Robert dropped down into the nearest chair and was soon absorbed in reading.  He was gripped by a power he had never known before.  He noticed at once a directness, a simplicity, a spiritual flavor, coupled with much quoting of proof-texts, that attracted his deepest attention.  He read an article on Repentance, one on Sanctification, and two testimonies of divine healing.

“Upon my word!  If that isn’t the plainest-spoken and easiest-understood religious matter I have read in many a day,” said Robert.  “I wonder who sent it, and if any more will come.”

Next week another copy of the new paper came, and Robert read an article on “The Church of God, What It Is and What It Is Not.”

“Mary, this paper is providentially sent to us.  We have just decided to search for truth.  My soul longs to know God’s real truth, and I notice this paper has much to say about the ‘truth.’  We shall continue our investigation of the doctrines of the denominations and probably this paper will help us,” said Robert.  Before he laid the second issue down, he read the following article on Truth: 

“Unknowingly to himself, Pontius Pilate asked one of the greatest of questions when he asked Jesus Christ, ‘What is truth?’ Jesus was on trial before him, and He had just said, in reply to another question of Pilate’s, ’Thou sayest that I am a king.  To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice’ (John 18:37).  And then Pilate asked, ‘What is truth?’ but he did not stop to get an answer.

“The ‘truth’ to which Jesus often referred means righteousness, true religion, the genuine revelation of the true plan of salvation.  This is what the apostle John referred to when he said, ’For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever’ (2 John 2).  The ‘truth’ in these texts is used in a broad sense to mean the whole range of revealed religion, the whole system of New Testament salvation.

“Vast importance is attached to this truth.  Opposed to it are error, heresy, damnable doctrines of devils, human theories and philosophies, leading souls away from God and into perdition.  The eternal destiny of men depends upon their finding and embracing the truth.

“If so much depends upon our finding the truth and obeying it, the important question arises—­how and where are we to find the truth?  And another question follows:  How are we to discern the truth when we see it?  It is a fact that most religious people believe that their system of religion is right.  They already think that it is the truth; even the most destructive doctrines are received as truth, and some scripture is misapplied or perverted to uphold them.  By what means may the false be determined and rejected, and the true be established and accepted?  These are very important questions.