Away with such an old-time Christianity!
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Satan has robed a harlot, named her 'Christianity' and succeeded in imposing her upon many. They are fondling with her. She indulges them in sensuality, while encouraging them to hope for a blissful immortality. The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her. They are reveling, feasting and banqueting with her—crazed by her seductive charms. She has neither purity, peace, nor power. Her robes are defiled by sin. She scoffs at pure Christianity, and calls her old-fashioned.
This strange young woman is using every device to allure souls into her wanton chamber. She is most subtle of heart. She "flatters with her words. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night—she walks in the streets, and lies wait at every corner, that she might catch and kiss him who is void of understanding." With a beguiling, impudent face, she says to him: "I have peace offerings with me; I have decked my bed with tapestry and fine linen of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come let us take our fill of love until the morning; let us enjoy each other's caresses."
Such is the mirthful, shallow, frivolous Christianity of the popular present day religions! The generality of professors (we speak in love) desire a Christianity . . .
which will go with them to the halls of pleasure;
which will dine with them at their rich banquets;
which will smile on them as they walk in the ways of sin and worldliness
—calming their fears with her flattering words of 'peace, peace!'
Primitive Christianity, they consider, was good enough for primitive days—but she would be a horrid old maid in these days of progress. In this fast-moving age, the Christianity that crowned the life of Christ and the holy apostles, is altogether too antiquated . . .
she drew men from the world;
she crucified their lusts;
she taught them to practice self-denial;
she brought them in humility to her feet;
she led them in the paths of virtue and holiness;
she upbraided them for sin, and told them of the vengeance and wrath of God against every evil.
The Christian world today, 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 mirthful 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 drink of 'stolen waters', and bids us take our fill of love.
We desire to tear off the sacrilegious robes of the harlot of false Christianity—and expose her shame to the gaze of every honest soul.
Dear reader, "Do not go after her! Do not let your heart incline to her ways! Do not go astray in her paths. For she has cast down many wounded—yes, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to Hell, going down to the chambers of death!"