Samuel E. West 40 minutes ago · The idea of establishing a church by revelation in the present day is loudly proclaimed against and ridiculed by the pious folks, and the principle as being no longer needed, alleging that the canon of Scripture was full, and proving that God can never speak again to man without annihilating all pure religion from the face of earth, but they have merely exposed their own folly, for it must be well known to every man, who has not spent all his time in herding his father’s hogs, that the church had become corrupt and abominable, that their spurious systems were staggering one against another, and the grossest superstition and confusion prevailed among them. Well did the prophet explain--They are drunk, but not with wine! they stagger but not with strong drink? It is an easy matter to trace the gradual decline of truth and Godliness, and the rise and progress of anti-Christ, in a short sketch of the church, from the time of the apostles to the present time, showing the absolute necessity of the gospel being revealed from heaven again in the last days. It is very difficult, it is true, to come at any thing in the shape of church history, that can be relied on, as it has been mostly handed down to us by religious bigots, who have sacrificed truth for party purposes--But by comparing all in our reach, we may then cast a line and come at something near the truth. It would be needless for us to say anything of the church in the days of the Lord, for no one will doubt but he established a perfect order: nothing superfluous, nor lacking ought.--As soon as this system became changed or modified it was no longer the church of Christ, else he had not established a perfect order: for it is was perfect it could not be improved, if any thing taken from it it could not be perfect, and therefore could not accomplish the object intended. Through the instrumentality of the apostles the gospel made rapid strides; till persecutions broke out on every hand. The first general persecution commenced in the year 64, by Nero, in which multitudes suffered the most cruel deaths, that men fitted out as demons, could invent. A second persecution broke out about the year 74, under Demitian. Forty thousand Christians were put to death, and the church almost extirpated, and John banished to the Isle of Patmos. Even at this early age the most abominable doctrines were propagated, which called forth the threats of the Almighty upon them, except they repented. And the church, at that early day was divided into two parties, viz.: the Docetae and the Ebionites. The former denied the supreme divinity of Christ, and also that the Son of God had any proper humanity, and asserted that he died on the cross in appearance only. The latter asserted that Jesus Christ was a mere man, though of a most excellent character. They both denied atonement by his blood, and expected salvation by their own works. Among the former were the Nicolaitans, whom Christ mentioned to John with utter abhorrence. They had many disgusting peculiarities; allowed a community of wives, and indulged their sensual appetites without restraint. The Ebionites considered that salvation came by observing the law of Moses, and thus called forth Paul’s strong appeal; whether salvation was of works or of grace. The history of the church from this time to the end of the fourth century, is one of gradual and deep declension, though vast numbers were added to them, and they passed through serious persecutions. In the second century Montanus made his appearance, who pretended that he was the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, whom Jesus Christ promised to send. He had many followers in Asia and Africa, and added new precepts, requiring seclusion from the world. Numbers of rites and ceremonies were introduced into the church; and they began to modify their religion so as to please the Jews and heathens; and adopted forms and ceremonies from their religious temples, altars, and days of fasting. Peculiarities of dress, and splendid ceremonies were multiplied in abundance; and military rites and phrases were introduced into the church in this century. In the third century a wild and monkish superstition spread itself among them, and the clergy became very corrupt, and excessively ambitious, so that at the persecution, raised by Decius, nearly the whole of the church renounced Christianity, and sacrificed, and burnt incense to the heathen Gods; and useless rites and ceremonies continued to increase. In the third century Origen introduced a new mode of explaining the scriptures, (now known as the spiritualizing system) the mystical sense which he put on the word of God was wild and enthusiastic. He made a great division in the church, became very popular with philosophers and men of wild and visionary notions, and was honoured by the courts. He introduced the practice of selecting a single text as the subject of a discourse. Though he suffered martyrdom, few men brought in more corruptions than Origen. The church of Christ sustained its high and holy character but a little period after the age of the apostles. It, however, was comparatively tolerable till after the middle of the third century; from which period scarcely a vestige of Christianity could be found. Cyprian says, that even before the Decian persecution, “long peace had corrupted the discipline. Each had been bent on improving his patrimony, and had forgotten what believers had done under the apostles, and what they ought always to do.