p. 47 | Truth Eternal

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jan 21, 1886

Truth Eternal.

It is a tradition of one of those dreadful battles which were fought by the barbarians who had overthrown the Roman Empire, that during the night that followed the day of slaughter, the myriads of the slain arose from death, and in the darkness renewed the combat. It was as if death itself could not quite extinguish the fiery lust of battle which burned in those warrior hearts, nor quench the flames of hatred which had raged throughout the day. It is the comfortable idea of some people that the old theological controversies are no longer seriously contested, and that the tremendous earnestness displayed by an Athanasius, an Augustine, an Anselm, a Calvin, a Knox, are all out of place in our day. In truth, the controversy between truth and error is never done with. Truth will start up from her grave to grapple with error upon the throne. Her controversy can never be settled by compromise.

Every doctrine of Scripture is a sword; and if that sword fall out of dying hands, it will be found again by the living. Some wanderer over the bloody field will light upon it; as Luther had the old sword of justification by faith put into his hand, that with it he should smite the ancient lie. The fabled Arthur, in dying, hurls his sword into the sea; but ere it sinks, another arm has caught it. No part of God's truth shall utterly perish from the earth. "For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire."—Watchman.