H O W T O B E A C H R ST A N

T H E GO S PE L O FJE S U S C H R IS T

T H O M A S A . D A V IE S

N E W YO R ! C IT Y

N O T IC E — T b is am l l t be a re
o b la in ea
d d
’
ssin by
p p z e c an g
f/c e A n t/t o r by m a il on ly on re ce ip t of T m en ty fi ne c e n ts f o r
,

a sing le copy or O n e D ollar f o r fi v e copie s sen t by m a il

, ,
.

A ny N e w sp aper M ag a z ine
,
or P erio dic a l c an p a b lislz
, ,

ra is b w b or ar i z lz le z o n c e
t l f /
‘

g t e o e a ny p t o t z s p p
a n .
 DE C E MB E R , l 89 5 .

S U B JE C T S !

R O A D T O S A LV A T IO N .

PR E FA C E .

A PPE A L F O R C H R IS T IA N U N IT Y .

C H R IS T
’
S C H U R C H .

C H R IS T IA N O R GA N I! A T IO N S .

C O MPO S IT IO N O F C H R IS T IA N

O R GA N I! A T IO N S .

GO D S IC
’
O R GA N LA W S .

C A T H O LIC A N D PR O T E S T A N T LA YME N .

A PO S T O LIC E R A .

C O PY R IG H T ,
1 895, B Y T H O MA S A . DA V IE S .

[ R g / ! f T ra n s la z io n R es e r ve d !
‘
i z o
 PR E FA C E .

T h e appea l of P ope L e o X III t o t h e A n g lica n .

C h u rc h for u n ity of fa i t h , b ri n gs u p for co n sideratio n

two very i m p orta n t poi n ts as precede n ts for it s ac c o m
,

p lis h m e n t T
. h e firs t is t h at
,
t h e R o m a n C at h o lic o r

n iz a t io n c lai m s t o b e t h e exc lu si v e a n d o n ly C h ris t s

’
g a
C h u rc h of t h e gospe l an d t h e s eco n d is t h at t h e s o
,

ca lled aposto lic s u ccessio n carrie s wit h it t h e D ivi n e

powers w h ic h C h rist gav e to h is t we lve a p os t les .

We fi n d n ot h i n g in t h e apos t le s creed o r in it s ’

e laborati o n t h e N i ce n e Creed t h at s ett le s defi n ite ly

, , ,

t h ese two p o in t s ! I n t h e apost le s creed we re ad ’

I ,

b e lieve in t h e Ho ly C at h o lic C h u rc h ( C h ris t s C h u rc h ! ’

,

an d in t h e su b s eq u e n t ly m ade N ice n e Creed I ,

b e lieve in O n e C at h o li c A postolic C h u rc h ( R o m a n !

Cat h o lic C h u rc h ! E very o n e m u st draw h is o w n

co n cl u si o n as t o t h e reas o n w h y t h e first n a m e giv e n
t o C h ris t s C h u rc h was s u b seq u e n t ly c h a n ged to t h e
’

O n e Cat h o lic A p osto lic C h u rc h as n eit h er o f t h es e ,

two p oi n ts are fo u n d i n t h e gos pel n o r in t h e creeds ,

of t h e C h ris tia n de n o m i n atio n s w h ic h accept t h e m ,

n o r are t h ey es se n t ia ls for sa lvat io n ; it i s i m porta n t

f or all c h r isti an s t o fi n d o u t by w h at a u t h o rity t h ey

are acce p te d an d w h et h er t h ey are acce p ted as a
,

f ait h or as a di s cip li n e or as deducti o n s

, ,
.

T h e twelve apos t le s h ad t h e powers give n to t h e m

b y C h ri s t of h ea li n g t h e si c k c as ti n g o u t dev ils , ,

raisi n g t h e dead an d forg ivi n g si n s t h at t h ey m ig h t

, ,

pos s e ss t h e sa m e p owers t h at He used s o s u c c es sf u lly

in H i s tea c h i n g s A s t h e s u cces si o n i s ts of t o day are
.

u n a b le to p erfor m t h es e m irac le s we n at u ral ly c o n ,

c lu d e t h at t h ey d o n o t p os ses s t h e po wer to p erfor m

t h e m a n d we are t h ere f ore co m p e lle d t o look i n to
,

t h e g ospe l to fi n d out h o w C h ri s t di s posed o f t h ose

a p osto li c p owers .

We fi n d in Matt xvi 1 9 t h at Pe ter h ad a n add i

. .
,

t io n al power of loos in g a n d b i n din g in Heave n an d

o n eart h . A s t h e power is n o t exp licit ly exp la in e d
we m u st look f or s o m e a c t or acts of loosi n g or b i n d
in g do n e u n der it for an exp la n at io n ; w e fa il to fi n d a
6 P ref ac e .

i g le a c t of P eter s p ower o f loosi n g o r bi n di n g in

s n
’

t h e e n tire gos p el . T h is was a p er m is sive p ower t o b e

us ed at t h e wil l o f Peter an d was n o t a m a n datory
,

law T h e p osses sio n of a p er m i s siv e power does n o t

.

o f n e ces sity de m a n d i ts exec u tio n an d as t h e re is n o , g

record in t h e gospe l t h at P eter exercised t h a t p ower ,

i t t h erefore s ta n ds j u st w h ere i t was give n wit h o u t

a c tio n s o f ar a s t h e record te lls u s .

