Eternity, with its abundant harvest of joy or of sorrow, is the end of every man’s course in this world, whether that course be crooked or straight, and few deny this, however careless they may be about it. But then they as surely think that the grave is the only gate of entrance into it, and that before they have to do directly with “the king of eternity,” (Jer. 10:1010But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. (Jeremiah 10:10).) they must leave this world altogether; and thus God’s interest in every thing, and interference in everything around us is seldom thought of. We may go to Him into another world, but that He should interfere with the events, course, or, as they are called, politics of this world, is seldom fully believed, and therefore the word of the Lord is not often consulted about them; and it is a painful fact, that the generality of Christians confirm, both by word and conduct, these vain thoughts; and though they interest themselves about the politics of this world, which they ought not, for they are citizens of heaven, yet in doing so, they do but look to the wisdom and skill of man, as men of this world do, and not to the sure word of prophecy. What is prophecy? is it not God’s merciful revelation of the future to man’s ignorance, who never can know of himself what tomorrow may bring forth? It is God’s exclusive prerogative to know what the morrow will bring forth. “Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods,” saith the Lord: (Isa. 41:2323Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together. (Isaiah 41:23))— “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, my counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” (Isa. 46:1010Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (Isaiah 46:10).)
And is not prophecy in its detail the opening of almost all great future events concerning the earth we tread on?—the knowledge of that which will shortly come to pass even here?
In a declared Christian land like this, however, where men have been taught to reverence the word of God in a certain way, we are little aware, I believe, how far the tone and. color of men’s prospects are confirmed or varied by what is said to be written in that book.
Hence arises the responsibility of the Church of Christ and its teachers; for if that word is falsely interpreted, where is the world’s beacon light? and what will become of those who, unaccustomed to seek out of the book of the Lord for themselves, trust to those who say they do? Men do not sufficiently reverence it, and learn from it, as to judge of all things around them and before them by its simple and yet sure word; but they are just enough influenced by it to allow it to confirm and strengthen their hopes, if it speaks in accordance with those hopes, Now, I believe it to be falsely interpreted by the Church generally; and I would prove this sad conviction neither by analogy nor argument, but by quoting the word itself.
I do not enter into the minute details of prophecy, showing how God has and will interfere with the politics of this earth, but would gather from the New Testament only, and give forth, as it is written, the way in which the world’s present busy and eventful career will be interrupted by the direct interference of God’s power, as well as the character of the times when it will be so interrupted.
The usual, nay, almost universal belief is, that religion will increase—that the cross, as far as it bears upon a Christian’s suffering, will cease to have its plain scriptural meaning—that the gate of entrance into glory will become wide, and the way broad, and that in course of time, the other will be shut up altogether—that the confession of the name of Christ will not be needed, for that all men will own that name—that there will be universal peace on earth, and that it will be brought about by the gentle influences of the Spirit, (as they are called,) that the world’s course will be broken by no rude hand of power, but that it will flow on evenly and smoothly—gently turned by the Spirit of the Lord, working through the enlightened wisdom of man, till it is turned quite round into the ocean of blessing. And this lullaby, which sets at rest many a thoughtful heart, troubled by the contradictory appearances which sometimes break forth, is sung in the sweet strains of the prophets, gathered in a hundred detached passages from the scriptures of God, and sent forth as His message to sooth the sleeping world into yet deeper sleep.
But whence are these passages taken? Exclusively from the Old Testament. They are wrested from their context, and an isolated meaning given to them which they do not bear in their place, for they are there, without exception, connected with preceding judgments on “the nations,” and restored favor to the outcast Jew. I will only quote one striking passage from Zephaniah— “Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey; for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. THEN will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent.” And this is the uniform testimony of the Old Testament prophets. The New Testament also abounds with predictions; but not one can be found which does not destroy altogether such expectations as those which have been just described; nor do they who maintain them, attempt to support their view by one single quotation from it. They may well think it strange that none coincide with their interpretation of the Old Testament scriptures. Surely such a fact as this might well cause us to ascertain whether we had received the true meaning of the passages quoted, and not the worldly hope of its interpreter; or a fearful deception industriously circulated by the “father of lies.”
