The preface of a book is usually the apology for its existence. The Author does not tender one in this case, the occasion for its appearance being far too grave. Scotland has lately been convulsed by a judgment of the House of Lords, which was the result of an appeal to it to decide Which is the Church? entitled to certain temporalities.
“The Battle of the Churches” has drawn the eyes of Christendom on the combatants, and in many a mind raised a doubt as to the reality of Christianity, while numbers of the sheep and lambs of Christ’s true flock have been flung into distress and perplexity of mind. Under these circumstances it cannot be contended that an inquiry in Scripture as to What is the Church? is superfluous.
If the reader suggest that the inquiry might with more propriety have come from another quarter than the pen of an M.D., the Author ventures to reply that he is but walking in the steps of “Luke, the beloved physician,” in using his pen in divine things. That God-honored physician was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write the Gospel which bears his name and also the Acts of the Apostles, from which much in the following pages has been culled.
To inspiration the Author, of course, makes no pretense whatever. At the same time he gladly owns his implicit faith in all the Scriptures as God-breathed, their, plenary inspiration being no matter of doubt with him.
His happy work has been to make an appeal, not to the House of Lords, but to the Word of the LORD, which endureth forever.
“Thus saith the LORD,” was the credential of all His messengers in days gone by, and “thus saith the LORD” is, in divine things, the only Court of Appeal today.
W. T. P. W.
46 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, December 29, 1904.