T h e p owers give n t o t h e t we lve a p os t les were gi ve n

t o t h e m pers o n a lly b y C h rist an d i f an y o t h er p erso n
,

o r pers o n s were t o p os ses s t h os e p owers t h ey m us t

h av e bee n give n by C h ri s t o r give n t o so m e o n e

a u t h orized b y H im to co n fer t h ose powers u p o n
ot h ers . I f s u c h p owers were ever co n f erred as t h ey ,

were very i m p orta n t it s h o u ld be recorde d in as

,

p lai n la n g u age as t h at u s ed t o c o n fer t h os e power s

u p o n t h e a p ostles a n d s h o u ld n o t be as s u m ed b y
,

i m p licatio n . N o p o we 1 s o f t h e ki n d h av i n g bee n
g i ve n by C hris t ex c e p t t o t h e t welv e apos t le s o r ,

give n t o t h e apost le s to co n fer t h e m u p o n ot h ers c an

be fou n d l n t h e e n tire g o s p e l We th erefore s ay t ha t
.

bi b lically n o s u c h po w ers were ever gi v e n t o an y o n e

exce p t t h e twe lve apos tles E v e n th o u gh i t b e
.

c lai m e d t h at t h e Holy G h os t was t o i n s truc t t h e m ,

t h es e teac h i n gs w ould b e in h ar m o n y wit h C h ris t s

-
’

te ac h i n gs an d if a n yt h i n g difi e re n t was gi v e n i t in
, ,

like m a n n er s h o u ld b e recorded to m ake th e g o s pel

c o m plete o n t h e s u b j ect .

Notwit h sta n di n g t h is we h ave n ever co n versed wit h

a cat h oli c lay m a n w h o did n o t be lieve t h at t h e a p o s
to lic s u c ces sio n carrie s wit h it th e Divi n e p owers
give n b y C h ris t to t h e t we lve apos t le s an d t h at t h e
R o m a n Cat h o lic C h u rc h alo n e i s C h rist s C h urc h
’
.

T h ese clai m s as wi ll be s h o w n h erea f ter are i n fri n ge

m e n ts u p o n t h e s ocial political an d religiou s rig h t s
,

o f all c h ris t ia n s o u tside of t h at orga n izatio n A s a .

n e ces si ty t h is h a s produced i n t h e past viole n t di s

t u rb an c e s
,
des tr u ctio n of property an d h as cos t
t h ousan d s of lives an d if co n ti n u ed t h e sa m e resu lt s
,

are pos sib le in t h e f u t u re as h i s tory repeats itse lf

, ;

T h e clai m t h at C hris t s u n ivers al C hu rc h i s c o n

’

fi n ed to t h i s partic u lar orga n izatio n if tr u e wo u ld , ,

 P ref ac e . 7

d efea t t h e obj e ct o f it s es tab lis h me n t an d h e n ce i s , ,

i n co n si ste n t wit h t h e s pirit of H i s g os p e l We t h i n k .

t h ere h as bee n a wide m is co n ce ptio n of w h at C h rist s

.
’

C h u rc h i s as fo u n ded by H im We all ad m it t h at .

t h e gospel c o n ta in s all t h e laws of G o d n ece ss ary t o

s a lvatio n W e s ay t h at C h ri s t s C h u rc h is t h e
’
.

e m b odi m e n t o f t h e gospe l a D ivi n e law an d i s , ,

n eit h er a m ateria l e n tity or terres tria l orga n izatio n .

We c lai m t h at all re ligio u s orga n izatio n s are f o r

religio u s i n s tructio n t o i n d u c e peop le to ac c ept t h e
fait h in t h e tr u t h s of C h ris t s gos p e l an d be b aptized’
,

i n to H is C h u rc h w h e n t h ey wi ll co m e u n der God s
,
’

p ro m ise an d law s ec u ri n g t o t h e m h appi n es s h ere

a f ter ii t h ey co n ti n u e t o fo llo w t h e ot h er acquire
m e n t s of t h e go spe l or p u n is h m e n t f or s in
, .

O u r e fi o rt in t h i s litt le work wi ll be directed to s h ow

t h e b eari n g of t h es e t w o c lai m s u po n t h e prospect o f
c h ris tia n u n ity a n d m ore direct ly u p o n t h e s ocia l
, ,

political an d religiou s rig h ts o f t h e citize n s o f t h e

U n ited S t ates es p ecia lly an d o f c h ristia n s ge n era lly
, ,

TH E A PPE A L FO R C H R I S TI A N U NIT Y .

T h i s appeal is reso u n di n g t hroug h out t h e le n gt h

a n d b readt h o f t h e la n d a n d it c learly i n dicate s a
deep seated u n re s t T h ere is u n do u b ted ly a ca u s e
.

f or t h is co n d itio n an d in diag n osi n g t he c as e if we

,

c a n dis cover t h e caus e we m a y b e a b le a ls o to dis

,

c over a re m edy T h e diver s ity of fait h an d b e lief in

.

t h e vario u s c h ris tia n de n o m i n atio n s is t h e rea l ca u s e

o f t h e appeal for u n i t y It is t h erefore of t h e firs t
.

i m porta n ce t h at we s h ou ld u n dersta n d w h at b e lief

a n d fait h are a n d u po n w h at fo u n datio n t h ey re a lly
rest a n d t h e n to as certai n w h y su c h a variet y o f
,

be liefs an d fait h s exi st .

