Gentlemen, unbelievers, if you like to view the results of unbelief, and the ruin that follows in its train, come up here and see what it has done in the case of an illustrious man; a man whose fame has extended throughout the civilized world; a man of wonderful versatility of thought, and immense gifts as a speaker and writer, with such an opening as no other man on the continent had. This man had reached mature years, and his influence had become so great, that many good people would not hear a word against him, nor believe that his terrible skeptical talk meant any harm. It was only _independence_. But, in the midst of such a career of popularity, and that not of an ephemeral character either, as no other man in this nation ever had, up springs trouble in the midst of his most intimate friends, and those he knew better, and had associated with more intimately than any others. It comes not from persecutors without, nor from enemies or envious preachers within, but his most intimate friends, who know him better than all others.
But, why do not infidels make an ado about infidels falling? They never fall! They have never attained to anything from which they can fall. They are at the bottom and there is nothing below them to which they can fall. We know of a case where an infidel has recently covered himself all over with slime, but nothing of consequence is said about it. Why not? If he had been a preacher of the gospel his case would have been published half round the world before now. But he is _an infidel_, and the idea of purity is not associated with infidelity, in the public mind. There is no noise about it. His brethren, infidels, bring him to no trial, call him to no account, appoint no committee, and have no examination of the case! Why not? He _professed nothing_, and they _profess nothing_. Such things do not disgrace them, or bring scandal on them.
The opponents of the truth will catch every unkind or unpleasant word; every unlovely expression or harsh sentence, and comment on it, in the absence of argument, and even divert attention from the main matter. We should, then, simply study how to present the truth, in the clearest, most agreeable and acceptable manner; how to show people the truth, convince them and enlist their souls in it. This is the great matter to study, and not how to avoid differences and not discuss them at all. We are studying how to practice this, and we desire all the friends of the Lord to study it and give the adversary no advantage.