"Born of the Spirit;" or, Gems from the Book of LifeOsborne, Zenas
Religion
"Born of the Spirit;" or, Gems from the Book of Life
Osborne, Zenas
Free Methodist Church of North America; Osborne, Zenas
The whole family of churches evolved one after another from the old
Catholic church: and all, seem to have a mission in the world’s
drama. Just what that mission is, I am not able to define. Perhaps
some are to operate as parasites on others. The mission of the church
of Christ was to seek and save the lost and perishing. The Wesleyan
Methodist church declares in her book of discipline that they were
raised up to spread scriptural holiness over these lands; and while
she was true to her mission, nothing could stand before her. Where
ever she unfurled the banner of the cross, rebellion ceased, and
Jesus Christ was crowned Lord of all. At least multitudes were saved
to God and joined the ranks of the redeemed.
The doctrines of the M. E. Church were ordained in heaven, honored
of God, and blessed to the salvation of millions. Her general rules
were a strong tower; mighty bulwarks, rendering her when within that
fortification impregnable. For nearly a century she stood the assault
and rage of earth and hell without flinching, and the glory cloud did
rest upon her. But the time came when she fell; not by the mighty
invading forces without altogether, but by internal foes that she had
taken to her loving embrace. Her manner of life is entirely changed,
or nearly so. Humility has given way to pride and ostentation. The
doctrines that she once placed such stress upon, the witness of the
spirit, entire holiness, a confession of sin, restitution, plainness
of dress, she now largely ignores. Those internal foes that she cares
for so tenderly have robbed her of her Spiritual life and power.
The glory manifested during the service of preaching, prayer or
class-meeting, has in many places entirely disappeared. Beside the
enemies already mentioned, she had taken within her pale, members
that belong to speculative Free Masonry, who are opposed to Jesus
Christ and his gospel; hence, war was waged within the church by this
army of Satan, against Christ and His army, the saints. This division
of purpose by the two armies within the church was everywhere
manifest: each party, seeking for the supremacy. While the saints
held tenaciously to the ancient land-marks which our fathers set,
Satan’s wing labored to introduce the new order of things.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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