There are three things plainly predicted in the New Testament. 1st.—Judgments upon christendom. 2nd—The suddenness of those judgments. And 3rd—The outwardly religious and apparently prosperous state of the world at the time, as well as the general cry of “peace, peace.”
But I quote the prophecies as they are given:—
Predictions of the Lord Jesus Christ
1st.— “Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth unto life, and few there he that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name have done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me ye that work iniquity.” (Matt. 7:13-2313Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:13‑23),)
2nd.— “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field, but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way; but when the blade was sprung up and brought forth fruit, then the tares appeared also; so the servants of the householder came, and said unto him, sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, an enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? but he said, nay; lest while ye gather up the tares ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest; and in the time of harvest, I will say to the reapers, gather ye together first, the tares, and bind. them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
“He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man, the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tare are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end. of the world, and the reapers are the angels: as therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be in the end of this world (or age.) The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire, there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth; then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear,” (Matt. 13:37-4337He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:37‑43).)
3rd.— “And many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many and because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold; But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved; and his gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a holiness unto all nations, and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:11-1411And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:11‑14)) The sorrow and tribulation of the Jew, from the desolation of Jerusalem by the Romans unto the end, then is predicted; as it is written— “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled;” (Luke 21:2424And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24).) and then—
4th. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, end then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matt. 24:29-3129Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29‑31).)
Character of the Times at His Return Thus in Glory
5th. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man; no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood—they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them away, SO shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field, the one shall be taken and the other left; two grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken and the other left.” (Matt. 24:36-4136But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (Matthew 24:36‑41).)
Warning to the Church
“Watch, therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord when He cometh, shall find so doing; verily I say unto you that He shall make him ruler over all His goods. But, and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my Lord delayeth His coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:42-5142Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:42‑51).)
6th. “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom; and five of them were wise, and five foolish; they that were foolish, took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept, and at midnight there was a cry made—behold! the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him; then all those
Virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out; but the wise answered saying, not so, lest there be not enough for us and you, but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves; and while. they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was sheet; afterward came the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us; but He answered and said, verily I say unto you, I know you not. WATCH THEREFORE, FOR YE KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR WHEREIN THE SON OF MAN COMETH.” (Matt. 25:1-131Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. (Matthew 25:1‑13).)
7th. “And He said unto the disciples, the days will come when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall. not see it, and they shall say to you, see here, or see there, go not after them nor follow them; for as the lightening that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven shineth unto the other part under heaven, so shall also the Son of man be in His day; but first must M suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation: and as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it also be in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed thorn all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” (Luke 17:2222And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. (Luke 17:22) to the end.)
8th.— “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares; for as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:34-3634And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:34‑36).)
These are the most simple and striking predictions of the Lord; there are a few others, but they tell the same tale of warning; and what may we gather from them? do not they all describe a period apparently religious, and certainly civilized? Gross vice, such as murder, gross sensuality or profligacy, though it may exist, does not mark its character; but the rather refinement and activity, but about the would only, and indifference to that which the gospel of Jesus Christ really reveals—the kingdom of heaven and the resurrection; and upon this smooth and seemingly prosperous course of things will the glory of the Son of man break suddenly “as a thief in the night,” to deliver those who are waiting for His kingdom. “One shall be taken,” and to leave the others to be gathered into bundles to be burned, “and the other left;” though they will be saying— “Lord, Lord, open unto us.”
Predictions of the Apostles
1st.— “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits, that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in, and so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Zion the deliverer, and shall torn away ungodliness from Jacob.” The previous parts of this chapter show that the Gentiles, as a body, though wild by nature, are grafted into the olive tree of God’s favor during the rejection of the Jews, “who are broken off, because of unbelief,” but that not continuing in God’s goodness, they will be broken off and the Jew received in again; and this the apostle, speaks of as “the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God,” and declares the ignorance of this mystery is the proof only of our being wise in our own conceits; the prophecy is paralleled by that in Luke 21— “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles till the fullness of the Gentiles be come in,” followed as it is by judgment on the Gentiles, as declared here in their being cut off. (Rom. 11:17-2617And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. 23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. 24For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (Romans 11:17‑26).)
