Chapter 5 Divers and Strange Doctrines

Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not pro ited them that have been occupied therein.! "#ebrews $%& '( ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) *he te+t which heads this paper is an apostolic caution against alse doctrine. ,t orms part o a warning which St. -aul addressed to #ebrew Christians. ,t is a caution .ust as much needed now as it was eighteen hundred /ears ago. 0ever, , thin1, was it so important or Christian ministers to cr/ aloud continuall/, 2Be not carried about.3 *hat old enem/ o man1ind, the devil, has no more subtle device or ruining souls than that o spreading alse doctrine. 24 murderer and a liar rom the beginning,3 he never ceases going to and ro in the earth, 2see1ing whom he ma/ devour.3 5 6utside the Church he is ever persuading men to maintain barbarous customs and destructive superstitions. #uman sacri ice to idols, 5 gross revolting, cruel, disgusting worship o abominable alse deities, 5 persecution, slaver/, cannibalism, child murder, devastating religious wars, 5 all these are a part o Satan3s handiwor1, and the ruit o his suggestions. 7i1e a pirate, his ob.ect is to 2sin1, burn, and destro/.3 5 ,nside the Church he is ever laboring to sow heresies, to propagate errors,3 to oster departures rom the aith. , he cannot prevent the waters lowing rom the Fountain o 7i e, he tries hard to poison them. , he cannot destro/ the medicine o the 8ospel, he strives to adulterate and corrupt it. 0o wonder that he is called 24poll/on, the destro/er.3 *he Divine Com orter o the Church, the #ol/ 8host, has alwa/s emplo/ed one great agent to oppose Satan3s devices. *hat agent is the 9ord o 8od. *he 9ord e+pounded and un olded, the 9ord e+plained and opened up, the 9ord made clear to the head and applied to the heart, 5 the 9ord is the chosen weapon b/ which the devil must be con ronted and con ounded. *he 9ord was the sword which the 7ord :esus wielded in the temptation. *o ever/ assault o the *empter, #e replied, 2,t is written.3 *he 9ord is the sword which #is ministers must use in the present da/, i the/ would success ull/ resist the devil. *he Bible, aith ull/ and reel/ e+pounded, is the sa eguard o Christ;s Church. , desire to remember this lesson, and to invite attention to the te+t which stands at the head o this paper. 9e live in an age when men pro ess to disli1e dogmas and creeds, and are illed with a morbid disli1e to controversial theolog/. #e who dares to sa/ o one doctrine that 2it is true,3 and o another that 2it is alse,3 must e+pect to be called narrow5minded and uncharitable, and to lose the praise o men. 0evertheless, the Scripture was not written in vain. 7et us e+amine the might/ lessons contained in St. -aul;s words to the #ebrews. *he/ are lessons or us as well as or them. ,. First, we have here a broad warning& 2Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.3

,,. Secondl/, we have here a valuable prescription& 2,t is good that the heart be established with grace, not with meats.3 ,,,. 7astl/, we have here an instructive fact& 2<eats have not pro ited them which have been occupied therein.3 6n each o these points , have somewhat to sa/. , we patientl/ plough up this ield o truth, we shall ind that there is precious treasure hidden in it. ,. First comes the broad warning& 2Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.3 *he meaning o these words is not a hard thing which we cannot understand. 2Be not tossed to and ro,3 the 4postle seems to sa/, 2b/ ever/ blast o alse teaching, li1e ships without compass or rudder. False doctrines will arise as long as the world lasts, in number man/, in minor details var/ing, in one point alone alwa/s the same, 5 strange, new, oreign, and departing rom the 8ospel o Christ. *he/ do e+ist now. *he/ will alwa/s be ound within the visible Church. =emember this, and be not carried awa/.3 Such is St. -aul3s warning. *he 4postle3s warning does not stand alone. >ven in the midst o the Sermon on the <ount there ell rom the loving lips o our Savior a solemn caution& 2Beware o alse prophets, which come unto /ou in sheep3s clothing, but inwardl/ the/ are ravening wolves.3 "<atthew ?& $5.( >ven in St. -aul;s last address to the >phesian elders, though he inds no time to spea1 about the Sacraments, he does ind time to warn his riends against alse doctrine& 26 /our own selves shall men arise, spea1ing perverse things to draw awa/ disciples a ter them.3 "4cts @A&%A.