So long as the “change of nature,” which fits man for heaven, was regarded as a supernatural mystery which no one could understand or explain, while the approved signs of regeneration were submitted only to ministers, deacons, elders and church committees, the matter was exclusively in their keeping. But as soon as the nature of regeneration began to be explained intelligibly, and men adopted the common‐sense view, that the _true_ church consists of persons who not only believe in Christ intellectually, but believe _practically_, _i.e._, that they are those who _obey_ Christ, the case bore a different aspect. “These are the persons,” they say, “who organize on the assumption that they are regenerated because they obey Christ’s teachings, while so many virtuous persons are shut out as _totally_ and _entirely_ disobedient,—as never feeling or acting truly virtuously in the sight of God in a single instance!” The more this questionable assumption has become apparent, the more has been the disturbing influence on both the church and the world. Multitudes of serious, virtuous and conscientious persons, who are really living Christian lives and making it their chief concern to obey the great Master, have refused to join associations that make such dubious claims. Still more has been the revulsion from those churches which demand as terms to admission professed belief in certain modes of interpreting the Bible contained in a creed. They, holding the Protestant doctrine that every man is to interpret the Bible for himself, responsible to no man or body of men, can not thus resign their religious liberty. Meantime, the Christian profession has ceased to be a cross in any way, and has rather become honorable. Those who have been taught that a _purpose_ or determination to obey Christ was regeneration, have in many cases formed such a purpose, confessed belief in the needful creeds and joined the church in great numbers, before they had time to ascertain whether they had moral strength to carry out this purpose. They find on trial that they have not, and then discover that though there is an open door to _enter_ the church there is none for exit that is not discreditable, and so they remain. Others come into the church for worse motives, to secure the confidence, respect and trust that is accorded to that profession. Thus it has come to pass that the class, denominated “the world,” has been growing in Christian character and practical virtue, while, as a body, “the church” has been deteriorating.