Bible Truths Illustrated by J. C. Ferdinand Pittman

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BIBLE TRUTHS ILLUSTRATED
Such as these are thus charged with possessing the failures
of their critic. The bigot despises in others faults of his own.
He ascribes to them tenets of religious belief of which they
never dreamed ; he thrusts his bayonet into innocent blood, magnifies
the little molehills of error into mountains of heresy, and
with mistaken zeal and brute-like ferocity, though in the name
of religion, persecutes those whom he should love and strive
to help.
That spirit and Christianity are further apart than the poles.
The religion of Christ invites earnest investigation ; the calm
weighing of pros and cons; the coming to an intelligent conclusion.
"Be ready always to give answer to every man that
asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with
meekness and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15).
And when a Christian considers that he has found the truth,
he must keep the window of his soul open to receive more light,
and, without acquiescing in error, must ever exercise towards
those who differ from him a spirit of tolerance and Christian
charity, without which a man becomes "sounding brass, or a
clanging cymbal."
83. Nothing is more opposite to the spirit of Christianity
than bigotry. This arraigns, and condemns, and executes all
that do not bow down and worship the image of its idolatry.
Possessing exclusive prerogative, it rejects every other claim.
How many of the dead has it sentenced to eternal misery, who
will shine forever as stars in the kingdom of their Father
How many living characters does it reprobate as enemies to the
cross of Christ, who are placing in it all their glory Buck.
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84. Some time ago, a countryman said to me : "I was extremely
alarmed this morning, sir; I was going down to a lonely place,
and I thought I saw a strange monster. It seemed in motion,
but I could not discern its form. I didn't like to turn back, but
my heart beat ; and the more I looked, the more I was afraid.
But as I approached I saw it was a man ; and who do you
think it was?" "I know not." "Oh, it was my brother John!"
"Ah !" said I to myself, as he added that it was early in the
morning, and very foggy, "how often do we thus mistake our
Christian
brethren."
W. Jay.
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