THE grand question to be solved, in this generation, is, whether men can follow the Lord, the only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, as their only Leader, receive his truth as their only guide, his faith as their only faith, his religion as their only religion, and be simply his disciples and no more. Is there such a thing in this world as christianity? All the conflicting parties around us admit that there is. Can we determine what it is? If we can not, no man knows whether he is a christian or not. If we can determine what christianity is, then, why not adopt it, and nothing else? Can we determine what the gospel is? If we can not, then, no man knows whether he is a believer or not, and knows not whether he will be saved or lost. If we can determine what the gospel is then, why in the name of reason not preach the gospel and nothing else? If we can not determine what the church of Christ is, then no man can determine whether he is in the church of Christ or not. If we can determine what the church of Christ is, there can be no excuse for forming any other church, or belonging to any other.
If we can not determine what christianity is, we can not determine who is near to it, or far from it. If we can not determine what the gospel is, we can not decide who comes near to it, or swerves far from it. If the right way can not be known, no man can tell who is near the truth and who is far from it. If we can not tell which the way to heaven is, we can not tell who is near and who is far from it. The world is lost. We are enveloped in impenetrable darkness. The light of heaven is blown out. Hell has triumphed. All is thrown into chaos. An eternal confusion spreads a universal reign. Doubt, uncertainty and gloom extend over the whole habitable earth. The purpose of God has failed, and the malignant purpose of hell has triumphed. The hope of all nations is lost. Our world is ruined!—Black, fearful and awful despair prevail everywhere among men. Is this the condition of our world? Tell us, all you who think that the man is a bigot, a simpleton and pretender, who says he can know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent—that he can know the truth that makes man free—that he can know the gospel—that he can know christianity—that he can know that he is a christian—that he can know the true church; tell us, all you who despise this man for claiming that he can know all this, if you say you cannot know these things, how do you know whether you are right or wrong, in the way to heaven or hell? How can you tell, if you know not these things, whether you are near right, or far from it? How can you tell anything about it?