Part 27 (1/2)
”What do you call 'conversion' in your church, or do you not believe in it?”
”Beyond any doubt we believe in conversion. Just as soon as a person confesses his faith in our general rules he is converted, and is at once a good Christian. The Bible says that if one will only believe he is safe: or 'saved already' as the true Greek rendering has it.”
”Then you hold to the Bible strictly?”
”We are the only church that does really and truly hold to the Bible.
We believe and teach it as it is preserved for the ages in the original Hebrew and Greek.”
”But I notice that many of your rules seem to be at variance with certain parts of the Bible,” she boldly declared.
”True enough, but those certain parts of the Bible do not belong to the genuine Scriptures. Whatever you find in the Bible contrary to our rules and regulations you can safely conclude is an interpolation and does not form a part of the inspired Word. Let me a.s.sure you, Miss Church-Member, that our discipline was written with great care by eminent scholars of the Hebrew and Greek; therefore how could there have been any error in it?”
Miss Church-Member was slightly confused, and evidenced by her manner that she was ready to depart.
”May I ask before you go,” continued the minister, ”whether you are willing to join our church?”
”I have been thinking,” she replied, ”that I could do more good in my own church, not by fighting it, but by using _my_ influence quietly in trying to get some of its members to be more like I am. I have always had a missionary spirit. In that way I might satisfy my earlier ambitions and lead some one out of the mist into a better light.”
”A very bright idea,” testified Mr. World, advancing with Miss Church-Member toward the door.
”And may you succeed in your plans,” added the minister as they were stepping from the room. ”There are millions who belong to my church in spirit, but who hold visible connection with some radical church of the King's Highway. They are doing great service in eradicating old-time methods and planting the banners of a new liberty such as we three enjoy.”
CHAPTER XXI.
FROM THE VALLEY OF CONVICTION TO THE DEVIL'S AUCTION.
1. Depression of Miss Church-Member
2. The Merry Village.
3. The Famous Cross Roads.
4. The Devil's Auction.
As Mr. World and Miss Church-Member proceeded on their journey they were frightened by a man who, with his hands uplifted and agony pictured on his face, came running toward them, shouting: ”Let good sense control you and go no farther! Enchantment, spirits, witches, and unnamed hobgoblins dwell in every part of this hideous valley!”
”Oh, terror! What can this mean?” nervously asked Mr. World, as the stranger stood panting for breath.
”All a mystery! Even the air is filled with poison and weird music.
I am thankful that I have escaped with my life.”
”Come, come, Mr. Sin-Sick, tell us more about it. We may thereby profit greatly,” said Mr. World with more composure.
[Ill.u.s.tration: As Mr. World and his companion were entering the valley of Conviction a terrified man came running towards them. He ran away from the preaching of the gospel.]
”I had just been traveling farther down the valley of Thoughtfulness and Conviction when I heard mult.i.tudes shouting praises to One whom they called their Redeemer, each waving aloft a banner bearing the imprint of a cross. On the cross I saw these words: 'For G.o.d so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' When I came nearer to the confusion I was suddenly seized with a peculiar conviction which brought grief to my soul; and, had I not made this timely retreat, I might have been brought under the power of those strange creatures.
Oh, take heed and go with me some other way.”