CHURCH, signifies a particular congregation of believers in Christ, united together in the order of the gospel. 1 Cor. i. 2.—Cruden.
The true Church, is symbolized by a woman. "And she brought forth a man-child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." Rev. xii, 1, 5.
"And he ordained twelve that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils." Mark iii, 14, 15. "After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face, into every city and place, whither he would come." Luke x, 1.
Christ's commission to his disciples to gather believers throughout the whole world. Mark xvi, 14-20.
APOSTOLIC ORDER.
In those days the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and they chose seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. "And the word of God increased, and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly." Acts vi, 1-7. After this Ananias laid his hands on Paul, and he arose and was baptized, and straitway preached Christ. Acts ix, 17-20. Some few years after this, "the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." Acts xiii, 2, 3. Barnabas and Paul continued to move on from place to place confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith. "And when they had ordained them Elders in every Church, they commended them to the Lord." Acts xiv, 22, 23.
After these things, Paul sent for the Elders of the Church of Ephesus to meet him at Miletus, and said to them, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts xx, 17, 28.
After this, Paul writes to Timothy whom he had left in charge at Ephesus, charging him not to neglect the gift which was given him by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery, (or eldership,) [1 Tim. iv, 14,] and shows him the qualifications of such for bishops and deacons. He also writes to Titus saying, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee." Titus i:5.
To ordain in the Church of God, is to choose to office. Says Jesus, "Ye have not chosen me; but I have chosen you, and ordained you." John xv, 16; Luke vi, 13; Mark iii, 13, 14.
The apostle Paul in his charge to Timothy respecting the choice of bishops and deacons particularly describes their qualifications for office, and shows that both must be sound in the faith of the word, and blameless. The only clear distinction here is for the Bishop; viz., "If he know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the Church of God." 1 Tim. iii, 5. As the office of the deacon was omitted here we must look for it elsewhere. In his letter to the Philippians, he thanks God for every remembrance of the saints, the bishops and deacons, showing that they were laboring in fellowship and union in the Church. Phil. i, 1-4. From this we go back to an earlier period of the Church, when the twelve apostles called the multitude of the disciples together, and chose seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, to take upon them part of their burden, especially to relieve them from "serving tables," that they may give themselves "continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Acts vi, 1-6. Cruden says, deacon signifies a steward of the Church treasury. Bishop, signifies a spiritual overseer. 1 Pet. ii, 25. From the reading of the context we learn that Stephen, (one of the seven) became so mighty in teaching the word that he confounded the whole Jewish council. Philip was also an evangelist. Acts xxi, 8. Compare Eph. iv, 11; 2 Tim. iv, 5. Hence we see these officers were not confined to the one specified duty.
Paul also writes to Titus, appointing him to ordain elders in every city, and says, For a bishop must be blameless &c. Titus i, 5-7. He here speaks of the two offices interchangeably, and also charges the elders of Ephesus as the overseers of the flock to feed the Church of God. Acts xx, 17, 28. Once more, "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine." 1 Tim. v, 17. We learn, that here are two classes of elders. The first to be counted of double honor if they "rule well." The second, "especially, they who labor in the word and doctrine." This is in agreement with the foregoing statement in the sixth Chap. of the Acts, viz., "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, &c." But we will give ourselves "to the ministry of the word." Still further, "And God hath set some in the Church, first, apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues, &c. 1 Cor. xii, 28-30.
The Apostle writing to the Ephesians afterwards, says of Jesus:—"And he gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers." What for? Ans. "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." For how long? Ans. "Till we have all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Eph. iv, 11-13.
From the foregoing we learn, that there was order in the Church of God, when Jesus was upon the earth; and after his departure, order was strictly observed among his apostles, and was required to be until the perfection of all the saints.
CHURCH ORDER DERANGED.
By the desolating powers of the fourth kingdom of Daniel called the daily and abomination of desolation. Dan. viii, 13. He saw that the first power was taken away to establish the second power, viz., daily idol worship put down, and Roman Catholic worship set up. Paul saw the same first power working while the Church was in order. He saw that it would continue to work until the Catholic worship took its place, with the man of sin (the Pope) for its head, who would continue his abominable worship until destroyed by the brightness of the Lord's coming. 2 Thess. ii, 1-8.
