattodepartfromGod'splain commandwas for her benefit and not for her ruin. In short, "he

deceivedherbyhiscunningness."

Nowthis"cunningness,"Paultellsus,ispreciselywhatwehavetofearinfalse doctrine. We are not to expect it to approach our minds in thegarmentoferror,butintheformoftruth.Counterfeitmoneywouldneverbecomecurrency if itdidnotappear likethereal thing.Thewolfwouldseldom get into the fold, if he did not enter it in sheep's clothing.Catholicism and liberalismwould do little harm if theywent about theworldundertheirtruenames.Satanisfartoowiseageneral,tomanageacampaign in such a fashion as this. He employs fine words and high-soundingphrases,suchas"Catholicity,Apostolicity,Unity,Churchorder,sound Church views, Ecumenicalism, free thought, broad sense, kindlyjudgment, liberal interpretation of Scripture," and the like, and thuseffects a lodging place in unwary minds. And this is precisely the"cunningness"whichPaulreferstointhetext.

We need not doubt that he had read hisMaster's solemnwords in theSermononthemount:"Watchoutforfalseprophets.Theycometoyouin sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves!" (Matthew7:15). I ask your special attention to this point. Such is the naivety ofmany Christians in this day, that they actually expect false doctrine tolook false, and will not understand that the very essence of itsmischievousness, as a rule, is its resemblance to God's truth. A youngChristian, for instance, brought up fromhis cradle to hear nothing butEvangelical teaching, is suddenly invited some day to hear a sermonpreached by some eminent teacher of semi-Catholic, or semi-skepticalopinions. He goes into the church, expecting in his simplicity to hearnothingbutheresyfromthebeginningtotheend.Tohisamazementhehearsaclever,eloquentsermon,containingavastamountof truth,andonlyafewdropsoferror.Toooftenaviolentreactiontakesplaceinhisunsuspiciousmind.Hebeginstothinkhisformerteacherswerenarrow,anduncharitable,andhisconfidenceinthemisshaken,perhapsforever.Toooften,itendswithhisentireperversion,andatlastheisenrolledinthe ranks of the Legalist, Ritualists, or the liberals! And what is thehistoryofthewholecase?Why,afoolishforgetfulnessofthelessonPaulputsforwardinthistext.

"AsEvewasdeceivedbytheserpent'scunning,"soSatancharmsunwary

souls intheourcenturybyapproachingthemunderthegarboftruth.Ibegeveryreaderofthispapertorememberthispartofmysubject,andtostandonhisguard.What ismorecommonthan tohear it saidofsomefalseteacherinthisday,"Heissogood,sodevoted,sokind,sozealous,so laborious, so humble, so self-denying, so charitable, so earnest, sofervent, so clever, so evidently sincere—there can be no danger and noharminhearinghim.BesideshepreachessucharealGospel:noonecanpreachabetter sermon thanhedoes sometimes! Inevercanandneverwillbelievehe isunsound."Whodoesnothearcontinually such talkasthis?WhatdiscerningeyecanfailtoseethatChristiansexpectunsoundteacherstobeopenvendorsofpoison,andcannotrealizethattheyoftenappear as "angels of light," and are far toowise to be always saying alltheythink,andshowing theirwholehandandmind.Butso it is.Neverwas it so needful to remember the words, "Eve was deceived by theserpent'scunning."

I leave this part ofmy subjectwith the sorrowful remark thatwe havefallenupontimeswhensuspiciononthesubjectofsounddoctrineisnotonlyaduty—butavirtue.ItisnottheavowedPhariseeandSadduceethatwehavetofear,buttheleavenofthePhariseesandSadducees.It is the"show of wisdom" with which Ritualism is invested, that makes it sodangeroustomanyminds(Colossians2:23).Itseemssogood,andfair,and zealous, and holy, and reverential, and devout, and kind, that itcarries awaymanywell-meaning people like a flood.Hewhowould besafe,mustcultivatethespiritofasentinelatacriticalpost.Hemustnotmind being laughed at and ridiculed, as onewho "has a keen nose forheresy." In days like these hemust not be ashamed to suspect danger.Andifanyonescoffsathimfordoingso,hemaywellbecontenttoreply,"Evewasdeceivedbytheserpent'scunning."

III.Thethirdandlastlessonofthetextremainsyettobeconsidered.Itshowsus"apointaboutwhichweoughttobeespeciallyonourguard."Thatpoint isbeing ledastray from"SincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

Nowtheexpressionbeforeusissomewhatremarkable,andstandsalonein the New Testament. One thing at any rate is abundantly clear: thewords "sincere and pure" means that which is single and unmixed, in

contradistinction to thatwhich ismixedanddouble.Followingout thatidea, somehaveheld that theexpressionmeans"singlenessofaffectiontowards Christ;" we are to fear lest we should divide our affectionsbetweenChristandanyother.Thisisnodoubtverygoodtheology;butIquestionwhetheritisthetruesenseofthetext.Iprefertheopinionthatthe expression means the simple, unmixed, unadulterated, unaltereddoctrine of Christ—the simple "truth as it is in Jesus," on all points—withoutaddition,subtraction,orsubstitution.Departurefromthesimplegenuine prescription of the Gospel, either by leaving out any part oraddinganypart,wasthethingPaulwouldhavetheCorinthiansespeciallytofear.

The expression is full ofmeaning, and seems especiallywritten forourlearningintheselastdays.Wearetobeeverjealouslyonourguard,lestwe depart from and corrupt the simple Gospel which Christ oncedeliveredtothesaints.

The expression before us is exceedingly instructive. The principle itcontains is of unspeakable importance. If we love our souls andwouldkeeptheminahealthystate,wemustendeavortoadherecloselytothesimpledoctrineofChrist—ineveryjot,tittle,andparticular.Onceweaddto it or take away anything from it, and we risk spoiling the Divinemedicine,andmayeventurnitintopoison.Letyourrulingprinciplebe,"Nootherdoctrinebut that ofChrist, nothing less, andnothingmore!"Layfirmholdonthatprinciple,andneverletitgo.Writeitonthetabletofyourheart,andneverforgetit!

(1)Letussettleit,forexample,firmlyinourminds,thatthereis"nowayofpeacewithGod"butthesimplewaymarkedoutbyChrist.True restof conscienceand inwardpeaceof soulwillnevercome fromanythingbutdirect faith inChristHimself andHis finishedwork.Peacebyconfession toapriest,orbodilyasceticism,or incessantattendanceatChurchservices,or frequentreceptionof theCommunionas a ritual—is a delusion and a snare! It is only by coming straight toJesus Himself, laboring and heavy laden, and by believing, trustingcommunion withHim, that souls find rest. In thismatter let us standfirmin"sincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

(2) Let us settle it next in ourminds that there is "no otherpriest"whocanbeinanywayamediatorbetweenyourselfandGodbut JesusChrist. HeHimself has said, andHisword shall notpass away, "No one comes to the Father—except through me" (John14:6).NosinfulchildofAdam,whateverbehisoffice,andhoweverhighhisecclesiastical title—caneveroccupyChrist'splace,ordowhatChristaloneisappointedtodo.ThepriesthoodisChrist'speculiaroffice,anditisonewhichHehasneverdelegatedtoanother.Inthismatteralsoletusstandfirmin"sincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

(3)Letussettleitnextinourmindsthatthereis"nosacrificeforsin"excepttheonesacrificeofChristuponthecross.DonotlistenforamomenttothosewhotellyouthatthereisanysacrificeintheLord's Supper, any repetition of Christ's offering on the cross, or anyoblationofHisbodyandblood,undertheformofconsecratedbreadandwine. The one sacrifice for sinswhichChrist offeredwas a perfect andcomplete sacrifice, and it is nothing short of blasphemy to attempt torepeat it. "By one sacrifice he hasmade perfect forever, thosewho arebeingmadeholy"(Hebrews10:14).Inthismatteralsoletusstandfirminthe"sincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

