Things will make us moral, but they will not last. If man's wisdom, learning, eloquence, or religious persuasion could reform, we would be a reformed people. But, in spite of all the churches and religion we have today, wickedness abounds on every hand. Religion has very little influence on our life. Napoleon said, "Religion is to keep the poor from murdering the rich." Things cannot change the heart. They cannot put into the heart the love and peace of God. They will not cause the heart to bow to His will. The only thing that will do this is the Gospel, the Word which the Lord has given. The Gospel alone shows sin in its true light, and gives us hope of mercy. When the Gospel is preached in the power of the Spirit of God, and it is received and believed, an immediate and wonderful change takes place. The sinner leaves all his other false hopes; he is freed from the slavery to this world, and becomes the willing servant of Him who redeemed him.