--They were brooding over the arts of amassing wealth. The pastors and deacons each forgot their duty. Works of mercy were neglected, and discipline was at its lowest ebb. Luxury and effeminacy prevailed. Meretricious arts in dress were cultivated. Fraud and deceit were practiced among brethren. Christians could unite themselves in matrimony with unbelievers; could swear, not only without reverence but without veracity. Even bishops deserted their places of residence and their flocks. They traveled through distant provinces in quest of pleasure and gain, gave no assistance to the needy brethren at home, but were insatiable in their thirst for money. They possessed estates by fraud, and multiplied usury. What have we not deserved to suffer for such conduct? An awful persecution followed by Dioclesian, and his successor Maximin Galerius, insomuch that during the reign of the former, medals were struck off with this inscription, Nomine Christianorum Deleto. The name of Christians being extinguished. When suddenly an unexpected and mighty arm was extended towards them in the person of Constantine, who publicly embraced Christianity. He abolished the ancient religion of the Romans, and established the sort of Christianity that then existed. The heathen gods were drawn by cords through the streets for public ridicule and contempt. Their priests were cast out, dispersed and banished. Immense and splendid temples were every where erected, and richly endowed, and the greatest honor put on the professors of Christianity. But yet Constantine was a cruel tyrant and a monstrous villain. The most of those who were exalted to places of power and trust were engaged in pompous rites and ceremonies, and knew little of the doctrines taught by Christ and his apostles. Their elevation to wealth and power was followed by an amazing increase of luxury and vice. Bishops contending with bishops run to sad extents of debauchery, and the whole mass of people were exceedingly corrupt. Shoals of profligate men, allured by gain or driven by fear pressed into the church-- discipline ceased, and superstition reigned without control. The gentile converts to this Christianity introduced a round of prayers and processions, by which they had been accustomed to appease the wrath of their gods; hastily transferred the virtues which had been supposed to belong to their temples and their ablutions to Christian temples and Christian ordinances. These new converts were easily subjected to the most abominable impositions. Prodigies and miracles, therefore, without number were multiplied. The bones and relics of dead saints performed wonders. Dust and earth brought from Palestine was viewed as a certain and powerful remedy against the violence of wicked spirits; and before the close of the century, the great business of the priests was to impose, in ten thousand ways, in the vilest manner, upon the credulity of the ignorant multitude. Arius now made a great stir, denying the divinity of Christ, and drew vast numbers over to his opinions, and was assisted by Constantine, but suddenly died in the year 336; but his doctrines continued to spread far and wide. In the sixth century the world was at ease; and superstition had made rapid strides. The ministers were excessively ignorant, and led away themselves by the strangest phantasies, deluded and destroyed the people. Strange rites were performed; miracles without number believed, and the most superstitious services rendered to departed souls; images were worshipped. Tombs and grave yards were places to meet departed spirits in multitudes. The doctrine of purgatory had gained strong hold upon the minds of the people. Some starved themselves with a frantic obstinacy; and others erected high pillars and stood on them for years. Simeon, a Syrian, who was one of their leaders, spent thirty seven years of his life upon five pillars, with the idea of getting as near heaven as he could, attracting the admiration of a superstitious world. The first monastic order was instituted about the beginning of the fourth century, by a person of the name of Anthony, who sold his possessions and lived a life of the most rigid self-denial, in the wilderness, and such vast numbers followed his example, that if the wilderness was not glad for them, it literally abounded with them. His monastic regulations rapidly spread into Palestine and Syria, and were soon established throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some followed Anthonys instructions, and lived in monasteries, whilst others followed his example, and dwelt alone in the wildest parts of the wilderness. In the seventh century, two immense powers, the