2nd.—In revealing the full glory to the saint waiting to be clothed upon with his house from heaven, it is said— “Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump,” &c. (1 Cor. 15:5151Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, (1 Corinthians 15:51).) “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them which are asleep; for the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God,” &c. (1 Thess. 4:15, 1615For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑16).)
Thus, as declared by the Lord Himself, will be the sudden breaking into the world and the grave, of the power of the Son of God, to change the living and raise the dead, that have believed on Him, leaving others in both, (the world and the grave) and this without sign, without forewarning, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” “One taken, and the other left,” &c.
3rd.—This suddenness of interruption is connected with the character of the times: thus, “For yourselves, know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night,”— “For when they shall say peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child,” (1 Thess. 5:1-71But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. (1 Thessalonians 5:1‑7).) and this is paralleled by all the Lord’s prophecies, they shall be saying, “My Lord delayeth His coming,” and “they knew not till the flood came,” &c.
4th.—Is a distinct prophecy, not of the increase of good, or of the knowledge of the truth till it covers the earth, but directly the contrary; a plain straightforward prediction of the increase of evil from the very first, when “the falling away” began, until it comes to a full stature, when it will be destroyed, but not by the influence of the Spirit, but by the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. “And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.”(2 Thess. 2:88And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: (2 Thessalonians 2:8).)
5th.—Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” (1 Tim. 4:1, 2, 31Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 3Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1‑3).) Whether this has been fulfilled or not, still apostasy and evil is the only thing of which the Spirit does speak expressly as to the Church’s earthly state.
6th— “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, but they shall proceed no further, for their folly shall be manifest unto all men.” (2 Tim. 3:l-9).
Surely this prediction is too plain to need comment; but as many are turned aside from these truths by the difficulty of believing that an outwardly moral or religious state is the fittest for judgments, I would remark how distinctly this is stated here, “having a form, but denying the power of godliness,” and how well it corresponds with the state described by the Lord, in Matt. 24, and Luke 17, where there is no token of open and notorious wickedness, but a smooth and even course of worldliness, to which the name of Christianity may be easily added.
7th.— “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away their tears from the truth, and be turned unto fables.”
8th.— “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction, and many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandize of you, whose judgment now for a long time lingereth not; and their damnation slumbereth not,” &c. (2 Peter 2 the whole of the chapter.)
9th.— “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying where is the promise of His coming, for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
“The heavens and the earth which are now, are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3 throughout.)
10th.— “But beloved, remember ye the words spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts; these be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit, &c., &c. For Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying behold the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints.” (Epistle of Jude throughout.)
Here then is the prophetic word of the apostles, in which there is no hint, even of anything but apostasy and judgment; and the statement throughout, that this is to be brought about by false prophets or teachers, who would say “peace and safety,” and induce others to do so, and by which many that had “escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, are again entangled therein and overcome, and the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.” (2 Pet. 2:20-2220For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:20‑22).)
But there is one other book—a complete book of prophecy, and given to the Lord Jesus on His ascension, and sent by Him to His Church, for the express purpose of “shewing unto His servants the things which were shortly to come to pass,” and of which therefore it is said, “blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein; for the time is at hand;” (Rev. 1:33Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:3)) and it equally excludes any hope of increasing good; but the contrary.
The Apocalypse: The Special Voice of Prophecy to the Church
The seven sealed book is the opening, seal after seal, of trouble and sorrow on the earth to the end; “and I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo! there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind; and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places, and the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every freeman, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6 throughout.)
The seven trumpets give blast after blast, the same solemn message—sorrow upon sorrow to all that is earthly; the last three being emphatically called “woe trumpets.” There is an awful pause between the second and third woe trumpets, and at the last blast “there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever:” and how was this? was the character of this trumpet altered? while all the others carried judgment and terror, was this the messenger of peace, or the gentle outpouring of the Spirit, upon all flesh? nay, what else do the voices in heaven say on its blast? “We give thee thanks O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come, because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and has reigned; and the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets and to the saints and them that fear thy name small and great, and shouldest destroy them which corrupt the earth.” (Rev 8-9, see also 15:1-4).
The seven vials previously filled with the prayers of saints, are at last “full of the wrath of God who liveth forever and ever;” and I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. (Rev. 16 throughout.)