(4)Letussettleitnextinourmindsthatthereis"nootherruleof faith, and judge of controversies," but that simple one towhichChristalwaysreferred—thewrittenWordofGod.Letnoman disturb our souls by such vague expressions as "the voice of theChurch,primitiveantiquity, the judgmentof theearlyFathers,"andthelike tall talk. Let our only standard of truth be the Bible, God's Wordwritten. "Whatdoes the Scripture say?" "What iswritten?" "To the lawand to the testimony!" "Diligently study the Scriptures." (Romans 4:3;Luke10:26;Isaiah8:20;John5:39).Inthismatteralsoletusstandfirminthe"sincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

(5)Letus settle itnext inourminds that thereare "noothermeans of grace" in the Church which have any bindingauthority, except those well known and simple ones whichChrist and the Apostles have sanctioned. Let us regard with ajealoussuspicionallceremoniesandformsofman'sinvention,whentheyare invested with such exaggerated importance as to thrust into the

background God's own appointments. It is the invariable tendency ofman's inventions, to supersede God's ordinances. Let us beware ofmaking theWordofGodofnoeffect,byhumandevices. In thismatteralsoletusstandfirminthe"sincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

(6)Letussettleitnextinourmindsthat"noteachingabouttheOrdinances" is sound, which gives them a power of whichChristsaysnothing.LetusbewareofadmittingthateitherbaptismortheLord'sSuppercanconfergrace"exopereopereoperato," that is,bytheirmereoutwardadministration,independentlyofthestateofheartofthose who receive them. Let us remember that the only proof thatbaptizedpeopleandcommunicantshavegrace—istheexhibitionofgraceintheir lives.The fruitsof theSpiritare theonlyevidences thatwearebornoftheSpiritandonewithChrist,andnotthemerereceptionoftheOrdinances.Inthismatteralsoletusstandfirminthe"sincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

(7)Letussettleitnextinourmindsthat"noteachingabouttheHolySpirit"issafewhichcannotbereconciledwiththesimpleteachingofChrist.TheyarenottobeheardwhoassertthattheHolySpiritactuallydwellsinallbaptizedpeople,withoutexception,byvirtueoftheirbaptism,andthatthisgracewithinsuchpeopleonlyneedstobe"stirredup."The simple teachingofourLord is, thatHedwellsonly inthosewhoareHisbelievingdisciples,andthat"theworldcannotaccepthim, because it neither sees him nor knows him" (John 14:17). HisindwellingisthespecialprivilegeofChrist'speople,andwhereHeis—Hewillbeseen.Onthispointalsoletusstandfirminthe"sincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

(8)Finallyletussettleitinourmindsthatnoteachingcanbethoroughly sound, in which truth is not set forth in "theproportion of Christ and the Apostles." Let us beware of anyteachinginwhichthemainthingisanincessantexaltationoftheChurch,theministry, or the ordinances,while such grand truths as repentance,faith, conversion, holiness, are comparatively left in a subordinate andinferiorplace.Place such teaching sideby sidewith the teachingof theGospels,Acts,andEpistles.Countuptexts.Makeacalculation.Markhow"comparatively" little is said in the New Testament about baptism, the

Lord'sSupper,theChurch,andtheministry;andthenjudgeforyourselfwhatistheproportionoftruth.Inthismatteralso,Isayoncemore,letusstandfirminthe"sincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

The simple doctrine and rule of Christ then—nothing added, nothingtakenaway,nothingsubstituted—this is themarkatwhichweought toaim.Thisisthepointfromwhichdepartureoughttobedreaded.CanweimproveonHisteaching?ArewewiserthanHe?CanwesupposethatHeleft anything of real vital importance unwritten, or liable to the vaguereports of human traditions? Shallwe take on ourselves to say thatwecanmend or change for the better any ordinance ofHis appointment?CanwedoubtthatinmattersaboutwhichHeissilent—wehaveneedtoact very cautiously, very gently, very moderately, and must beware ofpressingthemonthosewhodonotseewithoureyes?Aboveallwemustbewareof asserting anything to be needful to salvation ofwhichChristhassaidnothingatall?Ionlyseeoneanswertosuchquestionsasthese.Wemustbewareofanythingwhichhaseventheappearanceofdeparturefromthe"sincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

Theplaintruthis—thatwecannotsufficientlyexalttheLordJesusChristasthegreatHeadoftheChurch,andLordofallordinances,nolessthanastheSaviorofsinners.Itakeitweallfailhere.WedonotrealizehowhighandgreatandgloriousaKingtheSonofGodis,andwhatundividedloyaltyweowetoOnewhohasnotdelegatedanyofHisoffices,orgivenHisglorytoanother.ThesolemnwordswhichJohnOwenaddressedtotheHouseofCommons,inasermononthe"GreatnessofChrist,"deservetoberemembered.IfeartheHouseofCommonshearsfewsuchsermonsinthepresentday.

Christisthe"Way"—menwithoutHimareCains,wanderers,vagabonds.Heisthe"Truth"—menwithoutHimareliars,likethedevilofold.Heisthe "Life"—menwithoutHimaredead in trespassesandsins.He is the"Light"—menwithoutHimareindarkness,anddonotknowwheretheygo.He is the "Vine"—men that are not in Him are withered branchespreparedforthefire.Heisthe"Rock"—mennotbuiltonHimarecarriedawaywithaflood.Heisthe"AlphaandOmega,"thefirstandthelast,thefounderandfinisherofoursalvation.Oh,blessedJesus,howmuchbetteritwouldbenottoexistthantoexistwithoutYou!Nevertobebornthan

not to die in You! A thousand hells is nothing compared to eternallywithout JesusChrist!" This witness is true. If we can say Amen to thespiritofthispassage—itwillbewellwithoursouls.

Andnow letmeconcludethispaperbyofferinga few partingwords ofCOUNSELtoanyoneintowhosehandsitmayfall.Iofferthemnotasonewhohasanyauthority,butonewho isaffectionatelydesirous todogoodtohisbrethren.IofferthemespeciallytoallChristians.AndIofferthem as counsels which I find helpful to my own soul, and as such Iventuretothinktheywillbehelpfultoothers.

(1)Inthefirstplace,ifwewouldbekeptfromfallingintofalsedoctrine,"letusarmourmindswithathoroughknowledgeofGod'sWord."LetusreadourBiblesfrombeginningtoendwithdailydiligence,andconstantprayerfortheteachingoftheHolySpirit,andsostrivetobecomethoroughlyfamiliarwiththeircontents.IgnoranceoftheBibleistherootofallerror,andasuperficialacquaintancewithitaccountsformanyofthesadperversionsanddefectionsofthepresentday. In a hurrying age of travel and communication, I am firmlypersuaded that many Christians do not give time enough to privatereading of the Scriptures. I believe seriously that English people knewtheir Bibles better two hundred years ago than they do now. Theconsequence is, that they are "tossed back and forth by thewaves, andblownhereandtherebyeverywindofteaching,"andfallaneasypreytothe first clever teacher of error who tries to influence their minds. Ientreat my readers to remember this counsel, and take heed to theirways.

It is as true now as ever, that the personwho is versed in, or adheresstrictly to, the text of theBible, is the only good theologian, and that afamiliaritywithgreatScriptures,is,asourLordprovedinthetemptation,one of the best safeguards against error. Arm yourself then, with theswordoftheSpirit—andletyourhandbecomeusedtoit.Iamwellawarethat there is no royal road to Bible-knowledge. Without diligence andpains no one ever becomes "mighty in the Scriptures." "Justification,"saidCharlesSimeon,withhischaracteristicquaintness,"isby faith,butknowledgeof theBiblecomesbyworks,"ButofonethingIamcertain:thereisnolaborwhichwillbesorichlyrepaidaslaboriousregulardaily

studyofGod'sWord.

