ets; that will
smile on them as they walk in the ways of sin and worldliness, calming
their fears with her flattering words and peace offerings. Primitive
Christianity, they consider, was good enough for primitive days, but she
would be a horrid enough old maid in these days of progress. In this fast
driving age the Christianity that crowned the life of the holy apostles is
altogether too antiquated. She drew men from the world, she crucified
their lust, she taught them to practise self-denial and keep their body in
subjection; she brought them in humility at her feet; she led them in the
paths of virtue and honor; she upbraided them for sin, and told them of
the vengeance and wrath of God against every evil.

The world to-day, in general, is saying, "Away with such an old-time
Christianity; she has no charms for us. She is too common and plain, too
grave and sober. We will not walk with her; give us the gay and dashing
young harlot that we may walk with her amid the pleasures of the world,
and with her gratify our lusts. She never chides us for sin, nor troubles
us about the anger of God nor the torments of hell. She invites us into
her bosom and gives us a sweet opiate draught of 'stolen waters and the
bread of secrecies,' and bids us take our 'fill of love.' "

Dear reader, "go not after her." "Let not thine heart decline to her ways,
go not astray in her paths. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many
strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going
down to the chambers of death."

The mission of this volume is to exalt true Christianity to her proper
plane and reveal her true character by relating to the reader the
teachings of Christ--her beloved consort--and the experience and teachings
of his inspired followers, and thus tear off the sacrilegious robes of the
harlot of false religions and expose her shame to the gaze of every honest
soul.

Christianity is not a mere profession, but a principle. Every being is
possessed with a principle. Satan has a principle, which might properly be
termed devilanity; Christ has a principle which is termed Christianity.
When this Christ principle is instilled into man's soul by the Spirit of
God he becomes a Christian. He possesses the Christ-life, nature, or
principle. Now Christ was the truth. Then the Christ nature or principle
is according to the truth, whether it be in Christ or man. We have only
then to lift up the whole truth, which by the w