00:00:06.090 - 00:00:32.349

Things would be bad, but they were far worse than I thought Spain today keeps a protestant ghetto. So we need to realize facts. Whether they are pleasant or not, then we need to go on to effective organization that this heritage of freedom should not die. But

00:00:32.360 - 00:00:59.209

above all, we need the intervention of God's spirit, that intervention from without that we call revival, which would catch up and sweep away so many of these problems that threaten to overwhelm us at the present time. It's revival. That's our greatest need. Well, when the queen,

00:01:00.319 - 00:01:34.330

our gracious Queen Elizabeth is crown next June, the archbishop of Canterbury will hand her a copy of the Bible and he will say these words, our gracious queen. We present you with this book. The most valuable thing that this world affords here is wisdom, this is

00:01:34.339 - 00:02:01.660

the royal law, these are the living oracles of God. And as we hear those words, we'll all pray that this second Elizabethan era is going to be as glorious and as magnificent for the Christian cause as was the first one. Now I said to you a

00:02:01.669 - 00:02:20.520

moment ago that we were hearing a lot about dates and if our friends can only inculcate some historical sense into this community of ours, they'll be doing some good. You're going to be told that tomorrow the 19th of April is the anniversary of the edict of

00:02:20.529 - 00:02:45.289

Governor King. Well, it has other associations way back in 1529 it was the day on which the protestant princes introduced their affirmation or protestation into the diet of Spire Mr Bryan or hasn't written about that. But I guess he knows about it. And then interestingly enough

00:02:45.699 - 00:03:10.389

this day on which we meet the 18th of April is the anniversary to the very night on which Martin Luther came back into the diet at worms and stood before the emperor and made that statement that I think thrills us all whenever we hear it and

00:03:10.399 - 00:03:31.339

makes us very dissatisfied with the small measure of our witness and ought every time we hear it to spur us on to greater efforts and greater testimony for our Lord, I'll close by reading it to you. They asked him the old question that so often preceded

00:03:31.350 - 00:04:00.039

burning at the stake. What do you recant? Would he speak against his conscience? He said, since your most serene majesty and the princes require a simple answer, I will give it thus unless I shall be convinced by proofs from scripture or by clear reasoning for, I

00:04:00.050 - 00:04:23.480

believe neither in Popes nor councils since they have frequently both heard and contradicted each other I cannot choose but adhere to the word of God which has possession of my conscience. Nor can I possibly, nor will I ever make any recantation since it is neither safe

00:04:23.489 - 00:04:55.489

nor honest to act. Contrary to conscience, I stand. He says I cannot do other. So help me. God. Amen and brethren. Those words were to echo around Europe and what stood behind them. The binding force of the word of God was the liberating power but God

00:04:55.500 - 00:05:28.489

used and we are entered into a rich heritage. The Bible, a heritage to die. A heritage of freedom. Let us cherish it, let us read it and let us leave it out in their hearts. In late November preceding the Congress, a new series of broadcasts that

00:05:28.500 - 00:06:09.519

now 1928 the Roman Catholic church in New South Wales staged a great eucharistic congress, a protestant witness, not in any negative or false finding sense, but at a time when Rome's tremendous propaganda avalanche to take over the whole community, if the protestant churches remain silent, the

00:06:09.529 - 00:06:34.630

average man who doesn't think very clearly or deeply about these things naturally concludes that there is nothing to be said on the other side when it was known that in 1953 from the 12th of April until the 19th of April, another eucharistic congress was to be

00:06:34.640 - 00:07:21.459

Herald, the Protestant councilor of which the president, Mr Reverend BG Judd, the secretary, Mr Js Hayes, the treasurer Mr Lt Treble. And the chaplain, the venerable archdeacon TC Hammond. The Protestant Council immediately set about the organization of an adequate protestant witness who were interested in these

00:07:21.470 - 00:07:50.989

matters and were also representatives on the council of churches. The matter was taken out vigorously with that body. Eventually, after some persuasion, a program was worked out, the council sponsored a pastoral letter which was eventually signed by the heads of all the churches and was read

00:07:51.000 - 00:08:24.000

in our churches on Sunday the 12th of April 1953. And from the November preceding the Congress, a new series of broadcasts at 915 pm each Sunday evening from TCH under the general title. What Protestants think was the Gun. Later, a series of these was printed in

00:08:24.010 - 00:08:54.690

booklet form under the title, The Faith of Our Fathers. This series of broadcasts ran to for some 14 months but the greatest demonstration of the Protestant Witness at this time, apart of course, from the distribution of half a million leaflets in the greater Sydney area was

00:08:54.700 - 00:09:44.270

the whole protestant evangelical convention in the Pitt Street congregational church on Tuesday, the 14th of April. And going through until the Friday the 17th. On a Saturday, a rally was held in the assembly hall, Margaret Street Ring

00:09:44.280 - 00:10:06.530

that I can't understand is this and I'm not coping the, as I say, I was commending the Herald last night, we went around there after the meeting and handed in a script of what was said and even that couldn't be decided apparently. And so it does

00:10:06.539 - 00:10:35.349

seem to me, as I said last night, we grow weary and impatient dogmatic statements from ST Mary's are news but from us they're not. And we say that's unfair and we hope it's going to stop. Now by way of announcement, I want to mention that the

00:10:35.359 - 00:10:59.109

British and Foreign Bible Society are having a rally in the assembly hall tomorrow night at half past seven. And the subject is going to be the Bible uh Reformation heritage. And then our friends of the open air campaigners are having a rally also in the assembly

00:10:59.119 - 00:11:21.880

hall next Friday at half past seven to farewell. The musical messengers. May I say again how much we are indebted to the Reverend George Woolcock and the deacons of this church. And also I want to remind you of our friends, Mr Gowns and Mr Giltrow, the

