That is the apostasy we have to fear, and is it not already formed ?...
Will it be said that our fears are imaginary?
Imaginary?
Did not the Rev.John M.Duncan, in the years 1825-6, or thereabouts, sincerely believe the Bible?
Did he not even believe substantially the confession of faith?
And was he not, for daring to say what the Westminster Assembly said, that, to require the reception of that creed as a test of ministerial qualification was an unwarrantable imposition, brought to trial, condemned, excommunicated, and his pulpit declared vacant?
There is nothing imaginary in the statement that the creed-power is now beginning to prohibit the Bible as really as Rome did, though in a subtler way.
"Oh! woful day! Oh! unhappy church of Christ! fast rushing round and round the fatal circle of absorbing ruin!...

Daily does every one see that things are going wrong.

With sighs does every true heart confess that rottenness is somewhere; but, ah! it is hopeless of reform.

We all pass on, and the tide rolls down to night.

The waves of coming conflict which is to convulse Christendom to her center are beginning to be felt.