But is this all? no, the 14th chap. tells us of the earth or part of it, being the winepress of God’s wrath, before it is the theater of His government. (Rev. 14)
The 19th describes a perfect constitution of earthly glory—arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, yet called a harlot and saying in her heart, “I sit a queen and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow,” (or peace and safety, as predicted before,) all apparently prosperous, but “therefore shall her plagues come in one hour; death, and mourning, and famine, and she shall be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.”
Alas! alas! that great city wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea, by reason of her costliness; for in the hour is she made desolate. (Rev. 18 throughout.) The judgment of this harlot and the reward of the faithful bride are coincident, the one committed fornication with earth, its pleasures and honors—the heart of the other was in heaven with her Lord, and heaven rejoices that her endurance is past, and the false one judged; the end of the 18th chap. is the harlot’s judgment, and earth’s sorrow; the beginning of the 19th, the bride’s reward and heaven’s joy. “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of many thunderings, saying, Alleluia! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth! let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready;” (Rev. 19:6,76And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:6‑7).) and then follows the scene yet to be revealed before the earth can be blessed. The opening of heaven to bring forth the “King of kings and Lord of lords,” coming to execute judgment because He is the Son of man; to smite the nations with a sharp sword; to rule them with a rod of iron, and to tread the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God, to cast the beast and false prophet into the lake of fire burning with brimstone—to slay their deluded armies gathered together against Him, that the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven might be filled with their flesh. Oh! there is no peace, peace in this—it is the clarion of judgment to worldly Christianity, the interference of the Son of man with the politics of the earth, He to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth, putting out of His kingdom “all that offend and all that do iniquity.”
“Yea, in the way of thy judgments O Lord have we waited for thee, for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness; Lord when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see, but they shall see and be ashamed for their envy at the people.” (Isa. 24:8-118The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth. 9They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. 10The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in. 11There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. (Isaiah 24:8‑11).) But are these things really at hand? I assert that they are, for the Lord saith “surely I come quickly,” and on the very ground that the many would take to say, “it is not near, let us build houses,” (Ezek. 11:33Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh. (Ezekiel 11:3).) do I repeat that it is near—even that there is worldly prosperity, though with many a merciful distrust of its continuance—that the name of God and His Christ is brought to sanction this prosperity, and as the result of this, there is a very extensive “form, but without the power of godliness;” and because there is this apparent prosperity under the name of Christianity, Christians are deceived and add their voices to the false predictions which have become as proverbs among men, and so instead of crying as they ought in the fellowship of Christ’s Spirit, “I am pained at my very heart, my heart maketh a noise in me, I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.” (Jer. 4:1919My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. (Jeremiah 4:19).) Alas! alas! light hearted indifference to God’s word and the world’s woe, is all men can hear and see,
But it is written “these sayings are faithful and true,” “behold I come quickly; blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand.” “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book; and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” He which testifieth those things, saith surely I come quickly; Amen, even so come Lord Jesus.
“A Letter by John William Peter, Late Incumbent of Langford, Berks, on His Resignation of His Living and Secession From the Established Church.”
H. Smith, Cirencester; sold also by E. Palmer, IS., Paternoster Row, London.
“I have no greater joy than to see my children walking in the truth.” We trust that it is in a measure of this spirit, that we have read the pamphlet before us, and now commend it to the consciences of our brethren,
We are wholly unacquainted with the author, and are not, perhaps, prepared wholly to unite in every sentiment. But we recognize in him a brother beloved, whose heart the Lord has made tender, and inclined to fear Him, and keep His commandments. We earnestly desire that he may be preserved patient in well-doing, in the spirit of love and of a sound mind. And we rejoice to witness, that in writing this pamphlet, he has been kept from that unholy and sometimes arrogant elation of heart, into which Satan tempts us when we have resigned anything for the Lord’s sake, as though we had done some great thing in relinquishing what it was our sin ever to have possessed.