00:11:21.890 - 00:11:37.380

printers of our leaflets and so much of our work at this time, I've been telling you that the printing cost us a lot, but if it hadn't been for them, it would have cost us a good many 100 pounds more. So we ought to remember our

00:11:37.390 - 00:12:03.309

friends. Now, I want to say also Dr Jarvis, how glad we are to have you here tonight. As you all know, Dr Jarvis is the President General of the Baptist Union of Australia. And we're also delighted to have Bishop Hilliard as a speaker. Bishop. He has

00:12:03.320 - 00:12:29.869

let all of us know where he stands and we're very grateful to him for that during the past eight months when we've been thinking about these meetings and other matters associated with our witness. He has ever been ready with counsel and advice and we're very grateful

00:12:30.340 - 00:12:50.330

he presided last Sunday afternoon at that wonderful rally in the LYCEUM. And we have him again here with us tonight and we're delighted that he's been able to come. Now, I ought not to let the occasion pass as this is the closing rally though, of course,

00:12:50.340 - 00:13:11.570

you've got tomorrow night in the assembly hall. But to remind you that these meetings and the activities of the witness were planned by this United Council of Protestant action as we call it, it's a rather longish name, it's a coordinating council and it shows the value

00:13:11.580 - 00:13:33.510

of doing things together and I would be very remiss if I overlooked mentioning the loyal help that I've had from those who are members of the executive, as a deacon Hammond and words fail one to express all that he means as the chairman has said, I

00:13:33.570 - 00:13:57.650

don't know what we do without him. Then there's Mr Les Treble, our treasurer who's been utterly indefatigable in his health and work. Mr Stan Hayes, the secretary, Mr Ross Thomas, who is so well known to us, Mr Ad Downer, the grand master of the loyal orange

00:13:57.659 - 00:14:15.270

institution who I think as he goes up and down the country is working as hard as any man at the cause of the present time. Mr Arthur Ramsey and Mr Thomas eggs. They've all helped in whatever way that they were able to do. And then, may

00:14:15.280 - 00:14:38.640

I say how greatly we value the wholehearted cooper operation of the New South Wales Council of Churches. They have been a tower of strength in all this and we've all come to love and admire our president of this year. The Reverend Doctor W Cummington, May I

00:14:43.210 - 00:15:05.080

and you come here night after night and endure three speeches and you still go home smiling despite the heat. Well, now, last night, I told you that we need from your generous giving 270 pounds to pay for some advertisements that were appearing in the Sydney Morning,

00:15:05.090 - 00:15:24.299

Herald. If you didn't read about the question of the ninth century or the 12th century in the letter press, you can read about it today and tomorrow and yesterday in the Herald advertisement. Well, now we wanted 270 pounds and I said you were going to rise

00:15:24.309 - 00:15:44.309

to the occasion and you certainly did. You gave 193 pounds, seven and seven pence and that was very fine. Now, that means that you can if you like, of course, sit back and take it easy tonight. But I wonder will you, I don't think you will.

00:15:45.780 - 00:16:06.260

My good friend. The Reverend Lyle Thompson said to me, we have so much to be thankful for, to God in the positive witness of the past week that every one of us who can, ought to make a bank offering tonight of at least 10 Shillings Council

00:16:06.690 - 00:16:23.900

has to do its work on the proverbial shoestring. You know, we just receive a small affiliation fee and when work like this has to be tackled with really nothing in hand to do it and doing work on the shoestrings all very well. But as the French

00:16:23.909 - 00:16:41.469

General said, it's magnificent, but it's not war, it's not the way to do it. And I really feel that you want the council to be able to do its work and do it effectively and to have the money in hand, to strengthen its machinery so that

00:16:41.479 - 00:16:58.190

the task may be done. I said to you last night that your shareholder is in this work, it through your giving, that it has been done and can be done in the future. And so I do ask you when the stewards come round to you tonight,

00:16:58.619 - 00:17:53.329

that you'll do your very best. And again, show that spirit of self sacrifice that's been so evident during the past week, Jarvis with that natural modesty of his says, would you please announce that the voluntary will be played during the uh Arry Hammond Dr

00:17:53.579 - 00:18:37.920

Jarvis friends? My statement will be very brief. It falls to my lot to express our indebtedness to the president of the United Council of Protestant Action. Mr Judd, only for Mr Judd, we wouldn't be here. And I think he's feeling the strain tremendously because he said

00:18:37.930 - 00:19:18.109

something tonight about sitting back and taking it easy that shows you ladies and gentlemen how much his exertions have taken out of him. He has been indefatigable in his work unremitting in his attention, comping golding, appealing even to the press. And I think we ought to

00:19:18.119 - 00:19:50.489

give him an expression of our very warm and deep regard. Of course, Mr John, he is a very modest man. He is just thrust to the front and then with his natural pertinacity, he remains there but his modesty prevented him from saying. But there is a

00:19:50.500 - 00:20:29.280

very distinguished speaker at the British and Foreign Bible Society tomorrow night, Reverend BG Job and I'm sure that announcement would not fill the audience. May I ask you with the permission of the chairman to rise and give a very hearty greeting to our dear friend for

00:20:29.290 - 00:21:57.430

the work that he has done. I cannot close my short statement without saying how pleased I am to be associated with Bishop Henyard on this platform. Bishop Hilliard knows where he stands. That's very excellent. But

00:21:57.439 - 00:22:13.800

this evening, there are one or two things that have to be dealt with before we get on to the announcements. And I'm going to deal with them as quickly as I can. The first of them seems to me something which ought to be upon all our

00:22:13.810 - 00:22:38.949

hearts. You know, it's easy in this country of freedom to forget the burden of persecution that lies heavily upon our in other areas. It is hard to believe that in any part of the British Empire, a person could be arrested and imprisoned for the crime of

