What they have bound on earth is bound in heaved, and what they have loosed on earth is loosed in heaven. The question with us now is not or should not be, What was believed or practiced in the church one hundred or a thousand years ago? but, rather, What was the faith which was once delivered to the saints? We are not now to ask, Are our ministers by succession or ordination, through the dark ages of papal abominations, traceable to the apostles? but rather let it be asked, Are they such men as the Holy Ghost commanded the church to separate to the work whereunto He had called them?
...Not even in the history of the first century of the gospel church are we to look for a perfect rule for our faith and practice as disciples of our Savior Jesus Christ; for while the apostles were still in the flesh, carnality was detected in the church at Corinth, heresy and witchcraft in the churches of Galatia, and dissensions at Antioch; and in the days of the Apostle John there were many antichrists which went out from the church because they were not of them. And Paul, Peter and Jude admonished the saints that many should depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. And even of the Elders who wept and fell on Paul's neck, because he had told them they should see his face no more, should men arise and speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. The primitive saints could only abide in the Apostles' fellowship as they continued steadfastly in their doctrine; they were allowed to follow no man only so far as they followed Christ. Can it then be safe for us to accept the usages or traditions of the church, or of any organization claiming to be the church, as a standard of faith or rule of practice, which have existed since the time the Apostles were in the flesh? If in the days of their sojourn on earth no church was perfectly free from defect, at what period from that to present time have any of the churches surpassed the primitive churches in purity? We have a more sure guide and directory. The doctrine, examples and precepts of God, alone are reliable. To them only are we exhorted to give heed, as unto a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arise in our hearts.
-Extracts from an Editorial on Ecclesiastical History and Church Creeds, Signs of the Times, August 15, 1881. This was also the last editorial written by Gilbert Beebe. It appears on page 937 in Hassell's Church History.
We readily admit our opposition to the present system of Bible Societies as religious institutions for the conversion of the world; but we are so far from being opposed to the gratuitous circulation of the Bible, (without note or comment), that in the preceding number we have offered to supply a whole country at our own expense. We are opposed to Tract Societies, and we are ready to give reason of our opposition; but we are not opposed to the circulation of the Bible truth in pamphlet, tract, newspaper, or any other form, gratuitously or otherwise.
We oppose such mission societies as are independent of the church of God, which we hold to be the only divinely authorized religious society upon earth; but we have, through the columns of a former number of this paper, offered to support the Lord's ministers or missionaries to the utmost of our ability, even to the dividing of our last loaf with such of them as go out without purse or scrip, relying upon the sure mercies of David, without waiting to get the Lord's promise endorsed by a Mission Board. We feel disposed to let such as have hired themselves out to Missionary Boards stand or fall to their own master, knowing that his servants they are, to whom they yield themselves to obey. We consider all that a kind Providence has put into our possession belongs to the Lord, and as His steward we are ready to deal it out to His servants according to His word....
- Editorial Remarks, April 10, 1833
How astonishingly rapid is the advancement of priestcraft and clerical power among the Baptists of the present day. Never, until the present, has anti-Christ appeared so conspicuously to flourish under the Baptist name. Never, until the present, have the saints so fully and fearfully realized the apostolic prediction, "Even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they, with feigned words, make merchandise of you; whose judgment now a long time lingereth not." (2 Peter 2:1, 3) Can it be doubted that these men who assume to be teachers, divinely authorized to teach young men the science of preaching, and the arts of modern machinery, are pointed out by the apostle as false teachers? Or who can doubt that these are teaching damnable heresies, who in the second of the above resolutions are teaching that "it is the duty of every disciple of Christ to make temporal sacrifice to promote the eternal salvation of men!" This sentiment, glaring as it is, is set down as a given point with them, and seems to be the very ground and pillar of their faith; remove this pillar and down their entire system must fall.
Now if it be the duty of the disciples of Christ to promote, or aid Jehovah in the eternal salvation of men, we ask, On what page in the Bible is the obligation recorded? Or in what respect, or respects is God deficient that we should need the aid of His saints in the promotion of eternal salvation of men? Will the diviners of the Ministerial Conference inform us what proportion of eternal salvation is of works, and what of grace? How much depends on the saints, and how much the Lord intends to do Himself? Should those learned sages condescend to answer our enquiries, they will please to recollect that we have been in the habit of believing that the eternal salvation of me, i.e., all that God ever designed to save, was beyond the reach of being promoted by our temporal sacrifices.