In looking back over the path which the Church of Christ has trodden, we briefly give its history in saying that the departure from the simplicity of the faith of Christ was soon followed by internal disunion, and this was speedily succeeded or rather accompanied by union with the world. Within a few years after the death of the apostles the Gentile Churches began to value the traditions of men, and the rudiments of vain philosophy; they lost their steadfastness in the comfort of the truth, and therefore soon ceased to be “knit together in love,” increased fellowship with the world quickly followed; and the Holy Spirit, who can only strengthen the hand of union around those who love one another for the truth’s sake, (for else He would sanction evil) withdrew His gracious power, and man was left to construct his own systems.
Accordingly system has been multiplied upon system. Some, like the Churches of Rome and England have embraced the unbelieving, and called them “regenerate:” some have not only recognized the unbelieving, but have also, from their first formation, been grounded on a basis of false doctrine; whilst others, who have been more sound in doctrine and select in communion, have made adherence to themselves instead of adherence to Christ, the test of brotherhood, and so opened the inlet for countless evils.
It is true indeed, that in every division, in which the foundations of Christian faith have not been utterly cast down, some have been chosen unto salvation; and we would thankfully acknowledge the loving-kindness of our Lord herein, whose grace is greater than our sin, and whose mercy endureth forever. But we desire that our brethren should not be saved only, but that they should SERVE; that they should be “dear children,” walking in the truth, that so “an abundant entrance might be administered unto them into the everlasting kingdom.” Like Anselm and Bernard, a believer might be saved, yea and preach the gospel of salvation in communion with the Church of Rome: and he who only thought of salvation, might probably remain throughout his life unacquainted with the surrounding evils, while the wants of his own soul were not felt to be unsupplied. But as soon as we see the blessed privilege of service, a new channel is opened to our thoughts: our eye becomes quick in its search after evil, for we feel that discovery of avoidable evil is great gain.
Always, perhaps, but more especially at such a time as the present, the most important step towards service is the relinquishment of evil; inasmuch as we all find ourselves born and educated in systems which are all more or less opposed to the mind of Christ. In what is called the High Church, we find the resolute assertion of apostolic authority. And for what?—For an anomalous body which, drawn from a half-recognized apostasy, was nominally united by secular authority; but which never was “an assembly of faithful men,” and therefore was never really a Church at all. The recent writings of many of its supporters contain most precious principles of truth respecting the nature and blessing of Church authority; but the application of these principles is made as truly by the Romanists as by them. Yet, doubtless, they have their effect. Many a youth is decoyed by the specious claim, and thinks he may safely trust the decisions of a body which has authority to say, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” “I feel my unfitness,” said a young man at Oxford to a friend, “but after my ordination I expect strength.”
“I never imagined,” says Mr. Peter, in the pamphlet before us, “that in performing the duties attached to the ministry of the Church in England, I could be incurring the guilt [of lying unto God by mental reservation.] I placed the fullest confidence in the scriptural character of the Church; in fact, though I might have hesitated to apply to it the term, I considered it infallible; and that it could not lay any commands upon its ministers which were not in strict accordance with the will of the great Head of the Church, as made known through His apostles, and which therefore they ought unhesitatingly, with alacrity and unquestioning confidence, to comply with. I had therefore paid a ready and sincere, though certainly not a reasonable deference to the authority of that book which contained all I thought it necessary should be known of the office of a minister of the Church of England. There, I conceived, I had full authority from God for all I was required to do, regarding the Book of Common Prayer as a commentary dictated by the same Holy Spirit under whose influence the sacred text was indited. But in spite of all these pre-disposing causes to rest satisfied with the plea that it is so enjoined of the Church, I could not but feel,” &c.
To testify against these fearful pretensions of the Churches of Rome and England we consider no unimportant part of Christian service. We fear that many of their ministers, even now, are together laboring to open a path which Satan is preparing for the latter day. If there was no abstract truth in what they say respecting the unity of the Church, its office “as the pillar and ground of the truth,” and the duty and privilege of foregoing the uncontrolled exercise of our own judgment, there would be little to fear as to the effect of their arguments. But abstractedly, these principles are true; they might rightly be applied to the Church as it once existed at Jerusalem or Antioch, when they walked in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Ghost; and there are few who sufficiently recognize the apostasy to detect the awful fallacy of their application to any body now.
