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a morbid dread of controversy and an ignorant dislike of party spirit；
and yet they really cannot define what they mean by these phrases。 The
only point you can make out is that they admire earnestness and
cleverness and charity； and cannot believe that any clever； earnest；
charitable man can ever be in the wrong！ And so they live on undecided；
and too often undecided they drift down to the grave； without fort
in their religion； and； I am afraid； often without hope。
The explanation of this boneless； nerveless； jelly…fish condition of
soul is not difficult to find。 To begin with； the heart of man is
naturally in the dark about religionhas no intuitive sense of
truthand really needs instruction and illumination。 Besides this； the
natural heart in most men hates exertion in religion； and cordially
dislikes patient； painstaking inquiry。 Above all； the natural heart
generally likes the praise of others； shrinks from collision； and loves
to be thought charitable and liberal。 The whole result is that a kind
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