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In fact, John Taylor had debated a Baptist preacher named Rawhoof. Taylor “was so logical and severe on Rawhoof that the debate closed at the end of the first day.” Then the Baptists found a man named Alexander, and Taylor debated him. One of those who became convinced of the truth in those debates was the father of F. B. Srygley. That’s right. His very salvation may have resulted from those debates that John Taylor participated in.

Srygley wondered how many others owed Taylor gratitude for not growing up in religious error. Syrgley said of his second cousin that if he were the only one endeavoring “to stop men from contending for the whole truth, I could more easily afford to allow it to pass, but this disposition is entirely too common.” Srygley was hearing that song way too often. And how many times do we hear that melody today? Some have the attitude, “We just should love everybody,” which is true—but that includes warning those who abide in error of what awaits them—not ignoring them. It’s not love if we pretend everyone is all right. Jesus did not take that approach (Matt. 7:13-14; 21-27).

Everyone probably does not, but everyone ought to, agree with Srygley’s conclusion on the matter: “It is a pity that some brethren have no word of encouragement for a brave man who is fighting for the truth.”