A WATCHWORD

“Beware of men!” even of those who pass for evangelical men;
for every grade of error is to be found among them. Even while I am writing this paper, my soul is distressed with the awful perversions of the Word of God, which surround me, and which are advocated by men of renown; one drowning the doctrine of regeneration in the baptismal font; another substituting the credence of carnal reason for the faith of God’s elect, and another denying the Son of God; while the great bulk of so-called evangelical preachers try to dethrone Christ, and to enthrone proud free-will as absolute sovereign. What, then, it may be asked, is real religion? I answer, it is altogether supernatural. It originates in the love of God the Father to His whole church. His chosen family, which is scattered all over the world. It is entrusted to God the Son, in positive responsibility, by an everlasting covenant, for the redemption of their persons with His own blood, and their eternal salvation in His own righteousness imputed to them. It is communicated to them by the regenerating and quickening operations of the Holy Ghost creating in them a new and holy life, capable of enjoying God. This new and holy life consists of all the graces of the Holy Spirit. Faith trusts Him and claims Him; hope aspires after Him, and waits for Him; love cleaves to Him and honours Him, rejecting all that is unlike Him.

Is this your religion? If so, heaven is secure. If not, when you die you will descend to eternal despair, though loaded with all the forms of Pharisees, and all the traditions of Rome. Arise, O Lord, and plead Thine own cause.

Joseph Irons.