(2)ThesecondandlastcounselwhichIventuretoofferisthis."LetusmakeourselvesthoroughlyacquaintedwiththehistoryoftheReformation."My reason for offering this counsel ismy firmconvictionthatthishighlyimportantpartofhistoryhasoflateyearsbeenundeservedlyneglected.ThousandsofChristiansnowadayshaveamostinadequatenotionoftheamountofourdebttoourmartyredReformers.Theyhavenodistinctconceptionofthestateofdarknessandsuperstitionin which our fathers lived, and of the light and liberty which theReformationbrought in.And the consequence is that they seeno greatharmintheRomanCatholicmovementofthepresentday,andhaveveryindistinctideasoftherealnatureandworkofCatholicism.Itishightimethatabetterstateofthingsshouldbegin.

OfonethingIamthoroughlyconvinced:avastamountoftheprevailingapathyabouttheRomanizingmovementofthedaymaybetraceduptogross ignorance, both of the true nature of Catholicism and of theProtestantReformation.Ignorance,afterall,isoneofthebestfriendsoffalsedoctrine.MoreScripturallightisoneofthegreatneedsoftheday,eveninourcentury.ThousandsareledastraybyCatholicismorinfidelity,fromsheer lackofreadingandinformation.OncemoreIrepeat, ifmenwould only study with attention the Bible and the History of theReformation, I should have little fear of their "minds being led astrayfromtheirsincereandpuredevotiontoChrist."

Idolatry

"Fleefromidolatry"(1Corinthians10:14)

Ourtextfortodaymayseematfirsttobehardlyneededinourcountry.Inanageofeducationandintelligence,wemightalmostfancyitiswasteoftimetotellusto"fleefromidolatry."

Iamboldtosaythatthisisagreatmistake.Ibelievethatwehavecome

toatimewhenthesubjectofidolatrydemandsathoroughandsearchinginvestigation.Ibelievethat idolatryisnearus,allaroundus,andinthemidstofus, toa very fearful extent.The secondcommandment, inoneword,isindanger."Theplagueisbegun."

Withoutfurtherpreface,Iproposetoconsiderthefollowingfourpoints:

I.Thedefinitionofidolatry.WHATISIT?

II.Thecauseofidolatry.WHEREDOESITCOMEFROM?

III.TheformidolatryassumesinthevisibleChurchofChrist.WHEREISIT

IV.Theultimateterminationofidolatry.WHATWILLENDIT?

I feel that the subject is encompassedwithmanydifficulties.Our lot iscast in an agewhen truth is constantly in danger of being sacrificed to"toleration,""love,"and"peace,"falselyso-called.Nevertheless,Icannotforget,asaminister, that theChurchhasgiven littleornowarningsonthe subject of idolatry; and, unless I am greatlymistaken, truth aboutidolatryis,inthehighestsense,truthforthetimes.

I. Letme, then, first of all supply a definitionof idolatry. Letme showWHATITIS.

It isof theutmost importance thatweshouldunderstandthis.UnlessImake this clear, I can do nothing with the subject. Vagueness andindistinctness prevail upon this point, as upon almost every other inreligion.TheChristianwhodesiresnotbecontinuallyrunningagroundinhis spiritual voyage,must have his channel well buoyed, and hismindwellstoredwithcleardefinitions.

I say then, that Idolatry is a worship, in which the honor due to theTriune God, and to God only, is given to some of His creatures, or tosomeinventionofHiscreatures.

Itmayvary.Itmayassumedifferentforms,accordingtotheignoranceortheknowledge—thecivilizationorthebarbarism,ofthosewhoofferit.It

maybegrosslyabsurdand ludicrous,or itmaycloselyborderon truth,andbeingmost superficiallydefended.Butwhether in the adoration ofthe idol of Juggernaut, or in the adoration of thePope in St. Peter's atRome, theprincipleof idolatry is in reality the same. Ineithercase thehonorduetoGodisturnedasidefromHim,andbestowedonthatwhichisnotGod.Andwheneverthisisdone,whetherinheathentemplesorinprofessedlyChristianChurches,thereisanactofidolatry.

Itisnotnecessary,foramantoformallydenyGodandChrist,inordertobeanidolater.Farfromit.ProfessedreverencefortheGodoftheBibleandactualidolatry,areperfectlycompatible.Theyhaveoftenbeendonesidebyside,andtheystilldoso.ThechildrenofIsraelneverthoughtofrenouncing God when they persuaded Aaron to make the golden calf."Hereareyourgods,"theysaid,"whobroughtyouupoutofEgypt."Andthe feast in honor of the calf was kept as a "festival to the LORD(Jehovah)"(Exodus32:4,5).

Jeroboam, again,neverpretended to ask the ten tribes to cast off theirallegiancetotheGodofDavidandSolomon.WhenhesetupthecalvesofgoldinDanandBethel,heonlysaid,"ItistoomuchforyoutogouptoJerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out ofEgypt"(1Kings12:28).

Inbothinstances,weshouldobserve,theidolwasnotsetupasarivaltoGod, but under the pretense of being a help—a steppingstone to Hisservice.But,inbothinstances,agreatsinwascommitted.Thehonordueto God was given to a visible representation of Him. The majesty ofJehovah was offended. The second commandment was broken. Therewas,intheeyesofGod,aflagrantactofidolatry.

Let usmark thiswell. It is high time to dismiss from ourminds thoseloose ideasabout idolatry,whicharecommon in thisday.Wemustnotthink,asmanydo,thatthereareonlytwosortsofidolatry—thespiritualidolatryofthemanwholoveshiswife,orchild,ormoneymorethanGod;andtheopen,gross idolatryof themanwhobowsdowntoan imageofwood, or metal, or stone, because he knows no better. We may restassuredthatidolatryisasin,whichoccupiesafarwiderfieldthanthis.Itis notmerely a thing in pagan lands, that wemay hear of and pity at

missionarymeetings;noryetisitathingconfinedtoourownhearts,thatwemayconfessbeforethemercy-seatuponourknees.It isapestilencethatwalks in the Church of the Living Christ to amuch greater extentthan many suppose. It is an evil that, like the man of sin, "that setshimself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God" (2Thessalonians2:4).

Itisasinthatweallneedtowatchandprayagainstcontinually.Itcreepsintoourreligiousworshipunnoticed,andisuponusbeforeweareaware.ThosearetremendouswordswhichIsaiahspoketothefaithfulJew—nottotheworshiperofBaal,remember,tothemanwhoactuallycametothetemple (Isaiah 66:3): "Whoever sacrifices a bull is like onewho kills aman, and whoever offers a lamb, like one who breaks a dog's neck;whoevermakesagrainofferingislikeonewhopresentspig'sblood,andwhoeverburnsmemorialincense,likeonewhoworshipsanidol."

This is that sinwhichGodhas especially denounced inHisWord.Onecommandmentoutoftenisdevotedtotheprohibitionofit.NotoneofallthetencontainssuchasolemndeclarationofGod'scharacter,andofHisjudgmentsagainstthedisobedient:"I,theLORDyourGod,amajealousGod, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third andfourth generation of those who hate me" (Exodus 20:5). Not one,perhaps, of all the ten is so emphatically repeated and amplified, andespecially inthefourthchapterofthebookofDeuteronomy.This isthesin,ofallothers, towhichtheJewsseemtohavebeenmost inclinedtocommitbeforethedestructionofSolomon'stemple.What is thehistoryofIsraelundertheirjudgesandkingsbutasorrowfulrecordofrepeatedfallingawayintoidolatry?Againandagainwereadof"highplaces"and"falsegods."Againandagainwereadofcaptivitiesandchastisementsonaccountofidolatry.Againandagainwereadofareturntotheoldsin.ItseemsasiftheloveofidolsamongtheJewswasnaturallyboneoftheirbone and flesh of their flesh. The besetting sin of the Old TestamentChurch, in one word, was idolatry. In the face of the most elaborateceremonial ordinances that God ever gave to His people, Israel wasincessantlyturningasideafteridols,andworshippingtheworkofmen'shands.

