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The Fundamentals. ical speculations, but they cut the ground from under them. The testimony and teaching of Christ were not communicated- to men. for the purpose of informing them how man and the world came to be what they are—though they do reveal the truth as to that. The purpose of the doctrine of Christ and of His personal mission to the world was to show to men their true condition, as under the dominion of sin and death, and to accomplish eternal redemption for all who believe the good tidings and accept the gift of God’s grace. The doctrine of Christ not only instructs men as to the way into the king dom of God, but also entitles those who accept it to the imme diate possession and enjoyment of many and valuable rights and privileges which can be acquired in no other way. If, therefore, you are a believer in Christ Jesus, trusting the merit of His sacrifice for your acceptance with God, beware lest any man despoil you of these inestimable rights and privileges through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him, and not elsewhere, dwells the fulness of the Godhead; and in Him, and not elsewhere, the believer may be filled to his utmost ca pacity., Philosophy can strip men of part of the inheritance of faith. It has nothing to offer them in exchange. FRUITS OF PHILOSOPHY. It would be quite possible, for one who had the requisite leisure and curiosity, to trace the main developments of phi losophy, and to examine the many different “Schools” to which it has given rise during a period of several thousand years. Having done so, he would find that philosophy consists, as already said, in the pursuit of the unattainable, and that, among all the varied fields of human activity there is none which has witnessed such an absolutely futile and barren expenditure of energy as the field of speculative philosophy. A philosopher of repute at the present time has declared that “philosophy has been on a false scent ever since the days of Socrates and Plato.”
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