We read that God "hath saved us and called us with an holy calling; not according to works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus (before the world began)." Hence it appears to be quite too late for us to promote that which was accomplished before the world began. We would have them inform us to whom these temporal sacrifices are to be made? They cannot be of God, for He is full of burnt offerings; and "sacrifices and offerings He would not, " says the Lamb of God, "because He has no pleasure in them." He also said, "Go ye and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice."
Hence it cannot be our duty to disobey God, and offer sacrifices to him in violation of His express command.
Is it then divine justice that calls for temporal sacrifices to promote eternal salvation? If so, how much must be added to the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, which through the eternal Spirit He offered up to God, in order to secure the eternal salvation of the elect? But should we be told that the sacrifice of our Lord secured the eternal salvation of the elect, and that He by one offering or sacrifice (not temporal) hath forever perfected them that are sanctified. Heb. 10:14. We would ask those knowing ones of Hamilton Theological Seminary how many of the non-elect can be eternally saved by the offering of temporal sacrifices? Again, since it is written, "There remaineth no more sacrifice for sin."
For what are these temporal sacrifices to be made? And how are they to promote the eternal salvation of men? If the eternal salvation of man may be promoted by our temporal sacrifices, surely the cattle upon a thousand hills would be a glorious offering, and ten thousand rivers of oil would be an offering of great magnitude. But perhaps these ministers will say we have mistaken their design, and misinterpreted their sayings, and that their object is only to awaken the saints to a sense of their duty touching the temporal concerns of the church. If this be all, why tell them to make temporal sacrifices "for the promotion of the eternal salvation of men?"
Is salvation of the Lord? And if it is, can that eternal salvation which is of the Lord be promoted by men? And if it can, why did the apostle say, "By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast," etc. (Eph. 2)
...Not even in the history of the first century of the gospel church are we to look for a perfect rule for our faith and practice as disciples of our Savior Jesus Christ; for while the apostles were still in the flesh, carnality was detected in the church at Corinth, heresy and witchcraft in the churches of Galatia, and dissensions at Antioch; and in the days of the Apostle John there were many antichrists which went out from the church because they were not of them. And Paul, Peter and Jude admonished the saints that many should depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. And even of the Elders who wept and fell on Paul's neck, because he had told them they should see his face no more, should men arise and speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. The primitive saints could only abide in the Apostles' fellowship as they continued steadfastly in their doctrine; they were allowed to follow no man only so far as they followed Christ. Can it then be safe for us to accept the usages or traditions of the church, or of any organization claiming to be the church, as a standard of faith or rule of practice, which have existed since the time the Apostles were in the flesh? If in the days of their sojourn on earth no church was perfectly free from defect, at what period from that to present time have any of the churches surpassed the primitive churches in purity? We have a more sure guide and directory. The doctrine, examples and precepts of God, alone are reliable. To them only are we exhorted to give heed, as unto a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arise in our hearts.
-Extracts from an Editorial on Ecclesiastical History and Church Creeds, Signs of the Times, August 15, 1881. This was also the last editorial written by Gilbert Beebe. It appears on page 937 in Hassell's Church History.
We readily admit our opposition to the present system of Bible Societies as religious institutions for the conversion of the world; but we are so far from being opposed to the gratuitous circulation of the Bible, (without note or comment), that in the preceding number we have offered to supply a whole country at our own expense. We are opposed to Tract Societies, and we are ready to give reason of our opposition; but we are not opposed to the circulation of the Bible truth in pamphlet, tract, newspaper, or any other form, gratuitously or otherwise.