( 9hat sa/s the Second >pistle to the Corinthians& 2, ear, lest b/ an/ means, as the serpent beguiled >ve through his subtlet/, so /our minds should be corrupted rom the simplicit/ that is in Christ.; "@ Corinthians. $$&%.( 9hat sa/s the >pistle to the 8alatians& 2, marvel that /e are so soon removed rom him that called /ou into the grace o Christ unto another 8ospel.3 5 29ho hath bewitched /ou that /e should not obe/ the truthB3 5 2#aving begun in the Spirit, are /e now made per ect b/ the leshB3 2#ow turn /e again to wea1 and beggarl/ elementsB3 2Ce observe da/s, and months, and times, and /ears. , am a raid o /ou.3 2Stand ast in the libert/ wherewith Christ hath made us ree, and be not entangled again in the /o1e o bondage.3 "8alatians $&D; %&$5%; E&'5$$; 5&$( 9hat sa/s the >pistle to the >phesians& 2Be no more children, tossed to and ro, and carried about with ever/ wind o doctrine.3 ">phesians E&$E( 9hat sa/s the >pistle to the Colossians& 2Beware lest an/ man spoil /ou through philosoph/ and vain deceit, a ter the tradition o men.3 "Colossians @&F( 9hat sa/s the First >pistle to *imoth/& 2*he Spirit spea1eth e+pressl/, that in the latter times some shall depart rom the aith.3 "$ *imoth/ E&$( 9hat sa/s the Second >pistle o -eter& 2*here shall be alse teachers among /ou, who privil/ shall bring in damnable heresies.3 "@ -eter @&$( 9hat sa/s the First >pistle o :ohn & 2Believe not ever/ spirit. <an/ alse prophets are gone out into the world.3 "$ :ohn E&$( 9hat sa/s the >pistle o :ude& 2Contend earnestl/ or the aith once delivered to the saints. For there are certain men crept in

unawares.3 ":ude %5E( 7et us mar1 well these te+ts. *hese things were written or our learning. 9hat shall we sa/ to these te+tsB #ow the/ ma/ stri1e others , cannot sa/. , onl/ 1now how the/ stri1e me. *o tell us, as some do, in the ace o these te+ts, that the earl/ Churches were a model o per ection and purit/, is absurd. >ven in 4postolic da/s, its appears, there were abundant errors both in doctrine and practice. 5 *o tell us, as others do, that clerg/men ought never to handle controversial sub.ects, and never to warn their people against erroneous views, is senseless and unreasonable. 4t this rate we might neglect not a little o the 0ew *estament. Surel/ the dumb dog and the sleeping shepherd are the best allies o the wol , the thie , and the robber. ,t is not or nothing that St. -aul sa/s, 2, thou put the brethren in remembrance o these things, thou shalt be a good minister o :esus Christ.3 "$ *imoth/ E&5( 4 plain warning against alse doctrine is speciall/ needed in >ngland in the present da/. *he school o the -harisees, and the school o the Sadducees, those ancient mothers o all mischie , were never more active than the/ are now. Between men adding to the truth on one side, and men ta1ing awa/ rom it on the other, 5 between those who bur/ truth under additions, and those who mutilate it b/ subtractions, 5 between superstition and in idelit/, 5 between =omanism and neolog/, 5 between =itualism and =ationalism, 5 between these upper and nether millstones the 8ospel is well nigh crushed to death G Strange views are continuall/ propounded b/ clerg/men about sub.ects o the deepest importance. 4bout the atonement, the divinit/ o Christ, the inspiration o the Bible, the realit/ o miracles, the eternit/ o uture punishment, 5 about the Church, the ministerial o ice, the Sacraments, the con essional, the honor due to the Hirgin, pra/ers or the dead, 5 about all these things there is nothing too monstrous to be taught b/ some >nglish ministers in these latter da/s. B/ the pen and b/ the tongue, b/ the press and b/ the pulpit, the countr/ is incessantl/ deluged with a lood o erroneous opinions. *o ignore the act is mere a ectation. 