But shall we say that the sin of those who have the high and blessed title of “evangelicals” is less? We do not upbraid them, for we have sinned with them; but we earnestly exhort them to repent. Their principles are utterly opposed to those on which the Establishment is formed as a Church. Their hearts do not acknowledge as brethren those whom they are constrained to receive in breaking the one bread—nor those whom they are constrained to pronounce “regenerate”—they do not believe that the bishop has really the power to confer the Holy Ghost—nor that all the children who have made the ordinary confession at confirmation have really received “forgiveness of all their sins;” at least, they do not believe it until their consciences are hardened by habitual transgression.
“I could not but feel,” says Mr. Peter, “that every appointed office I administered, convicted me to my own heart of insincerity; and had not my mouth been very easily brought to make my flesh to sin by uttering anything before God, I should often have stood mute at the font or at the table. My conscience, however, was not so complying—while I was speaking to God, it was reproaching me; and if any of you, my dear friends, have ever realized the searching eye of God fixed upon your hearts while your lips have belied them, you may know something of what I experienced.”
“I found myself in my sermons warning men as unconverted—discriminating between the regenerate and those who had never known the Spirit’s influence in the new birth; and addressing this language to those whom I had myself pronounced ‘regenerate,’ or diligently taught that they were in their baptizing made ‘members of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.’ I knew too that ‘whatever is not of faith is sin,’ and as the use of the office and the style of preaching I was led into, could not possibly be both of ‘faith’ in one I must of necessity be sinning against God; I tried to find in the word of God a solution of the difficulty, but I failed.”
“I was quite at a loss how to give account for the solemn assurances I was wont to make, that every infant born within certain limits, of parents making an outward profession of a certain form of religion was ‘regenerate’ and grafted into the body of Christ’s Church. We know that ‘regeneration’ must be the foundation of Church union; the members of a Church are bound to perform duties one to another as belonging to one family, to love as brethren—as children of one God and Father; and they must believe each other to be so or they cannot perform these duties in faith. The members of every Church must be considered ‘regenerate’ or the name of ‘Church’ is a vain and empty mockery, they cannot perform the duties which constitute the substance and life of a Church. It is on this principle that the Church of England is constructed; and its language throughout its services proves that it does recognize as ‘regenerate’ all without exception, who have been baptized according to its form. And it must be thus with a national Church, comprehending as its members, all the subjects of the state, which the Church of England by profession does. It must hence bring all within its pale, and it can only do this by pronouncing them in a mass ‘regenerate.’ Nor will it avail anything to say that ‘regeneration’ as that term is applied in the baptismal service, has some qualified meaning, short of the new birth spoken of in the scriptures. For it must mean this and nothing else; or, the baptized. cannot be accounted members of a Church, for they can neither claim nor perform the reciprocal duties of brethren in Christ. Now if we apply what I have observed to the sentiments, the preaching, and the practice of the evangelical clergy in the Church of England, we shall see who are dissenters from that Church, and that this name ought not to be confined to those only who like myself have withdrawn from her communion. An evangelical minister does not in his heart believe that every infant he baptizes is regenerate, though in compliance with the prescribed form, he declares each and every one to be so, and returns “hearty thanks to God that it hath pleased Him to regenerate each with His Holy Spirit—to receive each for His own child by adoption and to incorporate each into His holy Church.” Is he not in thought a dissenter? The evangelical minister in the surplice and the desk, addresses all the baptized persons in the Church as ‘dearly beloved brethren,’ he speaks to them all in the language of acknowledgment and love; wherein he acts as the minister of the Church of England, and utters as in duty bound, her sentiments in her own words; but with his vestments and his place, He changes his voice too, and in the pulpit he testifies to his dissent; he then separates the precious from the vile—he utters warnings and declares the terrors of the Lord to the unconverted—urges the necessity of regeneration—calls on the Lord’s people to come out of the world among whom they are dwelling, and to show in their lives and conversations, the peculiar ‘spot of God’s children.’ And all this discrimination is used, these distinctions made in the face of his own declarations as the mouth of his Church in direct inconsistency with, if not contradiction to the principles upon which the Church to which he is united is built. Surely he is then in word a dissenter, nor is he less so in deed. To be a true member of the Church of England, he must love all whom he acknowledges to be so with him, ‘not in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth;’ so long as he acknowledges himself to be of the same household with them, they are entitled to the marks of his love; and can the evangelical minister not in the love of pity as for an unconverted sinner, but in a love of membership, can he in faith show deeds of love towards all he calls his ‘brethren?’ He cannot; he sees many among them of whom he does not believe that they love the Lord Jesus in sincerity, to whom he cannot say in his heart ‘grace be with you,’ or bid them ‘God speed,’ though his lips by compulsion, utter words expressive of their co-union with him in the Lord: and he dissents from the Church of England by non-compliance with those injunctions of fellowship with her baptized members, which in spirit and in letter she lays upon him.”
