The beating of tom-toms by an upper Congo medicine man to drive away evil spirits has about the same efficacy as much that may be found in the esthetic circles of the world's religiosity. "A form of godliness," be it ever so beautiful and orderly, which does not seek and obtain the inner power is just another way of beating tom-toms.
We look with compassion upon the poor benighted heathen woman who trots around the temple of her god one hundred times on a moonlight night; but how much improvement over her plan of salvation do we find in the blaze of twentieth century Christian enlightenment, if our religion consists of just "doing something," rather than having _faith_ in a power that saves through the impartation of the Holy Ghost? At no time in the history of the Church have we done so many things as we are doing now--all good; but observe: the Church and the world go hand in hand. It is a rare exception when an essential difference can be seen in the life and business methods of the professor and non-professor. "They will have a form of godliness," says Paul, "but deny the power."
It was not a dream or hallucination which took the rich and poor, in the long ago, out from the world and caused them to give up even their lives cheerfully; it was an application of the power. They had tested the "fountain opened in the house of David for sin and uncleanness."
"Oh, that fountain deep and wide, Flowing from the wounded side, That was pierced for our redemption, long ago; In thy ever cleansing wave, there is found all power to save; It's the power that healed the nations long ago."
In the multitude of pretenses, makeshifts: forms, ceremonies, chantings, genuflections, ordinances, will worship, self-righteousness, "wondrous works,"--"form of godliness"--who is responsible? It is the great Quack Doctor that is deceiving the world; those who will not be dragged into sin and ruin he surfeits their lives with a "form of godliness, but deny the power" plan of salvation.
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils."--_1 Timothy iv. 1._
Theology is defined as "the science which treats of God, His existence, character, government, and doctrines," or the science of religion--a system of truth derived from the Scriptures. The caption of this article--The Devil a Theologian--jars our spiritual nerve centres. There are three things necessary to produce a theologian: experience, information, ability. From every possible view-point the Devil is preëminently qualified to formulate a system of doctrinal statements having all the earmarks of genuineness and credentials of authenticity.