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diff --git a/57318-0.txt b/57318-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a26bb2a --- /dev/null +++ b/57318-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,752 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 57318 *** + + + + + + + + + + The Scriptures Able to Make Us Wise Unto Salvation + + + + + The Scriptures Able To Make Us Wise Unto Salvation; + + Or The + + Bible A Sufficient Creed. + + By + + F. H. BERRICK, LOWELL, MASS. + + Hartford: + Calhoun Brothers Steam Press. + 1853. + + + + +There is no work, of human production, that contains such a variety of +principles, which, when viewed as a whole, make such a complete system +as the Bible. It is the great fund of knowledge. It reveals to us the +mystery of creation. There we learn the character of God:--His +attributes and perfection--His justice and mercy. There we learn the +history of man--created as he was in the image of Him who rules the +universe; endowed with intellectual powers, and moral capacity, perfect +and upright--a candidate for immortality. Restrained by one command, yet +acting with a free, unbiased will, we see him transcend the law of God, +we hear the sentence fall from the lips of his "Maker,"--"Dust thou art, +and unto dust shalt thou return." But will He leave him to his own +inevitable fate? Will it be an eternal sleep? Shall that dust never be +reorganized? Will Satan triumph over the "Eternal Jehovah?" We look! We +listen!! We hear the announcement, _I have found a ransom_. There we see +the "plan of God" developed, counteracting the influence of His rival, +Satan. There we see men of the meanest condition, the smallest capacity +in the eye of the world, inspired by the spirit of Him who fills +immensity with His presence; revealing the fact of man's salvation, +through a crucified Saviour. There we behold the most sublime +truths--the most comprehensive sentiments; principles more philosophical +than those of "Pythagoras"--of more moral worth, than those of +"Socrates." There we see shepherds, announcing the birth of the Son of +God, and listening to that enraptured strain, "Glory to God in the +highest, peace on earth, good will to men." There we see the "Fisherman" +called to leave his net, commissioned to cure all manner of diseases, +and to preach the "Gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation, to +every one that believeth." "There we admire the purest morality in the +world." The "Bible" accounts for the evils entailed upon the posterity +of Adam; it presents a plan, which, if believed, will ultimately free us +from all the maladies consequent on the fall. There we read of the +wonderful conception of the Son of God--His birth--His miracles. The +fulfillment of the many predictions, connected with His first Advent; +the circumstances attending His death, when "He made his soul an +offering for sin;" His resurrection, His ascension, His intercession, +His second coming, the judgment of the world, the resurrection of the +dead, the translation of the saints, the destruction of the wicked, the +establishment of the everlasting kingdom, "the restitution of all +things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets, +since the world began." + +The above are some of the items contained in this _wonderful_ book--the +"Bible." And who can wonder at the remark of Paul to Timothy, They (the +"Scriptures") are able to make thee wise unto salvation? "All +Scripture," says the apostle, "given by inspiration of God, is +profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in +righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect,--thoroughly furnished +unto all good works." Instead of looking to commentaries, or depending +on what the _Fathers_ of the Church have said for doctrine, or making +creeds for our own use; we are to _search the Scriptures_--relying on +what has been spoken by the Saviour and the "Prophets," and the apostles +of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only doctrine able to make us "wise +unto salvation." + +But the apostle goes further, and declares, that the Scriptures are +profitable for reproof; they are able to convince men of the truth, and +to confound those who would deny it. Says Charles Beecher,--"This +specification," viz: _for reproof_, "fairly covers the whole ground of +the prevention or extirpation of error." In familiar language, the +keeping the Church pure from heresy. That this is the force of the term +"_Elenychon_," will be perceived by any one who will compare the "New +Testament" usage on this word, and its parent verb. The Bible will not +only teach truth; it will kill error. It may not kill every thing that +you and I may consider error. It certainly will, when used rightly, +extirpate what God regards as such; and, be it remembered, that He alone +is to pass that sentence. That the Bible will have this effect, follows +of course from the first specification, viz: for doctrine; for truth and +error cannot exist together: they are as fire and water. The more truth +is taught, the more error dies. This also follows, because the Word of +God is constructed with direct reference to the cardinal errors of the +human mind, by a divine reasoner, with such tremendous ability, that +those errors cannot live under a conscientious study of that word. This +also follows, because the Scriptures are self-interpreting, +self-rectifying, self-vindicating. And the sure way of testing an error +claiming scriptural support, is, call it to the spot where it claims +parentage, and call in the rest of the Scripture to testify. In this +way, erroneous interpretations must die, and do die. And if there be any +interpretation that will not die so, then "in God's name let it live!" +How foolish it is for a class of persons to get together in conference +capacity, and resolve what is and what is not truth! It is assuming that +which does not belong to any man, or body of men; it is a relic of the +"Roman Church,"--an usurpation of the "Mother of harlots, and +abominations of the earth." And notwithstanding this power has been +crippled, at least in a political sense, yet, some of her relatives +("harlots") are "following in the footsteps of their illustrious +predecessor," as the following will show: + + _Resolved_, That the peculiarities of that theory denominated + _Millerism_, together with all of its modifications, are contrary to + the standards of the Church, and as such, we are pledged to banish + them away." + +There is nothing said about its being contrary to the Bible, but, +contrary to the _standards of the Church_. This, as one writer remarks, +"savors a little of the little horn." + +_For Correction._--This relates to church discipline, and church +government. "There is not," says Charles Beecher, "an offence against +Christ, nor against the cause of Christ, whether in the church simple, +or aggregate, which cannot be brought to conviction just as far, by the +use of the Bible alone, as God ever intended to have it convicted; and +if there be an offence which cannot be thus convicted, it is not an +offence against Christ, but against a human figment, and such an +offence--let it be committed." If the Bible is a sufficient rule of +faith and practice, every thing used as a substitute is an innovation. +We have no right to make any _tests_; all that are necessary to +salvation, may be found in the Bible. + +All creeds, from the Thirty-nine Articles down to the most simple, as +used by Adventists, are wrong. Not that they contain no truth; but the +principle is wrong. It is the same in every instance. A person, to join +the Church of England, must approve of its creed;--and it is the same +with some Adventists, as the following from one of our model Churches +will show: + +"ANY PERSON OR PERSONS WISHING TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH, +APPROVING ITS DECLARATION OF FAITH AS RECORDED IN THE CHURCH-BOOK, WILL +MAKE SUCH WISH KNOWN TO THE COMMITTEE OR DEACON." + +Now, this is an iron bedstead, sure enough. Mark! there is nothing said +about the Bible, but approving the declaration of faith, as recorded in +the Church-book. Where in the Bible is there any thing of this kind? +Luke tells us, in Acts, that the Lord added to the Church anciently; and +those added by any other than the Lord, must be tares. And again, if +this idea of connecting persons with this human machinery, is a part of +the gospel, why then is there not something in the Bible to support it? +The example of Philip is against it. Look for a moment to this +circumstance. The angel says to Philip, "Arise, and go toward the south, +unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem, unto Gaza, which is +desert." He obeys the command, and as he moves toward Gaza, he overtakes +or meets with the "Egyptian Eunuch." The Spirit says, "Join thyself to +the chariot." He did so, and after listening a few moments, he inquires, +"Understandest thou what thou readest?" "How can I, except some man +should guide me?" was the reply. Then Philip began to preach to him +Jesus. And as they went on their way, the Ethiopian inquires, "What doth +hinder me to be baptized?" And Philip said, "If thou believest with all +thy heart, thou mayest." He replies, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the +Son of God." This was the test. The chariot is commanded to stand still; +they went down both into the water, and Philip baptized him. And when +they were come out of the water, before, as we may conclude, he had time +to enter his name on a Church-book, "the Spirit of the Lord caught away +Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more." There is nothing said about his +joining the Church after he believed; from the fact that, _by obedience +to God_, he already belonged to it. He had entered in by the door +(Christ), and all who climb up some other way "are thieves and robbers." +But it may be said that we must have something of this kind, because +circumstances demand it. But this can be no argument in favor of it; +for, if it had been necessary, the apostles would have informed us of +it. + +The apostle, in his charge to the Elders of the Church at Ephesus, scans +the entire dispensation. It is as follows: "Take heed unto yourselves, +and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost has made you +overseers, to feed the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His +own blood. For I know this, that after my departing, shall grievous +wolves come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves +shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after +them. Therefore, watch, and remember, that by the space of three years, +I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, +brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is +able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among them which +are sanctified." One part of this charge is addressed to the ministry. +Take heed unto thyself--or yourselves; "see that the life of God +remains, and the work of God prospers in thine own soul." Take heed that +thy words be seasoned with grace. Let thy conversation be upright, +godly, sincere, as becometh the Gospel. It should be without +covetousness: "Desire nothing more than what God has given you, and +especially, covet nothing which the Divine Providence has given to +another man; for this is the _spirit of