This is the sin, of all others, which has brought down the heaviest

judgmentsonthevisibleChurch.ItbroughtonIsraelthearmiesofEgypt,Assyria, andBabylon. It scattered the ten tribes, burned up Jerusalem,andcarriedJudahandBenjaminintocaptivity.ItbroughtontheEasternChurches,inlaterdays,theoverwhelmingfloodoftheMusliminvasion,and turned many a spiritual garden into a wilderness. The desolationwhich reigns where Cyprian and Augustine once preached, the livingdeathinwhichtheChurchesofAsiaMinorandSyriaareburied,areallattributabletothissin.AlltestifytothesamegreattruthwhichtheLordproclaimsinIsaiah:"Iwillnotgivemyglorytoanotherormypraisetoidols"(Isaiah42:8).

Let us gather up these things in our minds, and ponder them well.Idolatryisasubjectwhich,ineveryChristianChurch,thatwantstokeepherselfpure,shouldbethoroughlyexamined,understood,andknown.Itis not for nothing that Paul lays down the stern command, "Flee fromidolatry."

II.Letmeshow,inthesecondplace,thecausetowhichidolatrymaybetraced.WHEREDOESITCOMEFROM?

Tothemanwhotakesanextravagantandexaltedviewofhumanintellectandreason,idolatrymayseemabsurd.Hefanciesittooirrationalforanybutweakmindstobeendangeredbyit.

ToameresuperficialthinkeraboutChristianity,theperilofidolatrymayseemverysmall.Whatevercommandmentsarebroken,suchamanwilltellus,professingChristiansarenotverylikelytotransgressthesecond.

Now, both these persons betray a woeful ignorance of human nature.Theydonotseethattherearesecretrootsof idolatrywithinusall.Theprevalence of idolatry in all ages among the heathen must necessarilypuzzle theone—thewarningsofProtestantministersagainst idolatry intheChurchmust necessarily appear uncalled for to the other. Both arealikeblindtoitscause.

The cause of all idolatry is the natural corruption ofman's heart. Thatgreat family disease, with which all the children of Adam are infectedfromtheirbirth,showsitselfinthis,asitdoesinathousandotherways.

Out of the same fountain from which "come evil thoughts, sexualimmorality,theft,murder,adultery,greed,malice,deceit,lewdness,envy,slander,arroganceandfolly"(Mark7:21,22)—outofthatsamefountainarisefalseviewsofGod,andfalseviewsoftheworshipduetoHim,and,therefore,whentheApostlePaultellstheGalatians(Galatians5:20)whatare the "works of the flesh," he places prominently among them"idolatry."

Manwillhavesomekindofareligion.GodhasnotleftHimselfwithoutawitness in us all, fallen as we are. Like old inscriptions hidden undermoundsofrubbish,thereisadimsomething—engravedatthebottomofman's heart, however faint and half-erased—a something whichmakeshimfeelhemusthaveareligionandaworshipofsomekind.Theproofofthisistobefoundinthehistoryofvoyagesandtravelsineverypartoftheglobe.Theexceptionstotherulearesofew,ifindeedthereareany,thatthey only confirm its truth.Man's worship in some dark corner of theearthmayrisenohigherthanavaguefearofanevilspirit,andadesiretoappeasehim;butaworshipofsomekindmanwillhave.

Butthencomesintheeffectofthefall.IgnoranceofGod,carnalandlowconceptionsofHisnatureandattributes,earthlyandsensualnotionsoftheservice,whichisacceptabletoHim,allcharacterizethereligionofthenaturalman.There isacraving inhismindaftersomethinghecansee,and feel, and touch. He is eager to bring his God down to his owncrawlinglevel.Hewouldmakehisreligionathingofsenseandsight.Hehasnoideaofthereligionofheart,andfaith,andspirit.Inshort,justashe iswilling to liveonGod'searth,until renewedbygrace,a fallenanddegraded life, so he has no objection to the worship of idols, untilrenewed,bytheHolySpirit.Inoneword,idolatryisanaturalproductofman'sheart.It isaweed,which like theuncultivatedearth, theheart isalwaysreadytobringforth.

Andnowdoes it surprise us,whenwe read of the constantly recurringidolatries of the Old Testament Church, of Baal, and Moloch, andAshtaroth—of high places and hill altars, and groves and images—andthis in the full light of the Mosaic ceremonial? Let us cease to besurprised.Itcanbeaccountedfor.Thereisacause.

Does it surprise us when we read in history, how idolatry crept in bydegreesintotheChristianChurch,howlittlebylittleitthrustoutGospeltruth, until, in Canterbury,men offeredmore at the shrine of Thomasa'Becket,thantheydidattheshrineoftheVirginMary,andmoreattheshrine of VirginMary, than at the shrine of Christ? Let us cease to besurprised.Itisallintelligible.Thereisacause.

Does it surprise us when we hear of men going over from ProtestantChurchestotheRomanCatholicChurch,inthepresentday?Dowethinkitimpossible,andfeelasifweourselvescouldneverforsakeapureformofworshipforonelikethatoftheRomanCatholicChurch?Letusceasetobesurprised.Thereisasolutionfortheproblem.Thereisacause.

Thatcause isnothingelsebut thecorruptionofman'sheart.There is anatural proneness and tendency inus all, to giveGoda sensual, carnalworship,andnotthat,whichiscommandedinHisWord.Wearealwaysready,byreasonofourlazinessandunbelief,todevisevisiblehelpsandstepping-stones in our approaches toHim, andultimately to give theseinventions of our own the honor due to Him. In fact, idolatry is allnatural, downhill, easy, like the broad way. Spiritual worship is all ofgrace, all uphill, and all against the grain. Any worship whatsoever ismore pleasing to the natural heart, than worshipping God in the way,whichourLordChristdescribes,"inspiritandtruth"(John4:23).

I, forone,amnot surprisedat thequantityof idolatryexisting,both intheworldandinthevisibleChurch.Ibelieveitperfectlypossiblethatwemay yet live to see farmore of it than some have ever dreamed of. ItwouldneversurprisemeifsomemightypersonalAntichristweretoarisebeforetheend—mightyinintellect,mightyintalentsforgovernment,yes,andmighty,perhaps,inmiraculousgiftstoo.Itwouldneversurprisemetoseesuchaoneashimsettinguphimself inoppositiontoChrist,andforminganAgnosticconspiracyagainsttheGospel.

I believe that many would rejoice to do him honor, who now glory insaying,"WewillnothavethisChristtoreignoverus."Ibelievethatmanywouldmakeagodofhim,andreverencehimasanincarnationoftruth,andconcentratetheirideaofhero-worshiponhisperson.Iadvanceitasapossibility,andnomore.ButofthisatleastIamcertain,thatnomanis

lesssafefromdangerof idolatrythanthemanwhonowsneersateveryform of religion; and that from belief to unbelief, fromAtheism to thegrossestidolatry,thereisbutasinglestep.Letusnotthink,thatidolatryisanold-fashionedsin,intowhichweareneverlikelytofall."So, ifyouthinkyouarestanding firm,becareful thatyoudon't fall!"Weshalldowell to look intoourownhearts: the seedsof idolatryareall there.WeshouldrememberthewordsofPaul,"Fleefromidolatry."

III. Let me show, in the third place, the forms which idolatry hasassumed,anddoesassumeinthevisibleChurch.WHEREISIT?

Ibelieve thereneverwasamorebaseless fabric than the theory,whichobtains favor with many—that the promises of perpetuity andpreservationfromapostasy,belongtothevisibleChurchofJesusChrist.It is a theory supported neither by Scripture nor by facts. The Churchagainstwhich "thegatesofHadeswillnotovercome," isnot thevisibleChurch,butthewholebodyoftheelect,thecompanyoftruebelieversoutof every nation and people. The greater part of the visible Church hasfrequentlymaintained gross heresies. The particular branches of it areneversecureagainstdeadlyerror,bothinfaithandpractice.Adeparturefromthefaith—afallingaway—aleavingoffirstloveinanybranchofthevisible Church, need never surprise a careful reader of the NewTestament.

