[Footnote A: For whilst one saith, I am of Wesley; and another says, I am of Luther; and another says, I am of Calvin; and another says, I am of Campbell, are ye not carnal? We have need to learn again the first principles of the gospel.]
"Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another: but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again. If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth? That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. There is one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every kind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie and wait to deceive. That ye stand fast in one Spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel, when the Lord Jesus Christ shall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy. Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine: continue in it; for in doing this thou shalt both save thy self and them that hear thee. This know, also, that in the last days perilous times shall come; for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobates concerning the faith. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived; for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears: and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate."
With such an overwhelming flood of Scripture testimony in favour of salvation by one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one Priesthood, one Gospel, how does our blood boil within us, and our bosoms burn with indignation, when we recollect that teachers of religion, with the Bible in their hands, have the unblushing effrontery to promise us salvation by just what Lord, what faith, what baptism, what priesthood, what gospel we choose? And some have actually the infamous audacity to tell us that we can be saved without any priesthood or any baptism at all! Oh, how have our eyes been blinded! How grossly we have been deceived! How awfully we have been deluded! How completely we have been "bewitched!" How horribly we have been imposed upon! How has the truth been turned into fables! How has the word of God been made of none effect through the traditions of men! "Our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit!"
Hear for yourselves, think for yourselves, judge for yourselves, act for yourselves, and then you will know for yourselves that every prophet that came with the "Burden of the word of the Lord," preached EXCLUSIVE SALVATION.
Why, the very presence of a new prophet argued that all the people were "gone astray." The very presence of a prophet of the Lord always did, and always will, involve the salvation or damnation of the people to whom he is sent. Jehovah does not trifle with men, but expects to be heard and obeyed through his servants the prophets.
The Lord never did send two or more contradictory messages to any people. It is thoroughly inconsistent with his character and perfections. When two men profess to have been sent by the Lord to the same people with conflicting messages, it is a certain truth that one or both of them are false teachers, impostors, wicked designing men, feeding and fattening on the credulity of the people. The message which any true prophet brings is always an exclusive message. It is approbation or condemnation. It proves a saviour or life unto life, or of death unto death. There is no middle course. The people must receive or reject it. If received, it will prove their exclusive salvation. If rejected, it will prove their exclusive damnation. There is no alternative. It is a stern law of necessity. A truth that proves itself without reason, and without argument. If a people to whom Jehovah sends a message have power to receive or reject that message with impunity, they are not accountable creatures. Jehovah has no power over them. They are his equals. And who thinks of rendering homage to their equals, especially when those equals send a message to us requiring our implicit submission, filled with terrible denunciations in case of our refusal? No one, certainly. We should treat the message and its authors with perfect contempt.
In precisely a similar condition, do the opposers of the doctrine of exclusive salvation place the all-powerful Jehovah.
If Wesleyan Methodism be true; if Wesleyan Methodist preachers be sent of God; then every other form of religion is a gross imposture, and all other preachers are false teachers, crafty deluders, having no authority whatever from God. Every man who does not become a real Wesleyan Methodist must be damned, and every one who does become a real Wesleyan Methodist must be saved.
On the contrary, if the Roman Catholic church be the true church; if Roman Catholic priests be sent of God; then Wesleyan Methodism, then "Mormonism," and every other ism is false; then Wesleyan Methodist preachers, and all other preachers are false teachers; if we believe their words it will not save us; if we reject their messages we shall not be damned, If the Roman Catholic religion be true, we cannot be saved without becoming Roman Catholics, and we must be damned if we do not become Roman Catholics. No other religion will save us or avail us one jot, and no other religion can condemn us. If the Roman Catholic religion be false, we cannot possibly be saved by it; neither can we possibly be condemned by it. It is altogether powerless: it is worse than useless.
God never did, and never will save a single soul by means of a false religion, or through the medium of false prophets. He will not give the glory and power of salvation to imposters: or impostures: but he will judge all the world by that system, that Gospel, that Priesthood, that man which He has ordained, and by no other. When the works of false religions and false prophets are presented before the bar of God, the great Judge of all the earth will say—Who hath required this at your hands? Depart from Me ye cursed; I never knew you. Then if not before, will all know for themselves the truth of the doctrine of exclusive salvation. Then will it be manifest that those authorized of God, and those alone, have power to bind one earth and bind in heaven, to loose on earth and loose in heaven. Salvation will be confined exclusively to those who obeyed the warning voice of the duly empowered servants of God, and damnation will be poured out exclusively upon those who rejected the warning voice of those servants. What, then, becomes of Sectarianism? It will be blasted to the four winds of heaven. It will crumble to dust before the majestic march of Eternal Truth. It will be swallowed up in the victorious triumph of the Kingdom and Sons of God. Amen.