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1. "To whom shall we go?" is his first question when a man awakens to moral consciousness, and feels within him those inarticulate longings which reveal that he is not what he ought to be. Plato accounted these yearnings the reminiscences of a former state in which the soul had seen the perfect ideas of things now lost — a near approach to the Bible doctrine of the Fall. The soul feels that it is not what it once was, and that it cannot make itself so; but it recognizes its forgotten greatness when it sees it again. It is not to be deceived. It says when one specimen is offered, "This is not what I seek;" but when it finds Christ it identifies its long lost manhood in Him.

2. Besides these longings there is within us a sense of guilt, and the spirit groans, "Who will help me? " As when the sick cry for a physician. Man must go somewhere. The Jews were confronted with four rival systems. Sadduceeism, Pharisaism, Essenism, Christianity, and these virtually confront the seeker to-day.

I. Shall we go to SCEPTICISM?

1. That seeks to cure the soul's malady by denying it. That gives the same satisfaction as persuading a starving man that there is no reality in his hunger. How much more rational to accept the bread God has provided. Reject revelation and the same difficulties emerge in philosophy — so you only get rid of their only possible solution — just as sick men refused the doctor only throw away the chances of getting well.

2. The service of infidelity to man is well seen in the French Revolution.

II. Shall we go to RITUALISM? To improve our spiritual nature by ceremonial means is to begin at the wrong end, for it is the character of the soul that gives quality to the rite. The root of the evil is in the soul, which no ceremony can touch. Witness the Pharisees who would not go into Pilate's Hall for fear of defilement, and yet could plot for murder. Witness the Italian brigand who gives thanks for a successful robbery. Witness the multitudes of formal worshippers on Sunday who take advantage of their neighbours on Monday. Formalism only substitutes hypocrisy for religion.

III. Shall we go to ASCETICISM?

1. It is useless in practice, because the heart can. not escape from itself, and no walls can exclude temptation.

2. The whole system is cowardly.

3. It is a negative thing.

IV. Shall we go to JESUS? What are His qualifications?

1. He has the words of eternal life. By words man was lured to his destruction, and now by words he is to be saved.

2. What are His words. Their substance is, "God so loved the world," etc. Faith in these words gives certainty where before was doubt, and peace where formerly was despair.

3. See what they have done in the case of the apostles, heathens, drunkards, sinners of every age and degree. All that is noble and elevating in our modern civilization have come from Christ.Conclusion: When our modern prophets ask us to leave Him, we reply —

1. Find us a better answer to the questioning of our spirits than He has furnished.

2. Show us a better ideal of manhood than He has given.

3. Bring us brighter light in the life beyond than He has thrown.

4. In a word, give us something better than Christ.

(W. M. Taylor, D. D.)

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KJV: Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

WEB: Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?"