Babylon is fallen by D. Hildreth

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 30, 1863

Babylon is fallen.

By D. Hildreth

ThE churches very naturally object to being called Babylon. There are associations connected with the name which make it repugnant. The orthodox preachers can apply it to the Roman Catholic church with a good relish, but to have us apply it to them, is not so agreeable. As the Protestant sects sprung from, or came out of the Catholic church, it is evident they are the daughters mentioned in Rev. xvii, 5. They claim to be the people of God; we admit that they were, but tell them they are fallen. Rev. xiv, 8; xviii, 2. The state of the churches prior to the proclamation of the second angel's message, Rev. xiv, 8; compared with their present condition, shows conclusively that they are fallen. And this contrast can be shown from their own writings which is the best of evidence. The exhortation to the honest now is, "Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Rev. xviii, 4.

One can hardly help contrasting the proud nominal churches of the present day, with the nominal Jewish church at the first advent. That church had become so proud and self-righteous, that they despised the poorer classes, the "common people," and this was one reason why such people flocked to hear the preaching of the gospel; they were neglected and despised by the aristocratic, pharaonic church. The apostles had to rebuke this same spirit in the primitive church. 1 Cor. xi, 22 (margin) Jas. ii, 6; Gal. ii, 10–14. The Jews hated Jesus because he reproved them for their sins and applied the pointed truths of the scriptures directly to them. See how quickly they excommunicated the man that was born blind, because he unwittingly argued with them about the miracle performed on himself. Jno. ix, 30–34. They felt above him "Dost thou teach us?" You poor ignorant man, you have always been blind and could not read the scriptures, and here you are trying to instruct us scribes and pharisees, the accepted expounders of the law, who have made the scriptures our study for years, who are the learned men of this nation; we will receive instruction from no such source; "and they cast him out." The Hebrew scriptures frequently admonished them to be mindful of the poor, but they did not live out their teaching.

The rich churches of our large cities equal the pharaonic church in pride. The poor are not invited to attend the preaching of the gospel in the cushioned, gilded churches, and if they venture in, they are not noticed, but slighted in a way which says plainer than words, "We don't want you here." Are these popular ministers obeying their commission to preach the gospel to every creature? Are they imitating their Lord and Master who sent word to John, "The poor have the gospel preached to them?" Are these popular ministers any greater preachers than Christ? Are they any smarter, more learned, eloquent, noble, "respectable." In short, are they above their Lord and Master? If not, why should they not as well as Christ, preach the gospel to the poor? Does not this show that they have fallen in the estimation of heaven? "Be not high minded." There is but one thing that gives true elevation and dignity, and that is holiness. He that is holy will escape pride, formality and hypocrisy on the one hand; and baseness, confusion and ill-behavior of every sort, on the other; two extremes equally ruinous.

One word more about the proud churches. I have lately received a letter from Syracuse, N. Y., stating that the church to which the writer belonged disbanded not long since to get rid of the poor members, and afterward reorganized a new society of chosen members. What a fortunate device that was to get rid of poor, unfashionable, members. The apostles and reformers never dreamed of this way of purifying the church! But we are living in an intelligent, enlightened, progressive age where the rich can be in a church by themselves, and have the poorer class in a church by themselves. What a nice arrangement! But what saith the scriptures? "Wo unto you that are rich, for ye have received your consolation." Luke vi, 24. "Blessed be ye poor for yours is the kingdom of God." Verse 20. "How hardly shall they that have (or trust in) riches enter into the kingdom of God." Matt. x, 23, 24. "Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him." Jas. xi, 5.