Sincerity no Guaranty for Truth.
By J. A. Wilcox
BRO. SMITH: As it is quite common in these days to hear people make the assertion, or say much the same in substance, that it makes no difference what men believe, if they are only honest; (for, say they, all denominations of Christians are aiming to arrive at one place, heaven;) I thought best to send you the following extract, which I took from Tract No. 534, published by the American Tract Society. It not only clearly illustrates the dangerous position which many take in reference to the most solemn and important subject to which the minds of mortal men can be directed, but also shows the folly of it. "But a short time since the entire community was startled with the news of a sudden and fearful shipwreck. The bark Elizabeth was returning, richly laden from a foreign port. Her voyage was almost finished, when as she neared our coast, a violent storm arose. In the darkness of midnight, as she is driven before the tempest, her officers mistake the light on Fire Island for the one on the highlands and steering as they suppose for the latter, but in reality for the former, the bark is soon dashed, an utter wreck upon the breakers, and part of the crew and all her passengers are swallowed up in the waves, swept as in a moment to eternity. It is of little moment how the mistake was made, whether from erroneous calculations, or presuming confidence, or careless neglect of chart and compass. The fact that it was made, is certain, and the awful result like all the realities of the past, is beyond the reach of prevention or remedy. All that remains for us, as we mourn the dreadful calamity is, that we endeavor to open our hearts to some of the many lessons it so solemnly teaches. It shows that the sincerity of our belief on any subject is no proof of its correctness. Here is not an uncommon error, especially in reference to religion. "How often from thoughtless or skeptical persons do we hear the assertion, it is no matter what a man believes, if he is only sincere. But alas! this fatal shipwreck tells a different story. Doubtless the officers of that ill fated bark were sincere in their terrible mistake. They honestly believed the light toward which they were steering was the one which would guide them to their expected port in safety. But did the sincerity of their belief prove its correctness? Did it calm the raging of the winds and the waves, or break the violence of the terrific crash, or save from the jaws of death one of its appointed victims? And if sincerity of belief, of itself is no assurance of truth and safety in ordinary life, is it in matters of religion? If it is not a safeguard to the mariner on the deep, is it on the voyage to eternity?"