That idolatry would arise, seems to have been the expectation of theApostles, evenbefore the canonof theNewTestamentwas closed. It isremarkable toobservehowPauldwells on this subject inhisEpistle totheCorinthians.IfanyCorinthiancalledabrotheranidolater,withsucha man the members of the Church were not to even eat with (1Corinthians 5:11). "Do not be idolaters, as some of them were" (1Corinthians10:7).Hesaysagain,inourtextfortoday,"Mydearfriends,flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14). When he writes to theColossians, he warns them against the "worshipping of angels"(Colossians 2:18). And John closes his first Epistle with the solemninjunction,"Dearchildren,keepyourselvesfromidols"(1John5:21).Itisimpossible not to feel that all these passages imply an expectation thatidolatrywouldsoonarise,amongprofessingChristians.

The last passage I will call attention to, is the conclusion of the ninthchapterofRevelation.Wereadthere,inthetwentiethverse:"Therestofmankindthatwerenotkilledbytheseplaguesstilldidnotrepentoftheworkof theirhands; theydidnotstopworshipingdemons,and idolsofgold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear orwalk."Now,Iamnotgoingtoofferanycommentonthechapterinwhichthis verse occurs. I knowwell there is a difference of opinion as to thetrueinterpretationoftheplaguespredictedinit.Ionlyventuretoassert,thatitisthehighestprobabilitytheseplaguesaretofalluponthevisibleChurchofJesusChrist;andthehighestimprobability,thatJohnwashereprophesying about the heathen, who never heard the Gospel. And thisonce conceded, the fact that idolatry is a predicted sin of the visibleChurch,doesseemmostconclusivelyandforeverestablished.

And now, if we turn from the Bible to facts, what do we see? I reply,withoutasecondthought,thatthereisunmistakableproofthatScripturewarnings and predictions were not spoken without cause, and thatidolatryhasactuallyariseninthevisibleChurchofChrist,anddoesstillexist.

The rise and progress of the evil in former days, we shall find wellsummedup in the sermon "Peril of Idolatry." To that I beg to refer allChristians,remindingthemonceforall,how,eveninthefourthcentury,Jeromecomplains, "that the falsedoctrineof imageshavecome in,andpassed to theChristians fromtheGentiles;"andEusebius says, "Wedosee,thatimagesofPeterandPaul,andofourSaviorHimselfaremade,which I think to have been derived and kept indifferently by anheathenishcustom."Therewemayalsoread,

1.HowPontiusPaulinus,BishopofNola,inthefifthcentury,causedthewalls of the temples to be painted with stories taken out of the OldTestament; that the people looking at and considering these picturesmight the better abstain from toomuch excess in their lives. But fromlearningbypaintedstories,itcamelittlebylittletobecomeidolatry.

2.HowGregorythefirst,BishopofRome,inthebeginningoftheseventhcentury,allowedimagesinthechurches.

3. How Irene, mother of Constantine the Sixth, in the eighth century,assembledaCouncilatNicaea,andprocuredadecreethatimagesshouldbe put up in all the churches of Greece, and that honor and worshipshouldbegiventotheimages.

Andtherewemayreadtheconclusionwithwhichthesermonwindsupitshistoricalsummary,"thatthecongregationandtheclergy,learnedandunlearned, all ages, sorts, and degrees ofmen, women and children ofwholeChristendom,havebeenatoncedrownedinabominableidolatry,ofallothervicesmostdetestedbyGod,andmostdamnabletoman,andthatinthespaceof800years."

This is a mournful account, but it is only too true. There can be littledoubttheevilbeganevenbeforethetimejustmentionedbythesermonwriter.Noman,I think,needwonderat theriseof idolatry intheEarlyChurchwhoconsiderscalmlytheexcessivereverencewhichitpaid,fromthevery first, to thevisiblepartsof religion. Ibelieve thatno impartialman can read the language used by nearly all the Fathers about theChurch, the bishops, the ministry, baptism, the Lord's Supper, themartyrs,andthedeadsaints,generally—nomancanreaditwithoutbeingstruckwiththewidedifferencebetweentheirlanguageandthelanguageof Scripture on such subjects. You seem at once to be in a newatmosphere.Youfeelthatyouarenolongertreadingonholyground.Youfind that things, which in the Bible are evidently of second-rateimportance,areheremadeoffirst-rateimportance.

YoufindthethingsofsenseandsightexaltedtoapositioninwhichPaul,andPeter,andJames,andJohn,speakingbytheHolySpirit,neverforamoment placed them. It is not merely the weakness of uninspiredwritingsthatyouhavetocomplainof; it issomethingworse;it isanewsystem.Andwhatistheexplanationofallthis?Itis,inoneword,thatyouhavegottenintoaregionwherethemalariaofidolatryhasbeguntoarise.Youperceivethefirstworkingsofthemysteryofiniquity.Youdetectthebudsofthathugesystemofidolatrywhich,asthesermondescribes,wasafterwards formally acknowledged, and ultimately blossomed in everypartofChristendom.

But let us now turn from the past to the present. Let us examine the

questionwhichmost concerns ourselves. Let us consider in what formidolatrypresentsitselftous,asasinofthevisibleChurchofChristinourowntime.

I find no difficulty in answering this question. I feel no hesitation inaffirming that idolatry never yet assumed a more glaring form than itdoesintheRomanCatholicChurchinthispresentday.

AndhereIcometoasubjectonwhichitishardtospeak,becauseofthetimeswelivein.ButthewholetruthoughttobespokenbyministersofChrist,withoutrespectoftimesandprejudices.AndIcouldnotliedownin peace, after preaching on idolatry, if I did not declare my solemnconviction that idolatry is one of the crying sins of which the RomanCatholicChurchisguilty.Isaythisinallsadness.Isayit,acknowledgingfully that we have our faults in the Protestant Church; and practically,perhaps,insomequarters,alittleidolatry.Butfromformal,recognized,systematicidolatry,Ibelievewearealmostentirelyfree.While,asfortheRoman Catholic Church, if there is not in her worship, an enormousquantityofsystematic,organizedidolatry,IfranklyconfessthenIdonotknowwhatidolatryis.

(a) Tomymind, it is idolatry to have images and pictures of saints inchurches,andtogivethemareverenceforwhichthereisnowarrantorprecedent in Scripture. And if this is so, I say there is idolatry in theRomanCatholicChurch.

(b)Tomymind,itisidolatrytoinvoketheVirginMaryandthesaintsinglory, and to address them in language never addressed in ScriptureexcepttotheHolyTrinity.Andifthisbeso,IsaythereisidolatryintheRomanCatholicChurch.

(c)Tomymind,it is idolatrytobowdowntomerematerialthings,andattributetothemapowerandsanctityfarexceedingthatattachedtothearkoraltaroftheOldTestamentdispensation;andapowerandsanctity,too,forwhichthereisnotaspeckoffoundationintheWordofGod.Andifthisbeso,withtheholycoatofTreves,andthewonderfully-multipliedwoodofthetruecross,andathousandotherso-calledrelicsinmymind'seye,IsaythereisidolatryintheRomanCatholicChurch.

(d)Tomymind, it is idolatry toworship thatwhichman's hands havemade—tocallitGod,andadoreitwhenliftedupbeforeoureyes.Andifthis be so, with the notorious doctrine of transubstantiation, and theelevation of the host in my recollection, I say there is idolatry in theRomanCatholicChurch.

(e)Tomymind,it is idolatrytomakeordainedmenmediatorsbetweenourselves and God, robbing, as it were, our Lord Jesus Christ of Hisoffice, and giving them an honor which even Apostles and angels inScriptureflatlyrepudiate.Andifthisisso,withthehonorpaidtoPopesandPriestsbeforemyeyes,IsaythereisidolatryintheRomanCatholicChurch.

Iknowwell that language like this jars themindsofmany.Menlovetoshut their eyes against evils which is disagreeable. They will not seethingswhichinvolveunpleasantconsequences.ThattheRomanCatholicChurchisanerringchurch,theywillacknowledge.Thatsheisidolatrous,theywilldeny.

