PURGING THE CHURCH by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 19, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 37.

PURGING THE CHURCH.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

This is the way a Church of England clergyman has proposed, in a letter to the English Churchman, to purge that body of the Ritualism which is fast making it an exact copy of the Roman Catholic body:—

There is a “constitutional means of purging the church through Parliament,” and it is the only “constitutional means” and the only “practical means.” Secession won’t “purge the church;” moving the table to the center of the church won’t “purge the church.” It would be moved back again by the next incumbent, perhaps. But make it, by Act of Parliament, illegal, under suspension or deprivation, for any clergyman to turn his back to the people, to use lighted candles except in case of atmospheric darkness, or at any time during service to make the sign of the cross, or to use a mixed chalice, or any other than pure wheaten bread at the Lord’s Supper, or any hymn during the administration of the Lord’s Supper, or to wear any vestment other than the surplice, except in the case of the bishops, the usual episcopal robes being allowed, and the academical hood and black gown in the pulpit; and then, as I have said before, no reformation would be required in our purely Protestant church, no progress in Ritualism or Romanism would or could be made, as far as outward symbols are concerned; and Ritualists and Romanistic teachers would then find that there is no scope for their purposes in the Established Church of England.

The statement that under such an act of Parliament no progress in Romanism could be made, “as far as outward symbols are concerned,” is quite safe. But what difference does it make whether any progress toward Romanism is made in “outward symbols” or not if inwardly the clergy and members are full of Romish sentiment? If the sentiment is within, it is no worse for it to find expression; and if it is not within, there is no danger. And there is no one so enamored of civil legislation for the church that he will claim that an act of Parliament can change men’s hearts.

The Jewish Church was never more corrupt than when it was most strict in all the externals. Hear the words of Christ: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Matt. 23:25, 26.

Read also the lists of sins recited by the apostle Paul, as being committed in the last days by those possessing “a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Tim. 3:1–5. The form may be secured by strict legislation, but the more acts of Parliament are depended upon for purging the church, the more will the power of godliness be denied.

Suppose that an act of Parliament were obtained, what surety could be given that it would not be repealed by some succeeding Parliament? It is majorities that make laws; and even though a majority might at present be opposed to the outward forms of Romanism, the inward tendency would not be legislated out of a single soul, and in time a majority would be found who would reverse everything.

How then shall the church be purged, not only of Ritualism, but of every other evil? Here is the answer: “Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” Eph. 5:25, 26. Said Christ, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” John 15:3. “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

Here is cleansing that is cleansing indeed. Every attempt to cleanse the church by any other means will prove as ineffectual as to attempt to stop the flood of a river with a barbed-wire fence. Indeed, civil legislation for the church only increases the evil; for the only real Gospel power is the power of God; and just to the extent that the church depends on civil power, will it neglect the power of God; and where the power of God is lacking, there the power of the devil will be supreme. And thus civil legislation in behalf of religion, instead of purging the church, will at last bring it into the condition described by the angel:—

“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” Rev. 18:2.

And there is only one way by which this deplorable condition can be brought about, and that is by the church’s depending on worldly power, in defiance of the word of God.

“Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” Jer. 17:5, 6.

“Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God; which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is; which keepeth truth forever.” Ps. 146:3–6.

Parliament cannot change the heart, but God can create a new heart; Parliaments, with all their powerlessness, are subject to change, but God in his might is “from everlasting to everlasting.” E. J. W.