T h e ter m s be lief a n d f ai t h are u sed in t h e S cri p

t u re i n terc h a n gea b ly a n d a pp are n t ly h ave t h e s a m e
m ea n i n g in p lace s w h atever m ay b e t h e ca u se ; b e lief
,

i s t h e rece p tio n o f t h e i n for m atio n a b o u t Jes u s C hris t

a n d H is gospe l as tr u t h a n d fait h i s t h e s pi r ,
i t u al
c o n victio n of t h at tr u th as n ece s sary to bapti s m i n to
C h ri s’
t s C h ur c h Be lief
. i s e n tire ly te rres tria l w h i le ,
8 A pp e a l f or C h ri s ti a n U n i fy .

fai t h 1 s e n t ii e ly cele stia l wh e n t h ey a 1 e ap p lied to c hris

t ia n i t y Be li e f t h e n as a co n c lu s io n w e arrive at fro m
.

in f 0 1 1n a tio n w e deri v e f i o m a n ot h er or fro m ot h ers ,

w h i le fai t h is a m e n t a l co n vic t io n ded u ced t h erefro m .

T h e o n ly m ea n s we h a v e of fra m in g a b e lie f i n f

C h ris t a n d H is gos p e l i s t h e record we h ave i n pri n t

a n d ora l tea c h i n gs of t h os e w h o are ed u ca t ed in t h at

p ri n t
. W e read a n d h ear t h e e n tire gos pe l a n d a s a ,

w ho le w e co n c lu de o u r b e lief t h at i t was t h e prod u ct ,

o f C h ris t s m i n d T h e i m pri n t h a s go n e t h ro u g h
’
.

m a n y c h a n ges n o t o n ly b y m ispri n ts b u t b y n u m er
, ,

o u s c o n s tr u ctio n s of s o m e pas sages a n d b y difl e re n t ,

a n d vary in g t ra n s lati o n s .

I n o u r be lie f w h ic h s h o u ld we fo llo w t h e m i n d o f
, ,

C h ris t or a n y o n e o f t h e va ri o u s co n s t r u ctio n s ty p o
’

, ,

grap hica l errors o r tra n s lati o n s fro m t h e origi n al

,
?

We s ay m os t e m p h a tica lly t h a t o u r b e lief in t h e

great t r u t h o f C h r is t s gos pel i s fo u n ded in th e fact
’ -

t h at C hris t s m i n d co n ceived f ra m ed an d de livered

’
,

it to th e wo rld T ha t m is p ri n ts m i s co n s tr u ctio n s of
.
,

partic u la r wo rds o r p a s sa g es or difi e re n c e s of tra n s

la t io n s are m ere n ot h i n gs w h e n take n in co n n ectio n ,

wit h t he g rea t t r u t h t h at C hri s t s m i n d was t h e ’

a u t h or of H is gos pe l an d t h a t t h i s we s h o u ld b e lieve
a n d fo llo w i t i n o u r f ai t h .

T h e grea t q u esti o n t h e n i s h ave we th e gospe l as ,

i ca e fro m t he m i n d of C hris t
t m ? I f we h ave or i f ,

a ll wo u ld ack n owl edge t h at w e h a v e t h ere wo u ld b e ,

n o n eces sity for a n y f u rt h er e fi o rt to o b tai n c h ristia n

u n ity , it wo u ld fo llo w as a re s u lta n t I f we h a v e .

n o t t h e gos pe l as i t ca m e fro m t h e m i n d of C h rist ,

w h ere re s ts t h e fa u lt an d o n w h o m res ts t h e re spo n si

,

b il ity ? I t m u s t b e ei t h er o n t h ose w h o recor d e d

C h ris t s ideas or o n t h ose w h o have tra n s late d fro m
’

th e origi n a ls or o n t h ose teac h ers w h o h av e c o n

,

s t ru e d t h ose tra n s latio n s i n th e pas t an d at t h e pres ,

e n t ti m e .

H owever fait h f u lly t h e a p os t les m ay h av e per

for m ed t h e ir d u ties in wri ti n g do wn C h ris t s words ’

fro m m e m ory o n an average of fifty years after t h ey

were s poke n i t wo u ld n o t b e s tra n ge i f t h ey did n o t
,

ge t t h e record exac t fro m t h e m i n d of C hri s t s til l ,

 A pp eal f or C h r i s ti a n U rc i iy . 9

t h ere is n o do u b t t h a t t h ey r e corded t h e m a i n ideas

n ece s sary t o s a lva t i o n N o m a n c an te ll a t t h i s
.

re m ote period w h et h er a w ord h as b ee n dro p pe d or a

word added at vita l p oi n ts by accide n t or t h a t t h e ,

s a m e res u lt or wors e h as occ u rred in t h e tra n s latio n s

by de si g n H ere m ay be o n e of t h e ca u ses of t h e
.

v ari ou s co n t e n tio n s i n t h e c h ri stia n w or ld .