00:22:38.959 - 00:22:59.420

distributing New Testaments. But as you know, this is what happens to Culpas of the British and Foreign Bible society in Canada, which is a province in Quebec rather which is a province of Canada. That's something that ought to give us furiously to think in a part

00:22:59.430 - 00:23:18.469

of the British Empire. These things can happen. I was speaking today to Mr Arrow Smith, the Commonwealth Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society and he said when I was in Quebec not so long ago, one of our cars was in prison for a considerable

00:23:18.479 - 00:23:39.819

time for giving our father the scriptures. The second thing I would say is that the British Weekly in its issue of the first of January last gave details of extremely violent persecution of Protestants in Colombia in South America. The current issue of the Australian Christian world

00:23:39.829 - 00:24:00.209

has reprinted this article. So you may read it if you wish to do so. The third thing I would say is this the internationally famous president of Princeton Theological Seminary, Dr J A Mackay who speaks Spanish and therefore knows what goes on in Spain. After a

00:24:00.219 - 00:24:25.380

recent visit to Spain said Spain today keeps a protestant ghetto. The cardinal Archbishop of Seville, Cardinal Segura not very long ago issued a strong demand that the Spanish government should more rigidly enforce the restrictions upon the worship of Protestants. And you know the grounds in which

00:24:25.390 - 00:24:47.650

he said that because the majority of the people in Spain are Roman Catholics, where would we get to if other lands claim to be civilized, use arguments like that? These unpleasant incidents and they are unpleasant are examples of the fierce intolerance which marks the life of

00:24:47.660 - 00:25:12.449

countries where the Roman Catholic majority seeks to coerce the Protestant minority. And we say that it would be a practical evidence of Christian charity. If the authorities of the Roman Catholic church in Australia and the distinguished visitors who come to our city were good offices c

00:25:23.319 - 00:25:42.839

and in case our friends say that they are not responsible and don't know where to start to stop this persecution. I give them their starting point. We would find it easier to believe in the sincerity of their statements about charity in which virtue we also believe

00:25:43.119 - 00:26:13.500

if they publicly repudiated. Now, at the present time of Cardinal Segura and exerted themselves to stop the current persecution. Now I come to another matter which was known to us last night, but which I refrain from mentioning in order to give those who have given us

00:26:13.510 - 00:26:38.609

just reasons for this pleasure to think it over. But as they remained unrepentant misdemeanor must be mentioned publicly. We have repeated again and again that the essential Democratic procedure is to give the fullest expression to differing viewpoints. Only those who have a weak case need fear

00:26:38.619 - 00:27:02.949

free and open discussion. I heard last night that one of the things which puzzles very many people is that where as Roman Catholic dogmatic statements get wide publicity and quite rightly so the poor seems unwilling to publish even the simplest doctrinal statements of the reformed churches.

00:27:10.770 - 00:27:37.939

It is news when it comes from ST Mary's, but apparently it's not news when it comes from us. And that seems to us grossly unfair. But now we come to another matter last Monday in common with the other Sydney dailies. The Sydney Daily Telegraph carried a

00:27:37.949 - 00:28:03.079

large advertisement about the Eucharistic Congress and they had a perfect right to do that. Of course, this quote, this advertisement had quotations from the Bible which the doctrine of transubstantiation. The Daily Telegraph also on the same day carried an advertisement from the new South Wales Council

00:28:03.089 - 00:28:27.689

of Churches in conjunction with our own organization, the United Council of Protestant Action. So on Wednesday morning, the Telegraph received an advertisement which set out in detail, these meetings here in Pitt Street as well as a doctrinal statement concerning what Protestants believe about the Holy Communion.

00:28:29.530 - 00:28:48.150

The apprentices proof of the advertisement was promised for late on Wednesday afternoon at three pm. On Wednesday advice was received that the advertisement had been set up in 10 point type. But as this was occupying more space than we could buy, it would be reset in

00:28:48.160 - 00:29:11.040

a smaller type. About four o'clock in the afternoon. Advice came through that the Telegraph would not print the advertisement but was willing if we wanted to, to mention the pitt street meetings. Only when further inquiry was made a responsible official of the Daily Telegraph said it

00:29:11.050 - 00:29:37.089

was not editorial policy to take controversial matter of this kind. Apparently it was all right on Monday, when the Eucharistic Congress advertisement went in, they seem all right until late on Wednesday afternoon. Could it be, do you think? But uh some so sure of their case

00:29:37.729 - 00:29:59.699

and a frank discussion and shall we say had both of the Telegraph? Could that be, do you think the Telegraph official I spoke said the newspaper would never be influenced by any such pressure group and that he was constantly in front of it all sections of

00:29:59.709 - 00:30:41.760

the community who the doctor. Yeah, disappoint him. He likes apparently being in trouble. What is that? You we offended because however good a journalist he may be. We don't think he's strict things, sir. Bostic and doctrinal statements. He didn't want to be a censor that was

00:30:41.770 - 00:31:02.500

very kind of him. But his refusal to take the advertisement is nothing other than a censorship when it comes to this, that the Telegraph will not take material which is Bible passages in it because somebody might like those Bible passages. Now, if you think if the

00:31:02.510 - 00:31:16.780

telegraph has done the right thing, then of course you'll do nothing about it, you'll say, well, they did the right thing. And so that's just fine. Leave it, go. But if you still think that in a free community, an equal hearing ought to be given to

00:31:16.790 - 00:31:40.140

both sides, then I think you ought to write to the editor and let him know what you think. It seems to me that he's been listening to other people and you and I have a duty to try and get him to listen to us. He said

