BY CHARLES W. PENROSE
That there has been a great departure from the doctrines2, ordinances4 and discipline of the Church as it existed in the days of Christ and His Apostles, must be evident to every unbiased enquirer5 into religious truth. This has been demonstrated to some extent in tracts6 already presented to the reader. But the full measure of the apostasy7 that has taken place would take volumes to represent in detail. The proofs are ample that it has been universal
When Jesus Christ commenced His ministry8 on earth He found the people who claimed to be the special subjects of divine blessing9 and approbation10, with all their Priests and ministers and learned divines, entirely11 out of the way of life and salvation12. None were acceptable unto God. He denounced the most pious13, respectable, devout14 and educated among them as hypocrites and "whited sepulchres." Their foreign missionary15 enterprises he declared obnoxious16 to the Almighty17, and informed them that when they compassed sea and land to make one proselyte they made him "two fold more the child of hell." (Matt. XXIII; 15). He pronounced them blind guides who made clean the outside, but within were full of extortion and excess. The spirit of the Lord had departed from those who honored His name with their lips, but who had departed from His ways, and who, in place of the word of God, "taught for doctrine1 the commandments of men." They were without authority from God, although they claimed to have it by descent and ordination18 through a long line of predecessors19 and prophets. It should not be deemed impossible that a similar universal apostasy could take place after the establishment of the Church of Christ by Him and His Apostles. But whether so considered or not, the facts are too patent to be denied when they confront the honest and enlightened mind.
It has been shown that the Gospel as taught and administered by Christ and His Apostles required first, faith in {228} God and Jesus Christ; second, repentance20, which included reform of conduct; third, baptism by immersion22 for the remission of sins; fourth, the reception of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands of divinely authorized23 men; and that obedience24 to these brought the gifts of the spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, brotherly kindness, charity, healings, tongues, interpretations25, discerning of spirits, miracles, prophecy, revelation, and the unity27 in one body of all who were baptized into the Church, no matter what had been their previous beliefs. Also that the ordinances of the Gospel were administered by men inspired of God, who were in communion with Him, and who were ordained28 to act for and in behalf of Deity29, so that what they performed by that authority on earth was acknowledged and sealed in heaven. And that in the Church of Christ there were Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors30, Teachers, Elders, and other officers, who were constituent31 parts of the body of Christ. This may be further seen by a careful reading of 1st Cor. XII, from which it clearly appears that God placed these in the Church, that they were all essential to its existence, and that one of them could not say to any of the others, "I have no need of thee."
Look at the condition of so-called Christendom today! There are no inspired Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers, administering by divine authority and in the power and demonstration32 of the Holy Ghost. In their place there are contending Priests and Teachers guided by the wisdom of men, the learning of the schools and the traditions of the Fathers, not even claiming that there is any direct communication between them and God, but persuading mankind that revelation has ceased, and the voice of prophecy is hushed forever. Not one of the clashing, jarring and discordant33 sects34 of the day proclaim the Gospel as it was preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost, and as taught by all the duly authorized servants of God in the primitive35 Christian36 Church. The gifts and signs which Christ promised to true believers, and which were enjoyed by the members of His Church according to their needs and their faith, are not only absent from the churches of these degenerate37 times, but are pronounced needless and "done away." There is no "unity of the faith," no actual "knowledge of the Son of God," no manifestations38 of His divine acceptance nor of the power and glory of the Holy Ghost.
What is the reason of this transformation39? Has God changed? Is Christ divided? Is the Holy Spirit dead? Or, have not men changed the order, ordinances, discipline, doctrines, {229} and spirit of the Church of Christ? Is not the prediction of Isaiah the Prophet concerning these times literally40 fulfilled? "The earth also is defiled41 under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed42 the laws, changed the ordinance3, broken the everlasting43 covenant44." He said it should be "As with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury45, so with the giver of usury to him." (Isaiah XXIV; 2-5).
The deplorable condition of affairs in modern Christendom was foreseen and predicted by the Apostles of Jesus Christ, whose forebodings have come down to us in the New Testament46. Paul, writing to Timothy, spoke47 in this wise: "This know also, that in the last days perilous48 times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous49, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors50, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away." (2nd Tim. III; 1-5). Also: "Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed51 to seducing52 spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy53; having their conscience seared with a hot rod." (lst Tim. IV; 1, 2). Paul further said: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke54, exhort55 with all long-suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts56 shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching57 ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables58." (lst Tim. IV; 1-4). Paul also said they should be "ever learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." Writing to the Thessalonians he said: "Now we beseech59 you brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering60 together unto Him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first." (2nd Thess. II; 1-3).
The Apostle Peter also foresaw this great apostasy, and {230} spoke of it in this wise: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily61 shall bring in damnable heresies62, even denying the Lord that brought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness63 they shall with feigned64 words make merchandise of you, whose judgment65 now of a long time lingereth not and their damnation slumbereth not." (II Peter; 1-3.)
