It takes men as it finds them, and merely permits all without
distinction to practise whatever system of public worship
they choose. It seals with its sanction no form of worship
at all, but in the interests of peace allows the false and the
true to grow up together till the harvest. And God allows
that, in a permissive, though not in an approving way. Ar-
dent lovers of the truth at first sight revolt against any such
proceeding; but after calm consideration they settle down to
the conviction, that in the present lamentable state of affairs
it is the only feasible method. Christ once rebuked indigna-
tion of the kind in St. James and St. John. The Samaritans
had shut their gates against His coming and these disciples
said, "Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down
from heaven and consume them? And turning He rebuked
them, saying. You know not of what spirit you are. The Son
of man came, not to destroy souls, but to save." St. Luke
9.54.