00:31:40.150 - 00:32:03.319

the reason why Roman Catholics got so much prayer notice in the press was the bar blending publicity silly in chief to say we get some strange stuff served up to the newspapers. When men talk like that, the Roman Catholics kept noticing the press. He says, because

00:32:03.329 - 00:32:19.099

they asked for it and we don't get noticing the press when we asked for it. Well, now let me tell you something positive. You can read the advertisement. I'm referring to in today's Sydney Morning Herald on page five. You've already seen it, I suppose you can

00:32:19.109 - 00:32:35.239

see it in tomorrow's Sydney morning, Herald and in Saturday's Sydney Morning, Herald. So after you have written to the editor of the Telegraph, telling him how displeased you are with his censorship, maybe you can commend the editor of the Herald because he has a better sense

00:32:35.250 - 00:33:12.060

of failing, often lectured, you know, by and others who great faith in their own judgment upon the community among the churches. Well, as far as the protestant churches are concerned, we have seen striking evidence of unity during the past week, a liter churches last Sunday signed

00:33:12.069 - 00:33:35.369

by all the heads of the churches aly and rally last Sunday, attended by the heads of the churches and these great meetings that Pitt street congregational church can't even hold. But despite all this, the telegraph declined to take out advertisements because it would displease some Roman

00:33:35.380 - 00:34:09.850

Catholics. Now I say we are Australians like and we resume those. We talk about the freedom of the press but swiftly before the most powerful pressure group in the land. And now we come to the announcement to introduce to you the Reverend DH Watson, a man

00:34:09.860 - 00:34:37.868

with an Australia wide reputation as a preacher, convention speaker. No. And so that can be added the record, the good record of a returned soldier, a chaplain in her Majesty's forces. Mr Watson is the minister of the central Baptist church here in Sydney and we bid

00:34:37.878 - 00:35:20.080

you welcome, sir, Mr Chairman Mr Judd and my dear friend, I want to express my deep gratitude to you for the warmth of your welcome and to state that I counted our high honor to be occupying this paper this evening. On this occasion, I think you

00:35:20.090 - 00:35:39.209

are a very patient lot of people I noticed somebody yawning in the gallery a moment ago. I wondered what that was an omen for good or bad. I know the hours are a little late. It's very hot. I don't mind at all. If you try and

00:35:39.219 - 00:36:02.239

keep yourself cool while I talk, I can preach over anything. I don't mind. Even if you're so tired that you find you go to sleep so long as somebody gives you a nudge when the climax comes and you come, Mr Judd mentioned the British Weekly, my

00:36:02.250 - 00:36:20.659

friends will probably hold up their hands in horror when I say this. But Mr Judd mentioned the British Weekly and there was a story in the British Weekly some time ago, I'd heard it. Many have heard it perhaps in this building. But I said in the

00:36:20.669 - 00:36:46.560

weekly, I thought, well, if it's good enough for the Weekly, it must be good enough to tell of the long-winded speaker. The chairman couldn't stop. I notice the ars deacon is drive safe. But this particular chairman, Paul, the coat tail of whose speaker and gave him

00:36:46.570 - 00:37:09.419

a crack behind the knees, but nothing happened. And the gentleman next to the chairman whispered to him and have to stop him. And the chairman said, what can I do? And he said, so the story says that the chairman took up his gowl and made a

00:37:09.429 - 00:37:50.919

swipe at the speaker who just then leaned forward to emphasize a point, the speaker and clouted the fellow on the side, he then sank slowly to the floor. But as he went up to time to man, then I can still, that's

00:37:50.929 - 00:38:24.770

not, that's not copyright. My topic has been set for me this evening. My subject is how man finds truth, but I trust before we have completed our message and we will, we will have arrived at a place where all of us can say, well, I got

00:38:24.780 - 00:38:45.899

a conviction about this thing. I can see it plainly used to confuse me when I was very much younger. This business is about finding truth in order to help those who are young, particularly. It's well to define our terms. Now, here's the topic how man, how

00:38:45.909 - 00:39:16.189

man finds truth. What do I mean by that? Well, truth means honesty, exactness, truth means the real staple things. We are here tonight to discuss together this important subject of how man finds the exact state of things. And of course, we are essentially concerned with spiritual

00:39:16.199 - 00:39:48.780

things. The night we are concerned as to the exact state of spiritual things. I find God, I be sure of the things for which my soul cries out. Three things I want to say. First of all this, that man does not find truth, reason alone, nor

00:39:48.790 - 00:40:24.379

does he find truth and external authority. And finally, we come back, how can we find truth? We thank God tonight for the gift of the human mind and we should of man's insulate. But unfortunately, perhaps fortunately, there have been men who through the ages have attempted

00:40:24.389 - 00:40:53.610

to, to spiritual truth. They tried to climb into heaven while the ball is intellectual effort. For instance, a new tower of Babel was built by the intelligent intellectual giants of the middle ages. The inevitable result has always been like this, the inevitable and man was left

00:40:53.620 - 00:41:24.899

in the dark subterranean passages of intellectual skepticism. Thank God for the contribution that intellectualism has made to our faith. That man has always lost himself when he's depended upon the power of his mind alone to find God. I was sorry to read some days ago that

00:41:24.909 - 00:41:50.280

doctor cm Job had passed into the Great Beyond. You'll know that he published a book just recently entitled The Recovery of Belief. And in that book, he gave an account of the reasons which converted him to the religious view of the universe in its Christian version.