The "falling away" commenced in the time of the Apostles, and hence their numerous warnings and exhortations66 to the Saints, rebuking67 schisms68 and divisions, and counseling unity, showing that the Spirit of the Lord promoted union and led people to the knowledge of the truth, while dissension and strife69 came from that Evil One, and led to darkness and death. That the great apostasy commenced at a very early period is shown by the words of Paul, "for the mystery of iniquity70 doth already work. Only He that now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way." (II Thess. II; 7.) By the time the Apostles were taken out of the way, most of them slain71 by the hands of wicked men, the apostacy had assumed such proportions that only seven of the Churches were deemed worthy72 of a divine communication through the Apostle John, who had been banished73 to the island of Patmos. And in that revelation most of them were denounced by the Lord because they had "left their first love," and were commanded to repent21 or he would remove them out of their place. Some of them were "neither cold or hot," others had given away to seducing spirits, and had committed abominations and imbibed74 false doctrines. (See Rev26., chapters I, II, and III.) In that same vision John the beloved saw the Church in the form of a woman, clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars on her head taken away into the wilderness75, to remain for a lengthened76 period, and in her place he saw "a woman sitting upon a scarlet77 colored beast, full of names of blasphemy," and though decked with gold and precious stones, she held in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, and the name upon her head was Mystery. He saw further that all nations were made to drink out of that golden cup, by which they were made drunken. (See Rev. XII; 1-6; XVII; 1-5; XVIII; 2, 3.)
It is clear from these predictions in the New Testament, and others that might be cited, that the departure from the purity, simplicity78 and unity of the Gospel of Christ was to be {231} universal; and that these prophecies were fulfilled we have the testimony79 of the Church of England. In her Homily on the Perils80 of Idolatry she declares: "Clergy81 and laity82, learned and unlearned, men, women and children, of all ages, sects and degrees, of whole Christendom, a most horrible and dreadful thing to think, have been at once buried in the most abominable83 idolatry, and that for eight hundred years or more." That being true, how is it possible to believe that the Church of Christ had any existence on earth after that long continued darkness and apostacy? How could there be any remnant left of the divine authority held by the Apostles and Priesthood of the original Christian Church? If the Romish Church, from which the Church of England seceded84, had no divine authority, then the Church of England could have none, for all she had she obtained from that Church. If the Romish Church possessed85 that authority, still the Church of England could have none, for Rome excommunicated her with all her priests and ministers. The Church of England being without divine authority, all the various contending sects that have sprung from her are of necessity in a similar condition, for none of them even claim to have received any revelation from God restoring that authority and re-establishing the Church of Christ.
From the Pope of Rome down to the latest minister presuming to act in the name of the Lord, there is not and cannot be one who holds the Holy Apostleship or any portion of that sacred Priesthood which God placed in the Church, and which Paul declared essential to its existence. Good men, learned men, devout men, there have been by millions; noble, pious, and blessed women also, with them, have done the best they could according to their light and opportunities; but darkness "has covered the earth and gross darkness the people," and the apostacy from primitive Christianity, as foretold86 by its founders87, has been awful and universal!
But thank God, the restoration was also predicted, and it will be a pleasing task in further tracts to set this forth88, as revealed and brought about by revelation from God the Eternal Father, through Jesus Christ His Son and the Holy Angels sent from their presence, to usher89 in the last and greatest of all dispensations.
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1
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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ordinance
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| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
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ordinances
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| n.条例，法令( ordinance的名词复数 ) | |
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enquirer
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| 寻问者，追究者 | |
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tracts
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| 大片土地( tract的名词复数 )； 地带； （体内的）道； （尤指宣扬宗教、伦理或政治的）短文 | |
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apostasy
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| n.背教，脱党 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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ordination
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| n.授任圣职 | |
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predecessors
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| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
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repentance
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| n.懊悔 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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immersion
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| n.沉浸；专心 | |
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authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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interpretations
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| n.解释( interpretation的名词复数 )；表演；演绎；理解 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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pastors
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| n.（基督教的）牧师( pastor的名词复数 ) | |
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constituent
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| n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的 | |
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demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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discordant
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| adj.不调和的 | |
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sects
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| n.宗派，教派( sect的名词复数 ) | |
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primitive
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| adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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degenerate
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| v.退步，堕落；adj.退步的，堕落的；n.堕落者 | |
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manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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defiled
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| v.玷污( defile的过去式和过去分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进 | |
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transgressed
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| v.超越( transgress的过去式和过去分词 )；越过；违反；违背 | |
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everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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usury
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| n.高利贷 | |
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testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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50
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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51
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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seducing
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| 诱奸( seduce的现在分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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hypocrisy
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| n.伪善，虚伪 | |
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54
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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exhort
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| v.规劝，告诫 | |
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lusts
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| 贪求（lust的第三人称单数形式） | |
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itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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fables
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| n.寓言( fable的名词复数 )；神话，传说 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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privily
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| adv.暗中，秘密地 | |
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heresies
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| n.异端邪说，异教( heresy的名词复数 ) | |
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covetousness
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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exhortations
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| n.敦促( exhortation的名词复数 )；极力推荐；（正式的）演讲；（宗教仪式中的）劝诫 | |
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rebuking
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的现在分词 ) | |
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schisms
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| n.教会分立，分裂( schism的名词复数 ) | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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iniquity
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| n.邪恶；不公正 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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imbibed
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| v.吸收( imbibe的过去式和过去分词 )；喝；吸取；吸气 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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laity
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| n.俗人；门外汉 | |
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abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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seceded
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| v.脱离，退出( secede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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foretold
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| v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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founders
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| n.创始人( founder的名词复数 ) | |
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88
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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89
usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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