6thers see it, i we pretend to be ignorant o it. *he danger is real, great, and unmista1able. 0ever was it so need ul to sa/, 2Be not carried about.3 <an/ things combine to ma1e the present inroad o alse doctrine peculiarl/ dangerous. *here is an undeniable Ieal in some o the teachers o error& their ;earnestness; "to use an unhapp/ cant phrase( ma1es man/ thin1 the/ must be right. *here is a great appearance o learning and theological 1nowledge& man/ anc/ that such clever and intellectual men must surel/ be sa e guides. *here is a general tendenc/ to ree thought and ree inJuir/ in these latter da/s& man/ li1e to prove their independence o .udgment, b/ believing novelties. *here is a wide5spread desire to appear charitable and liberal5minded& man/ seem hal ashamed o sa/ing that an/bod/ can be in the wrong. *here is a Juantit/ o hal 5truth taught b/ the modern alse teachers& the/ are incessantl/ using Scriptural terms and phrases in an unscriptural sense. *here is a morbid craving in the public mind or a more sensuous, ceremonial, sensational, show/ worship& men are impatient o inward, invisible heart5 wor1. *here is a sill/ readiness in ever/ direction to believe ever/bod/ who tal1s cleverl/, lovingl/, and earnestl/, and a determination to orget that Satan is o ten

2trans ormed into an angel o light.3 "@ Corinthians @&$E( *here is a wide5spread ;gullibilit/; among pro essing Christians& ever/ heretic who tells his stor/ plausibl/ is sure to be believed, and ever/bod/ who doubts him is called a persecutor and a narrow5minded man. 4ll these things are peculiar s/mptoms o our times. , de / an/ observing man to den/ them. *he/ tend to ma1e the assaults o alse doctrine in our da/ peculiarl/ dangerous. *he/ ma1e it more than ever need ul to cr/ aloud, 2Be not carried about.3 Does an/ one as1 me, 9hat is the best sa eguard against alse doctrineB 5 , answer in one word, 2*he Bible& the Bible regularl/ read, regularl/ pra/ed over, regularl/ studied.3 9e must go bac1 to the old prescription o our <aster& 2Search the Scriptures.3 ":ohn 5&%'( , we want a weapon to wield against the devices o Satan, there is nothing li1e 2the sword o the Spirit, the 9ord o 8od.3 But to wield it success ull/, we must read it habituall/, diligentl/, intelligentl/, and pra/er ull/. *his is a point on which, , ear, man/ ail. ,n an age o hurr/ and bustle, ew read their Bibles as much as the/ should. <ore boo1s perhaps are read than ever, but less o the one Boo1 which ma1es man wise unto salvation. =ome and neolog/ could never have made such havoc in the Church in the last i t/ /ears, i there had not been a most super icial 1nowledge o the Scriptures throughout the land. 4 Bible5reading lait/ is the strength o a Church. 2Search the Scriptures.3 <ar1 how the 7ord :esus Christ and #is 4postles continuall/ re er to the 6ld *estament, as a document .ust as authoritative as the 0ew. <ar1 how the/ Juote te+ts rom the 6ld *estament, as the voice o 8od, as i ever/ word was given b/ inspiration. <ar1 how the greatest miracles in the 6ld *estament are all re erred to in the 0ew, as unJuestioned and unJuestionable acts. <ar1 how all the leading events in the -entateuch are incessantl/ named as historical events, whose realit/ admits o no dispute. <ar1 how the atonement, and substitution, and sacri ice, run through the whole Bible rom irst to last, as essential doctrines o revelation. <ar1 how the resurrection o Christ, the greatest o all miracles, is proved b/ such an overwhelming mass o evidence, that he who disbelieves it ma/ as well sa/ he will believe no evidence at all. <ar1 all these things, and /ou will ind it ver/ hard to be a =ationalistG 8reat are the di iculties o in idelit/& it reJuires more credulit/ to be an in idel than a Christian. But greater still are the di iculties o =ationalism. Free handling o Scripture 5 results o modern criticism, 5 broad and liberal theolog/, 5 all these are ine, swelling, high5sounding phrases, which please some minds, and loo1 ver/ grand at a distance. But the man who loo1s below the sur ace o things will soon ind that there is no sure standing5ground between ultra5=ationalism and 4theism. 2Search the Scriptures.3 <ar1 what a conspicuous absence there is in the 0ew *estament o what ma/ be called the Sacramental s/stem, and the whole circle o =itualistic theolog/. <ar1 how e+tremel/ little there is said about the e ects o Baptism. <ar1 how ver/ seldom the 7ord;s Supper is mentioned in the >pistles. Find, i /ou can, a single te+t in which 0ew *estament ministers are called sacri icing priests, 5 or the 7ord;s Supper is called a sacri ice, 5 or private con ession to ministers is recommended and practiced. 5 *urn, i /ou can, to one single verse in which sacri icial vestments are named as desirable, 5 or in which lighted candies, and pots o