00:41:52.800 - 00:42:24.560

This brilliant thinker discovered this, that his mind hadn't brought satisfaction to his heart. And he found there was something in his soul which wasn't satisfied. And actually Dr Jared was not led intellectually to religion. He was wooed into it and he was forced as an intellectual

00:42:24.570 - 00:42:51.110

man to accommodate his philosophy to his experience. He says he started going to church because he went out of curiosity, he wanted to learn what still went on. And then he says he was attracted by the beauty of the liturgy and I suppose in, in the

00:42:51.120 - 00:43:22.600

language of the man of the street, it was just something in his heart which wasn't satisfied. And so he sought to find satisfaction in a church. And he says, I arrive, I recovered, we believe, I wish he'd been spared, told him he might have gone on

00:43:23.699 - 00:43:50.310

and he might have made a splendid contribution toward helping those of his friends who were still in the darkness for. He said that very few of his friends had real faith. I may be speaking to a young man or to a young woman who is pursuing

00:43:50.320 - 00:44:14.219

a course of study. And you've heard the parrot cry, we seek truth and men with arrogant pride state that their minds must comprehend before thou will accept. And Aristotle said long ago, pure thought alone is ineffectual and we live in a world today. We live in

00:44:14.229 - 00:44:43.969

a community. We are men who have been seeking truth by this, by this means find themselves now disillusioned. They were once dogmatic, but now they are disappointed. They were once eager and energetic. Now they are cynical and listless. No man will ever discover truth through mere

00:44:43.979 - 00:45:19.659

intellectualism. In Dryden's words, how can the less the greater comprehend or finite reason leak infinity? We don't find truth simply through the intellect. And then man has thought that he can find truth through an external authority. His intellect is left him bewildered and he says, isn't

00:45:19.669 - 00:45:45.010

there someone who can pronounce with authority. We have found true. Sometimes young people especially think that the majority must be right. How many times I've talked to the young people in our home and said, don't you think? Because everybody says a thing, it's necessarily right. On

00:45:45.020 - 00:46:16.580

the contrary, by its very nature truth as a way of being in small minority. Sometimes people think it's the loudest voice that must possess the truth. I think truth never makes a noise. She's not concerned with the numbers who attend to her voice. She's not concerned

00:46:16.590 - 00:46:49.340

with pomp and ceremony cannot give herself to any man so that he will claim that he has a monopoly of the truth. I say very sincerely, I regret that I have to be negative just here and let no one charge us this evening with mud slinging

00:46:50.270 - 00:47:22.320

very easy to make a charge like that. But after all, a statement of conviction is not mud slinging. I say two will not allow any man or any company of people to claim that she is in their grasp entirely. There is no monopoly of the truth.

00:47:24.800 - 00:47:58.860

Rome claims that she is the only true church and thereby I suggest to you thereby, she claims to a monopoly of the truth. She says she has unbroken succession from the ecclesia of Apostolic time. Amiel Bruner reminds us in his recent book, the misunderstanding of the

00:47:58.870 - 00:48:26.489

church that she forgets that she has a rival who with the very best right can dispute its pretensions, namely the Greek Orthodox church. It's incontestable. He says that this church has grown uninterruptedly out of the primitive church, an apostolic time. I'm quoting that it has become

00:48:26.500 - 00:48:55.250

separated from Rome means simply of course, from its own point of view that Rome has separated from it. Uh huh I hear the voice of external authority. There seems to be some dispute. Has anyone a monopoly of the true in Dr Rumble's booklet. Why you should

00:48:55.260 - 00:49:15.889

be a Catholic? There's a chart which is published in other publications of the Roman Catholic church. And there, as you know, there's the main stem, she claims that she's the main stem. And from her, there has diverged, for instance, the Greek Orthodox Church and all the

00:49:15.899 - 00:49:49.100

other denominations. Again, Bruner reminds us the Roman Catholic church has diverged from traditional Catholicism by a revolutionary process. Then he has the impudence to claim or to state that in the beginning when all Christians were subject to the Catholic church. It's not the truth. I notice

00:49:49.110 - 00:50:13.379

further for instance, that there's the claim laid that Rome is the true church and the 11th justification which Dr Rumble presents is ecclesiastical miracle and makes the statement that God grants the privilege of miracles to the Roman Catholic church, which is one thing to all other

00:50:13.389 - 00:50:53.090

forms of religion. That's a lie. First of all, I find it that according to his statement, miracles refers to miracles of healing and apparently the truth of this thing according to Rome is contained in what happens at Lourdes. And since 1855 God has performed its stated

00:50:53.100 - 00:51:20.389

over 3000 genuine miracles. My friends, I dare to say that every protestant minister in this building tonight can point to somebody with whom he's had association through his own church who has been healed miraculously by God. Note what I say and there are medical men who

00:51:20.399 - 00:51:42.919

will testify to the fact that we have not been able to do anything more. And a miracle has happened. Have they all been Roman Catholics? Hasn't the church of God, the reformed church prayed the prayer of faith. Haven't there been people healed in our days? I

00:51:42.929 - 00:52:13.570

believe that we who profess to be Protestants need to examine the matter of divine healing. That's not heresy. I believe that every man who's in the Christian ministry who's within my hearing tonight would fully assent to the fact God does heal. Not by the stupid means

00:52:13.580 - 00:52:48.860

that some people claim don't misunderstand me. There was no priest, there was no mass shed when Rickenbacker and his friends were adrift in their two rafts in the Pacific Whitaker was an agnostic when the plane came down. He states today that he's a believer and he's

00:52:48.870 - 00:53:08.739

been up and down the United States telling his story. He told the story after he got back to the United States of how God had saved the, how they prayed for water and God sent the rain, how they prayed for food and God gave them the

00:53:08.750 - 00:53:29.580

fish. God gave them the bird and how did it happen? It happened because a few men, not professional ministers, not priests of religion. A few men who were in desperate need found that they had one thing in their possession, which was the most priceless thing they

00:53:29.590 - 00:54:01.610

had even beyond their food. It was a copy of the New Testament. And with the New Testament, they read from God's own word and they prayed their simple prayer and God heard them. There's no monopoly in this. We have the truth. No human being has the