TheytellusthatthereverencewhichtheRomanCatholicChurchgivestosaintsandimagesdoesnotamounttoidolatry.Theyinformusthatthereare distinctions between the kinds of worship—that God deserves the"strong worship" and the saints and images get a lesser worship. Thatthereisadistinctionbetweenamediatorofredemption,andamediatorof intercession, which clear the church of the charge of idolatry. Myansweris,thattheBibleknowsnothingofsuchdistinctions;andthat,inthe actual practice of the great bulk of Roman Catholics, there is nodistinctionatall.

Theytellus, that it isamistaketosupposethatRomanCatholicsreallyworship the images and pictures before which they perform acts ofadoration; that they only use them as helps to devotion, and in realitylookfarbeyondthem.Myansweris,thatmanyaheathencouldsayjustasmuchforhis idolatry—that it iswell-known, informerdays,theydidsay so—and that in Hindu religion many idol-worshippers do say thesameeveninthepresentday.Buttheapologydoesnothelp.Thetermsofthesecondcommandmentaretoostringent.Itprohibits"bowingdown,"aswellasworshipping.AndtheveryanxietywhichtheRomanCatholic

Churchhasoftendisplayed toexclude that secondcommandment fromhercatechisms,isofitselfagreatfactwhichspeaksvolumestoacandidobserver.

Theytellusthatwehavenoevidencefortheassertionswemakeonthissubject;thatwefoundourchargesontheabuseswhichprevailamongtheignorantmembersoftheRomanCatholicChurch;andthatitisabsurdtosaythataChurchcontainingsomanywiseandlearnedmen,isguiltyofidolatry.Myansweris,thatthedevotionalbooksincommonuseamongRoman Catholics supply us with unmistakable evidence. Let any oneexaminethatwellknownCatholicbook,"TheGardenof theSoul," ifhedoubtsmyassertion,andreadthelanguagethereaddressedtotheVirginMary. Let him remember that this language is addressed to a woman,who,thoughhighlyfavored,andthemotherofourLord,wasyetoneofour fellow-sinners—to a woman, who actually confesses her need of aSaviorforherself.Shesays,"MyspiritrejoicesinGodmySavior"(Luke1:47).

Let him examine this language in the light of theNewTestament, andthenlethimtellusfairly,whetherthechargeofidolatryisnotcorrectlymade. But I answer, beside this, that we need no better evidence thanthatwhichissuppliedinthecityofRomeitself.Whatdomenandwomendounder the lightof thePope'sowncountenance?What is the religionthatprevailsaroundSt.Peter'sandunderthewallsoftheVatican?WhatisRomanismatRome,unfettered,unshackled,andfreetodevelopitselfinfullperfection?Letamanhonestlyanswerthesequestions,andIasknomore.LethimreadsuchabookasSeymour's"PilgrimagetoRome,"or "Alford's Letters," and ask any visitor to Rome if the picture is toohighlycolored.Lethimdothis, Isay,andIbelievehecannotavoidtheconclusion,thatRomanisminperfectionisagiganticsystemofChurch-worship,Sacrament-worship,Mary-worship,saint-worship,

image-worship,relic-worship,andpriest-worship—thatitis,inoneword,ahugeorganizedidolatry.

I know how painful these things sound to many ears. To me it is nopleasure to dwell on the shortcomings of any who profess and callthemselvesChristians.I can trulysay, that Ihavesaidwhat Ihavesaid

withpainandsorrow.

Idrawawidedistinctionbetween theaccrediteddogmasof theRomanCatholic Church and the private opinions of many of her members. IbelieveandhopethatmanyaRomanCatholicisinhisheartinconsistentwithhisprofession,andisbetterthantheChurchtowhichhebelongs.Ibelieve that many a poor Italian at this day is worshipping with anidolatrousworship,simplybecauseheknowsnobetter.HehasnoBibletoinstructhim.Hehasnofaithfulministertoteachhim.Hehasthefearof thepriestbeforehiseyes, ifhedares to think forhimself.Hehasnomoneytoenablehimtogetawayfromthebondagehelivesunder,evenifhefeelsadesire.Irememberallthis,andIsaythattheItalianeminentlydeservesoursympathyandcompassion.ButallthismustnotpreventmysayingthattheRomanCatholicChurchisanidolatrousChurch.

IwouldnotbefaithfulifIsaidless.TheChurchofwhichIamaministerhasspokenoutmoststronglyonthesubject.Thesermononthe"PerilsofIdolatry,"andthesolemnprotestinourownChurchofEnglandwritings,which denounces the adoration of the Sacramental bread and wine as"idolatry to be abhorred of all faithful Christians," are plain evidencesthatIhavesaidnomorethanthemindofmyownChurch.Andinadaylike this,whensomearedisposedtobreakawayto theRomanCatholicChurch, and many are shutting their eyes to her real character, andwantingus tobe reunited toher, inaday like this,myownconsciencewouldrebukemeifIdidnotwarnmenplainlythattheRomanCatholicChurch is an idolatrous Church, and that if they will join her they are"joiningthemselvestoidols."

ButIwillnotdwellanylongeronthispartofmysubject.ThemainpointI wish to impress on men's minds is this—that idolatry has decidedlymanifested itself in the visible Church of Christ, and nowhere sodecidedlyasintheRomanCatholicChurch.

IV.Andnowletmeshow,inthelastplace,theultimateterminationofallidolatry.WHATWILLENDIT?

I consider thatman's soulmust be in anunhealthy statewhodoesnotlongforthetimewhenidolatryshallbenomore.Thatheartcanhardlybe

right with God which can think of the millions who are sunk inheathenism, or honor the false prophet Mohammed, or daily offer upprayerstotheVirginMary,andnotcry,"OmyGod,whenshalltheendcomeofthesethings?Howlong,OLord,howlong?

Here,as inothersubjects, thesurewordofprophecycomes toouraid.The end of all idolatry shall one day come. Its doom is fixed. Itsoverthrow is certain. Whether in heathen temples, or in so-calledChristianChurches,idolatryshallbedestroyedattheSecondComingofourLordJesusChrist.

Thenshallthepropheciesbefulfilled:

"Theidolswilltotallydisappear"(Isaiah2:18).

"Iwill destroy your carved images and your sacred stones from amongyou; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands" (Micah5:13).

"TheLORDwillbeawesometothemwhenhedestroysallthegodsoftheland.Thenationsoneveryshorewillworshiphim,everyoneinitsownland"(Zephaniah2:11).

"Onthatday,Iwillbanishthenamesoftheidolsfromtheland,andtheywillberememberednomore,"declarestheLORDAlmighty.Iwillremoveboth the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land" (Zechariah13:2).

In a word the 97th Psalmwill then receive its fulfillment: "The LORDreigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds andthick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are thefoundationofhisthrone.Firegoesbeforehimandconsumeshisfoesoneveryside.Hislightninglightsuptheworld;theearthseesandtrembles.ThemountainsmeltlikewaxbeforetheLORD,beforetheLordofalltheearth.Theheavensproclaimhisrighteousness,andallthepeoplesseehisglory.Allwhoworshipimagesareputtoshame,thosewhoboastinidols—worshiphim,allyougods!"

ThesecondcomingofourLordJesusChrist is thatblessedhopewhichshould always comfort the children of God under the presentdispensation.Itistheguidingstarbywhichwemustjourney.Itistheonepointonwhichallourexpectationsshouldbeconcentrated."Forinjustavery little while, 'He who is coming will come and will not delay'"(Hebrews10:37).OurDavidshallnolongerdwellinAdullam,followedbyadespised few,and rejectedby themany.Heshall take toHimselfHisgreatpower,andreign,andcauseeverykneetobowbeforeHim.

Till then our redemption is not perfectly enjoyed; as Paul tells theEphesians, "You were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians4:30).Tillthenoursalvationisnotcompleted;asPetersaysofChristians,"whothrough faithareshieldedbyGod'spoweruntil thecomingof thesalvation that is ready tobe revealed in the last time" (1Peter 1:5).Tillthenourknowledgeisstilldefective;asPaultellstheCorinthians:"Nowweseebutapoorreflectionasinamirror;thenweshallseefacetoface.NowIknowinpart;thenIshallknowfully,evenasIamfullyknown"(1Corinthians13:12).Inshort,ourbestthingsareyettocome.