Daniel was also shown that these two desolating powers would show their indignation against the holy Covenant, [God's holy law of ten commandments,] and these two desolating powers would corrupt men, and cause them to forsake the holy Covenant. Dan. xi, 30, 32. He was shown that the last power, viz., the little horn, (Papacy) would "speak great words against the Most High, and would wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws; and they (the saints and the times and laws) would be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time." Dan. vii, 8, 25. Rev. xiii, 5-8, synchronizes with this. The 42 months is the same time spoken of in Rev. xii, 6, 14. 1260 days (or years) shows the period of time that the Church was to be in the wilderness. As this last power (the Papacy) began his reign in A. D. 538, his term of time (1260 years) would expire in A. D. 1798, and the saints be out of his hand. From this point the Church begins to emerge from her wilderness state. Cant. viii, 5. From the foregoing testimony it is clear that these two desolating powers have been in open rebellion against the Church of God, and his holy law for more than 1750 years. No marvel that the Church has been deranged, when it is said of her antagonist, that she was "drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." Rev. xvii, 6.
Malachi says, "even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them." Chap. iii, 7. Says Isaiah, "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left." Isa. xxiv, 5, 6.
From the testimony adduced, there was order in the Church of God when Jesus was upon the earth. Since the days of the apostles she has been deranged by the two desolating powers of the fourth kingdom of Daniel. Fifty-six years ago she began to emerge from her wilderness state; and will continue to rise until order is perfectly restored, and she be known as "A GLORIOUS CHURCH NOT HAVING SPOT, OR WRINKLE OR ANY SUCH THING."23"And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the heavens must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Acts iii, 20, 21.
As the Church of God, was founded under the gospel by him who kept his Father's law and order was strictly observed after his departure among his apostles who were all inspired men, who were law-keepers, it is very evident that the work of deranging this order in the Church was by and through law-breakers, as we have shown. Hence is it not perfectly clear that God will employ law-keepers as instruments to restore her to a "glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle."
One of the "holy prophets" says, "Hearken unto me, my people, and give ear to me, O my nation, for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people. Hearken unto me ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law. Isa. li, 4, 7. These are law-keepers that will have the cup of trembling, and cup of fury taken out of their hands, and the wicked will receive it. Verse 22.
Another of the "holy prophets," says, "Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said we will not walk therein. Hear, O earth; behold I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it." Jer. vi, 16, 19. Here are but two classes; one of them reject God's holy law, and are to perish. Verses 19, 21. While the other walk in the old paths, where is church order and the law, and find rest to their souls.
Isaiah, "the holy prophet," speaks more pointedly still: "And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach. The restorer of paths to dwell in. If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day: and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord: and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Isa. lviii, 12-14.
"REPAIRER OF THE BREACH."—What breach? Ans. Breach of the covenant which God hath commanded forever. Ps. iii, 9; Deut. 13. The willful violation of which, subjects the inhabitants of the earth to the curse and torments of devouring fire. Isa. xxiv, 5, 6. Verse 13 shows the breach to be in the fourth commandment, which enforces the keeping of the Sabbath, the holy of the Lord. Verse 14 says, "Thou shalt then delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Who made this breach? We have already shown that the breach was made by Pagan and Papal Rome. The angel Gabriel testifies of their indignation, and causing men to do wickedly against the holy covenant: while those who were opposed to them, and did "know their God," fell "by the sword and by the flame, by captivity and by spoil, many days." Dan. xi, 30, 32, 33. The last power, the little horn, thought to change the laws during the 1260 days [years] that the laws and the saints were in his hand. Hear the little horn speak by the Rev. Henry Tuberville, D. D., of the English College of Douay, in 1649: now approved and recommended for his diocese, by the right Rev. Benedict, Bishop of Boston, Mass. "What is the third commandment? Ans. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day. When began the Sabbath to be kept? Ans. From the very creation of the world. Why was the Jewish Sabbath changed into the Sunday? Ans. Because Christ was born upon a Sunday, rose from the dead upon a Sunday, and sent down the Holy Ghost upon a Sunday: works not inferior to the creation of the world. By whom was it changed? Ans. By the governors of the Church. How do you prove that the church hath power to command feasts and holy days? Ans. By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of; and therefore they fondly contradict themselves by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same church. How prove you that? Ans. Because by keeping Sunday, they acknowledge the church's power to ordain feasts, and to command them under sin."
