They Never Heard of it,

or they forgot it, or they didn't believe it. "Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." Why? "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit," and He might have added, "That which is born of water is water. (Laughter.) Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again." (Renewed laughter.) And then the reason is given, and I admit that I didn't understand it myself until I read the reason, and when I read the reason you all will understand it as well as I do. And here it is. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth." (Great laughter.)

So I find in the book of John the idea of the real presence. So I find in the book of John that in order to be saved we must eat of the flesh and we must drink of the blood of Jesus Christ, and if that Gospel is true the Catholic Church is right. (Great applause.) But it isn't true. (Laughter.) I cannot believe it, and yet, for all that, it may be true. But I don't believe it. Neither do I believe there is any God in the universe who will damn a man simply for expressing his belief. (Applause.) "Why," they say to me, "suppose all this should turn out to be true, and you should come to the Day of Judgment and find that it was all true, what would you do then?" I would walk up like a man and say, "I was mistaken." (Applause and laughter.) "And suppose God was about to pass judgment upon you, what would you say?" I would say to Him, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." (Applause.) Why not? I am told that I must render good for evil. I am told that if smitten upon one cheek I must turn the other. I am told that I must overcome evil with good. I am told that I must love my enemies, and will it do for this God, who tells me, "Love your enemies," to say, "I will damn mine?" (Applause.) No, it will not do. It will not do. (Renewed applause.)