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About Pacific Christian messenger. (Monmouth, Or.) 1877-1881 | View Entire Issue (April 23, 1880)
PACIFIC CHRISTIAN MESSENGER, FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1880. 2 for 18 days. The result wa3 victory ’'for reform. Pojiery was immediately IN 8WIT4.KBLAJCV. abolished in the canton of Berne. The “ Ecalampadius had been preaching episcopal authority waa disarmed; at Basle since November, 1522. Berth- altars and images were thrown down ; old, Haller and Sebastian Meyer were the mass suppressed ; fast days, feast settled at Berne. Truth was gradually dayB, clerical costumes, organs, bells, making way in many parts; but as and a long list of usages and cere yet the arm of power surpressed its monies peculiar to the dark ages in movements. X general meeting ÔF volved in the same »festrnetion; and the Helvenic body was held at Baden, monasteries converted into schools. in May, 1526, expressly for the pur The example of Derne was followed pose of putting dowif the new doc by Shoffhausen/ St. Gall, Glazus, trines. A disputation took place, in Brienne, Brumgarten, Thurgan, the which Ecalampadius and Haller Tockenburg, and the city of Constance. were chiefly engaged on one side, ! The disputation of Berne deserves to against Eck, Faber and some celebra be called great, for its results were ted Romish controversialists on the truly glorious.” His. Re], p. 15d-ti. R emarks .—It should be observed other. But it was before a packed and partial jury. The representatives that in the popish worship they had ' fththe Cantons had met avowedly to neither teaching nor anything worth devise measures for the ruin of the calling singing. They said mass, and reformation. [The disputation con observed other human inventions, and tinued eighteen days ] It** was to be imagined they were serving God ■ expected that they would ascribe the Hence, teaching— preaching and read triumph to their own champions. ing the Scriptures to the masses, and They’ passed a decree,- proscribing ringing—had a strange and wonderful Zwingle and his associates, and de effect. They had listened to the claring their fixed resolve to maintain organ for music,-said mass for wor unimpaired the ancient faith,” that is, ship, etc.; and now to put away these, and understand God’s word, sing his of thé Romi Ji church. “ ‘ The Lord maketh the devices of praise in spirit and in truth, was the people .of .»one effect, but his something to ba valued. Each one— counsel standeth forever.’ Ps. xxxiii. every one of these humanisms came in 16 11. While the adver aries of Gos with a corrupt church. Not one of pel truth vainly thought to check its them is found in the ’New Testament, advancement, the hand of God was or in early church history. ’Arid' evidently stretched out in its defence. when an avowed effort is made to Instead uf-being discouraged, by the “ cleanse the sanctuary the rubbish is great. But it was sweptout. What * unfavorable results of the meeting at a pity it has not been kept out' Why Baden, the reformers quietly pursued can we not be content with the things their course, and gained ground daily. of God alone? Why foist in human Ecalampadius succeeded, in 1526, in I ism, if we pretend to go for the Bible ? establishing at Basle the practice of singing hymns in the vulgar tongue, No pure church was ever incumbered * in public worship. It was found with such humanisms. But a few greatly conducive t > piety, and ad other items may serve more fully to mirably adapted to confirm the people impress this fact. “ The final measures adopted for the in the truths jaugbt_j)y the reformerg. establishment of the Reformation ip fti 1528 images were removed from Geneva are thus enumerated by a the principal churches, though allowed modern historian: to be retained for a time in others. - he That indulgence-was n it long Mo- regulate the times and places for the tinned. In February, 1529, the city public worship, the observation of the was thoroughly cleansed from idolatry, Sabbath, and other things connected and at the same time the mass was with religion and morals. They es abolished.” tablished and provided for four pas In other places the good work pre tors and two assistants; commanded vailed, and the “ mass was superceded the Sabbath to be strictly observed; ap by the Lord’s supper.” Still the pointed an early service on that day for government was against reformation, servants, and allowed public worship and in support of Romish supersti and preaching in the German langu tions. ages for the numerous refugees to “ The government was soon