lowers on the 7ord;s *able, 5 or processions, and incense, and lags, and banners, and turning to the east, and bowing down to the bread and wine, 5 or pra/er to the Hirgin <ar/ and the angels, 5 are sanctioned. <ar1 these things well, and /ou will ind it ver/ hard to be a =itualistG Cou ma/ ind /our authorit/ or =itualism in garbled Juotations rom the Fathers, 5 in long e+tracts rom mon1ish, m/stical, or -opish writers; but /ou certainl/ will not ind it in the Bible. Between the plain Bible, honestl/ and airl/ interpreted, and e+treme =itualism there is gul which cannot be passed. , we would not be carried about b/ ;divers and strange doctrines,; we must remember the words o our 7ord :esus Christ& Search the Scriptures.! ,gnorance o the Bible is the root o all error. Knowledge o the Bible is the best antidote against modern heresies. ,,. , now proceed to e+amine St. -aul;s valuable prescription& 2,t is good that the heart be established with grace; not with meats.3 *here are two words in this prescription which reJuire a little e+planation. 4 right understanding o them is absolutel/ essential to a proper use o the 4postle;s advice. 6ne o these words is 2meats,3 and the other is 2grace.3 *o see the ull orce o the word ;meats; we must remember the immense importance attached b/ man/ :ewish Christians to the distinctions o the ceremonial law about ood. *he lesh o some animals and birds, according to 7eviticus, might be eaten, and that o others might not be eaten. Some meats were, conseJuentl/, called 2clean,3 and others were called ;unclean.; *o eat certain 1inds o lesh made a :ew ceremoniall/ unhol/ be ore 8od, and no strict :ew would touch and eat such ood on an/ account. 0ow were these distinctions still to be 1ept up a ter Christ ascended into heaven, or were the/ done awa/ b/ the 8ospelB 9ere heathen converts under an/ obligation to attend to the ceremonial o the 7evitical law about oodB 9ere :ewish Christians obliged to be as strict about the meats the/ ate as the/ were be ore Christ died, and the veil o the temple was rent in twainB 9as the ceremonial law about meats entirel/ done awa/, or was it notB 9as the conscience o a believer in the 7ord :esus to be troubled with ear lest his ood should de ile himB Luestions li1e these appear to have ormed one o the great sub.ects o controvers/ in the 4postolic times. 4s is o ten the case, the/ assumed a place entirel/ out o proportion to their real importance. *he 4postle -aul ound it need ul to handle the sub.ect in no less than three o his >pistles to the Churches. 2<eat,3 he sa/s, ;commends us not to 8od.3 2*he 1ingdom o 8od is not meat and drin1.3 27et no man .udge /ou in meat and drin1.3 "$ Corinthians F&F; =omans $E&$?; Colossians@&$D( 0othing shows the allen nature o man so dearl/ as the readiness o morbid and scrupulous consciences to turn tri les into serious things. 4t last the controvers/ seems to have spread so ar and obtained such dimensions, that ;meats; became an e+pression to denote an/thing ceremonial added to the 8ospel as a thing o primar/ importance, an/ =itual tri le thrust out o its law ul place and magni ied into an essential o religion. ,n this sense, , believe, the word must be ta1en in the te+t now be ore us. B/ ;meats; St. -aul means ceremonial observances, either wholl/ invented

b/ man, or else built on <osaic precepts which have been abrogated and superseded b/ the 8ospel. ,t is an e+pression which was well understood in the 4postolic da/s. *he word 2grace,3 on the other hand, seems to be emplo/ed as a comprehensive description o the whole 8ospel o :esus Christ. 6 that glorious 8ospel, grace is the main eature, 5 grace in the original scheme 5 grace in the e+ecution 5 grace in the application to man;s soul. 8race is the ountain o li e rom which our salvation lows. 8race is the agenc/ through which our spiritual li e is 1ept up. 4re we .usti iedB it is b/ grace. 5 4re we calledB it is b/ grace. 5#ave we orgivenessB it is through the riches o grace. 5#ave we good hopeB it is through grace. 5 Do we believeB it is through grace. 5 4re we electB it is b/ the election o grace. 5 4re we saved B it is b/ grace. 5 9h/ should , sa/ moreB *he time would ail me to e+hibit ull/ the part that grace does in the whole wor1 o redemption. 