robbery_." Subdue that +insatiable desire for secular gain; bring it into subjection to the will +of Christ; be content with such things as ye have; for He (the Lord) +hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. The man of God must +not be a "brawler," but quiet and peaceable. He must be no "striker," +not quarrelsome; not a persecutor of those who may differ from him; for, +to indulge in such a spirit, is to give our profession the lie. He must +be apt to teach. "Study," says the apostle, "to show thyself approved +unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the +word of truth." He must be careful to teach the _whole_ word of God, +regardless of the commandments, doctrine and traditions of men. In a +word, he must be an example of believers in word, in conversation, in +charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. And thus, in keeping +himself by the assistance of God's grace, he is prepared, in the second +place, to take heed unto the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath +made him an overseer; to feed the Church of God. Mark! the man of God is +to feed the Church--not to legislate. He is to give them (the Church) +"their portion of meat in due season." + +The apostle anticipated the fact, that a class would arise, which he +denominates wolves, not sparing the flock. One characteristic feature of +this class would be, a disposition to lord it over God's heritage. The +seed had already been sown. Some had become carnal. There was a +"Diatrephes," who loved to have the preëminence, viz.: "lord it over +God's heritage." And there has been many of these "Diatrepheses," clear +down to the present time. Look at the Bishops of Jerusalem, Antioch, +Rome, Constantinople, &c., striving for the mastery; till finally the +Bishop of Rome succeeded, trampling under foot all others, and then +rearing a mighty fabric, and taking his seat in the temple of God, +showing himself that he was God. But we must remember that this was not +done in one year, or one century. It was like the leaven in the measure +of meal--a gradual work. The deviation was so small at the first, as not +to be noticed. The professed Church were imperceptibly assimilated into +the same spirit; like priest, like people. Like the car loosed from the +train on a downward grade:--at first it moves so gently, no fears are +entertained--how little will it take to stop it, is the feeling that +pervades the mind of the passengers; each one feels secure. It gathers +strength--its velocity increases--the brakes are applied; but it is too +late! In turning a curve, the track spreads, and both car and passengers +are precipitated into the gulf below. How completely this illustration +covers the ground! The professed Church, becoming cold in her +affections, indulging a self-confident spirit, disconnecting herself by +her legislative acts from the Great Head of the Church; went back, step +by step, till finally she fell into the yawning gulf of apostacy, "The +making of an authoritative creed, to which the clergy were compelled to +subscribe, was the first step; the absolute prohibition of the Bible to +the people, was the last step. The difference between, was only the +growth of the principle. For the right to dictate what a man shall find +in the Scripture, and the right to dictate that he shall find nothing, +are one." Making creeds is the first step in apostacy; yea, more, it is +evidence that the person or persons are already backsliden. + +It may be remarked, that those who make creeds are honest. True: but no +more so than those Bishops who met at the "Council of Nice," A.D. 325, +"and fully settled the doctrine taught in the word of God, banished +Arius into Illyria, and compelled his followers to subscribe." Honesty +is no evidence that the thing is right. The "Inquisition" was honest in +delivering over her victims to the civil arm; yet, who but a Catholic +would approve of such God-hating work? It may be remarked that, there is +a difference between the synods of Nice, Chalcedon, &c., and those of +the present time. True; but what is the difference? _Ans._ The same as +between the Anaconda of Ceylon, and the smallest serpent that crawls the +earth. The former has power to destroy a person in a moment; the latter, +not having the power, yet possessing the disposition, shows, by running +out his little _forked tongue_, what he would do if he could. + +"The apostolic churches, during the whole of the first century, had no +creed but the Bible." And to urge creed-making as necessary because of a +change of circumstances, is to insult God, and it is an imposition on +Jesus Christ. The Lord knew all about the adverse circumstances, the +fiery trials through which the Church must pass. He told the disciples, +"that in the world they should have tribulation." "Verily, verily, I say +unto you that ye shall weep and lament." In this language, He scans the +history of the Church, clear to the end. But nothing like authority or +lenity is given for creeds, or any of this human machinery. The Apostle +Paul informs the Church, that men "would arise, speaking perverse +things, to draw away disciples after them." And if ever an opportunity +offered itself to instruct the Church in relation to this matter, it was +at this time. But not a single word is said from which we can gather any +thing of this kind. It is as follows: "And now, brethren, I commend you +to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up." No +intimation here of creeds or compacts. And if men will not stand without +this miserable man-made stuff, the quicker they fall, the better. + +But it is not only so with creeds, but every organization and compact, +separate from the