p. 86 | DIVISIONS by Francis Gould

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 15, 1857

DIVISIONS.

By Francis Gould

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. Rom. xvi, 17.

The above text has been much referred to of late, by certain persons, and applied to the Commandment keepers, as that class which, as they say, have caused the greatest part of the divisions that now exist in the church, by teaching that the churches are fallen, and that we should leave them in order to escape the seven last plagues; and by teaching also that men must keep another day for the Sabbath; thus building up a new sect or party, and making divisions in the church. That there are divisions among the different professed churches of the land, we all know; and it shows plainly that they are not of God. I apprehend there is no such thing as the true church of Christ being divided.

Let us hear the language of Christ: "I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit; for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." John xv, 5, 6. We learn from this that every true disciple of Christ bears the same relation to him as the living branch does to the vine. We are taught that the church is the body of Christ, and he the head of that body; consequently while we stand so intimately connected with the great Head of the church, and receive from him the engrafted word of life, we shall be able to stand in the unity of the Spirit, and bonds of peace.

The question may arise here, How do divisions seemingly get among us? Paul answers in the language of the text: it is by those who teach doctrine contrary to that which ye have learned. By this means some would be influenced by them, and go out from us, because they are not of us. The primitive disciples learned from the mouth of the prophets, Christ and the apostles, that, this same Jesus which was taken up from them into heaven, would so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts i, 11. They learned that there was to be a resurrection of the body, and also its order; for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and 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, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thess. iv, 16, 17. They learned that death is not the "gate to endless joy," but that the living know that they shall die, and that the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Eccl. ix, 5. They learned that immortality comes alone through Jesus Christ, and that the saints receive it at the resurrection of the just. They learned that the ten Commandments which constitute the law of God, are binding upon all men, through all probationary time; for says Christ, think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Matt. v, 17. They learned that these signs should follow them that believe, which the Saviour declares as follows: "In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." Mark xvi, 17, 18.

We infer from the foregoing scriptures, that those who come among us teaching not the doctrine there inculcated, but teaching for doctrine the commandments of men, are those that cause divisions, whom the Apostle tells us to avoid.

Again the Apostle draws the line still closer when he says, If any man preach any other gospel than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal. i, 9. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed. 2 John 9, 10.

But says one, What does Christ mean when he says, Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you nay; but rather division. Luke xii, 51. In Matt. x, 35, 36, he gives an explanation. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's foes shall be they of his own household. I do not understand here that Christ makes any allusion to a division in the church, but draws the dividing line between the church and the world, between him that serves God, and him that serveth him not. The gospel of Jesus Christ is calculated to make a separation, and call out from the world a people for his name. They are to be one, perfectly united in mind and judgment.

Now I beseech you, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment. 1 Cor. i, 10. Paul here teaches his brethren how they may avoid those who would cause divisions, by being perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment. A house divided against itself cannot stand. But union is strength, and is the great bulwark which bids defiance to all the stratagems of the enemy.

O that the church may arise from her Laodicean state, and put on strength! that she may look forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. Song vi, 10.

Randolph, Vt., Dec. 30th, 1856.