0o wonder that St. -aul sa/s to the =omans, 29e are not under the law, but under grace;3 and tells *itus, 2*he grace o 8od, which bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men.3 "=omans %&@E; 8alatians $&$5; >phesians $&?; @ *hessalonians @&$D; 4cts $F&@?; =omans $&$5; >phesians @&5; =omans D&$5; *itus @&$$( Such are the two great principles which St. -aul puts in strong contrast in the prescription we are now considering. #e places opposite to one another 2meats3 and 2grace,35 Ceremonialism and the 8ospel 5 =itualism and the ree love o 8od in Christ :esus. 4nd then he la/s down the great principle that it is b/ 2grace,3 and 2not meats,3 that the heart must be established. 0ow 2establishment o heart3 is one o the great wants o man/ pro essing Christians. Speciall/ is it longed a ter b/ those whose 1nowledge is imper ect, and whose conscience is hal enlightened. Such persons o ten eel in themselves much indwelling sin, and at the same time see ver/ indistinctl/ 8od;s remed/ and Christ;s ullness. *heir aith is eeble, their hope dim, and their consolations small. *he/ want to realiIe more sensible com ort. *he/ anc/ the/ ought to eel more and see more. *he/ are not at ease. *he/ cannot attain to .o/ and peace in believing. 9hither shall the/ turnB 9hat shall set their consciences at restB *hen comes the enem/ o souls, and suggests some shortcut road to establishment. #e hints at the value o some addition to the simple plan o the 8ospel, some man5made device, some e+aggeration o a truth, some lesh5satis /ing invention, some improvement on the old path, and whispers, 26nl/ use this, and /ou shall be established.3 -lausible o ers low in at the same time rom ever/ Juarter, li1e Juac1 medicines. >ach has its own patrons and advocates. 6n ever/ side the poor unstable soul hears invitations to move in some particular direction, and then shah come per ect establishment. 2Come to us,3 sa/s the =oman Catholic. 2:oin the Catholic Church, the Church on the =oc1, the one, true, hol/ Church; the Church that cannot err. Come to her bosom, and repose /our soul on her protection. Come to us, and /ou will ind establishment.3 2Come to us,3 sa/s the e+treme =itualist. 2Cou need higher and uller views o the priesthood and the Sacraments, o the =eal -resence in the 7ord3s Supper, o the soothing in luence o da / service, dail/ masses, auricular con ession, and priestl/ absolution. Come and ta1e up sound Church views, and /ou will ind establishment.3 2Come to us,3 la/s the violent 7iberationist. 2Cast o the trammels and etters o

established Churches. Come out rom all alliance with the State. >n.o/ religious libert/. *hrow awa/ orms and -ra/er5boo1s. Mse our shibboleth. :oin our part/. Cast in /our lot with us, and /ou will soon be established.3 2Come to us,3 sa/ the -l/mouth Brethren. 2Sha1e o all the bondage o creeds and Churches and s/stems. 9e will soon show /ou higher, deeper, more e+alting, more enlightened views o truth. :oin the brethren, and /ou will soon be established.3 2Come to us,3 sa/s the =ationalist. 27a/ aside the old worn5out clothes o e ete schemes o Christianit/. 8ive /our reason ree scope and pla/. Begin a reer mode o handling Scripture. Be no more a slave to an ancient old5world boo1. Brea1 /our chains and /ou shah be established.3 >ver/ e+perienced Christian 1nows well that such appeals are constantl/ made to unsettled minds in the present da/B 9ho has not seen that, when boldl/ and con identl/ made, the/ produce a pain ul e ect on some peopleB 9ho has not observed that the/ o ten beguile unstable souls, and lead them into miser/ or /earsB 29hat saith the ScriptureB3 *his is the onl/ sure guide. #ear what St. -aul sa/s. #eart establishment is not to be obtained b/ .oining this part/ or that. ,t comes 2b/ grace, and not b/ meats.3 6ther things have a 2show o wisdom3 perhaps, and give a temporar/ satis action 2to the lesh.3 "Colossians @&@%( But the/ have no healing power about them in realit/, and leave the unhapp/ man who trusts them nothing bettered, but rather worse. 