T h e b i b les are co n sidered b y a ll c h ristia n s as t h e

s ta n dard o f i n str u c t io n o n t h eir o b ligatio n an d
d uties I s it t h e n s u rprisi n g t h at t h ere are s o m a n y
.

di ff ere n t sects h a v i n g di ff ere n t fai t h s eac h of w h ic h

, ,

take t h eir a u t h ority fro m so m e o n e of t h e variou s

b i b le s n o two of w h ic h is s u es agree T h e firs t s tep
,
.

t h e n towards a c h ris tia n u n i t y i s to h ave a u n ifor m

,

bib le in ever y la n g u age t h at s h al l agree wit h t h e

, ,

origi n a ls in t h e H e b rew an d Greek an d wi t h exis ti n g,

la ws of God ot h erwi se all e fi o rt s at a u n ity wi ll be as

'

f u ti le as i s t h e prese n t co n di tio n of t h e c h rist ia n fait h

T h ere i s a large c las s of c h ris t ian s w h o h ave t h e
sa m e creed of b e lief a n d h e n ce are of t h e sa me fai t h
o n t h e p oi n ts t h at t h at cr eed co n tai n s b ecause fait h ,

a lway s fo llows an d i s de du cib le fro m be lief W h i le .

t h es e de n o m i n atio n s h av e t h e sa m e b e lie f an d fait h ,

t h ey h ave v ery di fferi n g dis cip li n e s an d i t i s f ro m ,

t h es e t h at m os t of t h e c h ri stia n co n f u sio n an d c o n
te n tio n s arise To agree u po n b e lief an d fait h o n
.

partic u lar p oi n ts of t h e gospel a s cardi n al b y n o ,

m e a n s b i n d s to a b e lief an d f ai t h u po n ot h er poi n ts of
t h e gospe l as co n str u e d by s o m e partic u lar orga n iza
tio n to s u pport its parti c u lar discip li n e T h es e are n o t .

card in a l b u t disci p li n e t h e cardi n a l b e in g t h e f ai th

,_

a n d t h e dis cip li n e t h e co n stit u tio n of t h e orga n izatio n

'

A s t he creed i s t h e fo u n datio n of b e lief an d fai t h

o f all tr u e c h ris tia n s i t i s u s ef u l to t h e pro p er u n der
,

sta n di n g of o u r e ffort to gi v e it in f u ll an d if o u r ,

s p ace a llowe d we wo u ld give t h e set tled di scipli n e or

co n stit u tio n of eac h of t h e c h ristia n de n o m i n atio n s
t h at h ave accepted an d do accept t h at creed an d
ded u ced f ait h Fait h in a c h r ist ia n poi n t of view is
.

o n ly e ff ective an d v a lu ab le as a pre p aratory s t e p to

b apti s m i n to C h ris t s C h u rc h w h ere t h ere i s bu t o n e
’
,

L ord o n e fa it h an d o n e bap ti s m
,
.
10 A pp ea l f or C h ri s ti a n U n i ty .

T H E A P O ST LE S
’
CR E ED .

I b e lieve in God t h e Fa t h er A lm i g h ty Maker o f ,

Heave n an d E ar t h .

A n d i n Jes u s C h ris t H i s o n ly S o n o u r L ord ; w h o

was co n cei v ed b y t h e H o ly G h os t b or n o f t h e Virgi n ,

Mary ; s u ffered u n der P o n t i u s P ilate w as c ru c ifi e d ,

dead an d b u ried ; H e des ce n ded i n t o h e ll t h e t h ird ,

day h e ros e fro m t h e dead ; H e asce n ded in H eave n ,

a n d sit t et h at t he rig h t h a n d o f G o d t h e Fat h e r

A lm ig h ty ; fro m t h e n ce H e s h a ll co m e t o j u dge t h e
“

q u ick a n d t he dead .

I b e lieve in t h e H o ly C at h o h c C h u rc h t h e c o m ,

m u n io n of Sai n ts t h e forgive n es s of si n s t he re su r
“

, ,

re ctio n of t he b ody an d t h e life everlasti n g A m e n

,
. .

T h is was t h e first creed adopted b y t h e ca t h o li c

orga n izatio n a n d t h ere m u s t h av e bee n s o m e i m port
an t a n d c o n t ro lli n g reas o n for t h e great c h a n ge an d
t h e adoptio n of t h e N ice n e C reed ; h e n ce we give i t
s o t h at an y o n e c an m ake a co m paris o n b et wee n t h e
t w o an d d eter m i n e t h e ca u se o f t h e c h a n ge .

T H E NIC E N E CH E B I! .

I b e liev e i n o n e God t h e Fat h er A lm ig h ty Maker ,

o f H eave n an d ear t h , a n d of all t h i n gs visib le an d

i n visi b le.

A nd in one L ord
Jes u s C h ris t t h e o n ly b egot te n ,

S o n of God b egotte n of H is Fat h er b efore all worlds ;

,

God of God Lig h t of Lig h t Ve ry God of very God

, , ,

Begotte n n o t m ade b ei n g o f o n e s u b s ta n ce wit h t h e

,

Fat h er ; b y w h o m all t h i n gs were m ade ; w ho f or u s

m e n an d for o u r s a lvatio n ca m e d ow n fro m H eave n ,

a n d was i n car n ate b y t h e H oly G h os t o f t h e Virgi n

Mary an d was Made Man an d was cr u cified also for
, ,

u s u n der P o n ti u s P i late H e su ffered an d was b u ried ;

.

a n d t h e th ird day h e rose agai n accordi n g t o t h e

s cript u re s an d asce n ded i n to H eave n an d s ittet h at
, ,
“

t h e rig h t h a n d of t h e Fat h er an d h e s h all c o m e agai n ,

wit h g lory to j udge b o t h t h e q u ick an d t h e dea d ,

w h ose ki n gdo m s h a ll h ave n o e n d .