word of God, is of the flesh. But as there are many +reasons urged in favor of creeds and compacts, we may perhaps now, as +well as any time, call them upon the stand in this connection. And-- + +1st, It is said they had churches in the apostles' day. True; but the +term Church, as Adam Clark says, simply means an assembly or +congregation, the nature of which is to be understood from connecting +circumstances. Wherever the believers assembled, there was a Church. +Hence we read of a Church at Ephesus, Corinth, &c. Sometimes the term +_Church_ includes the entire company of believers in every age of the +world, as may be seen by looking at the following passages: Eph. i. 22; +v. 24, 25, 27; Col. i. 18, 24; Acts xii. 28. Hence the remark, that they +had churches in the apostles' days, is no argument in favor of the +present existing compacts. There is no intimation that they had articles +drawn up on paper, to which they subscribed. We go further:--There is no +evidence that they had a record of names; and, however innocent this may +seem to be, we regard it an innovation. But, + +2d, It may be remarked that, by being banded together, we can watch over +each other. But we can watch over each other without these bands; and if +we are living and acting in the fear of God, we shall love each other +sufficiently well to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all long-suffering +and doctrine. And in _this_ way, we shall "lift up the hands that hang +down, and the feeble knees; and, making straight paths for our feet, +that which is lame will not be turned out of the way." This is a duty we +owe to all the Church; and were it not for these sectarian pens, we +could _speak_ the truth to all the Church. We could watch over each +other in love--the only _true_ bond of union. And thus, in loving God +with all our hearts, and speaking the truth in love, "we shall grow up +into Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compact +by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working +in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the +edifying of itself in love." + +3d, _It keeps out wicked men_.--This is a most palpable falsehood. The +history of all the past is against it. The Church, in every age since +the apostles' time, hath been troubled with wicked men. The Saviour +taught His disciples that, "the wheat and the tares should grow together +until the harvest." "And He whose penetrating glance could trace its +progress through the succession of ages, by this significant parable, in +which He represented its condition, (Matt. 13,) and proclaimed, that it +would consist, according to its earthly composition, of a mixture of +true and false members;" "He reserved the public sifting and separation +of this mass of men, so different in their dispositions from each other, +to his final judgment alone." "He" has blamed that hasty and intemperate +zeal of man, which, while it would separate the tares and the good seed +before the proper season comes, is apt to pull up the hidden seed of the +wheat with the tares. A great majority of the professed Church, at the +present time, notwithstanding their organizations, are as corrupt as was +the Church in the dark ages. But, + +4th, _It keeps out heresies_.--If this be so, why did not the apostles +keep out heresy? For we are told by some, at the present time, that they +had creeds and compacts? There were some in the apostles' time who +believed in circumcision. He, the apostle, inquires of the Galatians, +Who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth? In writing +his fifteenth chapter to the Corinthians, he inquires, "Now, if Christ +be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you there is +no resurrection of the dead?" These were fatal errors. Again, we +inquire, If, by being organized, the Church can keep out heresy, why has +not the Church kept it out? There never was a time when there was so +much heresy, corruption, and wickedness as at present. Hundreds of +professed Christians deny the personal coming of Christ: they teach that +persons, when they die, go immediately to heaven; that people have +immortal souls; that the spirits of men, after they are dead, return to +this world; and that they are peeping, rapping, and muttering, which, by +the way, is a _legitimate fruit of the Immortal soul theory;--a +counterpart of that lie of Satan_--"THOU SHALT NOT SURELY DIE." These, +together with the idea that heresy may be kept out by human machinery, +are some of the leading errors of the age. But, + +5th, _The ministry is supported_.--I am thinking this is about the main +thing, after all. The loaves and fishes, with the great mass, are the +thing. Did not the Apostle Peter anticipate the fact that such a class +of persons would arise, when he exhorted the elders to take the +oversight, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but +of a ready mind? The question with the great mass is not, where can I do +the most good?--but, where can I get the best pay? The loudest call, is +where there is the most money. These facts are so well known, as not to +require any thing but common observation to demonstrate their +truthfulness. But, + +6th, _To know who_ WE _are_.--Satan's course, from the commencement, has +been a most artful and cunning one: it has been the very business of his +existence, when he could not get people to renounce the truth +altogether, to make them believe it possible to improve a plan which +God, in His infinite wisdom, has devised for the welfare of mankind. + +The "Jews" (as their history assures us) at first were willing to be +directed by the Almighty; but by and by, they thought themselves capable +of legislating: and being puffed up in their minds, and having their +foolish hearts darkened, they rejected the Lord; and then coming to +Samuel,--Their plea--O how specious, how reasonable!