Another unmistakable evidence is that Sunday-keeping, for a Rest-day, is established by National and State laws, and customs of the people, throughout christendom. Now the Bible teaches nothing of the kind; for neither First-day, (by man called Sunday,) nor resurrection day, is once referred to in that book, as a sanctified day, a holy day, or a rest-day for man, (except when the Jews' feast-days happened on that day,) but First-day is clearly shown to be one of the six working days. Gen. i, 5; Eze. xlvi, 1. Hence the proof that the little horn, the man of sin, made the breach in God's holy covenant. This, as I have shown, was hundreds of years after the resurrection. Therefore there was no change nor abolition of a "jot or tittle" of the ten commandments of God before, at, or after the resurrection.
"RESTORER OF PATHS TO DWELL IN."—What paths are to be restored? Ans. "Ask for the old paths." Jer. vi, 16. "Ancient paths." xviii, 15. "Paths of peace." "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Prov. iii, 4. "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto such as keep his covenant and testimonies." Ps. xxv, 10. His covenant is the ten commandments which he has commanded to be kept for ever. Deut. iv, 13; Ps. cxi, 9. The restorers of the paths then in the last days, will be covenant-keepers, God's people, [Isa. li, 4, 7,] that will keep the whole law. Jeremiah shows two classes, one asking for "the old paths," that they may find rest for their souls. "But they (the other class) said, We will not walk therein. Why? Because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. Chap. vi, 16, 19.
Again: "O, Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. Ye have not gone up into the gaps, [margin, breaches,] neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the day of battle in the day of the Lord. Eze. xiii, 4, 5.
The class of teachers here addressed, are such as will not keep the Sabbath of the Lord, as commanded in his holy covenant. The Lord is against them, and says, "They shall not be in the assembly of my people." Verses 8, 9. The reader will readily admit that the battle of the day of the Lord is yet future, and cannot come until his voice is uttered from on high. Zeph. i, 14. This prophecy is against those who despise the Sabbath of the Lord, and teach others to tread it under foot, just before, and at the battle of the great day of the Lord. This synchronizes with the "scattering of the power of the holy people," [Dan. xii, 7,] and smiting of "fellow-servants" since 1844, Matt. xxiv, 49.
Sabbath-keepers, then, "shall build the old waste places;" and "raise up the foundation of many generations: and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of paths to dwell in." Isa. lviii, 12. Says Paul:
"And he gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers: for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God," &c., "that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro," &c. Eph. iv, 11-14.
This unity of the faith, and perfect church order, never has existed since the days of the apostles. It is very clear that it must exist prior to the second advent of Jesus, and be completed by the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, in restoration of all things, &c.
By tracing the history of the church to the present, we learn that church order and unity of the faith existed in the days of the apostles who kept all the commandments of God. After which all was deranged by commandment-breakers; by the desolating work of the little horn, whose power was broken in 1798. From thence the church emerges from her wilderness state, "leaning upon her beloved," up to the first and second angels' messages; [Rev. xiv, 6-8;] viz., the judgment hour cry, and fall of Babylon, announcing the cleansing of the Sanctuary at the end of the 2300 days of Daniel's vision, in 1844. On from this, it is said, "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice," &c. "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Verses 9-12. One like unto the Son of man upon a white cloud, follows this message.
Here, then, in this last message, we find commandment-keepers throughout the wide harvest field, accomplishing just what has been foretold by the holy seers of old. They are now going up into the breach, restoring first the Sabbath of the Lord, which he commanded in the fourth commandment, and then the "all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began."
The church of God will then be in order, having her "Elders, Deacons, Teachers, gifts of healing, helps, governments," &c. Then "Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion." "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air," &c. 1 Thess. iv, 16, 17. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing: but that it should be holy and without blemish." Eph. v, 27.
My Dear brethren and sisters in the Lord, Let us all labor for perfect union, harmony and order, in this rising glorious church of God.