But in the day of our Lord's return every desire shall receive itsfulfillment.We shall nomore be pressed down andworn out with thesense of constant failure, feebleness, and disappointment. In Hispresenceweshall findthere isa fullnessof joy;andwhenweawakewewillbesatisfiedwithseeingHislikeness(Psalm16:11;17:15).

TherearemanyabominationsnowinthevisibleChurch,overwhichwecanonlysighandcry, likethefaithfulinEzekiel'sday(Ezekiel9:4).Wecannotremovethem.Thewheatand theweedswill grow togetheruntiltheharvest.ButadaycomeswhentheLordJesusshalloncemorepurifyHistemple,andcastfortheverythingthatdefiles.HeshalldothatworkofwhichthedoingofHezekiahandJosiahwereafainttypelongago.Heshallcastforththeimages,andpurgeoutidolatryineveryshape.

Whoistherenowthatlongsfortheconversionoftheheathenworld?YouwillnotseeitinitsfullnessuntiltheLord'sappearing.Then,andnottillthen, will that oftenmisapplied text be fulfilled: "In that daymenwillthrowawaytotherodentsandbatstheiridolsofsilverandidolsofgold,whichtheymadetoworship"(Isaiah2:20).

WhoistherenowthatlongsfortheredemptionofIsrael?Youwillneversee it in its perfection till theRedeemer comes to Zion. Idolatry in theprofessing Church of Jesus Christ has been one of the mightieststumblingblocksintheJew'sway.Whenitbeginstofall,theveilovertheheartofIsraelshallbegintobetakenaway(Psalm102:16).

WhoistherenowthatlongsforthefallofAntichrist,andthepurificationof the Roman Catholic Church? I believe that will never be until thewinding up of this dispensation. That vast system of idolatry may beconsumedandwastedbytheSpiritoftheLord'smouth,butitshallneverbedestroyedexceptingbythebrightnessofHiscoming.(2Thessalonians2:8).

Who is there now that longs for a perfect Church—a Church in whichthere shall not be the slightest taint of idolatry? Youmustwait for theLord's return.Then, andnot till then, shallwe see a perfect Church—aChurchhavingneither spotnorwrinkle,norany such thing (Ephesians5:27)—aChurchofwhichallthemembersshallberegenerate,andeveryoneachildofGod.

If these things be so,men need not wonder that we urge on them thestudyofprophecy,andthatwechargethemabovealltograspfirmlythegloriousdoctrineofChrist's secondappearingandkingdom.This is the"lightshininginadarkplace"towhichweshalldowelltotakeheed.Letothers indulge their fancy if they will, with the vision of an imaginary"Church of the future." Let the children of this world dream of some"comingman,"whoistounderstandeverything,andseteverythingright.They are only sowing to themselves bitter disappointment. They willawaketofindtheirvisionsbaselessandemptyasadream.ItistosuchasthesethattheProphet'swordsmaybewellapplied:"Butnow,allyouwholight fires and provide yourselveswith flaming torches, go,walk in thelightofyourfiresandofthetorchesyouhavesetablaze.Thisiswhatyoushallreceivefrommyhand:Youwillliedownintorment"(Isaiah50:11).

ButletyoureyeslookonwardtothedayofChrist'ssecondadvent.Thatisthe only daywhen every abuse shall be rectified, and every corruptionandsourceofsorrowcompletelypurgedaway.Waitingforthatday,letuseachworkonandserveourgeneration;not idle,as ifnothingcouldbe

done to check evil, but not disheartened because we do not yet see allthingsputunderourLord.Afterall,thenightisfarspent,andthedayisathand.Letuswait,Isay,ontheLord.

Ifthesethingsbeso,menneednotwonderthatwewarnthemtobewareof all leanings towards the Roman Catholic Church. Surely, when themindofGod about idolatry is so plainly revealed to us inHisWord, itseemstheheightofinfatuationinanyonetojoinaChurchsosteepedinidolatriesastheRomanCatholicChurch.Toenterintocommunionwithher,whenGodissaying,"Comeoutofher,mypeople,sothatyouwillnotshare in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues"(Revelation18:4)—toseekherwhentheLordiswarningustoleaveher—tobecomehersubjectswhentheLord'svoiceiscrying,"Escapeforyourlife, flee fromthewrath tocome;"all this ismentalblindness indeed,ablindnesslikethatofhim,who,thoughforewarned,embarksinasinkingship—ablindnesswhichwouldbealmostincredible,ifourowneyesdidnotseeexamplesofitcontinually.

Wemustallbeonourguard.Wemusttakenothingforgranted.Wemustnot hastily suppose that we are too wise to be ensnared. Those whopreachmust cry aloud and spare not, and allowno false tenderness tomake them hold their peace about the heresies of the day. Those whohearmust have the belt of truth buckled around their waist, and theirminds storedwith clear prophetical views of the end towhich all idol-worshippersmustcome.Letusalltrytorealizethatthelastdaysoftheworldareuponus,andthattheterminationofallidolatryishurryingon.IsthisatimeforamantodrawnearertotheRomanCatholicChurch?Isit not rather a time to draw further back and stand clear, lest we beinvolvedinherdownfall?

Is thisa time towhitewashRome'smanifold corruptions, and refuse toseetherealityofhersins?SurelyweoughtrathertobedoublyjealousofeverythingofaRomanCatholictendencyinreligion—doublycarefulthatwedonothintatanytreasonagainstourLordChrist—anddoublyreadytoprotestagainstunscripturalworshipofeverydescription.Oncemore,then,Isay,letusrememberthatthedestructionofallidolatryiscertain,andrememberingthat,bewareoftheRomanCatholicChurch.

The subject I now touchupon is of deep andpressing importance, anddemandstheseriousattentionofallProtestants.Itisvaintodenythatalargepartyofclergyandlaityinthepresentdayaremovingheavenandearth to reunite the Protestant Church with the idolatrous RomanCatholic Church. The publication of that monstrous book, Dr. Pusey's"Eirenicon"andthe formationofa"Society forPromoting theUnionofChristendom,"areplainevidenceofwhatImean.

Theexistenceofsuchamovementasthiswillnotsurpriseanyonewhohas carefully watched the history of the Church during the last fortyyears. The tendency of Ritualism has been steadily moving towardsRome.Hundreds of men and women have fairly and honestly left ourranks, and become Catholics. But many hundreds more have stayedbehind,andareyetnominalChristianswithinourmidst.The pompoussemi-RomanCatholicceremonies,whichhasbeenintroducedintomanychurches, haspreparedmen'sminds for changes.An lavishly theatricalandidolatrousmodeofcelebratingtheLord'sSupperhaspavedthewayfor transubstantiation. A regular process of unprotestantizing has beenlongandsuccessfullyatwork.ThepooroldChurchstandsonaninclinedplane.Herveryexistence,asaProtestantChurch,isinperil.

Ihold,forone,thatthisRomanCatholicmovementoughttobesteadilyand firmly resisted. Notwithstanding the rank, the learning, and thedevotednessofsomeof itsadvocates,Iregarditasamostmischievous,soul-ruiningandunscripturalmovement.TosaythatreunionwithRomewouldbeaninsulttoourmartyredReformers,isaverylightthing,it isfarmorethanthis:itwouldbeasinandanoffenseagainstGod!Ratherthan be reunited with the idolatrous Roman Catholic Church, I wouldwillinglyseemyownbelovedChurchperishandgotopieces.RatherthanbecomeRomanCatholiconcemore,shewouldbebetterdead!