Mahommedan and the Papal, arose, which laid the east and the west in desolation, and finally swallowed up every fragment of the church, if any was yet remaining, for Monachism had prevailed for two centuries in all parts of the known earth. The monks had increased to an almost incredible number, and their whole business was to defraud and cheat the public. In the thirteenth century, Gregory reduced the monks to four societies; but the Mendicants (established by Innocent III) were the most popular, insomuch, that we are informed it was very common for the laity to request in their last wills, that their bodies might be wrapped in the rags of some monk and buried among the Mendicants. Marsh says, in his Ecclesiastical History, To give a full account of all the operations, corruptions, superstitions, frauds, and enormities of the monks; their bitter animosities and contentions, would require volumes. Their history sickens the heart. To see men under pretense of great devotedness to God, leading the most loathsome, filthy lives, sometimes casting off all clothing, and going on all fours, like beasts * * * Their bodies covered with vermin; eating, of choice, the most nauseous food; wearing heavy chains; fastening grates upon their breasts, and backs; * * * flogging themselves with thorn sticks and otherwise mutilating themselves, till they frequently expired; and these men commanding reverence and homage as the saints--holy ones. What can be more revolting and distressing to a rational mind? And is this indeed Christianity? Is this the church which Christ redeemed to himself, and renewed by his spirit, that he might present it a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing? Oh no. But we will see worse things than these. From the seventh century, the whole Christian world was divided between the Pope and Mohammed, and vain has been the search to find out any branch of the church which had not fallen into one or the other of these heresies. It is true that ingenious men have endeavored to find a loop-hole, and prove a regular descent from the apostles--but the rent has only been made worse; for the only straw they had to catch was the Albigenses or Waldenses; and I have never heard that any one could trace them further than the tenth century, when they were founded by Claudius but took the name of Waldenses from Peter Waldo, who joined them and became their leader in the year 1160; and greatly improved their discipline, and introduced a more rational system. But it is the easiest matter in the world to prove that they had become corrupt, for Wall says, there was a division among them about the year 1150. One sect declared against the baptism of infants, but the main body rejected their opinions, and they were soon silenced.--The prophet has said if a man thinks that infants need baptism, he is in the gall of bitterness. Besides, had they been the church of Christ they would have needed no reform by Waldo, for it must have been a perfect system. Now, let us ask the question--Was there a pure church on the face of the earth, in the twelfth century? We answer, No. Then, shall we begin to mend this old garment? Why, the rent will but be worse. Seeing that the fountain is corrupt, shall we begin to purify the stream? or shall we make good the tree first, before we look for good fruit? Job asks the question, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? and then he give the answer--No one. Seeing that the church has been disorganized, and altogether overcome, and the church of Rome (from whence they all proceeded,) is acknowledged to be the mother of harlots, of course her offspring are no better than they should be! While we were in England some years back, we were somewhat amused by two divine, one of the church of Rome, and the other the church of England, when the latter branded the former of being a propagator of the doctrine the “great whore.” It looked too bad--a daughter having played the harlot, and then to charge her mother with her own infamy! In the church, as established by Christ and his apostles, men received the Holy Ghost, which caused them to dream dreams, see visions, and prophecy; and the power of Godliness was among them? and they could not be carried about with every wind of doctrine; and the gift of the Holy Ghost was as essential to the church as breath to the body, for that alone was to lead them into all truth, and that this blessing was lost in the earliest ages--that iniquity abounded in every branch of the church, I presume no one will attempt to deny; and the Holy Ghost could not abide in the midst of sin and corruption. Seeing this blessing was lost, can any man, or all men, bring back or restore that which has been taken from the world? As well might they endeavor to cast a cord around the Sun, and drag him to the earth. Their arms are too feeble till God himself shall confer the power on man to bind on earth and in heaven, and the Holy Ghost again given through the ordinance of the gospel. (Zions Reveille, March 25, 1847
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 20:08:43 +0000