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
An attempt to rally Israel under any of the many party names and
creeds might indeed result in a new sect. But this is not what we
contend for. Nay, but let us rather burn to ashes these high places
of Israel's corruption, and, returning to Jerusalem, let us build
"upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner-stone." Let us abandon the nonsense
of ecclesiastical succession; cease to inflate our pride and vanity
by parading the good and long-since departed, who innocently wore
our party badges--the piety of our fathers will not atone for the
worldliness of the church at present. Let us also quit flourishing
our church creeds as though their excellency were an essential
supplement to the wisdom of inspiration. Let us, we pray you, in
the name of Jesus Christ, for the sake of our holy and divine
religion and a world that is lost in sin--oh, let us put away these
childish things, and return to Jerusalem, not to form a new sect,
but as the 'servants of the God of heaven and earth let us build
the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great King
of Israel [Jesus Christ] builded and set up' (see Ezra 5:11).
Many say we need more union of hearts, but think a visible organic
union unnecessary; but remember that it was a visible union that
Jesus prayed for, such as the world could see and be thereby
convinced and saved. We quote once more from W. H. Starr.
"They will say to me: Can not we have union of feeling without
external union [that is, with external disunion]? I answer No, you
can not, except in rare instances, and in an imperfect degree.
It is vain to be beating off the leaves of the tree while you
continually nourish its roots. And sectarianism is the "root of
bitterness," whose acrid and legitimate fruit of divided hearts,
and jealousy, and strife, doth continually grieve away the Spirit
of our God and Savior, and leave our churches in a comparative
poverty of grace and growth that methinks must make the very
heavens groan with sorrow as they look down upon our dying world.
Up, up! my brother, my sister in Christ, inquire of the Lord
concerning this thing! Why slumber ye here while Satan has entered
the fold of Christ, a wolf in sheep's clothing, and is rending the
flock? Oh, cry to God that he will direct you and all the children
of his grace, till the church of his holy Son shall be purified and
saved. Alas! it is now 'a house divided against itself.' Oh, pray
that the Lord would unite and build it up in the truth; and that
he would show you your duty in the matter. The wants of the world
require a holy and united Church."
From what has been said, and the uniform teaching of the Bible, the
following facts are very evident:
1. The division of the church into sects is one of Satan's most
effectual, if not the very greatest, means of destroying human
souls.
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