We oppose such mission societies as are independent of the church of God, which we hold to be the only divinely authorized religious society upon earth; but we have, through the columns of a former number of this paper, offered to support the Lord's ministers or missionaries to the utmost of our ability, even to the dividing of our last loaf with such of them as go out without purse or scrip, relying upon the sure mercies of David, without waiting to get the Lord's promise endorsed by a Mission Board. We feel disposed to let such as have hired themselves out to Missionary Boards stand or fall to their own master, knowing that his servants they are, to whom they yield themselves to obey. We consider all that a kind Providence has put into our possession belongs to the Lord, and as His steward we are ready to deal it out to His servants according to His word....
- Editorial Remarks, April 10, 1833
How astonishingly rapid is the advancement of priestcraft and clerical power among the Baptists of the present day. Never, until the present, has anti-Christ appeared so conspicuously to flourish under the Baptist name. Never, until the present, have the saints so fully and fearfully realized the apostolic prediction, "Even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they, with feigned words, make merchandise of you; whose judgment now a long time lingereth not." (2 Peter 2:1, 3) Can it be doubted that these men who assume to be teachers, divinely authorized to teach young men the science of preaching, and the arts of modern machinery, are pointed out by the apostle as false teachers? Or who can doubt that these are teaching damnable heresies, who in the second of the above resolutions are teaching that "it is the duty of every disciple of Christ to make temporal sacrifice to promote the eternal salvation of men!" This sentiment, glaring as it is, is set down as a given point with them, and seems to be the very ground and pillar of their faith; remove this pillar and down their entire system must fall.
Now if it be the duty of the disciples of Christ to promote, or aid Jehovah in the eternal salvation of men, we ask, On what page in the Bible is the obligation recorded? Or in what respect, or respects is God deficient that we should need the aid of His saints in the promotion of eternal salvation of men? Will the diviners of the Ministerial Conference inform us what proportion of eternal salvation is of works, and what of grace? How much depends on the saints, and how much the Lord intends to do Himself? Should those learned sages condescend to answer our enquiries, they will please to recollect that we have been in the habit of believing that the eternal salvation of me, i.e., all that God ever designed to save, was beyond the reach of being promoted by our temporal sacrifices.
We read that God "hath saved us and called us with an holy calling; not according to works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus (before the world began)." Hence it appears to be quite too late for us to promote that which was accomplished before the world began. We would have them inform us to whom these temporal sacrifices are to be made? They cannot be of God, for He is full of burnt offerings; and "sacrifices and offerings He would not, " says the Lamb of God, "because He has no pleasure in them." He also said, "Go ye and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice."
Hence it cannot be our duty to disobey God, and offer sacrifices to him in violation of His express command.
Is it then divine justice that calls for temporal sacrifices to promote eternal salvation? If so, how much must be added to the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, which through the eternal Spirit He offered up to God, in order to secure the eternal salvation of the elect? But should we be told that the sacrifice of our Lord secured the eternal salvation of the elect, and that He by one offering or sacrifice (not temporal) hath forever perfected them that are sanctified. Heb. 10:14. We would ask those knowing ones of Hamilton Theological Seminary how many of the non-elect can be eternally saved by the offering of temporal sacrifices? Again, since it is written, "There remaineth no more sacrifice for sin."
For what are these temporal sacrifices to be made? And how are they to promote the eternal salvation of men? If the eternal salvation of man may be promoted by our temporal sacrifices, surely the cattle upon a thousand hills would be a glorious offering, and ten thousand rivers of oil would be an offering of great magnitude. But perhaps these ministers will say we have mistaken their design, and misinterpreted their sayings, and that their object is only to awaken the saints to a sense of their duty touching the temporal concerns of the church. If this be all, why tell them to make temporal sacrifices "for the promotion of the eternal salvation of men?"
Is salvation of the Lord? And if it is, can that eternal salvation which is of the Lord be promoted by men? And if it can, why did the apostle say, "By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast," etc. (Eph. 2)
The writer states...
ReplyDeleteWe read that God "hath saved us and called us with an holy calling; not according to works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus (before the world began)." Hence it appears to be quite too late for us to promote that which was accomplished before the world began.
Is the writer suggesting that one's calling of God and the application of one's salvation occurs before the world began?
It is less obscure,to understand the passage to convey the idea that calling and salvation have occured in time in accordance with the eternal purpose and design of God.
The design is salvation through faith in Christ.
Ephesians 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Excellent article
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