The Church and Christ’s Coming by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Nov 4, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 42.

The Church and Christ’s Coming

By Editor

F. M. BIRD, in his criticisms on the revised edition of the Protestant Episcopal Church Hymnal, criticises the hymn of which the following is a stanza:—

“Far down the ages now, Her journey well-nigh done, The pilgrim church pursues her way, And longs to reach her crown.”

Upon this he makes the following remarks:—

“This is one of those unpractical, sentimental, millenarian effusions of which Dr. Bonar is so fond, and of which the preliminary report contains two (49 and 50), though one of them was happily thrown out in the revision. He holds these views in entire sincerity, and has a perfect right to hold and express them; but they are not our views, and there is no reason why they should be foisted upon us. “Her journey well-nigh done!” How does anybody know that? We are not Adventists, and it is no part of the church’s doctrine that the world is coming to an end next year, or during the next century. No congregation in the land, and but few individuals, could sing that opening stanza, or the two that follow it, with intelligence and honesty.”

There have been those in the Episcopal Church, and we believe that there are such still, who had not so far departed from the truth and teaching of Christ, that they could not sing such sentiments. It may be that the coming of Christ, or its proximation, is no part of the Protestant Episcopal Church’s doctrine, but it is of the true church. “I will come again,” says Jesus. “When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors,” he says again. And the church, through the prophet, exclaims, “Even so, come [quickly] Lord Jesus.”