These are the words of Mr. Peter. We ask our brethren to lay them solemnly to heart. A wounded conscience, such as Mr. Peter describes, is but a poor preparation for usefulness in the ministry; and a hardened one is worse. Men are quick to discern inconsistency and error in those who profess to be the messengers of God’s truth, and gladly avail themselves of the moral vantage ground which is thereby afforded. The authority of one who selfishly tolerates evil, will be little valued; for his judgment will be impugned, even if the uprightness of his heart should he allowed. He will find himself little able to “commend the truth to every man’s conscience in the fear of God;” and, even if his efforts should partially succeed, vet surely his joy should be allayed by the reflection, that the system to which he has given the full weight of his personal sanction, is spreading its baneful influence over thousands, while he is rescuing a few.
If then, “cease to do evil,” is the unchanging commandment of the Lord, and if obedience is acceptable service unto Him, we cannot but rejoice to see any of our brethren thus seeking to serve. The relinquishment of positive evil in practice— the separation from acknowledged fellowship with the world—the standing in a situation where we are only subject to the word and Spirit of Christ is no trifling gain. “Look to yourselves,” says the apostle, “that ye lose not those things which ye have wrought, but that ye receive a full reward.” (2nd Epist. John.) And how might it be lost? “By receiving into your house, or bidding God speed to any one that continued not in the doctrine of Christ;” by acknowledging as brethren, or perhaps as overseers in Christ’s Church, those who abide not in the truth, for thereby we are made partakers of their evil deeds. But departure from evil is deliverance into free liberty of positive service. He who is no longer constrained to receive the unbeliever, is placed in a situation in which he may receive all who abide in the truth, and so become in God’s sight “a fellow helper thereunto.” (3rd Epist. John.) “He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward: and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man’s reward.”
It is true indeed, that they who have freed themselves from the evils of established systems, may narrow themselves into a position in which they can have free fellowship with none except those who follow with themselves, even though they see that they are baptized by the one Spirit. We earnestly desire that Mr. Peter, and all our brethren who separate from the establishment, may be preserved from this snare into which the dissenting bodies have fallen. In refusing to receive their brethren because they are brethren, they have shut themselves out from the blessed privilege of seeking to follow the mind of Christ, as to His desires for the unity of the one body; and have assumed to themselves a power, which Christ never delegated to His Church, of legislating terms of communion. “He that believeth hath life:” this was the one term which He established, and which in the case of the eunuch was applied and acted on; a credible profession of faith in the Lamb, and a consistent conversation is all that we have a right to require; if we demand more we are guilty of the sin of schism; we divide those whom Christ has united on purpose that they might strengthen and edify one another. The effect of this exclusion falls principally upon the weak, who are the very persons that chiefly need the safeguard and comfort of Christian fellowship; and thus the command of the apostle, not to wait for “like-mindedness in all things,” (Phil. 3:1616Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. (Philippians 3:16).) “but to receive the weak,” (Rom. 14:11Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. (Romans 14:1).) is utterly disregarded; the unity of the body is impaired and its strength for service proportionally enfeebled. “If one member suffer, all the members suffer with it.” (1 Cor. 12:2626And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26))
And when we speak of fellowship, we mean the full, free, open fellowship of Christian love — manifested in actual communion amongst those who are locally together—manifested in acknowledgment amongst these who are locally apart. The fellowship which is enjoined upon believers, is not as some would pretend, a secret fellowship in spirit; we have secret union with those who sleep in Jesus, and (through the mercy of the Lord in not leaving it in the bands of man) with the whole mystical body of Christ; for the indissoluble bond which unites them to their head, unites them also indissolubly with each other.
