BETWEEN J. c.ARROLL STARK and JOE S. WARLICK PROPOSITION: rll, w,rd of Gi auth,rizes th, us, .f instruments .f music for prlllSe in th, clturclr 'f Jesus Christ J, CARROLL STARK Affirm, JOE S, WARLICK 'D,,,its GOSPEL ADVOCATE COMPANY NASHVILLE, TENN. PUBLISHERS' NOTICE. In November, 1903, J. Carroll Stark and Joe S. Warlick, two Ohrfs- tian preachers, held an oral debate of fOUT days' duration at Henderson, Tenn. It was agreed that the discussion should be published; and, in order to dispense with the expense of the stenographer, each disputant prom- ised to write his speeches for publication in a book. By mutual con- sent they afterwards decided to make each speech much longer than as delivered, and in this way decrease tbe number of speecbes, which they did. It was further agreed that they would try to retain certain features of the oral debate. This will account for the order of the speeches as they occur in the book, also the address to the moderators at the beginning C1f each speech, and for various references to the oral debate throughout the book. The publishers beg to say that all the speeches appear in the book just as written. Each writer examined and indorsed the proof of his speeches as they went through the press. Knowing that instrumental music in the worship is considered a mat- ter of much importance by many or all religious people, and believing the discussion of it by competent men will result in good and no harm, we send forth this book, praying God's blessings upon it and upon all who may read it for profit. PUBLISHEBS. STARK-WARLICK DEBATE. STARK'S FIRST SPEECH. Jlr. Oha,rmCln, L44iu pel Getttl~, Brethret& of tk O1ltlrclaof Ie," CANat and BCl,flta of the Jioat Hlf/A 6Od.: We are here to discuss a question that has divided the children of God, rent the cburch of the Master, and caused discord where peace should abound; and we hope to find the truth and see the right as God sees it, that we may walk In the light he hal given us. He has given us the light in. his word, and he will give us no more and no other If that shines in our hearts, there Is light In the soul; but if not, it is all dar~ness there. I am in favor of debates if properly conducted, with both pa'l"'ties anxious for the knowledge of the truth and each having a full con- viction that he is right and determined to make the best possible de- fense of his position, while laving his opponent as a man, but loving the truth more than a hundred such men, and determined that if either must be sacrificed, the man must go "The light is the light of men." Men become set in their positions, so as to hear and think of noth- ing else, and then attempt to defend with logic that which, when ex- posed, looks hideous in the extreme; and those advocating it feel deeply the chagrin, think they are being made sport of, become of- tended at the ad"Verl!le1I1Yi11.t\on,I!Ihut their eyes 'Mld ean to the truth, and are offended at him who make it 'plain. Such think they are honest, but they are not in God's eyes. Such were in the days of Jesus, and attributed to him the spirit of the devil. For them he gave the parable of the sower, and said: "Tiley have shut their eyes and closed their ears, lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and be converted, and their sins be forgiven them." For that cause he spoke to them in parables, that they might be damned. God never spo}(e to an honest people in parables; but when Ephraim gets joined to. his idols, God sa)'s: "Let him alone" To the honest heart that is willing to receive the truth God speaks so plainly that the wayfaring man, though illiterate, cannot misunderstand. As in the case of Balsam, who wished to curse Israel for reward, but would not go without God's consent; and when he ask'ed, God said: "Thou shalt not go witb them: thou shalt not curse that people, for they are 6 STARK-WARLICK DEBATE. blessed." Balaam understood it just as we would understand It, and said: "God refuses to let me go with you." All who understand must understand alike. It is only those who misunderstand that differ. But when the promise of reward was I Increased, Balaam, loving the wages of unrighteousness and not delighting in God's will, said: "Tarry thou here, and I will see what God will say more." God does not tamper long with the rebellious or oft repeat his plain injunctions, but answers the willful accordlng to the idol in their hearts; and he said to Balaam : "Go." But" God was angry because he went." It is a fearful thing to go to God when the heart wanders and our desires are uppermost. By Ezekiel God said: "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling-block of their iniquity be- fore their face: should I be inquired of at all by them? Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every. man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and com- eth to the prophst ; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols; that I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols. Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces (rom all your abominations. To everyone of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sofcurneth in Israel, which separateth himself 'from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his Iniqulty before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me i I the Lord will answer him by myself: and I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him of!' from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. And if the prophet b~ deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will de- stroy him from the midst of my pe<}pleIsrael. The punish- ment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seek- eth unto him," (Ezek. 14: 3-10.) To the man determined in his error God will give an excuse fo, ds heart's desire, that he may go on to destruction; and when he seeks to some teacher who will advocate that which he desires, God will himself deceive that teacher and set his face against all who set up idols in their hearts and separate themselves from Gad and the truth. To separate ourselves from God is to separate ourselves from his word. That is a departure from Christ. Jesus says: "I am the truth." Then no man can reject the truth and receive Christ, and all who joy- fully receive the truth into their hearts receive Christ into the soul. Again, Paul says by the Holy Spirit: "And then shall that Wicked 7 be revealed, . even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all de- ceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they re- ceived not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should be- lieve a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess. 2: 8·12.) God will force the truth upon none. No operation of the Holy Spirit 'Willcarry the truth to an unwilling soul; but God will send a strong delusion to them who love not the truth, that they may believe a lie and be damned. Lost, continue lost, lost forever! Men are lost through error, and must be saved or continue lost forever. Error saves no one. Noth· Ing but truth can save. Truth is the basis ot all righteousness, sanctl- fication, and redemption. ••Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word Is truth." (John 17: 17.) In Rom. 1: 17 Paul says: ••Therein [the gospel] is the rtghteous- ness [what he appoints for right] of God revealed from faith to faith I[from faith In the preacher to faith In the hearer]." All error Is death. James (5: 19, 20) says: "If any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth a sln- ner from the error of his, way shall save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins" Honesty In religion, or anywhere else, avails nothing except to cause one to seek and accept the truth. To misunderstand Is to be deceived. God deceives no one. AU understand alike when all understand. De- ception Is of the devil. To be deceived and to follow that deception Is to be led by the devil-led to sin, to the transgression of the law, which is death; led to death, when death means hell.