com whom those tongues were vernacular. pelled to yield to the wishes of an en They enacted laws against profane lightened people, and determined to ness and licentiousness, and against refer the whole question in debate to public dances'fairs, masquerades, and a public disputation,open to champions other entertainments tending to the on both sides, from every part of corruption of manners. They showed Zwitzerland, and to abide by the issue. some solicitude also for the education This is known in history as the great of youth." disputation of Berne. On the ap And this, one should observe, was pointed day, Jan. 7,1528, Zwingle and state religion. In some points of the head of View the state then was better than more than 350 evangelical teachers. the church now! The bishops of Constance, Basle, Leon “ The reformation was carried fur and Lansanne, had been summoned, ther in Switzerland than in Germany. but did not deign to attend ; in fact, Luther retained private confession, the papal cause was very feebly sup the use of the wafer in the Lord’s ported. Ten articles had been pre supper, and other rites essentially pared for discussion. The articles popish, on which he was inclined to were in substance: That the church look with indulgence, as indifferent had no head but Christ; that it sprang things. All these were swept away from the word of Gdd, and subsisted by Zwingle and his associates. It in that alone; that traditions were was their wish to 1 educe Christian only binding when they agreed with worship to the simple rites indicated God’s word; that Christ was a in the New Testament.” * • • sufficient expiation for the sins of the “ The hierarchy with one mind were whole world; ¡that there was no opposed to the reformation.” Scriptural proof of the manducation So were all merely nominal pro (eating) of the body and blood of fessors—all whose hearts were not Christ; that the sacrifice of the mass sincerely engaged in the divine ser was opposed to Scripture, and insult vice. And so it is now. They wish ing to the Redeemer’s sacrifice ; that “ a name to live,” but are not willing there was no other intercessor between to live as did the first Christians. God and man except Christ; that the They must have the honors and existance of a purgatory could not be pleasures of the world. • proved from holy writ; that the wor IN NORWAY AND DENMARK. ship of statues and images was op “ Injunctions were given that the posed to Scripture; that marriage was forbidden to no class of men, and that Scriptures should be read in all since fornication was expressly de schools.” The power of the ecclesias nounced in Scripture, it was a vice tics—or clergy—was largely destroyed, least of all becoming the sacerdotal and the people were measurably free. order. These articles were debated ♦The king of Denmark “ issued Scraps of History. “T laws restraining the 'pomp and Conversion. truly teach in all this expression, luxury of the prelates. And when should stamp evary appointment and •• There is therefore now no condemnation, to he was deposed, and driven into them which are in Christ Jeaua, who walk not mode of Christian burial. Every after the flesh, but after the spirit.” Rom. viii. 1. exile, he procured a translation of the vanity of soul, and of form should dis “ There is therefore now no con New Testament into the Danish lan appear when we come to pay our last guage, which was published at Leip demnation,” implying that there had ministrations to the dead. Plain, ♦. sic in 1524.” * <|a time been when there was con simple and truthful as is Nature and When / When they “Frederick’saddress was remarkably demnation. true emotion should be all our mani were not in-Christ Jesus, and did not apposite and well timed. Having re festations in the ’stern and solemn minded tire bishops of the obligations walk after the spirit, but after the presence of Deettit—California Inde~ under which they were laid to feed flesh. They had crossed a line of pendent. --------- • - ♦ » ♦—--------------- - the church of Christ with the pure demarkation between condemnation word of God, and watch over its in and justification. Old-Time Sermons. In Col. i. 12, the apostle speaks of terests with unremitting diligence, he American life increases in speed adverted to the astonishing spread of them being “ delivered from the with every year, and in nothing is power of darkness and translated into Lutheran doctrines, which could not, this mere evident than in sermons. the kingdom of his dear Son. ” The he said, be wondered at, seeing that The modern preacher usually gives us the ministers of the Romish