--"Behold thou art +old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king, to judge us +like other nations." They entertained fears, undoubtedly, that after +Samuel's death, which was approaching, they should be puzzled to know +WHO WE ARE. This very idea led David to number the people, contrary to +the command of Jehovah. And how often it has been done since that time, +to gratify a foolish heart, and a vain ambition! Would it not have +sounded curious enough to have heard Paul say to Timothy, "Timothy, we +must ascertain, _who_ WE _are_?" And would not the young disciple, if it +was possible for him to fathom it, (for it is a vague term) replied by +saying, "You told the Phillippians that we were the circumcision, who +wanted our names in the Church book? no; that we were the circumcision, +who want to legislate? no: We are the circumcision, who worship God in +the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the +flesh." + +Ye, says Christ, "are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." In +order to answer this question fully, we must, in the first place, answer +one that comes before it--one that is primary, viz: Do we love God with +all our hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves? Do we live up to all the +commands of God? Are we conformed to His moral image? Is it the business +of our lives to do all that God has commanded? Are we believing all the +truth, and living up to all the light we have? If so, WE ARE Christ's; +and being Christ's, WE ARE "Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the +promise." It is not strange that the nominal Church should lose her +identity. But when we hear Adventists inquire, _Who we are_, it comes +with an ill grace. It sounds so silly. What! have we been engaged in +this glorious cause fourteen or fifteen years, and never learnt, _Who we +are_? What does all this mean? Why this effort on the part of some to +organize, and bring in all the Advent bands, and unite them in a +compact? Does this look like a confident, unwavering faith in the speedy +coming of Christ? Did we not deny, years ago, this miserable work of +forming ourselves into a sect? Hear the _Advent Shield and Review_, for +Jan., 1845, vol. I. number 2, page 198. It speaks the language, I will +venture to say, of the great majority of Adventists. Here it is: + +"BUT ADVENTISTS HAVE NO WISH, NO INTENTION, NO NEED OF CONSTITUTING +THEMSELVES INTO A DISTINCT BODY." + +How is the foregoing to be reconciled with the efforts of some at the +present time, unless there has been a mighty change? It may be remarked, +that circumstances have driven us to adopt this course. But what are the +circumstances? Is it because of impostors, or heresy? And do we expect +to be free from these by associating ourselves together in this way? We +did not feel the need of any thing of this kind in forty-two and three: +Our hearts were united in the bonds of love; and if this bond has been +severed, instead of fixing up something as a substitute--something that +is contrary to the word of God--we should, by preaching the simple +truth, remove the cause, and "nature" (Grace) "would work its own cure." +But no; we must have our creeds, our organizations, our conferences, and +our delegates to those conferences. And then, having ascertained, WHO WE +ARE, we are prepared to act. But act how? Why, we can "shear off the +troublesome thinkers." + +But it will be remarked that this is not the design, and that it is +wrong to judge our brethren in this way. But we may remark that it is so +already--the mystery of iniquity doth already work. The very design of +organizations, in the common acceptation of that term, and also of +creeds, is to proscribe individual liberty; they are opposed to free +action. It will not do for a man to act in accordance with the +commission, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every +creature." No, he must preach to our party--to our people. To illustrate +this principle, we quote the following from the life of Lorenzo Dow: + + "A Preacher from America, whose name is Lorenzo Dow, travelled + lately in Ireland, without any official recommendation from the + American Conferences, or any of the rulers in that connection, and + yet professing himself a friend of the Methodists. What judgment is + it expedient for this conference to pass concerning the conduct of + that man?" "_Ans._ WE ARE MOST SINCERE FRIENDS TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY; + but we consider ourselves called upon to inform the public, that Mr. + Dow has no connexion with us, nor did he receive the least + permission or encouragement from the conference to travel through + Ireland as one of our body, or as one of our friends; and we are + determined, that if he returns to this country, none of our + preaching-houses shall be opened to him on any account." Again, + "letters of falsehood and lies, to set the government to sacrifice + an individual on the altar of tyranny, because he goes so + independent of the BISHOP'S POWER; and others will" (do) "hatch from + the same nest, &c. &c."... "Better one suffer than many. If he is + innocent, we must use POWER, and make an example of him. What for? + As a warning to others not to dispute our power, which, if right, + _we_ have by Divine delegation, to enforce, 'MORAL DISCIPLINE!'" + +The question is not, what does Christ require?