00:54:01.620 - 00:54:23.889

right to state that I have all the truth that God has entrusted me with the whole revelation and all others are wrong. Am I prepared to accept the statement that God is present in a Wafer? Am I prepared to listen to external authority that says that

00:54:23.899 - 00:54:46.260

by blessing the Wafer, it's transformed from the material into the actual body of Christ. External authority says it is. So I say I want the truth. I'm not prepared to accept any external authority. External authority says I must make confession of my sins to the priest

00:54:46.389 - 00:55:18.459

that he has power to grant me absolution. I'm not satisfied. What is true? Where can I find truth? How may I find truth? I asked a second question. How may I find truth? Why do I want to find truth? That seems to me a very important

00:55:18.469 - 00:55:46.969

question. Some people apparently want the truth so that they can monopolize it in order to claim power. And if there's one thing wrong with the Church of Rome, is it lusting for power? I can bear out what my friend Mr Judd said a little while ago

00:55:46.979 - 00:56:19.540

concerning what happened in Quebec. I was in Canada just two years ago and in the province of Quebec, members of my own denomination were not only persecuted but severely injured by members of the Roman Catholic faith because they preached in the open air. Why do I

00:56:19.550 - 00:56:39.340

want truth? I say there are some apparently who want to claim that they have a monopoly of the truth because they want to state we are the people who are in authority. What we say is final. Why do I want to find truth? Why do you

00:56:39.350 - 00:57:04.270

want to find truth? Can you answer that question? I can only be personal here. I want to find truth because my heart cries out for it. I want freedom, for my sin and shame. I want deliverance from the bondage of sin. I want spiritual freedom. I

00:57:04.280 - 00:57:26.120

want an authority over my life. That will be an authority to which I can say. Yes, gladly, I surrender my life gladly. I give myself to thee. Where do I find Him? How can I find God in my reason? No man's mind can never satisfy my

00:57:26.129 - 00:57:46.679

heart. Can I find truth in the church. No, its pomp and ceremony leaves me cold. Why you can give me the most beautiful building and the most beautiful choir and the most beautiful organ and the finest preacher and the largest congregation. I'm not necessarily going to

00:57:46.689 - 00:58:09.320

be satisfied. These things that I can see and feel and hear are not necessarily the things that will satisfy the longing of my heart. And I say, is there something, is there something lasting? Is there something authoritative? Is there something that I can grasp? And I

00:58:09.330 - 00:58:27.649

start to read The New Testament? And I read a word like this. The word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld his glory. The glories of the only begotten of the father full of grace and truth, race and truth came by Jesus Christ.

00:58:27.659 - 00:58:48.100

And I say now, I think I'm finding it truth. I want truth, Jesus Christ full of grace and truth. And then as I read, I suddenly discovered the figure is rising up out of the book and I hear him saying I am the way the truth

00:58:49.040 - 00:59:13.419

and the life. And I say now I have it now I hear the voice of authority. Now I hear one who can satisfy my soul. And from this blessed book, I see Him, I hear him and please God. If I'm earnestly seeking, I come. And in

00:59:13.429 - 00:59:38.239

the words of the hymn writer, I came to Jesus as I was weary and worn and sad. I found in him a resting place and he has made me glad I found him out through the book. And remember beloved that the thing that freed me was

00:59:38.250 - 00:59:56.439

not the book. It was the price of the book. But directly I find the Christ of the book, I discover this, that he speaks to me again and again through it. And I come to that place where I say why this is the authority is the

00:59:56.449 - 01:00:20.290

infallible guide to my faith and practice. This is the thing on which I rest the word of the living God. And I want to say to you tonight, who with me make our protest at this moment against what we feel to be error. Let me say

01:00:20.300 - 01:00:50.590

to you tonight, the thing we need to do is to be positive, of course, and to be positive, I suggest to you that the need of the world is the release of this blessed book. Am I right? I'll be perfectly frank with you and God he

01:00:50.659 - 01:01:19.189

attendant here tonight. I know there are a lot of people who would be here if they could. I think one of the troubles with us as Protestants is that we have a lot of Protestants who are anti Catholic, but they're not Protestants. I stand with my

01:01:19.199 - 01:01:41.689

brethren in quota. But I believe the answer not only to Roman Catholicism, but the answer to communism, the answer to Mohammedanism, the answer to paganism is a positive message and let the voice in the world and we who profess to be Protestants. Let's read the book,

01:01:41.699 - 01:02:08.679

let's learn the book, the book, let's get the book to the people. After all. What happened in the reformation, the lasting merit of the reformers as a writer was to recognize the scriptures and the power of the scriptures. The great importance of the word of Jesus

01:02:08.689 - 01:02:35.850

Christ as the source of life of the Christian community. A Waldensian pastor who is a friend of mine with whom I had fellowship a few months ago has sovereign imprisonment 13 times for the sake of his faith in Italy. Let's not forget Italy tonight. Let's not

01:02:35.860 - 01:03:03.760

forget our brethren there who suffer still for the faith. I can tell you one or two stories that others could from personal experience. But let's remember that our Waldensian brethren through the centuries have been people of the book and therefore bears wherever they went, they killed

01:03:03.770 - 01:03:28.340

all amongst the people. The desire to read the Bible witless, we must preach God's word and proclaim the gospel according to the scriptures, John Huss and his followers in Bohemia. The Bible was their ultimate authority. I noticed in the press that the Roman Catholic bishop who

01:03:28.350 - 01:03:58.350

preached a couple of days ago urged the loyalty of the Roman Catholic church to go out and to proclaim their faith to the people of the land. My beloved. The tragedy is this that the Roman Catholic layman can't lead a soul to Jesus Christ. No, 24.

