Present-day would-be perverters of Truth are not the first. Much, space covered by apostolic writings in the New Testament is devoted to deceivers, evil workers, false prophets, false teachers, liars, cunning crafters and fleshly artificers. "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived" (2 Tim. 3:13). "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, coveteous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of .God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (verses 2-5).

Many men of public leadership in local work, or in evangelistic endeavor may belong to that evil class without intending to be a deceiver. But attained ability and prestige, recognized by himself may impel a man of leadership to become an extremist, a bigot or egotist, and, hence, a deceiver. As to myself, as a public teacher and preacher, I have always tried to steer clear of self conceit, self-exaltation and selfish motives. I was a pupil in the public school some years in boyhood, completed a thorough high school course, attended a high grade college and taught in rural schools a few years. Before becoming a member of the Church of Christ, I spent about 21 years as a regular Sunday school lad, leader in Y. M. C. A. and other sectarian activities, also being Sunday school superintendent for two years. Since being baptised, I worshiped and labored in fellowship with the Sunday school element about twenty four years or more, IN CIRCLES OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST! (?). During these periods of my life I tried to live and teach "in all good conscience before God." I fought pride and selfishness, rebuking evils as I observed them! And during these periods I was continually undergoing change—and, I believe, all for the better!

I have ever tried to steer clear of being overwhelmed by logic, sophistry, mysteries and scholarship of philosophies. If I have noted any commentaries on divine things, I always desired to use them as ideas and works of humans, and not divine. Therefore I have been real careful not to be engulfed in the jaws of a multiple of "translations" of the sacred text, or of testimony of ancient or medieval writers concerning how post-apostolic-day religionists worshiped and carried on the work in church activities. Conveying them to my readers, I should be liable to make false impressions upon them. I have ever read and meditated upon the Bible itself more than upon all other literature and history combined. As my college literature teacher once said to her class concerning a certain writer of note, that his writings deserved "a little pinch of salt," as one read them, I observe that readers of most all testimony of men about divine things and practices should accept only those writings which can endure" a little pinch of salt" (Col. 4:6). The Word of God is the only standard of evidence. Use men’s testimony only for what it actually is worth.

"The way of truth shall be "evil spoken of" (2 Peter 2 :2), even as it often has been in past times, because some scholarly men may, almost unawares perhaps, become more and more engulfed in scripture-straining, extreme ideas and sophistry. Such men may imperceptibly grow bigoted, or egotistic and gradually heretical. Like the Athenians (Acts 17:21), they may acquire a mania for "some NEW thing." To go below the sacred text is to go too deep; to be above it is to be too shallow; but to be IN the scriptural details of any certain concern—and no farther—is to be SCRIPTURAL! At this point we find the HAPPY MEDIUM, where all can agree. Therefore, do not over-draw any scripture or scriptural application.

The New Testament and its pattern for The Church of Christ in all her doctrine, faith and practice knows no vagueness, no, not for the common, every-day reader of average intelligence. The most scholarly cannot fathom the depths of unfulfilled time prophecy, but the common reader— "he, who runs, may read"—can readily understand the elements, the principles and the commandments unto salvation from past sins and into eternal life. And I always recommend "the Authorized, or King James Version of the sacred record as the safest translation. I am glad that we have scholarly men among us, but we must withstand the idea that a secular educational standard must be attained to by those who are to understand the plan of salvation and to be saved by faithful obedience thereto. Then, let me warn my brethren to steer clear of bigotry, egotism, sophistry, philosophy and heresy in teaching and preaching the divine things of salvation, or in seeking for and working out salvation of the soul.