August 1926
T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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same evangelical seal, the same consumingly passionate devotion to the Kingdom of our Lord, the same sacrificial energy which flowed forth in the past from the convictiona of those who have so faithfully followed what is today called the ‘old’ theology, we shall never come to any worthy place among those who follow in the train of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Even so. Note again what he has to say about the fruits of the “ old” theology. If his own Judgment is correct, as herein expressed, then indeed the adherents of his theol ogy will never “ come to any worthy place among those who follow in the train of our Lord Jesus Christ." Infidelity is barren. It has promoted very few philan thropic enterprises; it has no helpful literature and no inspiring art, and those whose theology approaches it pre pare the way for its dearth of the kindly, the comforting, the purifying, the helpful service of mankind. The outcome of the “ blood religion” has always been and still remains the very reverse. It alone has transformed the world. It has provided all the great Christian agencies— foreign missions, the best and greatest of them all. It founded the Bible societies of our own and other lands, the American Tract Society, the Sunday School Union, the Young Men s and 1Young Women’s Christian Associations, the institutions of like nature with more restricted influence, such as hospitals, dispensaries, asylums, homes for the aged, and societies for the relief of the poor. Nearly ail of our American colleges, previous to the coming of state universities, were organized by men of the “ blood religion. Its literature is most extensive and Includes all our great hymns. The two books which have had the widest circulation— the Bible of course excepted— Bunyan’s Pil grim’s Progress, and Thomas a Kempis’ Imitation of Christ, were written by "blood religion" men. The great paintings were produced by them, the great cathedrals, the great oratorios. All this and much more. And beyond all, the millions of men and women reclaimed from their sins and led into sweet, pure, unselfish lives— martyrs, confes sors, -missionaries, reformers, and thousands unknown to fame— these are the fruit of, as they are the irrefutable argument for, the “ blood religion.” And be assured it wHl continue to be so. For a time, per haps, those who have departed from its company will con tinue to steal its livery and attempt to Justify their vag aries by the fruit which they did not produce; they will even continue to derive their support from agencies which it has established; but in due season their folly will be "evident unto all men,” as was that of Jannes and Jambres, who withstood Moses (2 Tim. 3 :8 ). 4Vkm
The truth Is revealed. It must be so, since It Is never discovered by the learning of the wisest men. But having been revealed, as it is claimed, how may it be certainly known to be the truth? The answer to this question is distinctly given in the revelation which presents the truth, and when once the answer is apprehended it commends itself to every intelli gent man. The truth is known by its product. It is known in no other way. It is fully known in this way. When such fruits as we have indicated in the beginning of this article are manifested in the character and experience of men and women they certainly validate as truth that to which such men and women hold. To Just the extent that these fruits are produced in quality and measure the truth is set forth. So Jesus said again and again: “ Beware of false prophets. . . . . By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:16, 16). He would have His own teachings tested by the same rule: “ If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But If I do them, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father” (John 10:37, 38). And therefore it is not so much the intellectual examination of the words of Jesus which has commended them and their Author to the world, as that which those words have accomplished for the good of the world. i “ Believe the works." This is the way to the truth. There is no insuperable difficulty in determining it. On the con trary, it is so simple and so reasonable that millions have found and embraced the truth who, like the apostles of old, were “ unlearned and ignorant men.” Let us ask ourselves first in general terms, What book has brought the most blessing into the world? The answer certainly is, the Bible. It has brought more than all other books, in which its teachings are lacking, put together. Then the Bible must be, in general terms, the truth. Or may we ask, what person has had the largest success in the conquest of sin and the removal of its consequences? Beyond all question Jesus. Then we may fully agree with His own Judgment of Himself, “ I am the Truth." But we may proceed to some particulars of this question. There are various religious systems adopted by those who regard the Bible as the best of books and Jesus as the best of men. First of all, there is what has been called by some “ the blood religion.” Those who hold it are known today as “ Conservatives,” "Fundamentalists,” and the like. Their system is well understood; it is not necessary to define it. There are also certain departures from this system in a number of degrees and variations, up to positive denial of its distinctive features. These departures constitute what is known as "Modernism.” This, also, need not be defined. It may be confidently asserted, and emphatically reiter ated, that the fruits of the so-called “ blood religion" far surpass in measure and quality those of all other forms of divergent faith, calling or miscalling themselves “ Chris tian.” It is responsible for pretty much all the good that has come to this weary, sin-sick world. One of the chief exponents of Modernism today is Harry Emerson Fosdick. A complimentary luncheon was tendered to him June 1, 1923, at the Astor Hotel, New York. In the course of his remarks at this time, he said: "There are some things, however, which we who stand for this efTort in the church need to say to ourselves very plainly. Especially do we need to be very sure that we will never win in the cause in which we are engaged by the rationality of our theology and the precision of any theoretical hypothesis we may put forth. Unless we can in our lives produce the
THE BEST BOOK Carry it in your pocket, read it on the train, Meditate upon it, again and yet again. Always keep it handy, read it in the “ bus,”
See the many great things God hath done for us. Never act .the coward, read it in the “ tram,” Show you are the “ real sort,” not merely a sham. Search the Scriptures daily, read them through and through, Thus you’ll honor God, and God will honor you. —Wm. T. Rae, Canada.
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