Bro. Smith:—Notwithstanding much has been said with regard to the Church and Church Order, much more perhaps might be said to edification and profit. It is claimed by many who profess to be Christ's disciples, that in order to constitute the true church, numbers and riches are necessary.
When we look at the subject in the light of divine revelation with regard to the first point mentioned above, we find there are to be but 144,000 redeemed from among men when the Lord comes. It will take all the little churches that will be scattered up and down in this dark world to compose the 144,000, hence some of them must be small.
I will give a few examples. Says Paul, The churches of Asia salute you, Aquilla and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 1 Cor. xvi, 19. We learn from this scripture that in any family where there are two or more members that profess the name of Christ and are in the Lord, that they constitute a church.
Again: Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. Col. iv, 15. We give one more inspired testimony on this point. Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. 1 Cor. i, 1, 2. We are taught by this declaration that those who have a name to live and are dead, are not called to the privileges of God's house, but it is those that are sanctified, and that in every place call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In the days of the apostles the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. Acts ii, 47. But the question may be asked how God adds them. He does not send men to encompass sea and land to make and secure proselytes by recording their names upon any earthly records or church-books, but God writes them in the book of life. It appears that they are recorded there before the Judgment. Read Dan. xii, 1. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people, and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered every one that shall be found written in the book. And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of Life. Rev. xxi, 27.
The next point to which I allude is riches. There is a certain class of professed Christians at the present day who make riches, to a great degree, a test of fellowship. (The nominal churches.) We see it in their houses of worship, we see it in their dress, and see it in the coldness and indifference manifested towards poor Christians. But true Christians are not to be tested by wealth, any farther than it is applied to the promotion of God's truth.
Paul warns us against the love of the world; that we should set our affections on things above and not on things on the earth. Col. iii, 2. He has taught us also that the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1 Tim. vi, 10, 11. Christ says, Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. Luke xxi, 34.
I rejoice that light is shining in these last days, and that church order is being restored. When Christ was taken up out of the church, he left it walking in all the ordinances of God's house blameless; and when he comes the second time, he will come to his own, and his own will receive him.