--but, what says the +bishop? Now, we would say nothing, but for the fact, that the same +principle is developing itself in our own ranks. This _miserable_ creed +system is now exerting upon Adventists an unsuspected, but tremendous +power against the liberty of the gospel. + +It is stealthily creeping upon us. May God unscale our eyes, before we +get entangled in the meshes of the net of the Devil! "It is true, each +denomination says, we inflict no penalty; we only decline to receive +into our ranks one who does not agree with us. And this is so specious, +it sounds so reasonable, that it might deceive the very elect. But it is +the most consummate stroke of infernal craft, and doubly distilled +Jesuitism. It is like Rome handing over the victims of the Inquisition +to the civil arm, charging it to do them no harm, and then piously +lauding her own lamb-like disposition. It is true, the denominations do +not do the candidate any harm; they only leave him to his inevitable +fate." But it may be remarked, that it is of no use to say any thing +about it; and should the individual lift his warning voice against it, +he is accused of having a hard spirit--of opposing somebody. But we wish +it distinctly understood, that we are not at war with persons, but +principles; not with men, but measures. We wrestle not against flesh and +blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of +the darkness of this world, against _spiritual wickedness in high +places_. We are opposed to these religious combinations, because we +believe they are opposed to God and His cause. + +To give this idea more perfectly, we submit the following extract from +the pen of Br. J. V. H. (_Advent Herald_, September 18, 1844,) headed, +"APOSTOLIC EXAMPLE FOR OUR COURSE." + + "And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of + three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the + kingdom of God. But when _divers_ were _hardened_ and BELIEVED NOT, + BUT SPAKE EVIL OF THAT WAY BEFORE THE MULTITUDE, he departed from + them, and SEPARATED the disciples, disputing daily in the school of + one Tyrannus.--_Acts_ xix. 8, 9. "It was not until _divers were + hardened_, and spake evil of _that way_ (the Lord's coming) _before + the multitude_, that the brethren were moved to come out, and + separate from the Churches. They could not endure this "evil + speaking" of the "evil servant." "_And the Churches that could + pursue this course of oppression_" and "evil speaking" "towards + those who were looking for the blessed hope, were to them none other + than the DAUGHTERS of MYSTIC BABYLON. THEY SO PROCLAIMED THEM, AND + CAME INTO THE LIBERTY OF THE GOSPEL. And though we may not be all + agreed as to what constitutes Babylon, _we are agreed in the_ + INSTANT _and_ FINAL SEPARATION _from all who oppose the doctrine of + the coming and kingdom of God at hand. We believe it to be a case + of_ LIFE and DEATH. It is DEATH _to remain connected with those + bodies_ that speak lightly of, or oppose, the coming of the Lord. + _It is_ LIFE _to come out from_ ALL HUMAN TRADITION, _and stand upon + the word of God, and look daily for the appearance of the Lord. We + therefore now say to_ ALL _who are in_ ANY WAY _entangled in the + yoke of bondage_," "Come out from among them, and be ye _separate_, + saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive + you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and + daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."--2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. + + AMEN and AMEN. + +2d, These "creeds" and compacts are opposed to free speech. One great +object of creeds is a union of sentiment. Hence, when a man joins any +one of the various denominations, the creed is presented, or the +question asked, do you believe so and so? Should he dissent in some +particulars, yet being an influential or wealthy person, he may join by +promising he will not agitate the points of difference. But let us look +at another case. Here is a minister--and, by the way, there has been +many of them--who embraces the truth of the Lord's speedy coming; it is +as fire shut up in his bones; he comes with the joyful intelligence +before his congregation, and in the fulness of his soul he preaches that +truth, which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that +believeth; and in less than one week he is waited upon by the bishop, or +the committee, or peradventure, he receives a line through the office, +informing him he must desist, for it is contrary to the _standards_ of +the Church, and as such, we ("Elders," "Bishops" and "Deacons") are +pledged to banish it away. If he persists, he must be admonished. If he +continues to act the part of a man and a Christian, turn him out--"yes, +shear off the troublesome thinkers, and sing stagnant hallelujahs." + +But we may come nearer home. How often we hear it remarked, "Don't say +any thing about the sonship of Christ--the sleep of the dead--the +destruction of the wicked; for, if you do, you will hurt somebody's +feelings!" Yes; we have men among us who have declared, that these +questions shall not be preached in their pulpits. But the question may +be asked, "Have we not a right to say what shall, and what shall not, be +preached in our pulpits? and shall we not use our utmost endeavors to +keep the Church pure?" Well, now, this looks very reasonable, and were +it not for the history of the past, we might regard it as being very +innocent. But we look to the "council of bishops," who met A.D. 325: +they acted from a conviction, that it was their prerogative to say what +should be preached: and by this act, though honest and sincere, they +were the unconscious tools, in the hands of the devil, of begetting a +child, which ultimately proved itself to be, the "MOTHER of HARLOTS and +abomination of the earth." May the Lord help us to be free, and preach +our sentiments! "For he's a freeman whom the truth makes free, and all +are slaves beside." But, + +3d, _The few act for the whole_.