4 clearer 1nowledge o the Divine scheme o grace, its eternal purposes, its application to man b/ Christ;s redeeming wor1, 5 a irmer grasp o the doctrine o grace, o 8od;s ree love in Christ, o Christ;s ull and complete satis action or sin, o .usti ication b/ simple aith, 5 a more intimate acJuaintance with Christ the 8iver and Fountain o grace, #is o ices, #is s/mpath/, #is power, 5 a more thorough e+perience o the inward wor1 o grace in the heart, 5 this, this, this is the grand secret o heart5 establishment. *his is the old path o peace. *his is the true panacea or restless consciences. ,t ma/ seem at irst too simple, too eas/, too cheap, too commonplace, too plain. But all the wisdom o man will never show the heav/5laden a better road to heart5rest. Secret pride and sel 5righteousness, , ear, are too o ten the reason wh/ this good old road is not used. , believe there never was a time when it was more need ul to uphold the old 4postolic prescription than it is in the present da/. 0ever were there so man/ unestablished and unsettled Christians wandering about, and tossed to and ro, rom want o 1nowledge. 0ever was it so important or aith ul ministers to set the trumpet to their mouths and proclaim ever/where, 28race, grace, grace, not meats, establishes the heart.3 From the da/s o the 4postles there have never been wanting Juac1 spiritual doctors, who have pro essed to heal the wounds o conscience with man5made remedies. ,n our own beloved Church there have alwa/s been some who have in heart turned bac1 to >g/pt, and, not content with the simplicit/ o our worship, have han1ered a ter the ceremonial leshpots o the Church o =ome. 7aud, o unhapp/ memor/, did a little in this wa/; but his doings were nothing compared to those o some clerg/men in the present da/. *o hear the Sacraments incessantl/ e+alted, and

preaching cried down, 5 to see the 7ord3s Supper turned into an idol under the specious prete+t o ma1ing it more honorable, 5 to ind plain -ra/er5boo1 worship overlaid with so man/ new angled ornaments and ceremonies that its essentials are Juite buried, 5 how common is all thisG *hese things were once a pestilence that wal1ed in dar1ness. *he/ are now a destruction that wastes in noonda/. *he/ are the .o/ o our enemies, the sorrow o the Church3s best children, the damage o >nglish Christianit/, the plague o our times. 4nd to what ma/ the/ all be tracedB *o neglect or orget ulness o St. -aul3s simple prescription& 28race, and not meats, establishes the heart.3 7et us ta1e heed that in our own personal religion, grace is all. 7et us have clear s/stematic views o the 8ospel o the grace o 8od. 0othing else will do good in the hour o sic1ness, in the da/ o trial, on the bed o death, and in the swellings o :ordan. Christ dwelling in our hearts b/ aith, Christ;s ree grace the onl/ oundation under the soles o our eet, 5 this alone will give peace. 6nce let in sel , and orms, and man;s inventions, as a necessar/ part o our religion, and we are on a Juic1sand. 9e ma/ be amused, e+cited, or 1ept Juiet or a time, li1e children with to/s, b/ a religion o ;meats.; Such a religion has 2a show o wisdom.3 But unless our religion be one in which 2grace3 is all, we shall never eel established. ,,,. ,n the last place, , proceed to e+amine the instructive act which St. -aul records. #e sa/s, 2<eats have not pro ited them that have been occupied therein.3 9e have no means o 1nowing whether the 4postle, in using this language, re erred to an/ particular Churches or individuals. 6 course it is possible that he had in view the :udaiIing Christians o 4ntioch and 8alatia, 5 or the >phesians o whom he spea1s to *imoth/ in his pastoral >pistle, 5 or the Colossians who caused him so much inward con lict, 5 or the #ebrew believers in ever/ Church, without e+ception. ,t seems to me ar more probable, however, that he had no particular Church or Churches in view. , rather thin1 that he ma1es a broad, general, sweeping statement about all who in an/ place had e+alted ceremonial at the e+pense o the doctrines o 2grace.3 4nd he ma1es a wide declaration about them all. *he/ have got no good rom their avorite notions. *he/ have not been more inwardl/ happ/, more outwardl/ hol/, or more generall/ use ul. *heir religion has been most unpro itable to them. <an5 made alterations o 8od;s precious medicine or sinners, 5 man5made additions to Christ;s glorious 8ospel,5 however speciousl/ de ended and plausibl/ supported, do no real good to those that adopt them. *he/ con er no increased inward com ort; the/ bring no growth o real holiness& the/ give no enlarged use ulness to the Church and the world. Calml/, Juietl/, and mildl/, but irml/, decidedl/, and un linchingl/, the assertion is made, 2<eats have not pro ited them that have been occupied therein.3 *he whole stream o Church histor/ abundantl/ con irms the truth o the 4postle;s position. 9ho has not heard o the hermits and ascetics o the earl/ centuriesB 9ho has not heard o the mon1s and nuns and recluses o the =omish Church in the middle agesB 9ho has not heard o the burning Ieal, the devoted sel 5 denial o =omanists li1e Navier, and ,gnatius 7o/olaB *he earnestness, the ervor, the sel 5sacri ice o all these classes, are matters be/ond dispute. But none who read

