of broad religious 〃agnosticism〃 just suits an immense number of
people； and specially suits young persons。 They are content to shovel
aside all disputed points as rubbish； and if you charge them with
indecision； they will tell you： 〃I do not pretend to understand
controversy； I decline to examine controverted points。 I daresay it is
all the same in the long run。〃Who does not know that such people
swarm and abound everywhere？
Now I do beseech all who read this paper to beware of this undecided
state of mind in religion。 It is a pestilence which walketh in
darkness； and a destruction that killeth in noonday。 It is a lazy； idle
frame of soul which； doubtless； saves men the trouble of thought and
investigation； but it is a frame of soul for which there is no warrant
in the Bible； nor yet in the Articles or Prayer…book of the Church of
England。 For your own soul's sake； dare to make up your mind what you
believe； and dare to have positive； distinct views of truth and error。
Never； never be afraid to hold decided doctrinal opinions； and let no
fear of man and no morbid dread of being thought party…spirited；
narrow； or controversial； make you rest contented with a bloodless；
boneless； tasteless； colourless； lukewarm； undogmatic Christianity。
Mark what I say。 If you want to do good in these times； you must throw
aside indecision； and take up a distinct； sharply…cut； doctrinal
religion。 If you believe little； those to whom you try to do good will
believe nothing。 The victories of Christianity； wherever they have been
won； have been won by distinct doctrinal theology； by telling men
roundly of Christ's vicarious death and sacrifice； by showing them
Christ's substitution on the cross； and His precious blood； by teaching
them justification by faith； and bidding them believe on a crucified
Saviour； by preaching ruin by sin； redemption by Christ； regeneration
by the Spirit； by lifting up the brazen serpent； by telling men to look
and fiveto believe； repent； and be converted。 Thisthis is the only
teaching which for eighteen centuries God has honoured with success；
and is honouring at the present day both at home and abroad。 Let the
clever advocates of a broad and undogmatic theologythe preachers of
the Gospel of earnestness； and sincerity and cold moralitylet them； I
say； show us at this day any English village or parish； or city； or
town； or district； which has been evangelized without 〃dogma；〃 by their
principles。 They cannot do it； and they never will。 Christianity
without distinct doctrine is a powerless thing。 It may be beautiful to
some minds； but it is childless and barren。 There is no getting over
facts。 The good that is done in the earth may be paratively small。
Evil may abound； and ignorant impatience may murmur and cry out that
Christianity has failed。 But； depend on it； if we want to 〃do good〃 and
shake the world； we must fight with the old apostolic weapons； and
stick to 〃dogma。〃 No dogma； no fruits！ No positive Evangelical
doctrine； no evangelization！
Mark once more what I say。 The men who have done most for the Church of
England； and made the deepest mark on their day and generation； have
always been men of most decided and distinct doctrinal views。 It is the
bold； decided； outspoken man； like Capel Molyneux； or our grand old
Protestant champion Hugh McNeile； who makes a deep impression； and sets
people thinking； and 〃turns the world upside down。〃 It was 〃dogma〃 in
the apostolic ages which emptied the heathen temples and shook Greece
and Rome。 It was 〃dogma〃 which awoke Christendom from its slumbers at
the time of the Reformation and spoiled the Pope of one third of his
subjects。 It was 〃dogma〃 which 100 years ago revived the Church of
England in the days of Whitfield； Wesley； Venn； and Romaine； and blew
up our dying Christianity into a burning flame。 It is 〃dogma〃 at this
moment which gives power to every successful mission； whether at home
or abroad。 It is doctrinedoctrine； clear； ringing doctrinewhich；
like the ram's horns at Jericho； casts down the opposition of the devil
and sin。 Let us cling to decided doctrinal views； whatever some may
please to say in these times； and we shall do well for ourselves； well
for others； well for the Church of England； and well for Christ's cause
in the world。
III。 In the third place； the times require of us an awakened and
livelier sense of the unscriptural and soul…ruining character of
Romanism。
This is a painful subject； but it imperatively demands some plain
speaking。
The facts of the case are very simple。 No intelligent observer can fail
to see that the tone of public feeling in England about Romanism has
undergone a great change in the last forty years。 Father Oakley； the
well…known pervert； an ally of Cardinal Newman； asserts this
triumphantly in a recent number of the Contemporary Review。 And I am
sorry to say that； in my judgment； he speaks the truth。 There is no
longer that general dislike； dread； and aversion to Popery； which was
once almost universal in this realm。 The edge of the old British
feeling about Protestantism seems blunted and dull。 Some profess to be
tired of all religious controversy； and are ready to sacrifice God's
truth for the sake of peace。Some look on Romanism as simply one among
many English forms of religion； and neither worse nor better than
others。Some try to persuade us that Romanism is changed； and not
nearly so bad as it used to be。Some boldly point to the faults of
Protestants； and loudly cry that Romanists are quite as good as
ourselves。Some think it fine and liberal to maintain that we have no
right to think anyone wrong who is in earnest about his creed。And yet
the two great historical facts； （a） that ignorance； immorality； and
superstition reigned supreme in England 400 years ago under Popery； （b）
that the Reformation was the greatest blessing God ever gave to this
landboth these are facts which no one but a Papist ever thought of
disputing fifty years ago！ In the present day； alas； it is convenient
and fashionable to forget them！ In short； at the rate we are going； I
shall not be surprised if it is soon proposed to repeal the Act of
Settlement and to allow the Crown of England to be worn by a Papist。
The causes of this melancholy change of feeling are not hard to
discover。
（a） It arises partly from the untiring zeal of the Romish Church
herself。 Her agents never slumber or sleep。 They pass sea and land
to make one proselyte。 They creep in everywhere； like the Egyptian
frogs； and leave no stone unturned； in the palace or the workhouse； to
promote their cause； （b） It has been furthered immensely by the
proceedings of the Ritualistic party in the Church of England。 That
energetic and active body has been vilifying the Reformation and
sneering at Protestantism for many years； with only too much success。
It has corrupted； leavened； blinded； and poisoned the minds of many
Churchmen by incessant misrepresentation。 It has gradually familiarized
people with every distinctive doctrine and practice of Romanismthe
real presencethe massauricular confession and priestly
absolutionthe sacerdotal character of the ministrythe monastic
systemand a histrionic； sensuous； showy style of public worshipand
the natural result is； that many simple people see no mighty harm in
downright genuine Popery！ Last； but not least； the spurious liberality
of the ay we live in helps on the Romeward tendency。 It is fashionable
now to say that all sects should be equalthat the State should have
nothing to do with religionthat all creeds should be regarded with
equal favour and respectand that there is a substratum of mon
truth at the bottom of all kinds of religion； whether Buddhism；
Mohammedanism； or Christianity！ The consequence is that myriads of
ignorant folk begin to think there is nothing peculiarly dangerous in
the tenets of Papists any more than in the tenets of Methodists；
Independents； Presbyterians； or Baptistsand that we ought to let
Romanism alone and never expose its unscriptural and
Christ…dishonouring character。
The consequences of this changed tone of feeling； I am bold to say；
will be most disastrous and mischievous； unless it can be checked。 Once
let Popery get her foot again on the neck of England and there will be
an end of all our national greatness。 God will forsake us and we shall
sink to the level of Portugal and Spain。 With Bible…reading
discouragedwith private judgment forbiddenwith the way to Christ's
cross narrowed or blocked upwith priest…craft re…establishedwith
auricular confession set up in every parishwith monasteries and
nunneries dotted over the landwith women everywhere kneeling like
serfs and slaves at the feet of clergymenwith men casting off all
faith； and being scepticswith schools and colleges made seminaries