--Look to the history of the Christian +Church--the Council of Nice, Chalcedon, &c. Who acted in these +conferences? _Ans._ A few bishops. They got together; resolved that they +were the Church, or its representatives; made creeds, and then imposed +them on the flock. This has been the policy of Rome; for hundreds of +years her Popes and Cardinals, Bishops and Priests, have been humbugging +the people, hurling their anathemas at a Luther and a Cranmer. Why is +this? _Ans._ Because they dared to dissent from the decrees of those +councils. But we do not stop here; that spirit, or desire to lord it +over God's heritage, which characterized the councils of Rome, has been +transferred to the various synods of our time. It is often the case, +that a few persons get together, take into consideration the _wants of +the cause_, as they call it, reduce them to one or more propositions, +and then bring them before the meeting. Perhaps one of this number makes +a motion, and another of them seconds it; it is accepted, then adopted +by the votes of ten or a dozen, more or less; half of whom are the very +persons who concocted it. It is then blazoned abroad, and O! what a +bluster! When the merits of the case are known, it reminds one of the +fable, "The mountain laboured, and brought forth a mouse." + +4th, _It evinces a want of faith and confidence in God_.--Creeds are +never talked of, until persons begin to grow cold in their minds. "The +Church, during the whole of the first century, had no creed but the +Bible;" but when she departed from the simplicity of the Bible, and lost +her faith in God, then she began to legislate.--They (the church) felt, +as many express themselves at the present time, that we must keep the +Church together. Yes, and here was, and still is, the very trouble: WE +MUST DO IT. This is not our work; it belongs to the Great Head of the +Church; and if we had faith and confidence in God, and in His word, we +should be willing to let Christ do His own work. Every effort to keep +the Church together by making creeds, is an innovation.--There were +divisions in the apostles' day, and there have been divisions in every +age since that time. Every effort on our part to steady the Ark, when +such effort has not been put forth in accordance with the plan of God, +has been frowned upon by the Almighty. It is often the case that those +who seem to have so much anxiety, and manifest so much zeal to hold and +to "build up the cause," as they are pleased to term it, are, when the +truth is known, trying to build up themselves. While it is our duty to +do all we can, under the blessing of Heaven, to promote the welfare of +the cause with which we are associated, we must be careful not to +indulge a thought that its prosperity depends upon our feeble efforts: +for _it_ will live, whether we do or not. Christ stands at the helm, +and, if we abide in the ship, we shall be safe. But the creed-power, or +"organizations," in the common acceptation of the term, are not only +opposed to free action--free speech--But, + +Lastly, _It is the most effective means to destroy souls of any thing +that was ever brought into existence_. The professed church to-day +stands just where the Jews did eighteen hundred years ago; and the +language of Christ, as addressed to the Pharisees, is applicable to the +various denominations: "But woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, +hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye +neither go in _yourselves_, neither suffer ye them that are entering to +go in." Fine meeting-houses, costly pulpits, and a ministry that will +please itching ears, are the things with the great mass. They are guilty +of turning the Lord out of doors, for they have rejected His truth. +"Ichabod" is written on these pleasant palaces. The great majority of +the ministry are dumb dogs, lying down, loving to slumber; yea, _they +are_ greedy dogs, _which_ can never have enough, and they are shepherds +that cannot understand: "they all look to their own way, every one for +his gain from his quarter." They are turned unto fables. "They love the +praise of man more than the praise of God." + +The great mass have corrupted their way; but yet there are a few who are +honest, and would believe if they could hear, and they could hear, if it +were not for these SECTARIAN PENS. They (the few) are famishing; they +die for lack of knowledge. + +Well, now, to take one step towards adopting a system, the perfection of +which leads to such _damnable results_, must be a _departure_ from the +simplicity of the truth--a recreancy to the cause which, in the end, +will be more _baneful_ than beneficial. + +Some of those who want a record of names would shudder at the idea of +being connected with such a system as that referred to above; and yet, +in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, this is the result where the +first step is taken. We say, therefore, to all, "Beware of the first +step! Do not give your influence in favor of such a wicked system, lest +you be taken in a snare! If you are in any of these sectarian pens, +leave them at once; for they, like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, are soon +to sink into the pit. Those that are being formed by Adventists, are no +better than other denominations. In some respects they are worse." + +There are men among us, preaching brethren, whose moral and religious +characters are unimpeachable--men of sterling worth, and of marked +ability; yet, because they view matters somewhat different from