"Very well," said Mr. Brown, "I will proceed," and obtaining the family Bible he continued: "And should your assertions prove correct, it might perhaps account for the increase of infidelity, and it might also cause others as well as myself to stop and consider. Now, then, to the 'law and the testimony.' Give me the chapter and verse, that I may know you make no mistake."
The doctor then for the first time took part, saying: "I am also becoming very much interested, and think I shall join you with my Bible. Let us all come into the circle."
"All right, we will examine the Gospel of Jesus Christ from the Bible, principle by principle. In order to have a clear understanding concerning this, it will be necessary for us to go back to the days of our Father Adam. Through the transgression of our first parents, death came upon all the human family, and mankind could not, of themselves, overcome the same and obtain immortality. To substantiate this, see first, second and third chapters of Genesis, Romans 5th chapter and 12th verse, and I. Corinthians 15th chapter and 21st and 22nd verses. But in order that they should not perish, God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world to satisfy this broken law and to deliver mankind from the power of death. (John iii: 16; Romans v: 8; John iv: 9.) And as all became subject to death by Adam, so will all men be resurrected from death through the atonement of Christ (I. Cor. xv: 20-23; Rom. v: 12-19; Mark xvi: 15, 16), and will stand before the judgment seat of God to answer for their own sins and not for Adam's transgression. (Acts xvii: 31; Rev. xx: 12-15; Matt. xvi: 27.) Am I right as far as I have gone?"
"Yes," said the doctor, "I have been following you with your quotations, and find them correct. Proceed."
"Then I have proved one of the principles of some of the so-called Christians incorrect, for they do not believe that the wicked will have the same chance of resurrection as the righteous. Jesus Christ did not die for our individual sins, only on condition that we conform to the plan He has marked out, which will bring us a remission of our sins. The only way we can prove that we love Him is by keeping His commandments (John xiv: 15); therefore, if we say we love God and keep not His commandments, we are liars and the truth is not in us. (I. John ii: 4.) I think I have proved to your satisfaction that there is something defective with their understanding of the attributes of God, and I think I can prove also that they do not keep His commandments. Christ has given us to understand two things which you must remember while on this search after the 'kingdom of God.' First, that we must follow Him; secondly, that when He left His disciples He was to send them the Comforter that would lead them into all truth; therefore we must follow Christ and accept all the principles which were taught by His disciples while in possession of the Holy Spirit, though it should prove the world to be in error."
"Thus far your arguments are reasonable, also in accordance with Holy Writ; and as there is no other name given us except Jesus Christ whereby we can be saved (Acts iv: 12), you may now lay before us the conditions; but give us chapter and verse, as I said before, that we may know you speak correctly."
"We will now examine into the conditions; but first remember that God does not send men into the world for the purpose of preaching contrary doctrines, for this always creates confusion, and God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. (I. Cor. xiv: 33.) Paul has said, if any man teach another gospel let him be accursed. (Gal. i: 8, 9.) The first condition is this: To believe there is a God (not the kind mentioned in the English prayer book), but the God that created man in His own image, and to have faith in that God and in Jesus Christ whom He has sent.
"Go on," said the party in concert.
"Well," continued Durant, "the kind of faith required is that which will enable a man, under all circumstances, to say, 'I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation.' (Rom. i: 16.) This is the kind of faith by which Noah prepared an ark; by which the worlds were framed; by which the Red Sea was crossed as on dry land; by which the walls of Jericho fell down; it was by this faith that kingdoms were subdued; righteousness was wrought; promises were obtained, and the mouths of lions were closed. (Heb. xi: 32, 38.) This faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. x: 14), and the lack of this faith, and the absence of prayer and fasting, caused even the apostles to be unsuccessful on one occasion in casting out devils. (Matt. xvii: 14, 20.) No wonder, then, that without faith it is impossible to please God. (Heb. xi: 6.) Faith, then, is the first grand and glorious stepping-stone to that celestial pathway leading towards the eternal rest. The more we search into eternal truth, the more we discover that God works upon natural principles. All the requirements which He makes of us are very plain and simple. How natural that the principle of faith should be the primary one of our salvation! With what principle are we more familiar? Faith is the first great principle governing all things; but great and grand as it is, it is dead without works. (James ii: 14-17.) We must not expect salvation by simply having faith that Jesus is the Christ, for the devils in purgatory are that far advanced (James ii: 19.) In fact if you will read the entire second chapter of James you will see that faith without works is as dead and helpless as the body after the spirit has taken its departure. It is utter folly to think of gaining an exaltation in His presence unless we obey the principles He advocated (Matt. vii: 21), for no one speaks truthfully by saying he is a disciple of Christ while not observing His commandments. (John viii: 31.) In fact, the only way by which man can truthfully say he loves Jesus Christ is by keeping His commandments." (John xiv: 12-21.)
"Is it not recorded in Holy Writ," said the doctor, "that if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we will be saved?"