WHENCE THE DIFFERENCE?
By Editor
We find ourselves at variance both in theory and in practice with the people of the world around us, and with every denomination of professors. We find, moreover, that this difference is almost daily increasing, that the breach is widening between us, that the different paths we are pursuing are becoming more marked and distinct. This fact suggests an inquiry as to the true cause of this difference. We aver that the churches, and through them the world, are apostatizing from the Bible; that its precepts and teachings are fast losing their hold upon the hearts of men; and that those who will adhere strictly to the sacred word will find themselves differing more and more widely from those around them. As evidence that we are not resting in this matter upon mere assertion, we might refer to the extracts from A. Campbell which Bro. Carver has furnished us for this number, together with the fact that those who are members of the sect to which he gave rise, now know not what to do with them. At the time Mr. Campbell wrote, no issue, probably, had been joined with him on the claims of the fourth commandment. The demands of that commandment for the consecration of every seventh day to the Lord, instead of the first, with the sacrifice which it involves, had never been applied to his heart, calling for the surrender of every selfish interest at the shrine of truth. No interests of this kind, (too powerful with many at the present time,) intervened to bias his judgment in regard to the immutability and perpetuity of God's holy law. Hence he unhesitatingly took the Bible view, and gave utterance to Bible sentiments concerning it. If the claims of the fourth commandment had been strictly enjoined upon him, and he had remained true to the sentiments he uttered, he must have acknowledged the obligations of the seventh day. How is it with his followers? Those "ten words" to which Mr. Campbell attaches such importance and sanctity have been examined by those who desired to keep them in letter and in spirit too; their claims have been held forth; other issues have been joined concerning them. Do his disciples acknowledge deductions legitimately drawn from his premises? Not on the contrary they know not what to do with his declarations. They have apostatized from the principles of their leader. Another illustration of this may be seen in the course pursued by these people in Gilboa, Ohio, when Bro. Cornell first presented the truth in that place; the report of which our readers will remember. Nor is this the only sect that is ready to abandon the sentiments of its founder under the influence of other motives. The case is a very clear one. The development of truth is progressive. And as new light is springing forth, we have new confirmations of the great truth uttered by our Saviour, that men love darkness rather than light. When it comes they draw off. They shut their eyes to the light of truth, and their ears to its declarations. And hence there must a separation take place between those who follow it and those who do not. The two paths which the two classes take, diverge continually. The one is the straight and narrow path that leads to life; the other the broad way that endeth in perdition. We are confident that this distinction will grow more and more apparent as time rolls on, till it will be easy to discern between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not, from the simple fact that one follows the Bible and the light that emanates from that holy book, and the other does not. Reader, what is your decision? Will you follow the Bible, though it lead you into the straight and narrow path? Or will you be quietly borne down towards perdition by the popular tide that sets in thitherward? Decide for yourself; decide now; decide for eternity.