church line of demarkation is referred to had forsaken the fountain of heavenly here, they had been transplanted into an address lasting not more than half truth, and led the people to the the “ kingdom and patience of Jesus an hour. The more vigorous, compact muddy pools of human traditions, and Christand as the apostle in Rom. in thought and vital with the life of that wretched fables and absurd tales v. says : “ Therefoie being justified by the present, the sermon is, the more ol miracles had been circulated among faith we have peace with God through popular the preacher. them to such an extent, and with such our Lord Jesus Christ.” How are we . Middle-aged people can remember perverse activity as to excite disgust justified by faith ? We are “justified the sermons to which they listened in and loathing even in the untaught in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by their childhood through the long Sun the spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. vi. 11 day mornings; and again through the multitude.” All this was to hold and increase Here we are told that justification is longer afternoons, while the trees rus the dominion of the clergy over the in the name of our Lord Jesus. tled sleepily without, and the flies people; keep them ignorant of the “Neither is there salvation in any buzzed drowsily on the panes. Ven Bible, and make them believe the other, for there is none other name erable doctors of divinity through the greatest absurdities, and they could given under heaven among men, West were not satisfied with their whereby we must be saved.” Acts Sabbath labors unless their sermons manage them. jv. 12. Here the apostle tells that filled an hour or an hour and a half in “Malmoe, in the island of Funen, salvation is in that name, and there is their delivery. The discourses were was the first town in which the re sr^vation in none other.” How do. we divided into sir, ten, or fifteen pon- formation, was fully established. Martín-and Spandermager »ealouriy -^hat namej_J^^ preached the Gospel there, and with into it ? Do we repent into it ? or do gument, besides an introduction, con great Blessing. In 1528 they wisely we pray into it ? Nothing of the clusion and application. kind in the Scriptures. We take Old Doctor Porter, well known in introduced congregational singing into public worship, and published a psalm upon us that name in baptism, as the Ohio, was noted for long prayers. His book for the use of the people. This 3000 did on Pentecost. “ God be open supplications sometimes kept the was a highly popular step. A version thanked,' that though ye were the congregation on their feet more than of the Psalms was printed about the servants of sin, ye have obeyed from an hour. A worldly hearer growing same time. So powerful was the the heart that form .of doctrine which impatient on one occasion, went up to effect of these measures that, in the fol was delivered you. Being then made the pulpit and laid his watch before lowing year Romanism was utterly free from sin ye became the servants him, but the doctor calmly turned it of righteousness.” Rom. vi. 17, 18. , over and prayed on. As he grew olc|- abolished in Malmoe.” This form of doctrine the apostle er his prayers waxed longer, until he The change was great; to put away calls being buried .with the Lord by had been known to find on opening the pompous and empty ceremonies of baptism into death and rising to walk his eyes that his audience had left the men, and adopt thoaimple ordinances in newness of life. church. of the Gospel 1 And the opposition of •’ T. M. M. wor ldl y, c a rn a l men was great. But and temper of the times, that these Funerals. the knowledge of the word of .God long-winded godly old men usually was powerful. And think of their If there is any one thing requiring died in the midst of their flocks, be singing —of congregational singing! the attention of the philanthropist, it loved and honored. It was not bril of their teaching, and admonishing one is the modes that attend the burial of liant intellectual effort that our fath another in holy songs ’ the dead. This, like everything else ers asked from their pastors, so much They “ refused to bow to any now-a-days, are regulated by caprice as faithful guidance. authority but that of the Scriptures.” to a greater or less extent. It would One feature of modern preaching is And this authority they would obey, seem, that in the presence of death, all especially commendable, i. e., Jthe ser if they suffered for it. extravagance, vanity and useless mons to the young. Dr. Newton, we In 1475, Mechlin “maintained