A n d I b e lieve in t h e H o ly G h os t t h e L ord an d ,

Giver o f life w ho p re c e de t h fro m t h e Fat h er an d t h e

,
 A p p ea l f C h ri s ti a n U n i ty
‘

or . 11

S o n, w h o wit h t h e F a t h e 1 a n d t h e S o n toget h er
i s wors h ip p ed an d g lorified , w h o s p ake by t h e
Pro p h ets , an d I b elieve o n e cat h o lic a n d aposto lic
C h ur c h I ack n owledge o n e ba p tis m f o r t h e re m is
.

s io n o f si n s , an d I look f o r t h e re s u rre c tio n o f t h e

dead , an d o f t h e life o f t h e w orld t o co m e
!
A me n . .

I t w o u ld see m t o t h e ordi n ary reader t h at i f t h e

c at h o lic orga n izatio n h ad wis h ed t o h ave t h e Ho ly

C at h olic C h ur c h u n derstood as C h rist s C h urc h , w h y

’

did t h ey n o t u s e t h e n a m e t h at C h ris t ga v e it i n stead

o f u s i n g a s ubstitute t h at re q uired co n s tr u c tio n We .

do n o t desire t o attribute m otives t h at c a n n ot b e

reas o n ab ly draw n fro m recorded acts H ere we fi n d .

t h e m taki n g t h e firs t n a m e , Ho ly Cat h o li c C h ur c h ,

a s co n str u ed Ho ly U n iversa l C h ur c h , an d t h e n t h e
c ha n ged n a m e to O n e Cat h olic A p os tolic C h urc h , o r
o ne U n iversal A p o sto lic C h ur c h W h ose c h u r c h ,
.

’
C h ris t s C h urc h , o r t h e A p osto lic C h urc h ? E v ery
o ne m us t be t h eir o w n j u dge o f t h e m ot iv e s o f t h e
R o m an C at h o lic orga n izat io n , o f w h ic h Peter was t h e
‘

h ead , o f ig n ori n g t h e n a m e C h rist s C h u rc h , an d m ak

’

in g t h e su b stitutio n t h ere f or w h i c h h as bee n n a m ed .

We do n o t s ee m uc h d i ffere n c e exce p t in o n e
respect betwee n t h e apostle s creed an d t h e Ni c e n e
’

c ree d, t h e latter bei n g m o re v e rb o s e a n d ex p la n atory

‘

t h a n t h e f or m er B u t t h ere is o n e very great an d

.

vast ly i m p orta n t di ff ere n ce in t h e o n e re spect re

f erred t o I n t h e aposto li c cree d i t reads
. I believe
in t h e H o ly la t h o lic C h u rc h W h at does t h is
!
.

m e an ? A ll c h ris tia n s defi n e it as C h ris t s C h u rc h

’

b eca u se h o ly m ean s e s tab lis h e d b y C h ri st , an d

C at h o li c m ea n s u n i v ers a l, h e n ce t h a t t h e H o ly
C at h o lic C h u rc h m ea n s C h ri s t s U n ivers al C h u rc h
’
.

“
I n t h e N i ce n e Creed i t reads I b e lieve in o n e
cat h o lic aposto lic c h urc h .

T h e re s u lt of m aki n g a n e w creed was to c h a n ge

t h e fait h of th e t h e n c h ri s tia n wor ld fro m C h ri s t s
’

“ a posto lic
U n iversal C h u rc h to t h e one c a t ho litz

c h u rc h ,
!
b eca u se accor din g to t h e t he o lo g y of t h e
apo s to lic s u cces sio n t he P op e h ad t he pow e r t o do s o
T h e e ffect o f t h i s c h a n ge i n creed was to n arrow dow n
C hr is t s u n iversal c h urc h to t h e o n e c at h o lic
’
12 A p p ea l f or C h r i s ti a n U n i ty .

apos to lic c h u rc h It ai m ed t o s h u t o u t all c h ris ti an

.

e ff or t excep t i t was m ade i n t h e o n e ca t h o lic a pos to lic

c h u rc h w h ic h was t h e n an d is n o w t h e R o m a n
,

C a t h o lic or g a n izatio n t h e n a m e h avi n g b ee n c h a n ged

,

w h i le t h e creed s u b sta n tia lly re m ai n s t h e sa m e .

L e t u s n o w see w h at C h ris t s C hu rc h m ea n s a n d
’
,

w h at O n e C a t h o lic A po sto lic C h u rc h m ea n s Two .

difi e re n t t h i n gs m ay h a ve s o n ear ly t h e sa m e n a m e
’

t h at t h e o n e m a y be take n for t h e ot h er T h e word .

c h u rc h was u s ed b y C h ris t i n Matt xvi 1 8 f o r t h e

-

. .
,

firs t ti m e in t h e s crip t u re an d t h e dec larati o n t o ,

b u i ld H is C h u rc h was ca u sed b y Peter s a n n o u n ce ’

,

“
m e n t of fait h t h at C h ris t was t h e S o n of t h e e v er
li v i n g God as t h is fait h was to b e t h e rock an d
!
,

f o u n da tio n sto n e of H is C hu rc h T h is fait h f or t h e .

c h ristia n i s deri v ed fro m a b e lief of t h e aposto li c

creed T he word c h u rc h is ap p lied t o vario u s j e r
.

re s t ria l orga n izatio n s to vario u s b u i ldi n gs a n d to

,

v ario u s sec ts b ut t h e m ean i n g in t h es e vario u s u se s

,

depe n ds u po n t h e ide n ti ty of t h e t h i n g it s ta n ds for .

