Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-19

4 -
OF discipleship imposed by Him have beer
relaxed.
TRUTH DIRECTED AGAINST ERROR
q The word Of truth is directed agains,
error. The Church OF Christ has beer
set for the defence of the Gospel and
IN maintaining the truth she necessarily
opposes error. Her history, through al
the ages, has been a history Of conflict
with heresies and false doctrines which
nave tended TO corrupt the faith and
undermine the foundations of the truth
Arldnlsm. Socinianism. Pelag ianism, An
tinonianism. and hosts Of other heresies
successfully arose in the early centuries
to trouble the Church and arouse contro-
Versy. Scepticism and infldelity have, in
later times. assumed various shapes. and
each generation has had its peculiar
forms OF error 10 meet, and its own bat
ties to fight. III modern times We have
AgnOstcism and RatiOualiSm, Material
ism. Higher Criticism. Atheistic Evou-
ton, and whole brood Of such pesti-
ferrous things as ThcOsophy Christian
Science, MOrmonism. and FAith-cure. old
errors have appeared under the guise OF
new truths, and new errors under the
guise OF old truths.
The Father Of Lies seeks to corrupt the
faith by the secret infusion of error, en-
plONlng good men. sometimes, and honest
men, as his instruments, who claim new
and precious discoveries IN theology and
Christian experience, turning aside from
the old paths to those that are newer.
and, 10 some minds, more attractive.
These departures may seem at first TO
be >Slight-hardly of sufficient importance
10 Warrant controversy error Is so
concealed i'm its beginning and so subtle
in its operation, as to escape detection.
Must the Gospel be intolerant. even in
matters which seem to be Of no serious
concern? Yes, let us boldly. aver IT,;
the Gospel is intOlerant. for tolerance Of
error is unfaithfulness to Christ. Error
is always serious. and truth Is always
sacred. Against all false doctrines an
hercsies, al latitudinariansm of belief
whether or not they seem TO touch vital
There can be no compromise with error
OPPOSED TO WORDLINEss.
g. The Gospel IS opposed TO worldi-
ness. From the beginning we have been
warned that the enemies Of the Gospel
are The world, the flesh. and the devil.
1t must never be forgotten that the
world IS no friend Of Christ In this
day the barriers between the Church and
the world have been broken down, and
II is hard 10 tell sometimes under which
banner one is lighting.
!. 1t antagoniZes every form Of religious
tyranny. 1t teaches the personal re-
sponsibility Of every man to his Creator.
and consequently that his conscience Is
free from the dictatiOn of man. This is
the holy of holes Of His nature, wherein
none but the divine High Priest may
Renter God only is Lord of the con-
science. and hath let il free from the
doctrines and commandments Of men
which are in anything contrary to his
word. or beside it in faith or worship"
This doctrine 81 the Gospel sets men
free from the dictation of man, places "A
sharp limitation upon the duty Of the
subject to the civil ruler, and the re-
ligicus ruler likewise and lays the foun-
dalton for civil and religious liberty.
CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO WAR
FARE.
III. Having distinct idea Of the. ma
ture Of the warfare 10 be ACCOMPLISHED
let us observe some conditions that are
essential TO its successful prosecution
We must have a ministry and Church
that are faithful 10 the spirit and de-
mands or Christ. There must be positive
conviction OF the truth. There must be
faith in the power OF the Gospel and
there must be devotion TO the person OF
Christ and enthusiasm for His cause.
A successful church must be a militant
church. she must earnestly contend Tor
the faitn, defending the truth and main
tanning sound principles, while i'm spsrit
and achievement she must ever be ar
gressive. Activity is her very life; and her
Masters command, which calls her to
conflict and conquest, is her constant in.
centive and inspiration.
when Peter and John were command
ed not to speak AZ all, nor teach in lie
name of Jesus, Whether II be right i'm
the sight OF God" they replied. 40
hearken unto you more than unto God
judge we; for We cannot but speak the
things which We have seen and heard
THE FLAME SET THE WORLD
ABLAZE
We cannot call 10 mind the scene. that
were witnessed. wherever the (iOspal W.
preached, without being impressed with
the appropriateness of the figure employ
ed BY our Lord, when he said II am
come 10 send fro on the earth" The
was kindlsd in the souls OF Ills apostles
set the world abldze. Other souls caught
the fire of their enthusiasm and zeal; and
abroad by persecution
wherever they fed. they went preaching
the Gospel. Society at large felt II; oil
heathenism felt 1t; and the glorious and
blessed effects Of IL were felt wherever
that FIRE burned
If a lire be klhdied In the earth, II must
begin in a burning conviction of the
truth OF the Gospel. To be an earnest
worker one must be a
downright believer. Overmastering con-
victions of truth are the leverage and
strength OF Christian effort What man
most deeply believes. that he most truly |
u.s. All earnest lie is but a working out
II earnest convictions; hence man with |
out convictions is man without force
One may know the whole Confession of |
Faith and subscribe TO II as his belief. |
without having a single honest convlc- |
ton II he has not heard and seen and |
True conviction implies an experience. |
A truth that has worked itself out |