Advice
Advice is often freely given and reluctantly taken. It may be safely said that it takes a wise man to give advice, and a humble man to accept it. Whether I am wise is for others to say; but I am going to offer a little unasked advice. During many years we have had many successful debaters who have defended the truth and exposed error with great effect. These have always been willing and anxious to affirm propositions that all that they teach and practice is authorized in the New Testament. They have declared often and without evasion that they have scriptural authority for every single item of teaching or practice.
But in recent years a great change is noticed. Many men who had heretofore affirmed scriptural authority for their position are no longer willing so to affirm. They have done some debating orally, and much skirmishing in our papers. But to affirm New Testament authority for the things they defend — that they will not do! Frankly, this change of attitude has both surprised and saddened me. I had believed that all gospel preachers would be willing to affirm their teaching and practice in all things, as in years gone by.
Here now is my advice: If these brethren do not have a copy of the Otey-Briney Debate, send to the Gospel Guardian and get a copy right away. (Price, $3.00.) Read and study carefully the speeches by J. B. Briney. Make careful study of his style and arguments. He said 48 years ago all that these brethren are saying now much better than they are saying it. And, fear, better than they will ever be able to say it. Among the several brethren I have in mind who do not have the faith to affirm scriptural authority for their teaching and practice, I mention particularly Brethren Guy N. Woods, Sterl Watson, Cleon Lyles, W. L. Totty, G. K. Wallace, and E. R. Harper. There is the advice. It is free; take it or leave it.