care ull/ and intelligentl/ the records o their lives, /ea, some o the best o them, can ail to see that the/ had no solid peace or inward rest o soul. *heir ver/ everish restlessness is enough to show that their consciences were not at ease. 0one can ail to see that, with all their urious Ieal and sel 5denial, the/ never did much good to the world. *he/ gathered round themselves admiring partisans. *he/ le t a high reputation or sel 5denial and sincerit/. *he/ made men wonder at them while the/ lived, and sometimes canoniIe them when the/ died. But the/ did nothing to convert souls. 4nd what is the reason o thisB *he/ attached an overweening importance to man5made ritual and ceremonial, and made less than the/ ought to have done o the 8ospel o the grace o 8od. *heir principle was to ma1e much o 2meats,3 and little o 2grace.3 #ence the/ veri ied the words o St. -aul, ;<eats do not pro it them that are occupied therein.; *he ver/ histor/ o our own times bears a stri1ing testimon/ to the truth o St. -aul3s assertion. ,n the last twent/5 ive /ears some scores o clerg/men have seceded rom the Church o >ngland, and .oined the Church o =ome. *he/ wanted more o what the/ called Catholic doctrine and Catholic ceremonial. *he/ honestl/ acted up to their principles, and went over to =ome. *he/ were not all wea1, and illiterate, and second5 rate, and in erior men; several o them were men o commanding talents, whose gi ts would have won or them a high position in an/ pro ession. Cet what have the/ gained b/ the step the/ have ta1enB 9hat pro it have the/ ound in leaving 2grace3 or 2meats,3 in e+changing -rotestantism or CatholicismB #ave the/ attained a higher standard o holinessB #ave the/ procured or themselves a greater degree o use ulnessB 5 7et one o themselves suppl/ an answer. <r. F oul1es a leading man in the part/, within the last ew /ears has openl/ declared that the preaching o some o his ellow 2perverts3 is not so power ul as it was when the/ were >nglish Churchmen, and that the highest degree o hol/ living he has ever seen is not within the pale o =ome, but in the Juiet parsonages and unpretending amil/5li e o godl/ >nglish clerg/menG ,ntentionall/ or not intentionall/, wittingl/ or unwittingl/, meaning it or not meaning it, nothing can be more stri1ing than the testimon/ <r. F oul1es bears to the truth o the 4postle3s assertion& 2<eats do not pro it3 even those who ma1e much ado about them. *he religious s/stem which e+alts ceremonial and man5made ritual does no real good to its adherents, compared to the simple old 8ospel o the grace o 8od. 7et us turn now, or a ew moments, to the other side o the picture, and see what ;grace; has done. 7et us hear how pro itable the doctrines o the 8ospel have proved to those who have clung irml/ to them, and have not tried to mend and improve and patch them up b/ adding, as essentials, the ;meats; o man5made ceremonial. ,t was 2grace, and not meats,3 that made <artin 7uther do the wor1 that he did in the world. *he 1e/ to all his success was his constant declaration o .usti ication b/ aith, without the deeds o the law. *his was the truth which enabled him to brea1 the chains o =ome, and let light into >urope. ,t was 2grace, and not meats,3 that made our >nglish mart/rs, 7atimer and #ooper, e+ercise so might/ an in luence in li e, and shine so brightl/ in death. *he/ saw clearl/, and taught plainl/, the true priesthood o Christ, and salvation onl/ b/

