S C R I B N E R ' S M A G A Z I N E Important ... - Rparchives.org

•Xovember 5, 1913. A FAMILY PAPER.
these rocks are charted, and their dangerous
nature expressly stated in our guide book.
What more could Jesus have said than that
be did say? "For there shall arise false
Christs, and false prophets, and shall show
o-reat signs and wonders, insomuch that if
it were possible, they shall deceive the very
elect." This warning uttered by Jesus, has
been emphasized by almost every one of
the apostles who took up his pen at tbe Holy
Spirit's command. Peter (II Pet. ii, I ft",),
John (I John, ii, i8 ff), Jude (X'ersc 4 ff.),
Paul (his epistles, especially to Timothy, are
full of it), all spake of the perilous times
in which we are living. Can any one say
that he has not been warned of the peril
of contact witb these doctrines? And beingwarned,
should we investigate them further?
"Can a man take fire into his bosom, and
his clothes not be burned?'' The cautions
man will not be judged in the las.t day for
jheeding these warnings, but the blood of the
curious shall be on his own head.
Third, we ought not to investigate false
doctrines, because they will eat into our
souls like a gangrene. (II, Tim, ii, 16-17).
One who has been fighting valiantly for
years in the very front of the battle, but who
has recently surrendered to Christian Science,
makes a confession something like thisi:
"Some ten years ago, or more, I read this
same literature, and it scarcely interested me,
I thought nothing more about it until I took
it up recently and re-read it. Then it took
such a hold upon me that I could not resist
it," Had the firstreading no effect? Was
nofi that the germ ithat multiplied until it
became a disease? The sieed that produced
such an awful yield? "Be not deceived: God
is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap." "Their word
shall eat as doth a canker."
Fourth, it is a duty not to investigate other
"gospels," because in so doing, Ave indulge
our lust after knowledge. There is a
legitimate desire for knowledge, for Solomon
says, "Get wisdom; get understanding.
seek her as silver, and search for ber as
for hid treasures." But there is also a "lust
after knowledge," as Paul speaks of those
who were "ever learning and never able to
come to a knovvdedge of tbe truth." A lust
for knowledge is a sin not less heinous than
the lust of the Israelites for flesh in the
wilderness. It was not because the manna
given from heaven lacked in the necessary
amount of proteids, caseins, or carbo-hydrates,—nor
did it even lack in flavor,—tbat
the children of Israel were dissatisfied;
hut i^ was because ithey 'themselves were
'stiff-necked and rebellious." Likewise it
Js not because there is any element lacking
in the gospel of Jesus that so many are
seeking after false Christs and false proph-
^'s. Nor is it because these other "gospels"
are able to add anything to the old gospel,
'^'•itit is because "the heart is deceitful above
aU things, and desperately wicked," so that
men are drawn away by their own lusts and
•enticed to search after that which is not
bread.
But it will ijc said that we must investigate
these religions in order to answer those
who believe in them. But was any one
ever turned from the error of his ways by
controversy? True, Peter tells |us tto be
"ready always to give an answer to every
man that asketh you a reason for the hope
that is in you," but 'he says nothing about
being ready to argue the other man's position
with bim. When Nicodemus would
have argued, Jesus only reiterated his own position,
"Ye must be bom again." It is also
true that Paul confounded the Jews in Dama^scus,
proving from the Scripture that Jesus
was the Christ, but he did not debate their
position; he debated the question affirmatively.
Was he not speaking from experience
when he says to Timothy, ".But foolish and
ignorant questions, refuse, knowing that they
gender strifes. And the Lord's servant must
not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to
teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting
tliem that oppose themselves; if peradventure
God may give them repentance unto the
knowledge of the truth, and they may recover
tliemselves out of the snare of the devil,
having been taken captive by him unto his
will." Does the Christian Scientist make his
converts by a'ttacking evangelical truth? Not
he: tbat would be a waste of time. He reiterates
his own position; for they are wiser
in tbeir day and generation than the
children of light. To prepare to attack his
position is only to urge him to fortify himself
in that position.
Finally, it is our duty not to investigate
jiresent day "gospels," because such a course
is tempting God. From Jesus's reply to
Satan, we may infer his definition of tempting
God. Satan said, "Cast thyself down
from the pinnacle of the temple, for have
you not the promise that the angels shall
bear thee up, so that thou canst not dash
thy foot against a stone?" Jesus replied, "It
is written, 'Tbou shalt not test the Lord thy
God." That is to say when we take any unnecessary
risk, we are testing God. That
present day "giospels" are subtle, we know
bot'b from observation and from prophecy.
"If it were possible, they would deceive even
the elect." Shall we deliberately put ourselves
into the hands of Satan to be tempted
of him, by studying false doctrines? Not
only are the present day apostasies a warning
against such a course, but the darkness
of tbe whole heathen world came about in
this way. "Knowing God," says Paul, "they
glorified Him not as God, neither gave
thanks; but became vain in tbeir reasonings,
and their senseless heart AVAS DARKENED.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became
fools." And then there follow those
appalling words, thrice repeated: "Wherefore
GOD GAVE 'i'HEM UP m the lusts oi
their hearts unto uncleanness, . . . for
Ithey exchanged the truth of God for a lie.
. . . For this cause GOD GAVE TITE.M
UP unto vile passions. . . . And even
as they refused to have God in their knowledge,
GOD GAVE THEM UP unto a reprobate
mind."—Rom. i, 21-28. If in the face
of these warnings we put ourselves in the
way of temptation by investigating "another
gospel," how shall we answer to Him who
bath warned us, in the last great day ?
It is with no feeling of bitterness toward
those who have been led away that I am
writing this; for them I bave only tove and
pity. But I fear that the weight of their influence
might lead others into like temptation.
May we not all prayerfully take to
beart the anxious works of Paul to his beloved
Timothy: "O Timothy, guard that
which is committed unto thee, turning away
from profane babblings and oppositions of
the science wbich is falsely so called; which
some professing have erred concerning the
faith."
D. RAYMOND TAGGART.
Tak Hing, S. China.
We take tbe following from the Pittsburgh
correspondence of The Presbyterian of October
15:
A
rumor has reached Pittsburgh that the
directors of Princeton Theological Seminary
are about to elect a successor to Rev. Dr. F.
L, Patton, who has resigned the position of
president, and that Rev, Dr. William L. Mc-
Ewan, the popular pastor of tbe Third Presbyterian
church of this city, is favorably mentioned
in this connection. The movement
does not seem to be looked upon favorably
by the clergy of tlds city. While Dr. Mc-
Ewan is eminently qualified for the position,
and would be a worthy successor of the
mighty Dr, Patton, yet tbey feel that he ia
needed here, and has a great work to perform,
which he alone can do.
On Sabbath, SeptemJber 28, (about 250
members of the Neighborhood Bible Class,
North Side, Pittsburgh, under the leadership
of Rev, Dr. John McNaugher, instructor,
paid a fraternal visit to the Brotherhood
class of the Emory iM. E. Church, East End,
Pittsburgh. It required the services of forty-four
automobiles to carry tbe class to its
destination.,' A p'rocession of this kind is
seldom seen here. On their arrival at Emory
Church, they were met by about 400 members
of the Brotherhood class, and addresses
of welcome were delivered by Mr. Harry W.
Dunlap, the teacher, and Mr. Wakefield, the
president of the class; also by Rev, Dr. Piper,
pastor of tbe Emory congregation. Rev.
Dr, John McNaugher delivered one of bis
able lectures to the combined classes, and fully
sustained his well-earned reputation of being
a prince of teachers.