The following statements come from The New Testament Church, a compilation of editorials which appeared in the Gospel Advocate from 1889 to 1900.

No one who feels disposed to hang his harp on the willows and weep for the departed glory of Zion need look beyond his own heart for an explanation of the religious stagnation which continually rises as a stench in the nostrils of an insulted God. (p. 31)

Whenever "we as a people" begin to send men around over the country to "set in order" "our churches," and "keep them set in order," in the sense of a general denominational organization, there will be trouble--I hope. (p. 22)

I am not yet ready to assist in organizing "us as a people" into a religious denomination on the foundation of "our plea" for undenominational Christianity. (p. 22)

To this end the appeal should be constantly pressed upon the people to break camps and strike tents as religious partisans depending upon definite institutional methods unknown in the New Testament and march toward heaven and immortal glory as undenominational Christians; but at the same time every soul should be earnestly exhorted to walk with an open Bible in hand, and search the Scriptures daily, with an unceasing prayer for divine guidance and the wisdom that is from on high at every step along the way. (p. 35)

From this point of view, therefore, it would be impossible to say "we as a people" compose the church of Christ. Many who yet remain among us as a people may have long since passed the limit of God's forbearance by apostasy. The safer plan, therefore, is for every man to "fear God and keep his commandments." (p. 26)

No man can hold the truth represented by all denominations and belong to any denomination. (p. 39) No denomination can teach anything that is worth learning which the word of God does not teach, nor is there in all the Bible a single one of the blighting partisan errors each denomination mixes with the truth it holds. (p. 40)

Now, as we understand the matter, we can be Christians and not be Baptists; we could be Baptists and not be Christians; and, by a strong effort and a tight squeeze, we might be Christians and Baptists, too. But the thing is pretty hard to do, and we do not care to strain ourselves unless we could see some reason for it. We are not trying to be anything but Christians. . . (p. 60)

I have no higher ambition than to be a Christian while I live and go to heaven when I die. I am a poor, weak, and fallible creature, and don't want to overload myself in the race for heaven and immortal glory. I would like to be a Baptist or a Methodist--yes, I would glory in being a bishop--if I thought it safe to try to take on any of these extra degrees. But I donÕt want to strain myself, lest that, in trying –to be something more than a Christian, I fall behind the dead line and "come short of the glory of God." "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." (p. 63)