grace. *he/ honored 8od3s grace, and 8od put honor on them. ,t was ;grace, and not meats,; that made =omaine and Henn, and their companions, turn the world upside down in >ngland, one hundred /ears ago. ,n themselves the/ were not men o e+traordinar/ learning or intellectual power. But the/ revived and brought out again the real pure doctrines o grace. ,t was 2grace, and not meats,3 that made Simeon and Bishop Daniel 9ilson and Bic1ersteth such stri1ing instruments o use ulness in the irst hal o the present centur/. 8od;s ree grace was the great truth on which the/ relied, and continuall/ brought orward. For so doing 8od put honor on them. *he/ made much o 8od s grace and the 8od o grace made much o them. *he list o ministerial biographies tells a stri1ing tale. 9ho are those who have sha1en the world, and le t their mar1 on their generation, and aroused consciences, and converted sinners, and edi ied saintsB 0ot those who have made asceticism, and ceremonials, and sacraments, and services, and ordinances the main thing; but those who have made most o 8od;s ree graceG ,n a da/ o stri e, and controvers/, and doubt, and perple+it/, men orget this. Facts are stubborn things. 7et us loo1 calml/ at them, and be not moved b/ those who tell us that dail/ services, reJuent communions, processions, incense, bowings, crossings, con essions, absolutions, and the li1e, are the secret o a prosperous Christianit/. 7et us loo1 at plain acts. Facts in old histor/, and acts in modern da/s, acts in ever/ part o >ngland, support the assertion o St. -aul. *he religion o ;meats; does ;not pro it those that are occupied therein.; ,t is the religion o grace that brings inward peace, outward holiness, and general use ulness. 7et me wind up this paper with a ew words o practical application. 9e are living in an age o peculiar religious danger. , am Juite sure that the advice , am going to o er deserves serious attention. "$( ,n the irst place, let us not be surprised at the rise and progress o alse doctrine. ,t is a thing as old as the old 4postles. ,t began be ore the/ died. *he/ predicted that there would be plent/ o it be ore the end o the world. ,t is wisel/ ordered o 8od or the testing o our grace, and to prove who has real aith. , there were no such thing as alse doctrine or heres/ upon earth, , should begin to thin1 the Bible was not true. "@( ,n the ne+t place, let us ma1e up our minds to resist alse doctrine, and not to be carried awa/ b/ ashion and bad e+ample. 7et us not linch, because all around us, high and low, rich and poor, are swept awa/, li1e geese in a lood, be ore a torrent o semi5poper/. 7et us be irm and stand our ground. 7et us resist alse doctrine, and contend earnestl/ or the aith once delivered to the saints. 7et us not be ashamed o showing our colors and standing out or 0ew *estament truth. 7et us not be stopped b/ the cuc1oo cr/ o 2controvers/.3 *he thie li1es dogs that do not bar1, and watchmen that give no alarm. *he devil is a thie and a robber. , we hold our peace, and do not resist alse doe5trine, we please him and displease 8od. "%( ,n the ne+t place, let us tr/ to preserve the 6ld -rotestant principles o the Church o >ngland, and to hand them down unin.ured to our children3s children. 7et

us not listen to those aint5hearted Churchmen who would have us orsa1e the ship, and desert the Church o >ngland in her time o need. *he Church o >ngland is worth ighting or. She has done good service in da/s gone b/, and she ma/ /et do more, i we can 1eep her ree rom -oper/ and in idelit/. 6nce readmit and sanction the -opish mass and auricular con ession, and the Church o >ngland will be ruined. *hen let us ight hard or the Church o >ngland being 1ept a -rotestant Church. 7et us read our thirt/5nine 4rticles ever/ /ear with attention, and learn rom these 4rticles what are real Church principles. 7et us arm our memories with these 4rticles, and be able to Juote them. Be ore the edge and point o these 4rticles, airl/ interpreted, ultra5=itualists and ultra5=ationalists can never stand. "E( ,n the last place, let us ma1e sure wor1 o our own personal salvation. 7et us see1 to 1now and eel that we ourselves are 2saved.3 *he da/ o controvers/ is alwa/s a da/ o spiritual peril. <en are apt to con ound orthodo+/ with conversion, and to anc/ that the/ must go to heaven i the/ 1now how to answer -apists. Cet mere earnestness without 1nowledge, and mere head5 1nowledge o -rotestantism, ali1e save none. 7et us never orget this. 7et us not rest till we eel the blood o Christ sprin1led on our consciences, and have the witness o the Spirit within us that we are born again. *his is realit/. *his is true religion. *his will last. *his will never ail us. ,t is the possession o grace in the heart, and not the intellectual 1nowledge o it, that pro its and saves the soul.