that ostentation should disappear. But it believe, was the first clergyman who- the Scriptures alone have authority is one of the greatest infirmities of the preached monthly sermons to the boys in matters of faith.” times to carry these frailties not only and girls of his flock. Marula was born in 1482. “ He into all the concerns of life, but to was appointed to the living of Hen When we remember how impressi cany them into association with the ble is the mind of youth, and that fleet, where he spent his life in the solemn realities of death. Fashion assiduous study of the Scriptures, and the children of to-day will be the rules with a despotic and heartless diligent attention to the duties of his Christians or unbelievers of the next scepter. No circumstance or condi office, beloved and revered by all. The epoch in the world’s history, we won tion modifies or changes in any degree more carefully he searched the word der that his example is not more gen its imperious sway. Its empire, like of God, the more fully was he convinced erally followed. Gur Savior especial that of the Boman Hierarchy, em of the great need of reformation.” In ly charged His servants to “ feed His braces two realms—life and death. 1553 T’'hisbooksandpiperx'wcre~ iKnrbs," and we are sunTHe wouM ¿¿t The ostentatious here, as in the wsrld seized, and he was cast into prison. object to its being applied to the chil- of dress and social manner, establishes He was accused of various so called daen of our congregations.— -Ex. the modes. If distinction dictates a heresies, such as these : that it is bet peculiar form of procedure of expres Timber Forests of Oregon. ter to neglect ten masses than one sion of sentiment even on the part of sermon; that nothing is necessary to It is impossible to convey to the the mourning, then the world must salvation but what is found in the accept this dicta without questioning readers an idea of the vast valuable word of God; that faith without as imperative law. And thus it is, forests of fir, pine and cedar, both in charity is not true faith ; that men that we all follow in our bestowals Oregon and Washington. Trees 200 ought to live according to the rules of upon the dead; consulting the de and 250 feet High, six feet in diameter the Gospel, without following any mands of heartless fashion rather than are never out of view ; eight and ten other rule.” our own feelings or our pecuniary feet in diameter and 300 feet high are Obedience to the commands of men ability. If the established custom not very uncommon, generally two- was then, as it is now, the matter of requires rosewood with heavy silver thirds free of limbs. Fifty and 60 interest to worldly ecclesiastics. They mountings, a certain number of good timber trees grow on an acre as cannot afford to yield this. The full vehicles, and an avalanche of flowers, a rule and yield seldom less than 300,- sufficiency of the divine commands then the humblest and poorest must 000 feet; and instances are on record was the ideal of the reformers. What obey this custom though no means re of 1,000,000 feet to the acre. No is of men, and what is of God ? Shall main for other debts, or even for food acre is worked for profit which cannot men rule ? or shall God rule ? were the and raiment for widow and orphan. yield 300,000 ieet at least, and even questions. Daily, thousands appropriate their this yield is rare. Logs are seldom- C. K. last cent and incur harrassing obliga hauled half a mile to a river. The —A mono ths noteworthy events of the tion w to uciia and of VlUlUCr timber defray the ÇA expenses funerals manufacture ’ j vuç ïuinr^ m of lUHCHUS -------------------- - • shipment ’"T*"'“’' Vl ÎZZÆjÂ! I k S "»plyi" »Wien« to . remo™!.« » «» W»S in tannel, under the Alps, whioh opens a Washington employing a large num highway between Germany and Italy. The custom. Would the Christian pulpit ber of workmen, and an immense but perform its duty in this important tonnel is eight miles long, and has coot «10,000.000, which is S3,000,000 less than matter of every day life, it would number of large saw-mills, going by . the cost of tbs Boosac tnnnal, though ths truly preach a great gospel of comfort steam and water power, and a large latter io only half ths length. —That boy, who, in his young days has and of salvation to the millions who fleet of ships.—£’x. never engaged in a good wide-awake pillow fight, won’t amoant to muoh of an aetor in are now struggling under a cruel yoke. „ ^*°r own* duelling houses i» life’s great drama.— Danisltonvillt Hentinel. Simplicity, such as Nature and sorrow New York. ’) ■ X»