Unity in the abstract is no doubt an excellent thing: but unity withouttruth is useless. Peace and uniformity are beautiful and valuable: butpeace without the Gospel—peace based on a common churchgovernment, and not on a common faith—is a worthless peace, notdeserving of the name.WhenRome has repealed the decrees of Trent,andheradditions to theCreed—whenRomehasrecantedher falseandunscriptural doctrines—when Rome has formally renounced image-

worship,Mary-worship,and transubstantiation—then,andnot till then,willitbetimetotalkofreunionwithher.Tillthenthereisagulfbetweenuswhichcannotbehonestlybridged.TillthenIcallonallChristianstoresist to the death this idea of reunion with Rome. Till then let ourwatchwords be "No peace with the Roman Catholic Church! Nocommunionwithidolaters!"

Jewellwell says in hisApology, "Wedo not decline concord and peacewithmen; butwewill not continue in a state ofwarwithGod thatwemighthavepeacewithmen!IfthePopedoesindeeddesireweshouldbereconciled to him, he ought first to reconcile himself to God." Thiswitness is true!Well would it be for the Church, if all her leaders hadbeenlikeJewell!

Iwritethesethingswithsorrow.Butthecircumstancesofthetimesmakeitabsolutelynecessarytospeakout.TowhateverquarterofthehorizonIturn,Iseegravereasonforalarm.ForthetrueChurchofJesusChristIhavenofearsatall.But fortheEstablishedProtestantChurches,Ihaveverygravefearsindeed.ThetideofeventsseemsrunningstronglyagainstProtestantismandinfavorofRome.ItlooksasifGodhadacontroversywithus,asanation,andwasabouttopunishusforoursins.

Iamnoprophet.Idonotknowwherewearedrifting.Butattheratewearegoing,Ithinkitquitewithinthevergeofpossibilitythatinafewyearsthe Protestant Churchmay be reunited to theRomanCatholic Church.Protestantismmaybeformallyrepudiated.ARomanCatholicArchbishopmayoncemorepresideovertheformerProtestantChurches.MassmaybeoncemoresaidatWestminsterAbbeyandSt.Paul's.AndoneresultwillbethatallBible-readingChristiansmusteitherleavetheEstablishedProtestantChurch, or else sanction idol-worship and become idolaters!Godgrantwemaynevercometothisstateofthings!Butat theratewearegoing,itseemstomequitepossible.

AndnowitonlyremainsformetoconcludewhatIhavebeensaying,bymentioningsomesafeguards for thesoulsofallwhohear thismessage.WeliveinatimewhentheRomanCatholicChurchiswalkingamongstuswith renewedstrength,and loudlyboasting that shewill soonwinbackthegroundthatshehaslost.Falsedoctrinesofeverykindarecontinually

setbeforeusinthemostsubtleforms.Itcannotbethoughtunreasonableif Ioffersomepractical safeguardsagainst idolatry.What it is,where itcomes from,where it is,whatwill end it—all thiswehaveseen.Letmepointouthowwemaybesafefromit,andIwillsaynomore.

(1)Letusarmourselves,then,foronething,withathoroughknowledgeoftheWordofGod.

Let us read our Biblesmore diligently than ever, and become familiarwitheverypartofthem.LettheWorddwellinusrichly.Letusbewareofanything which would make us give less time, and less heart, to theperusalofitssacredpages.TheBibleistheswordoftheSpirit;letitneverbelaidaside.TheBibleisthetruelanternforadarkandcloudytime;letusbewareoftravelingwithoutitslight.Istronglysuspect,ifweknewthesecret history of the numerous secessions from our Church to that ofRome,whichwedeplore—Istronglysuspectthatinalmosteverycaseoneof themost important steps in the downward road would be found tohavebeenaneglectedBible—moreattentiontoforms,sacraments,dailyservices,primitiveChristianity,andsoforth,anddiminishedattentiontothewrittenWordofGod.TheBibleistheKing'shighway.Ifweonceleavethatforanysideroad,howeverbeautiful,andold,andfrequenteditmayseem,wemustneverbesurprisedifweendwithworshippingimagesandrelics,andgoingregularlytoaconfessional.

(2)Letusarmourselves,inthesecondplace,withagodlyjealousyabouttheleastportionoftheGospel.

Letusbewareofsanctioningtheslightestattempttokeepbackanyjotortittleofit,ortothrowanypartofitintotheshadebyexaltingsubordinatematters in religion.WhenPeterwithdrewhimself from eatingwith theGentiles, it seemed but a little thing; yet Paul tells the Galatians, "Iopposedhimtohisface,becausehewasclearlyinthewrong"(Galatians2:11).Letuscountnothing little thatconcernsoursouls.Letusbeveryparticularwhomwehear,wherewego,andwhatwedo,inallthemattersofourownparticularworship.Weliveindayswhengreatprinciplesareinvolved in little acts, and things in religion,which fifty yearsagowereutterly indifferent, are now by circumstances rendered indifferent nolonger. Let us beware of tampering with anything of a Romanizing

tendency. It is foolishness to play with fire. I believe thatmany of ourpervertsandsecedersbeganwiththinkingtherecouldbenomightyharminattachingalittlemoreimportancetocertainoutwardthingsthantheyoncedid.Butoncelaunchedonthedownwardcourse,theywentonfromone thing to another. They provoked God, and He left them tothemselves! They were given over to strong delusion, and allowed tobelievealie(2Thessalonians2:11).Theytemptedthedevil,andhecametothem!Theystartedwithtrifles,asmanyfoolishlycallthem.Theyhaveendedwithdownrightidolatry.

(3)Letusarmourselves, lastofall,withclear,soundviewsofourLordJesusChrist,andofthesalvationthatisinHim.

He is the "imageof the invisibleGod," the "exact representationofHisbeing,"andthetruepreservativeagainstall idolatry,whentrulyknown.Let us build ourselves deep down on the strong foundation of Hisfinishedwork upon the cross. Let us settle it firmly in ourminds, thatChristJesushasdoneeverythingneedful inordertopresentuswithoutspotbeforethethroneofGod,andthatsimple,childlikefaithonourpartis the only thing required to give us an entire interest in the work ofChrist.Letusnotdoubtthathavingthisfaith,wearecompletelyjustifiedin the sightofGod—willneverbemore justified ifwe live to theageofMethuselahanddotheworksoftheApostlePaul—andcanaddnothingto that complete justification by any acts, deeds, words, performances,fastings,prayers,attendanceonordinances,oranythingelseofourown.

(4)AboveallletuskeepupcontinualcommunionwiththepersonoftheLordJesus!

LetusabideinHimdaily,feedonHimdaily,looktoHimdaily,leanonHim daily, live upon Him daily, draw from His fullness daily. Let usrealize this, and the idea of other mediators, other comforters, otherintercessors, will seem utterly absurd. "What need is there?" we shallreply: "I haveChrist, and inHim Ihave everything.Whathave I to dowith idols? I have Jesus inmy heart, Jesus in the Bible, and Jesus inheaven,andIwantnothingmore."

Once let the Lord Christ haveHis rightful place in our hearts, and all

otherthingsinourreligionwillsoonfallintotheirrightplaces—Church,ministers,ordinances,allwillgodown,andtakethesecondplace.

ExceptChristsitsasPriestandKinguponthethroneofourhearts,thatlittlekingdomwithinwillbeinperpetualconfusion.ButonlyletHimbe"allinall"there,andallwillbewell,BeforeHimeveryidol,everyDagonshall fall down. CHRIST RIGHTLY KNOWN, CHRIST TRULYBELIEVED, AND CHRIST HEARTILY LOVED, IS THE TRUEPRESERVATIVE AGAINST RITUALISM, ROMANISM, AND EVERYFORMOFIDOLATRY.AMEN.

MONERGISMBOOKS

WarningstotheChurchesbyJ.C.Ryle,Copyright©2015

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American CopyrightConventions.Bypaymentoftherequiredfees,youhavebeengrantedthenon-exclusive,non-transferablerighttoaccessandreadthetextofthise-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted,downloaded,decompiled,reverseengineered,orstoredinorintroducedintoanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,inanyformorbyanymeans, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafterinvented,withouttheexpresswrittenpermissionofMonergismBooks.

ePub,.mobi&.pdfEditionsJuly2015Requestsforinformationshouldbeaddressedto:MonergismBooks,POBox491,WestLinn,OR97068