Reasons Why for Congregationalists

Our Free Church leaders are constantly urging upon us the importance of instructing our young people in the principles of our Free Church faith. They tell us that upon the measure of the intelligence with which our young people grasp our fundamental principles, the future, not simply of the Free Churches, but of religion itself, will largely depend. And in saying this, they say no more than the literal truth. We live in strange and troublous times. We are confronted with a revived Medievalism and an aggressive Sacerdotalism. It is becoming increasingly apparent that we shall have to fight the Reformation battle over again. If, in the conflict that is before us, and indeed already upon us, our young people are to play a worthy part, it is absolutely essential that they should know why they are what they are. Free Churchmen who cannot give a reason for the faith that is in them, are useless either for work or battle. They alone will contend for the Free Church faith who know what it is and heartily believe in it. These lectures were delivered with the object of helping my own young people to such an intelligent belief in the Protestant and Free Church position as shall make them valiant in the defence of it. My hope in issuing these lectures in printed form is that they may render the same service to a still larger constituency.

Perhaps a word of apology is due for the literary form of this little book. These are spoken lectures and they are printed as they were spoken. I might have re-cast the whole and gained something in finish and precision. But after some consideration, I decided to print them as they stood. I would have them regarded from the point of view of the “spoken word” rather than that of the “printed page.”

Many writers have published books on this same subject. The pages that follow will show that I myself am debtor to them. But of all the books that deal with our Protestant position, I am bold to think that Dr. Dale’s little book on “The Ultimate Principles of Protestantism” is without its peer.

In addition to my indebtedness to those who have written upon these subjects before me, I desire to express my special indebtedness to my friend, Mr. E. Carr, for help and counsel freely given to me in the preparation of these lectures for the press.

In sending this little book forth, I venture to express the hope that I have said no word inconsistent with Christian charity. At the same time, I trust its effect may be to make all who read it feel it is worth while to “contend earnestly” for the faith of the Reformers and the Puritans, which, as I believe, is also the faith of the New Testament.