But this is not that living spirit of brotherhood which is needed. by a militant and afflicted Church, “laboring in the wilderness that she might enter into her rest.” It must be known, manifested. fellowship, having one definite present end—even the strengthening of the whole body for service here by the mutual offices of love; and exactly in proportion as this fellowship is hindered, strength in service will be found to fail.
And how unutterably important is Christian service? It affects the glory of God now. “The administration of this service, not only supplieth the wants of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God.” It is connected with His glory in the day of Christ’s coming. “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles, that whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
It is connected with the saints’ future blessing, for, “he that soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.”
If these principles be true, it necessarily follows that the dissenting systems are essentially evil, inasmuch as they are utterly destructive of that in which the strength of the Church consists, viz., unity — the pearl which apostasy has lost, but which it should be the anxious effort of our lives to recover. It is possible indeed that our labor may seem to be altogether in vain but it is well to remember that he who, in the present day, forms his judgment upon results will soon be discouraged, but that faith will cling to the principles of God’s truth and leave the consequences to Him.
But this is not all. Principle can never be sacrificed without wandering, we know not how far, into practical error. The dissenter sets out by rejecting God’s principle of union, and forms a body upon some point in which he disagrees with the Church at large. But the same spirit of self-will which has led to the rejection of their brethren, is again manifested in the earnestness with which they contend for the democratic principle of elective and controlling power being vested in those who should be the governed. The meaning of “elders who labor in the word and doctrine,” (1 Tim. 5:1717Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. (1 Timothy 5:17).) is forgotten in the pre-eminence of THE minister whom the people choose that they may be secure against being taught anything beyond what they have already approved; and from this results the necessity of the minister’s being paid (for all duties center in him:) and thus a pecuniary motive is superadded for maintaining the distinctiveness of the body and shutting it out from the communion and ministry of others; a motive, with which Satan can work and secretly warp the judgment even of the most upright in heart.
It is obvious that a minister on whom every duty is thus devolved, ought to possess every gift which is needful for the edification of the body. But this we know from scripture to be impossible: all are not prophets, all are not teachers, all do not interpret. But God hath set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him, dividing to each severally as He will. (see 1 Cor. 12.) A congregation therefore which is formed upon the model of an individual’s mind must suffer loss, just in proportion as that individual’s mind falls short of the whole compass of truth. But again, even if the minister thus chosen, and the most spiritual of his congregation have been brought to see the desirableness of any change, it cannot be effected unless the majority concur; which practically negatives the Spirit’s governance, inasmuch as the least spiritual will surely be the most numerous. And where is the sanction in the New Testament for this inversion of the order of God? We read not of a minister, but of “elders who labor in the word and doctrine.” We read of elders “who rule,” (1 Tim. 5:1717Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. (1 Timothy 5:17)) but never of Churches which govern themselves. We read of elders “ordained by apostles,” (Acts 14:2323And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. (Acts 14:23)) but never of Churches who choose their own governors.
We are earnestly anxious that our brethren who have been freed from the evils of one system, may never find themselves in the entanglements of another. The increased desire for union on the simple ground of Christian brotherhood, which has been lately manifested in so many places—accompanied as it often is by a fixed desire to renounce all recognized evil at much personal sacrifice, leads us to believe that we shall not be disappointed. It bears the evidence of being the Spirit’s work. We pray that it may be continued—that all who desire the welfare of the Church of Christ, may labor to see themselves and others so circumstanced as not only to love, but to receive into the appointed fellowship of breaking bread, all whom they believe to be brethren in Christ Jesus; not requiring uniformity nor oneness of understanding, but only the possession of the one Spirit.
And let us beware of expecting either to find or to form an ordered Church. We have no apostle, nor any messenger from an apostle, either to “ordain elders” or “to set things in order.” Apostasy has broken the chain of blessing; and therefore the authority of appointed office must not be assumed by any poor remnant which may be gathered out of the scattered multitudes.
Yet the Spirit is sovereign—and greater than all circumstances of man’s evil. Although the blessing of appointed office is withdrawn, He can and will preserve order among those who look to Him, by subjecting them one to another in the fear of God, and causing them to esteem very highly in love, for their work’s sake, those who labor among them as servants in the Lord’s heritage.