01:03:59.229 - 01:04:17.060

Can he lead a soul? But Jesus Christ, he is my friend. All you have to do is to confess your sins. Believe in Jesus Christ as your risen savior go out and take the book and be guided in your, in your life and in your faith

01:04:17.189 - 01:04:39.199

by the book. Am I right? The glory, the glory of our faith is this that you my friend. If you're a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you have the right of access to this book, you have the right to give this book to your friends.

01:04:39.219 - 01:05:04.879

You have the right to pray over this book. You have the right to speak to your friend concerning Jesus Christ. You have the right to win your friend for Jesus Christ and the Protestant army can win Australia for Christ if it wakes up. And I say

01:05:04.889 - 01:05:24.050

again, it's through the word of the living God. Let the Bible loose in your own heart, learn it by heart, quote it, write it, give it to your friends, give copies of it to your friends. The world is in desperate need tonight and only God can

01:05:24.060 - 01:05:49.760

save us from capacitor. And we should only be used by God as we know the book and as we preach the book and above all, as we present the Christ of the book, two men were walking over the scarred battlefield during the first World War, they

01:05:49.770 - 01:06:18.889

were climbing slightly. And as they walked together, talking, the one man put his hand on the arm of the other did stop. And he pointed up to the hill and said, look all around devastation, not a thing standing but right on the top, there was a

01:06:18.899 - 01:06:54.979

cross, it was a crucifix. It was in prep, but there in the dim light, all that could be seen wisely crop. The man said to his friend, the plus sign and that's the answer to the world's need tonight. The cross of Jesus Christ, my friend. I

01:06:54.989 - 01:07:13.959

wonder if you've come to that cross? I said I wanted to be positive and I believe this is the best answer to Rome. The best answer I repeat to communism. The best answer to Muhammadanism. The best answer to any other is in the world, the cross

01:07:13.969 - 01:07:41.290

of Jesus Christ. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me. And if you haven't been to the cross friend, I'm afraid, I'm afraid that you have no place in his kingdom. I register my protest at what's being taught

01:07:41.929 - 01:08:05.189

in this city at this moment. What's being displayed before the mind of the public? I spent little time in speaking about it. But you've heard already. But I say this to you in conclusion, rise up o men of God have done with lesser things. Give heart

01:08:05.399 - 01:08:34.409

and soul and mind and strength to serve the king of kings. Try the cross of Christ tread where his feet have trodden as brothers of the son of man. Rise up all the man is gone. And my beloved you who belong to the reformed churches. Many

01:08:34.418 - 01:08:55.819

of the denominations have called their members to a great campaign of evangelism. I believe in revival. And I believe what our churches need is a touch of the spirit of the living God and please God, we shall see real revival. And if we experience revival, we

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shall not be concerned about what's happening for revival of sweep the land. And instead of during the Congress, I have a great desire. Instead of during the Congress be our parties being held and gambling, being engaged in by people who are professionally religious, the bars will

01:09:23.688 - 01:09:56.818

be empty and the young people will be brought up in an atmosphere of purity, an atmosphere which is truly at a price. Our father in heaven. In this moment, we remember the thou art love and we would ask thee to fill our hearts a flesh with

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thy divine love. We pray that thou help us to love those who oppose us, help us to pray for those who persecuted that our father. We pray tonight that we may have a passion for the truth to that end by Jesus Christ, be crowned as Lord

01:10:22.520 - 01:10:45.240

in our lives tonight. And may our convictions be such that we shall gladly suffer and die if needs be for the sake of Him who loved us and gave himself for it. Wilt thou baptize this land with the power of the Holy Ghost. Our God revive

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thy work in the midst of the years we beseech thee and granted this army of men and women, young adults may go out into this community, determined to let loose the word of the living God, determined to uplift the cross of Christ. We believe that thou

01:11:04.189 - 01:11:48.669

will honor us and thou would save me. It is because of the incomparable name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God because we have been fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, his son, because imparted to us divine grace because we had been brought

01:11:48.680 - 01:12:11.439

into the fellowship of his living church because we recognize that he is the Son of God, the only Savior of the soul and the sole sovereign of the saved society, which is called the church. It is because of these things and all that are implied in

01:12:11.450 - 01:12:37.089

these things that we are gathered in this church tonight. Just over 12 months ago, I was in the city of Berlin among a company of evangelical Christians, some from behind the iron curtain and some from behind an ecclesiastical curtain. So they were, they were from Spain

01:12:37.959 - 01:13:00.790

and they were from Portugal as well as from various parts of Western Germany and the Soviet controlled portions of Germany. And as I stood with them, and joined in singing i in my tongue and they in the tongue wherein they were born, the great hymn of

01:13:00.799 - 01:13:22.689

the Reformation written by Martin Luther. A safe strong hold our garbage pill. There went an emotion and a thrill through my spirit that I think I have rarely experienced in all my Christian life. One has to tread in the footsteps of those who suffered for their

01:13:22.700 - 01:13:45.600

faith in Christ. One has to stand in such parts where I have stood in Britain and on the continent of Europe where not two or three or two or three score or two or 300 but several thousands of people paid with their lives for their faith

01:13:45.609 - 01:14:11.609

in Jesus Christ. One has to be in such places to feel humbled and subdued and somewhat disgusted with oneself and disappointed with one's fellows in this free land of Australia that we take so much for granted. We as Christian believers who are called evangelicals called Protestants

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should never even open the covers of the word of God without remembering that the privilege that is ours to open that sacred book and to read there in the truths of God that this privilege was brought for, for us at a very great price. Coming back

01:14:34.810 - 01:14:59.399

to this land, having traveled through lands where there is suffering and intimidation and persecution because people believe and express the beliefs that you and I believe and so rarely express our belief outside of our church and outside of our Christian organizations, experiencing these things, makes one

