“I was talking today to a man named H— who complained a great deal about the ritualistic practices in a certain church... However, I was anxious that this should not be a sop to his conscience, so said to him, ‘It does not matter whether there is the observance of practices contrary to the truth, relying on a foundation of forms and ceremonies, or the utter disregard of the gospel and neglect of God altogether—the result is the same—separation from God for eternity.’
“He said, ‘I believe in the Protestant faith, and although I do not attend church much, I am not opposed to the Bible.’
“I replied, ‘You fall into the common mistake of supposing that we start, as it were, with a clean sheet before God; whereas the word of God declares that we have all sinned, and are born in sin; therefore separated from God; unfit to come into His presence with a sinful nature, and unable to fit ourselves. But He has provided a remedy. Suppose you had a disease which could be cured only at the hospital. You subscribed even to its funds, believed in the skill of the doctors, and all that; would you be cured if you persisted in neglecting to go there?’
“‘Certainly not,’ he answered.
“‘Well, then, that is just what you have been doing for years. Who would be to blame for the continuance of the complaint which grew worse and worse?’
“‘He was silent for some moments, and then replied, I see what you mean; I never looked at it in this way before.’”
G. I. B.