By ROBERT HALDANE.
MANY religious persons have a dread of controversy, and wish truth to be stated without any reference to those who hold the opposite errors. Controversy and a bad spirit are in their estimation synonymous terms, and strenuously to oppose what is wrong is considered as contrary to Christian meekness. Those who hold this opinion seem to overlook what every page of the New Testament lays before us. In all the history of our Lord Jesus Christ we never find Him out of controversy. From the moment He entered on the discharge of His office in the synagogue of Nazareth till He expired on the cross, it was an uninterrupted scene of controversy. Nor did He with all the heavenly meekness, which in Him shone so brightly, treat truth and error without a reference to those who held them, or study to avoid giving its proper appellation to those corruptions in doctrine or practice that endangered the interests of immortal souls. His censures were not confined to doctrines; but included the abettors of false principles themselves.
And as to the Apostles, their epistles are generally controversial. Most of them were directly written for the express purpose of vindicating truth and opposing error, and the authors of heresies do not escape with an abstract condemnation of their false doctrine. Paul again and again most indignantly denounces the conduct of the opposers of the gospel, and by name points out those against whom he cautions his brethren. When Hymeneus and Alexander erred concerning the faith, and when he delivered them unto Satan, that they might learn not to blaspheme, he did not compliment them as amiable and learned persons. Even that Apostle who treats most of love, does not avoid controversy; nor in controversy does he study to avoid severity of censure on the opposers of the truth.
Better go with a few to heaven than with much and polite company to hell.—Toplady.