He n ce we say t h at C h rist s C hu rc h i s t h e e m b o di
’

m e n t o r H is gospe l a n d is a D ivi n e la w req u iri n g a

c o u rs e of co n d u ct s pecified i n C h ris t s gospe l an d i s ’
,

n o t a terre stria l e n tity or t h i n g w h i le t h e word ,

c h u rc h u sed to de n ote e n ti t ie s or t h i n gs difi e rs wide ly

in m ea n i n g fro m t h e w ord c h u rc h u sed by C h ris t To .

ca ll H i s C h u rc h b y its o w n n a m e a n d give it its tru e

p ositio n wou ld be t o e levate it ab ove t h e wra n g li n g
,

factio n s of e art h w h ic h carry its n a m e o n ly as a m is

,

n o m er w h ic h i s m i s leadi n g L e t ever y t h e o logy s ta n d

.

o n it s o w n b otto m a n d n o t dres s itse lf i n t h e as s u m ed

livery o f H eave n for accepta n ce before God or m an .

To 1 e c o g n iz e C 11 1 is t s C h u rc h as t h e goa l of t h e
’

c h ris tia n is t h e firs t step to o b tai n t h e m ea n s of get

ti n g t h er e w h i c h m ea n s C hris t h a s laid dow n as
si m p le a n d exp lic it T h e a fter co n d u ct is m ore c o m
.

p lex an d di ffi c u lt an d i s poi n ted o u t b y C h ri s t in few

“
b u t far reac h i n g word s L ove God wi t h all yo u r
,

h eart an d wi t h a ll yo u r m i n d an d wit h all v o u r

, ,

s o u l an d yo u r n eig h b or as y o u 1 s e lf o n t h es e two
, ,

co m m a n d m e n ts h a n g all t h e law an d t h e prop h e ts .

!
 A pp eal f or C h ris ti an U n i ty . 13

If all t h e c h ristia n de n o m i n atio n s o f t h e W orl d

wo u ld a c ce p t t h e un ifor m fait h ded u ced fro m t h e
“
a p o s t les c reed t h at Je s u s C h ris t w as t h e o n ly S o n o f
’
, ,

t h e livi n g G o d an d t h at H is go s p e l was tr u t h an d
t h at H e was t o j u dge t h e livi n g an d t h e dead it ,
!

s ee m s t o 11 s t h a t w e wou ld h a v e s u bsta n tia lly a

c h ris tia n u n ity o n t h is b asis A s i t i s n o w eac h
.

d e n o mi n atio n c lai m s t h at t h ey are rig h t an d t h at all

t h e ot h ers are wro n g .

T o p ro v e it eac h o n e d et h ro n e s Je s us C h ris t as j udge ,

a ss u m es H is o ffi c e p it c h es i n to t h e ot h ers wit h argu

,

m e n t s a n d doc u m e n ts an d dis s e n sio n s bickeri n gs

, , ,

q uarre ls an d co n te n tio n s fi ll t h e la n d as t h e res u lt .

T h e appea l for c h ristia n u n ity i s based u p o n t h e

s u ppositio n o f a divers ity o f fait h I f t h is c lai m e d .

diversity be we ll f ou n de d t o w h at is t he fait h t o ,

a p p ly ? Is it t o C h ris t s C h u rc h o r t o t h e terres trial

’
,

c h ris tia n o rg an l z a tio n s ? It certai n ly c a n n ot ap p ly

t o C h rist s C h u rc h / f o r in H i s C h urc h t h ere i s b ut
’

o n e L ord o n e fait h an d o n e bap tis m

, It m u s t .

t h erefore be dir e cted t o t h e te m p oral orga n izatio n s .

Does t h e terres tria l orga n izatio n as su c h h ave a fait h

If an y de n o m i n atio n d oes n o t teac h t h e apostles ’

c re ed t h e fait h res u lti n g an d C h rist s g ospel it is n o t

,
’
,

a c h ristia n de n o m i n atio n an d t h e appeal doe s n o t

,

a p ply to it I f t h e n t h ere are an y w h ic h tea c h t he

.

a postles
’
creed t h e fait h res u lti n g an d t h e gos p el
, ,

t h ey ca n n ot be ca lled i n C h 1 is t s C h u i c h beca u s e ’

t h e de n o m i n a tio n as s u c h ca n n ot h ave fait h a n d b e

b a p tized t o e n ter C l1 1 is t s C h u rc h w h i le a n y in cl i
’
,

vid u a l i n t h at o 1 g an i z at 1 0 n c an accept t h e tr u e f ait h

a n d b e b aptized i n to H i s C h u rc h
It t h ere f ore i s appare n t t h at t h e appeal for C h ris
t ia n u n ity m u s t ap p ly s o le ly to i n divid u als a n d t h e ,

logi c a l seq u e n ce is t h at i t i s an appea l for m ore m e m

b ers o f C h ris t s C h u rc h a n d m ore effor t to o b tai n
’

t h e m N o terrestria l c h ris t ia n orga n izatio n c an b e

.

tr u t h f u lly C h ris t s C h u rc h o r t o b e i n C hris t s

’
,
’

C h u rc h . T h e v ario u s or g a n iz at io n s w hic h as se m b le
in C h 1 is t s n a m e for teac h i n g b ei n g ta u g h t ( 1 f o r
’
1
, ,

wors h ip are recog n ized an d a pproved o f b y C h 1 i s t

,

H im s e lf w h e n He s ai d “ W h e 1 e two 0 1 t h 1 ee are
14 A pp e a l f or C h ri s ti a n U n i ty .

gat h ered toget h er in m y n a m e t h ere will I be in t h eir

!
m ids t . T h is it see m s t o u s s ett les t h e questio n as
t o an y p arti c u l ar orga n izatio n o r co n gregat io n o r
asse m bly bei n g C h ris t s C h ur c h ’
.

