APPEAL TO ALL:
WHETHER JEWS OR GENTILES, PROTESTANTS, CATHOLICS, INFIDELS, OR INDIFFERENT BELIEVERS.
We desire the salvation of the entire human family. We believe that God has provided a way and plan of salvation by which all should gain a true and saving knowledge of Him; and we have appealed to Christian ministers to unite their efforts in prayerful investigation of His revelations through all new lights afforded them, and to point out to all, the plain path of duty and safety—but not in any wise labor under the false or mistaken belief that they can stand as sole mediator, or umpire, between God and the souls of men, and, at their own will or pleasure, mete out to them eternal happiness or misery. Such as do this "are blind leaders of the blind," and their doctrine a fatal delusion.
We believe in a living, teaching ministry; and, where heart and life is fully consecrated to God and His cause, all such may feel that they are divinely called and commissioned. We hold that such a ministry should be sustained, and that all should give liberally out of their abundance, to secure them against want or contingencies which might retard or prevent their usefulness.
But our appeal is now to you, in regard to your own individual responsibility. Each has an immortal soul, which must be saved or lost. No one, save Christ Jesus our Lord, can stand as mediator in behalf of any to insure salvation or heaven. Popes, bishops, ministers, and priests are but men, and are mortal like ourselves. They may, by application to study and investigation, gain light and knowledge—nay, should do it, so as to instruct us in the way of life and salvation, but further than this they cannot go. We have no evidence, neither in the Old or New Testament Scriptures, where, by intercession of man alone, salvation or heaven was ever obtained by an unbelieving heart.
We see that, under the earlier dispensation, Moses was the chosen servant of God, and divinely commissioned as High-Priest to the children of Israel. Yet when they sinned, and Jehovah's wrath was kindled against them, Moses made direct intercession in their behalf, and even plead, saying: "If thou wilt not forgive them, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written." Hear the answer of the Lord: "Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book; * * * * mine angel shall go before thee; nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sins upon them." Thus, although His judgments were stayed for a season, because of His covenant, yet their final execution was certain.
We are assured by the Scriptures that there is "One God" and "One Mediator," and we may go to God through faith in this One Mediator, and that all who go thus shall obtain eternal life. We have record of the efficacy of this faith in the application of the dying thief. When he had signified his belief, hear the answer of the Saviour: "To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." Oh, how plain the plan of salvation!
All nature proclaims there is a God. His revelations proclaim an eternal existence of the soul. We all know that we must die. However disappointed we may be in our earthly hopes or fears, yet as to the certainty of death none will be disappointed—it is sure to come. When the angel of death is commissioned to summon us, soon "the pale horse and his rider" will be at the door; then there can be no delay. "Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." "And the soul shall return to God who gave it." "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."
What can you lose by giving your heart to God? What may you not lose by neglecting to do it? It is all gain and no loss. May you all yield to the gentle drawings of the spirit, which now whispers to your heart in loving tones with accents of mercy, and your spirits finally be gathered in the fold of angels' wings, and by them borne to the Paradise of God, where His glory is the light of eternal day.