Birth of a Reformation; Or, The Life and Labors of Daniel S. WarnerByers, A. L. (Andrew L.)
Religion
Birth of a Reformation; Or, The Life and Labors of Daniel S. Warner
Byers, A. L. (Andrew L.)
Church of God (Anderson, Ind.) -- History; Warner, D. S. (Daniel Sidney), 1842-1895
But the words of Paul apply to the church, as well as to the
individual. It is designed to assay and remove the dross of the
whole body of Christ. Before the great holiness reform had shed
its benign influence upon the Christian world, and to some extent
raised the church out of the narrow rut of churchism into a deeper
and broader loyalty to God and unselfish love for humanity, the
idea of getting saved from "your church" would have been regarded
as blasphemy. But, thanks to the Lord! a purer light and higher
standard of truth now compel the trumpeters of God all along the
line of holiness to insist on salvation from all "our churches."
But it may be asked, What is it that we must be saved from in "our
churches"? Surely there must be some way to discriminate between
that which is pernicious and that which is of God. Now, I know of
no corner from which to run off this line but the one that Paul
points out: "Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,"
and, "This word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those
things that are shaken, as of things that are made." God has
founded one body--one church, fold, or kingdom. In it he has placed
every element that is essential to its work, its prosperity, and
its perpetuity. His wisdom has adapted it to all ages of time and
conditions of men. Its faith was delivered to the saints once for
all. Its principles and precepts are the last testament, the final
and immutable will of the eternal God. This divine organization is
invested with such absolute symmetry and perfection that to attempt
the slightest modification of its divine unity or polity is wicked
presumption in the sight of its divine Founder, and incurs the
curses and forfeits all the blessings of God's Holy Book. Now,
since the work of entire sanctification is designed to elevate the
church to her normal and perfect condition in the sight of God, it
must shake out and purge away every existing element that was not
originally implanted by the hand of the Lord. This test, I think,
is one in which all true Christians agree. Indeed, if we were to
untie from this moorage we should soon be driven to sea without
compass or chart; we should virtually open the door for every
tradition of Rome and invention of error.
Starting, then, from this corner-stone of divine truth, established
at Jerusalem nearly nineteen hundred years ago, and with the Bible
as our compass and field notes, let us run off a line.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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