in these days...

In these days, I feel bound to go over the elementary truths of the gospel repeatedly. In peaceful times, we may feel free to make excursions into interesting districts of truth which lie far afield; but now we must stay at home, and guard the hearts and homes of the church by defending the first principles of the faith. In this age, there have risen up in the church itself men who speak perverse things. There be many that trouble us with their philosophies and novel interpretations, whereby they deny the doctrines they profess to teach, and undermine the faith they are pledged to maintain. It is well that some of us, who know what we believe, and have no secret meanings for our words, should just put our foot down and maintain our standing, holding forth the word of life, and plainly declaring the foundation truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
C.H.S.

To receive and follow the gospels call is to reject all that can be seen with the eye and held in the hand in exchange for what cannot be seen.It is to reject personal autonomy and the right to self-government in order to enslave oneself to Messiah who died two thousand years ago as an enemy of the state and a blasphemer. It is to reject the majority and its views in order to join oneself to a berated and seemingly insignificant minority called the church. It is to risk everything in this one and only life in the belief that this impaled prophet is the Son of GOD and the Savior of the world.

A man who receives the gospel trusts exclusively in the person and work of Jesus Christ as the only way of right standing before God.

God does not call men to make Jesus Lord (as though they had such power), but to live in absolute submission to the Lord He has made. Therefore, the man who desires to receive the benefits of the gospel must first decide if he is willing to turn over all autonomy and self-government to the Lord of the gospel.
(P.W.)

Quote, "In peaceful times..."

We don't seem to have too many of those in this day and age.

But, it does go on to say that we may make excursions into other truths.

However, the gospel it must be. Especially when it is under attack, even by the very ones who are supposed to proclaim it.