The Apostolic Church by M. F. S.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 3, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 48.

The Apostolic Church

By M. F. S.

No. 440. The Apostolic Church.

It is claimed by Episcopalians that the Church of England in its service and ritual, comes nearer to the church of Christ in apostolic times than that of any other denomination. Is this true? M. F. S.

The way to know whether this is true or not is to compare the Church of England with the word of God. The instructions given by Christ and his apostles were simple. The offices and gifts placed in the church by Jesus Christ are enumerated in Eph. 4:8-13; 1 Cor. 12:8-28; Rom. 12:3-8. We have also the offices of elder, or bishop, and deacon. These were not "lords over God’s heritage," but "ensamples to the flock." The apostles or ministers had no great or stated salary, nor were they paid by the state. The church knew no particular forms except such as were essential to the simple Gospel ordinances, no creeds of men, or human articles of faith, no unwritten, unauthorized traditions. There was no connection with the state. The word of God as it is in Christ Jesus, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, was preached to dying men, and souls were saved. Here are some of the essential and more prominent characteristics of the apostolic church. Does the Church of England have these characteristics? Not what the Church of England claims, or what her opposers claim, but what does the word say? How does that church or any other compare with the word of God? See the "True Church and Its Test," in the SIGNS of September 24, No. 38.