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somewhat disturbed that we, in this great land of Australia, we evangelicals, we Protestants are not more definite and explicit and clear in our witness than we are those people who imagine that these meetings held to be a negative kind of thing, just a protest against something

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that somebody else is doing that we dislike and therefore we're annoyed about it, have completely misinterpreted this series of meetings. This series of meetings is nothing less and nothing else than a witness to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is that we might come to

01:15:47.370 - 01:16:09.169

the word of God and hearing that word of God expounded or explained to us may go out to translate into action, the principles of the Christian faith. It is for that purpose that is the supreme purpose of this gathering of people together night by night. In

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the series of meetings, the principles that came into light in the ages that we call the dark ages came by way of what we call the protestant reformation. These principles were no break of continuity with the genuine church of all ages. The protestant reformation stands in

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lineal continuity of the best apostolic succession for the s the one way to prove and the quickest way to prove whether a line is straight or crooked is to put a rule alongside that line. And the one way to test alleged Christian doctrine. And Christian practice

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is to put the one rule alongside it. And that rule is the word of God. That is the test our honored friend, Arch deacon Hammond, whose leadership and help in the evangelical life of Australia, not alone of Sydney, we all appreciate said in this church the

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other night, I was not present but saw the report of it that the doctrine of transubstantiation did not become an article of faith with the Roman Catholic church until after the ninth century. That of course is an exact statement from an exact scholar, but had it

01:17:58.229 - 01:18:28.689

come into the stream of Christian testimony in the first century of the Christian church, it would then have been what it is now a monstrous manmade myth without the ghost of a shadow of substance, of authority in the word of God, for that manmade myth. And

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we in exalting Jesus Christ and in proclaiming the evangelical faith as contained in the word of God must of necessity, putting that rule of scripture alongside any statements alleged to be Christian statements come back from such examination saying if they speak not according to this word,

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it is because the truth is not in them for any person or any institution to dare to declare that it has the authority of God to come between the soul of God, the soul and God is an outrageous impertinence and a defamation of the crown rights

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of Jesus Christ. Every individual soul has right of direct and immediate access to God through faith in Jesus Christ and no church and no d and no prescription proclaimed as authoritative by an ecclesiastical system of whatever kind or whatever name has any right to say to

01:19:55.600 - 01:20:27.629

any soul, only through me and only in this way, can you come to God? There is no mediator between God and man, save Jesus Christ. The elated sovereignty of Jesus Christ makes it forever impossible for his saving grace to be manipulated by any system. One is

01:20:27.640 - 01:20:51.919

our Pontiff and his name is Jesus, the only possible Savior of the soul and the sole head of the church. I'm sure it is in the hearts of all in this assembly tonight as it is in mine and the hearts of thousands and tens of thousands

01:20:51.930 - 01:21:21.750

of protestant believers throughout Australia that this week of witness will not finish with this meeting, but it will go on through lives who have been touched and influenced. They would say we would say to our fellow believers in Jesus Christ of all the evangelical denominations, be

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loyal to Jesus Christ and prove your loyalty by your loyalty to your church. I've heard folks say in various parts of Australia that certain uh of our friends of the Roman Catholic church only go to church because they're afraid to such I reply, which is the

01:21:42.049 - 01:21:58.240

worst. A Roman Catholic who goes to church because he's afraid and not all Roman Catholics go to church because they're afraid. Of course they do not. But which is the worst. The Roman Catholic who goes to church because he's afraid of the power of the church

01:21:59.000 - 01:22:22.459

or the Protestant who stays away because he's indifferent, or he's lazy, loyalty to Christ, expressed through loyalty to your church, loyalty to Jesus Christ in every area of life, in business and industry, in social affairs, in national affairs, in all the affairs that we touch in

01:22:22.470 - 01:22:45.209

life. These are the things for which we stand and we claim and we call in the name of Jesus Christ, believers in all the evangelical churches to a renewed dedication to Jesus Christ and to his cause and his kingdom. We can show the validity of our

01:22:45.220 - 01:23:05.589

witness and our testimony by living a better kind of life by showing out the praises of Jesus Christ in our daily conduct. And in all that we strive to do in his name and for his dear sake, we would say to our friends of the Roman

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Catholic church, those who in simplicity and sincerity seek to find God and seek to find Christ through medium of the church. We suggest to them that they turn to the holy Word of God and discover that through Christ and through Christ alone is the way to

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God. And may I add this further thing we say to a fellow Australian who has breathed the free air of this continent from the time of his birth. And who at this moment is the highest representative of the hierarchy of Rome in Australia. We say to

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Cardinal Gilroy, you in this country and your fellow believers enjoy the freedom and the liberty of thinking as you will of worshiping God as you will, you talk much of charity. We ask you not alone to talk charity, but to live charity. Remembering the apostolic injunction,

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let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And our believers in Jesus, our fellow believers in Jesus Christ in Italy, in Portugal, in Spain, in the countries of South America and elsewhere, many of whom I have met in my

01:24:55.379 - 01:25:27.200

travels around the world, let them have the right to think and to worship God as they deem fit for every soul is infinite precious in the sight of God. We ask not for toleration, for toleration implies superiority. We claim liberty, the liberty of their soul, the

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liberty of the, the soul to approach God, to worship God as he will or not to worship God. If he does not so desire, liberty is the birthright of every human soul under God. And so we trust and pray that this week of witness will not

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end with this glorious rally tonight, but it will go on through your life and mine and through the lives of all who have been influenced by it. So that a testimony to the truth as the truth is in Jesus may be proclaimed throughout this continent that

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this continent may become more what it ought to be and more than what it is a truly Christian commonwealth.