of so…called cleverness； an age of Athenian craving for novelty and
constant love of change； an age when we see on all sides a bold but
ever shifting scepticism； which at one time tells us that man is little
better than an ape； and at another that he is little less than a god；
an age when there is a morbid readiness to accept the shallowest
arguments in favour of unbelief； and a simultaneous lazy unwillingness
to investigate the great fundamental evidences of Divine revelation。
And； worst of all； it is an age of spurious liberality； when； under the
high…sounding phrases of 〃No party spirit！ no bigotry！〃 and the like；
men live and die without having any distinct opinions at all。 In an age
like this； can any thinking Christian wonder that departure from Christ
is mon？ Let him cease to wonder； and not waste his time in
plaints。 Let him rather gird up his loins like a man； and do what he
can to stay the plague。 Let him set his feet down firmly in 〃the old
paths；〃 and remember that the defection he sees is only an old
plaint in an aggravated form。 Let him stand between the dead and
living； and try to stop the mischief。 Let him 〃cry aloud； and spare
not。〃 Let him say； 〃Stand to your colours； the battle of Christianity
is not lost： will ye also go away？〃
I dare believe that many young persons into whose hands this paper may
fall are often sorely tempted to go back from Christ。 You launch forth
into the world； perhaps； from quiet homes； where the primary truths of
Christianity were never called in question for a moment； to hear all
sorts of strange theories broached； and strange opinions advanced；
which contradict the old principles which you have been taught to
believe。 You find to your astonishment that free thought and free
handling of sacred subjects have reached such a pitch that the very
foundations of faith seem shaken。 You discover to your amazement that
cleverness and religion do not always go together； and that it is
possible for the highest intellect to be ready to thrust God out of His
own world。 Who can wonder if this state of things is a rude shock to
the tender faith of many young persons； and that； reeling under it；
they are tempted to go back from Christ； and throw away Christianity
altogether？
Now； if any one who reads this paper is tempted in this fashion； I
entreat him for Christ's sake to be firm； to play the man； and resist
the temptation。 Try to realize that there is nothing new in the state
of things which now perplexes you。 It is nothing but the old disease
which has always plagued and tried the Church in every age； even from
the day when Satan said to Eve； 〃Ye shall not surely die。〃 It is only
the sifting process which God permits； in order to separate the wheat
from the chaff； through which we must all pass。 The world after all；
with its pitfalls and snares for the soul； with its petitions and
struggles； its failures and successes； its disappointments and its
perplexities； its perpetual crop of crude theories and extreme views；
its mental conflicts and anxieties； its extravagant free thought； and
its equally extravagant superstition；the world is a fiery furnace and
ordeal； through which all believers must make up their minds to pass。
The temptation to cast off your first faith and go back from Christ is
sure to meet you sooner or later； as it has met millions before； in one
form or another。 To realize that in resisting it you are only resisting
an old and often beaten enemy of the soul； is one half the battle。
And； as I ask you not to be surprised at the temptation to leave
Christ； so also I entreat you not to be shaken by it。 What though
scores of men you know give way under the assault； cast off their
Christian armour； neglect their Bibles； misuse their Sundays； and live
practically without God in the world？ What though clever men； promising
men； the sons of parents who never dreamed of such things； forsake the
banner under which they were enrolled； and bee mere nothingarians；
or believers in nothing？ Let none of these things move you。 Set your
face as a flint towards Jerusalem。 Set your foot down firmly in the old
paths； the good and tried way to the celestial city。
What fruit have the deserters to show pared to the followers of
Peter； James； and John？ What increase of inward peace and outward
usefulness？ What rest of conscience？ What fort in trial？ No！ while
many go away from Christ； do you cleave to Him with purpose of heart。
Cleave to your old habits of daily prayer and daily Bible reading； and
regular attendance on means of grace。 Better a thousand times to be on
Christ's side with a few； and be laughed at and despised for a season；
than to have the praise of the many for a few short years； and then
awake too late to find that without Christ you are without peace； or
hope； or heaven。
II。 In the second place； let us consider the question which Peter asked
