Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 9, 1916

No Bible, No Message

He who cannot accept the Word of God as inspired and infallible has no message of salvation for his fellows. This is the dying testimony of Dr. Sylvanus Stall. Dr. Stall will be recognized as the author of the series of “books on avoided subjects,” embracing such works as “What a Young Boy Ought to Know,” “What a Young Husband Ought to Know.” A short time before his death he made in an address the following statement regarding his faith in the Word of God, which was read to those assembled around his open grave:—

“I have reached the end of the journey upon which you are just entering. I have a message for you from my open grave. Let me impress upon you the importance of a full, unqualified, and complete acceptance of the Scriptures from cover to cover as the inspired and infallible word of God. If you cannot accept it as such, let me say to you, you will have no message, and you ought never to enter the ministry. Preach Jesus Christ, and him crucified as the only hope of the sinner, and the only Saviour of a lost and ruined world. Live and labor for God and humanity.”

It is indeed true, as Dr. Stall states, that all who do not accept the Word of God as inspired and infallible have no message for their fellows. In their failure to do this is found the weakness of many men of master minds at the present time. In proportion as the great Christian church and its leaders have given up faith in the Scriptures of truth and discounted its cardinal doctrines they have lost the power of gospel evangelism. To one who will receive it as such, the Word of God today, as in every age of the past, will prove spirit and life and power.