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I. RELIGIOUS ERROR IS A HUMAN DREAM BUT RELIGIOUS TRUTH IS A DIVINE WORD.

1. Let us notice a few of the religious errors that have ever been prevalent in the world.

(1) Sacramentalism — the idea that we can discharge our moral obligations, and obtain the favour of God, by attending to certain religious ceremonies.

(2) Moritorialism the Pharisaical idea that, on the ground of our own individual excellence, we have a claim to the Divine benignancy.

(3) Functionalism — the idea that certain periodical religious services rendered to our Maker, where the life is selfish and worldly, are acceptable worship.

(4) Proxyism — the idea that we can be saved through the merits or offices of some priest, or supposed heaven-favoured man.

(5) Fatalism — the idea that we can do nothing; that if we are to be saved, we shall be saved, and that, therefore, we must run the risk.

2. These ideas are all human dreams.

(1) They imply a partial dormancy of the soul.

(2) They are temporary illusions. There is a morning to dawn on every soul, when they will melt away as visions.

3. But while these religious errors are mere human dreams, religious truth is God's Word. A "word" is the representative of mind. God's Word is the representative of His all-perfect Mind; it is the "arm of the Lord revealed."

II. RELIGIOUS ERROR, AS WELL AS TRUTH, IS ALLOWED A VOICE IN THIS WORLD.

1. God allows it to speak. He does not seal the lips of the false prophet. This fact indicates —

(1) The superior force of truth. God knows that truth is sufficient to conquer any error, if His prophets will but speak out "faithfully."(2) Man's inalienable right to free speech. God allows it even to the false prophet. It is not, therefore, for man to interfere with this right.

(3) The probability of future retribution. False prophets will not always speak; their mouths will one day be "stopped"; they will be "speechless." Eternal justice demands this.

2. But whilst the false is allowed to speak, the true is bound to speak. "He that hath My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully." My Word, not his own; not the word of others, but Mine, and that "faithfully." Though it clash with men's tastes, prejudices, and practices, speak it; — though it rouse the bitterest opposition, lead to the sacrifice of property, health, life itself, speak it, and speak it faithfully.

III. THE RELATIVE VALUE OF RELIGIOUS TRUTH AND RELIGIOUS ERROR DOES NOT ADMIT OF COMPARISON.

1. What are these human dreams, these religions errors, though elaborated into intellectual systems, or organised into gorgeous rituals, compared to My Word? Chaff.

2. But this pithy appeal may be viewed in other applications without violating its spirit.

(1) It may apply to ideas and their expressions. There is a man who is exceedingly particular about the garb of thought: all his talk is about style. Mere style is chaff.

(2) It will apply to religion and its forms. There is another who is wondrously attached to certain forms of worship; he has but little sympathy with those who adopt not his ritualism. Mere formalities are chaff.

(3) It will apply to character and its accidents. There is another who has not much sympathy with a brother, because of his appearance, manners, or connections. These accidents of character are chaff.

(4) It will apply to spiritual and secular worth. There is yet another who is striving after worldly wealth; who thinks more about property than principle — the body than the soul. The world is chaff compared with the soul.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.

WEB: The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the straw to the wheat? says Yahweh.