"Mary, do you suppose that there is any church today like the early church was?" asked Robert. "I do not know," said Mary. "It may be that there is." "Do you suppose the 'church of God,' in whose interests this paper is printed, can be that pure apostolic church?" said Robert. "What should the true church be called, anyway? This paper says it is 'non-sectarian.' What is a sect? What does 'non-sectarian' mean? Say, Mary, let us set this afternoon apart as a time of investigation of what the Bible has to say about the church. What do you say?" "Let us do that," said Mary. "We have not read the Scriptures at all on this subject. Now, since we wish to find a church home, it would be well to first search the Scriptures; probably the Bible will direct us in this most important step." CHAPTER SEVEN WHAT SAY THE SCRIPTURES? After dinner on that day, Robert and Mary Davis prayerfully and reverently began a study on the New Testament church. They had not, as we have intimated before, made any particular effort to ascertain what the Scriptures had to say about this subject. It was not until circumstances forced the issue upon them that any particular concern about it entered into their minds. On this day, however, they began a most earnest investigation of the matter. They had determined beforehand to accept whatever the Scriptures had to say about it, and to abide by their teachings. "I have a concordance ready, Mary," said Robert, "so let us begin. May God direct us in this Bible study." "I shall bring the Scripture textbook and the Bible," said Mary. "I am ready." "I suppose that we may as well take the first text in the concordance," said Robert. "It is Matt. 16:18." "'And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it,'" read Mary. "I have heard a few discussions about the 'rock' of this text," said Robert. "Some affirm that it means Peter, others that it means Peter's confession, and still others that it means Christ. I do not know which is right, but I believe Christ is the real rock. Anyway, Mary, it teaches that Christ did build a church, doesn't it? and that it should not be overthrown. Read Acts 2:47." "'Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,'" read Mary. "Then the church was built by this time, wasn't it? 'And the Lord added to the church,' Then I wonder if they joined the church? How did the Lord add them?"