I n order t o u n ra v e l t h e c o n f u sio n t h at h as ari s e n

by usi n g t h e n a m e c h u r c h f o r all suc h org a n izatio n s
we m ust as c er t ai n fro m C h ris t s word s w h at His ’

C h ur c h is an d w h at t h e a p os tles firs t orga n izatio n

,
’

f o r teac h i n g H is gos p e l was .

Matt xvi 1 3 W h e n Jes us ca m e i n to t h e c oast o f

. . .

Cesarea P h i lli p i h e asked H is d is c i p le s s ayi n g

, ,

W h o m do m e n say t h at I th e S o n o f m an am ? ,
!

14 . A n d t h ey said s o m e say t h at t h ou art Jo h n ,

t h e Ba p tis t ! s o m e E lias ! an d ot h e rs J e re m ias o r o n e

o f t h e p ro p h ets .

15 . He said u n t o t h e m But w ho m say ye t h at I

37
am 2
16 . S i m o Peter a n swered an d said , T h ou art
A nd n -

t h e C h rist t h e S o n o f t h e L ivi n g G o d
, .

17 . A n d Jes u s a n s were d an d sai d u n to him

Ble s sed art t h o u S im o n B ar j o n a ; f o r fles h an d b lood -

h at h n o t revealed it u n to t h ee , b u t m y Fat h er w h ic h
!
i s in h ea v e n .

A n d I s ay u n to t h ee t h at t h ou art Peter , an d
'

18 .

u p o n t h is rock I will b u ild m y C h urc h ! an d t h e

gate s o f h ell s h all n o t p revail agai n s t it .

19 . A n d I will give u n to t h ee t h e key s o f t h e

ki n gdo m o f h eave n ! a n d w h ats oe v er t h o u s h a lt b i n d
o n eart h s h all be bou n d i n h eave n , a n d w h ats oever
t h o u s h a lt loos e o n eart h s h al l be loos e d in h eave n .

2 0 T h e n c h arged H e His dis ciple s t h at t h ey s h ould

.

te ll n o m an t h at He was Jes u s t h e C h ris t ,

.

21 . Fro m t h at t i m e fort h b ega n Je sus t o s h ow

u n to H is dis ci p les h o w t h at H e m u st g o u n to J e ru
sale m an d s u ff er m a n y t h i n gs of t h e elders an d c h ie f
priests an d s cri b es an d b e ki lle d , an d be rai sed ,

agai n t h e t h ird day .

22 . T h e n Peter took H im an d b ega n to re b u ke

H im , s ayi n g , be it far fro m t h ee L ord ! t h i s s h al l n o t
b e u n to t h ee .

23 . B u t H e t u r n ed an d s aid u n to Peter , get t h ee

be h i n d m e S ata n , t h o u art an o fi e n c e u n to m e , f o r
 A pp eal f or C h ri s ti an U n i ty . 15

th o u s av o re s t no t of th e t h i n gs t h at be of Go d but
t hose t h at be o f m e n .

In t h e co n vers atio n o f C h rist wit h P eter aft e r ask ,

“
1ng h im w h o h e was P eter a n swered , T h ou art
C h ris t t h e S o n o f t h e Liv i n g G o d
,
C h ris t ret u r n ed
.
!

t h e sa lu tatio n “
T h o u art P eter a n d u p o n t h i s rock I
wi l l b u i ld m y c h u rc h a n d t h e gate s o f h e ll s h a ll n o t
p rev ai l aga in s t it . T
!
h e f ait h o f P eter t h at C h ri s t
was t h e S o n o f t h e Livi n g G o d was t h e rock o n w h i c h
He was t o bui ld Hi s C hu r c h T h is declaratio n
.

settles t h e w h ole q uesti o n as t o w h o b u i lt C h rist s ’

C h urc h o r w h et h er i t was built by ot h ers an d cal le d

,

by t h a t n a m e we h a v e C h rist s word t o de n y it f o r ’
,

C h ris t sai d H e Hi m self wo u ld build H i s C h u rc h an d ,

t h is was d o n e before an y a u t h ority o r p ower was

give n t o His a p ostles .

T h is is c lear an d exp lici t t h at C h rist f ou n de d an d

b u i lt H i s o w n C h urc h wit h out aid f ro m an y o n e an d ,
“
it was a C o m p leted C h u rc h wit h O n e L ord o n e ,
!
fait h an d o n e b aptis m
,
a n e v erlas ti n g
, u n iversal ; ,
“
u n c h a n gi n g h o m e wit h ,
m a n y m a n si o n s f or all !

w h o wo u ld acce p t t h e fait h an d be baptized A .

c h ur c h h av i n g t h e gospe l for it s co n stit u tio n an d

la w s to guide its m e m bers in co n d u ct C an an y .

lan g u age ex p res s m ore c lear ly w h at C h ris t s C h u rc h ’

i s an d w h o b u i lt it ? It is a s p iritua l h o m e h ere an d
h ereafter for t h e c h ri stia n .

