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About Christian herald. (Portland ;) 1882-18?? | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 1883)
CHRISTIAN HERALD in which we " denied the fact that the Catholic Church was the oldest organization in Christendom,” we will agree never to write another word against that Church. What we have repeatedly denied is that Jesus Christ ever set up what our contemporary terms the Catholic Church, or that such a Church ex isted in the days of Christ and the apostles. If our brother thinks that such a Church existed himself to man, adapted himself to mana understanding; thatbe spoke to and cdmniHned with manas man They need to know that God spoke to man to be understood, and that he expects him to exercise the same degree of com mon-sense in accepting the great principles of Christianity and making a personal and practical application of them that is exer cised in the mere temporal and business vocations of life. God prayerfully tQ a study of it till fully convinced of the truths and facts it TCv eals.'a'nd then le t him- honestly , act upon its teaching in coming to the Savior of the World and living the~Ctiristian life. We are expressly told that sinners are begotten through the truth, and by the gospel ; and that the gospel of Christ is the power , of God unto the salvirtion of all who be lieve. Hence the inspired apostle iiitf born again, ___ not PeUr says. “ :___________ of corruptible seed, but of incor- ruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Pet. 1 : 2-3. too by Divine authority, let him ments should be destroyed in undertake to point it out from the making them Christians, nor that word of God. The Church that their common-sense shqpld be laid was established in the beginning on the shelf in following Christ. was the Church of Christ, or the It is not necessary to become a fool, Church of nbdT«c>7 the Roman Ca-” ’ Tiloralty, ffi drdM IdWOHlU a Cliris- AND WHAT IS NOW tholic Church. The Scriptures tian. While the Bible is emphat NEEDED. were first written out and given to ically the Book of books, and con- churches of Christ for their guid- tainsabredth.aheightand a depth of ancem saving sinners"andBin edify" meaning incohiffMiefl^blii Christianity, did the church exert ing saints, and net to the Roman minds, yet in many respects it is such a mighty influence, as during Catholic Church. Hence the oft- like any other book, and hence is to the first centuries of its existence. repeated assertion that the world be accepted and interpreted . in the One of the chief accusations to-day is necessarily dependent on light of the same common-sense brought against the followers of the Catholic Church for the Holy rules that are applied to the var Christ, in the days of the apostles, Scriptures is both false and ridicul ious branches of scientific knowl- was that they had “ turned the ous. Instead of her assisting to edge. It should be examined from world upside down.” When Chris put the word of God into the the same rational point of view as tianity began its career the world ttiB'sereHcyef iw aihe m a tie s, • -HtentaU was one vast sea of paganism, with more to monopolize and suppress it philosophy or geology, It should a pagan emperor firmly seated upon ' than all other powers on earth be accepted in the same light of the the throne. Its beginning was in- are plain and gt > of...„a father combined: While then signmeant ffT the extremeT Its not denied that the Catholic Church to his child. And above all things founder was born of a humble wo is an old organization, we do deny must one get rid of the idea of the man, in a stable. His work, during that it has any necessary connec miraculous in conversion, if he tion with the Church our Savior would understand the true relation the few years he lived was largely p^r of big na set up in the beginning” Keilher the sinner sustains to God as reveal - tion. He died in the most igno does her age affirm her Scriptural ed in this Book. There is nothing right to exist nor improve her minious manner, “ despised and re moral standing. The subjoined any more miraculous nowadays in jected of men,” and when he was passage is a fine sample of fanatical becoming a believer in Christ and twaddle from some preacher of acting upon this conviction than about to leave the world he_.com whom we know nothing, and has there is in becoming a believer in mitted the affairs of his kingdom into the hands of a few humble no weight or point in settling the the science of astronomy and speak question before us. By the way, is men, many of whom he had called the Sentinel certain that the Roman ing and acting accordingly. Scient-, from their nets at the sea of Catholic Church is the oldest de isfes have swept the heavens with nominational organization on earth ? their mighty telescopes and brought Gallilee. Such a small and humble beginning was fitly likened by the down to the student in the form of COMMON SENSE IN RE- prophet to “ a little stone cut out text books on astronomy, evidence LICION. of the mountain without hands.” sufficient tofully convince the latter, One of the greatest needs of the when properly submitted to his un Looking at Christianity from a day is the exercise of more good derstanding, of the true movements human stand-point, there .was little common-sense in matters pertain .of the solar system. The student hope of success. But we follow the ing to the Christian religion. This does not throw away his practical -hi+^o-ry-, - and,- strange—as It may important element in human nature judgment when coming to a study seem, paganism, in less than three is too often overlooked in coming of this subject; but on the contrary, centuries, fell before the victorious to Christ and serving him accept when he takes up his text book he march of Christianity, and the very ably. Men and women of fair edu allows it to address itself to his un emperor upon the throne became a cation,' excellent judgment and derstanding while he applies him vassal to Jesus of Nazareth. In quick perception when they have self diligently till fully convinced, the days of the apostles the Church to do with temporal things often of the correctness of the science, of (^pjgp^-s "firmly planted in all i show a weakness at this point and then he shapes his course of the principal cities of the Roman when speaking and acting on re conduct accordingly. The establishment of __ ... ___' empire. ligious matters that is truly alarm Now in like manner should the Christianity in the beginning looEa ing. Such persons need to take seeker after: spiritual light come toi more like a stupendous miracle than their first lesson in learning the the Bible. The Bible is addressed anything else ; but it was not. The ' alphabet of Christianity. They to his understanding; and let- him "ock WjVt41one by and tlijough the . need to learn that God, in revealing apply himself thoughtfully arid noble” men and. women who corn- ■ ■ , • * SSL ;________ posed the church. word. The following are a few of the principle..reasons why such great success attended the church in the beginning. . 1. It was a united church. There was simply “ one body,” the Church of Christ, moving upoa society, as one man. They, all be lieved alike, and were perfectly one heart and one. soul, 'file church in that day was not split up into Episcopalians, Lutherans,Meth odists, Presbyterians, Baptists and .almndrcd others,all laboring largely to build up parties, instead of the Church of Christ, bu£ was a unit, moving as one man and throwing The old saying, '* in union there is strength,” has I mh o fully proven in the history of the ancient church, for it had a power that enabled it to triumph over obstacles that were truly appalling. And what ia to day needed more than any one thing to enable Christianity to conquor the world is a united church. Not simply a friendly feeling among sects and parties that will cause them to let each other alone, but the annihilation of all these and the restoration of the one body of Christ, the church just as it was in the be ginning. We believe this is coining of this world will be conquered for Christ. 2. The simplicity of what was preached and of what was required of sinners to become Christians, gave the ancient church a power that the religious world to day lacks. The primitive preachers went forth holding up before the world a person. They would know nothing among the people but Jesus Christ and him crucified, and when sinners believed in him as their di vine savior, and wanted to know what they should do to be saved the way was so simple and easy that it-could be made plain to them in one sentence, so that all who de' sired salvation could go forward and put on the Lord Jesus. If any one will take the time to examine the many cases of conversions recorded in the Acts of the the Apostles they will be struck with the difference between what was required of sin* "hers then and what is required of them now, in some of the modern churches. That there has been a great departure from apostolic pn^' J postonc pr«* ? ZZ_ , Zl. to Z all _ . . who ’ care- —“ tice in u ..ZZ st be plain