some +others, or because they will not be restricted to preach wholly to our +party, they are disfellowshipped; they are whispered to be _unsafe_, +_unsound_, _heretical_! But some may say, that it is of no use to expose +our brethren;--ah, to hold our peace would be to follow in the same +track--to adopt the same policy of an apostate church. We wish our +brethren to know, both far and near, that this is the policy of some at +the present time. We have nothing to say against men, but against their +courses and their measures. Let every Adventist, who wants to be free, +beware of this _human machinery--these sectarian pens_--this last effort +of Satan to destroy souls. We cannot help but exclaim, in the language +of a "celebrated writer:" "Oh, woful day! Oh, unhappy Church of Christ! +Fast rushing round the fatal circle of absorbing ruin! Thou sayest, 'I +am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing;' and +_knowest_ not that thou art poor, and miserable, and _blind_, and +naked!" We have said, and we repeat it again, there is no need of any +creed but the Bible: we have learned that it is a sufficient rule of +faith and practice: it is the best discipline we can have: and I will +venture to say that, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, all +difficulties can be settled, if we follow out the rules given by Christ +and His apostles. Let us hear the Saviour speak: "Therefore, if thou +bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath +aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy +way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy +gift."--Matt. v. 23, 24. Again, we read, "And when ye stand praying, +forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in +heaven may forgive you your trespasses."--Mark xi. 24. "Moreover, if thy +brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between +thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. +But if he will not hear _thee_, _then_ take with thee one or two more, +that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be +established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell _it_ unto the +Church; but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an +heathen man and a publican."--Matt. xviii. 15-17. The apostle says, "And +if any obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no +company with him, that he may be ashamed; yet count him not as an enemy, +but admonish him as a brother.--2 Thes. iii. 14, 15. + +The above, together with many more scriptures that might be quoted, +involves the principle on which brethren are to settle their +difficulties. And when the professed Church of God, instead of urging +the necessity of abiding by the above principle, departs from the Lord, +by appointing committees to settle the differences between brethren, +they are guilty of the most audacious folly. If difficulties cannot be +settled by this rule, nothing will settle them but the final judgment. + +We say, then, in the language of Beecher, "Away with false policy! Rally +around this central principle, look to the Lord, and you are +impregnable." The waves of the coming conflict, which is to convulse +Christendom to her centre, are beginning to be felt. + +The deep roarings begin to swell beneath us. All the old signs fail. God +answers no more by Urim and Thummim, nor by dream, nor by prophet. Men's +hearts are failing them for fear, and for looking after those things +that are coming on the earth. Thunders mutter in the distance; winds +moan across the raging bosom of the deep; all things betide the rising +of that final storm of Divine indignation, which shall sweep away the +vain refuges of lies. When the Lord shall cause His glorious voice to be +heard, and shall show the lightning down His arm, with the indignation +of His anger, and with the flame of devouring fire; with scattering, and +tempest, and hail-stones; in that day, what shall save us? For judgment +will begin at the house of God. What shall be our defence? Put your +trust in Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire--on whose head are many +crowns--who is clothed with a vesture dipped in blood--whose name is +called "THE WORD OF GOD!" He who is to come down, and tread upon the +high places of the earth, trampling His enemies in the dust, destroying +the works of Satan, breaking up all these compacts which are opposed to +His truth, establishing his everlasting kingdom, which is not to be left +to another people, but which is to break in pieces all other kingdoms, +and it shall stand for ever. Even so, Lord Jesus! Come quickly!--AMEN. + +F. H. B. + + "THE pure testimony put forth in the spirit, + Cuts like a sharp two-edged sword, + And hypocrites now are most sorely tormented, + Because they're condemned by the word. + The pure testimony discovers the dross, + While wicked professors make light of the cross, + And Babylon trembles for fear of her loss. + + "A battle is coming between the two kingdoms, + The armies are gathering round; + The kings of the earth and the lamb that was slain, + Will come to close contest ere long; + Then gird on your armor ye saints of the Lord, + And he will direct you by his living word, + The pure testimony will cut like a sword." + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Missing or obscured punctuation was corrected. + +Typographical errors were silently corrected. + +Spelling and hyphenation were made consistent when a predominant form +was found in this book; otherwise it was not changed. + +Text in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Scriptures Able to Make Us Wise +Unto Salvation, by Francis H. Berrick + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 57318 *** |