in reply to his Master's appeal； 〃Will ye also go away？〃 〃Lord；〃 cries
the warm…hearted and impulsive Apostle。 〃Lord； to whom shall we go？〃
That question； no doubt； like hundreds in the Bible； was equivalent to
a strong affirmation。 〃There is none beside Thee to whom we can go。〃 It
is like the saying of David； 〃Whom have I in heaven but Thee？ and there
is none on earth that I desire beside Thee〃 （Ps。 73：25）。
When we think of the age when Peter lived； we cannot help feeling that
he had abundant cause to ask that question。 In his days； at the end of
4000 years； 〃the world by wisdom knew not God〃 （1 Cor。 1：21）。 Egypt；
Assyria； Greece； and Rome； the very nations which attained the highest
excellence in secular things； in the things of religion were sunk in
gross darkness。 The fellow…countrymen of matchless historians；
tragedians； poets； orators； and architects； worshipped idols； and bowed
down to the work of their own hands。 The ablest philosophers of Greece
and Rome groped after truth like blind men； and wearied themselves in
vain to find the door。 The whole earth was defiled with spiritual
ignorance and immorality； and the wisest men could only confess their
need of light； like the Greek philosopher Plato； and groan and sigh for
a deliverer。 Peter might well cry； 〃Lord； if we leave Thee； to whom
shall we go？〃
Where； indeed； could the Apostle have turned for peace of heart； for
satisfaction of conscience； for hope in a world to e； if he had gone
away from the synagogue of Capernaum with the deserters； and left
Christ 1854 years ago！ Would he have found what he wanted among the
formal Pharisees； or the sceptical Sadducees； or the worldly Herodians；
or the ascetic Essenes； or the philosophical schools of Athens；
Alexandria； or Rome？ Would Gamaliel； or Caiaphas； or Stoics； or
Epicureans； or Platonists； have quenched his spiritual thirst； or fed
his soul？ It is waste of time to ask such questions。 All these
pretended fountains of knowledge had long been proved to be man…made
cisterns； broken cisterns； which could hold no water。 They satisfied no
anxious mind。 He that drank of these waters soon thirsted again。
But the question which Peter asked is one which true Christians may
always ask boldly； when they are tempted to go away from Christ。 At
this very day； when men tell us that Christianity is an effete and
worn…out thing； we may safely challenge them to show us anything
better。 They may ply us； if they will； with objections to revealed
religion； and say many things to which we can offer no reply。 But；
after all； we may confidently defy them to show us 〃a more excellent
way；〃 and more solid ground than that which is occupied by the man who
simply believes all the Bible； and follows Christ。
Grant for a moment； that in an hour of weakness we listen to the
temptation to go away from Christ。 Grant that we close our Bibles；
reject all dogmas； and with a sublime contempt for the fossilized
theology of our forefathers； content ourselves with a polished
nothingarianism； or a few scraps of cold formality。 In what respect
shall we find that we have increased our happiness or usefulness？ What
solid thing shall we get to replace what we have left？ Once turn your
back on Christ； and where will you find peace for your conscience；
strength for duty； power against temptation； fort in trouble；
support in the hour of death； hope in looking forward to the grave？ You
may well ask。 Nothingarianism can give no answer。 These things are only
found by those who live the life of faith in a crucified and risen
Christ。
To whom； indeed； shall we go for help； strength； and fort； if we
turn our backs on Christ？ We live in a world of troubles； whether we
like it or not。 You can no more stave off and prevent them than king
Canute could prevent the tide rising and rudely swelling round the
royal chair。 Our bodies are liable to a thousand ailments； and our
hearts to a thousand sorrows。 No creature on earth is so vulnerable；
and so capable of intense physical as well as mental suffering； as man。
Sickness； and death； and funerals； and partings； and separations； and
losses； and failures； and disappointments； and private family trials；
which no mortal eye sees； will break in upon us from time to time； and
human nature imperatively demands help； help； help to meet them！ Alas；
where will thirsty； wailing human nature find such help if we leave
Christ？
The plain truth is； that nothing but an almighty personal Friend will
ever meet the legitimate wants of man's soul。 Metaphysical notions；
philosophical theories； abstract ideas； vague speculations about 〃the
unseen； the infinite； the inner light；〃 and so forth； may satisfy a
select few for a time。 But the vast majority of mankind； if they have
any religion at all； will never be content with a religion which does
not supply them with a Person to whom they may look and t