C h rist t h erefore gav e n o dire c ti o n t o H is a p ostles

t o b u i ld Hi s C h urc h or ab o u t b uildi n g it or abo u t ,

bui ldi n g c h u rc h es o f an y n a m e or ki n d b u t t h e tre n d ,

o f all His directio n s to t h e m wa s t o te a c h Hi s gos p el

t o th e world a f ter He fou n ded an d b u i lt His C h ur c h

an d pro c lai m ed by Hi s o wn teac h i n g his gos p el ; ,

He adopted th e p la n o f apo stolic t eac h in g a f ter H is

c ru cifixio n an d resurrectio n I n order t h at t h os e .

teac h i n gs s h o u ld b e as e fi e c tiv e a s Hi s o w n He c o n ,

f erred u p o n Hi s a p ostles t h e sam e o u tward p owers

t h at H e h ad fou n d e fi e c tiv e in co n vi n ci n g t h e p eo p le
t h at He was t h e S o n o f t h e Livi n g God H e t h erefore .

g ave t h e m p owers t o h e al t h e si c k c as t o u t devils , ,

ra is e t h e dead a n d t o forgive si n s .

L a n guage i s use d t o c o n vey i d eas an d 1 s l i m ite d i n

16 A pp eal f or C h r is ti a n U n i ty .

its a pp licatio n an d co n s tr u ctio n to t h e ideas t o b e

co n veyed W h at t h e n were t h e ideas to be co n veyed
.

w h e n C h ris t gave t h os e powers to H is twe lv e a p os t les

Was it t o give t h ose p owers to all t h e m e n of Judea
N o Was it to give t h ose powers t o a n y o t h er p ers o n s
t h a n H is twe lve a pos t les N o Co u ld t h ey b y reas o n
a lo n e of h avi n g t h os e p owers f ro m C h ris t give t h os e
p owers to t h e i n h a b i ta n ts of J u dea o r to an y o n e o f
t h e paga n wor ld or eve n to an y o n e o f C h rist s frie n ds ?
’
,

N o 1 T h ey were t h erefore to u s e t h e s e powers t h e m

s e lve s an d f o r t h e m s e lves n o r did t h ey do ot h erwise , ,

n o r atte m p t to do s o as f ar as t h e 1 e c 0 1 d i n f or m s u s
, .

T h e sa m e dii e c t io n s w h ic h C h rist gav e t o H is

a p os t les He gave H is disciple s b efore H is crucifixio n .

Matt xxv i i i 1 8 A n d Jes u s ca m e an d spak e

. . .

“
u n to t h e m sayi n g A ll p ower i s give n u n to m e in
,

h eav e n an d u po n eart h .

19. Go ye t h erefore an d teac h all n atio n s b ap tiz ,

i n g t h e m i n t h e n am e of t h e F a th er an d o f th e S o n , ,

an d o f t h e H o ly G h os t .

20. Teac h i n g t h e m to obs erve all t h i n gs w h ats o

eve r I h ave co m m a n d ed y o u ! an d lo I am wit h y o u ,

a lwa y s eve n u n to t h e e n d of t h e wor ld A m en . .

I t i s evide n t fro m t h es e exp lici t dire c tio n s t o

C h rist s di s ci p les an d apo st le s t h at t eac h i n g His
’

g os pel w a s t h e su b sta n ce of a ll H is co m m a n ds t o

t h e m s o in order t h at t h eir co n d u ct an d t eac h i n g s

,

s h o u ld ag ree t h ey were co n fi n ed in t h e exe c u ti o n o f

,

t h eir m i n istry to t h e gos p el a lo n e I t t h erefore w e .

, ,

fi n d in cl ai m i n g or d oi n g w h at ca n n ot be fo u n d in t h e
gos pe l we m u s t s et i t dow n as disci pli n e w h i c h is
a cti o n of t h e h u m a n m i n d wi t h o u t direc t a u t h ority
of Je s u s C h ri s t w h i le di scip li n e m ay b e adv an t a
,

g eo n s or eve n p leasa n t it m u s t b e h e ld as dis,ti n ct

fro m divi n e c o m ma n ds an d s h o u ld n o t i n terfere wit h
,

t h e s ocia l p o liti ca l or 1 e lig io u s fi g h ts o f ot h ers

,
.

We t h erefore s ay m ost dis t in c dy t h at t h e gos pel

d oes n o t co n tai n t h e m ag n a c h a 1 t a t h at t h e apos t le s
h ad give n to t h e m in direct la n g u age t h e power t o
co n fer u po n ot h ers t h e powers co n fer red u po n t h e m
,

by Jes u s C h ri s t T h at t h os e powers ceased in t h e

.

death o f t h e a p os t les an d t h i s i s o n e of t h e m os t
,
 1 A pp ea l f or C h ri s ti a n U n i ty . 17

bri llia n t facts t o s h ow h is wisdo m T h e p owe 1 s .

g ive n to t h e a po s t le s was for a specific o b j ect to ,

m ak e peo ple m ore readi ly be lieve t h at J es u s C h ris t

w as t h e S o n of t h e L ivi n g God a n d w h e n t h a t was ,

acco m p lis h ed t h e gos p e l re m ai n ed for t h e u n iversa l

,

u se a n d e n lig h te n m e n t of t h e wor ld .

I f D ivi n e a u t h ority ever co n ferred po w er upo n a

!

h u m a n b ei n g t h ere i s n o eart h ly p ower t h at co u ld

,

rev oke t h at po wer excep t deat h w h ic h i s a Divi n e ,

act C h ris t k n owi n g h u m a n n at u re k n ew its weak

.
,

n ess a n d t h e case o f Peter H i s fav 0 1 i t e a p ost le was , ,

o n e l n po 1 n t a n d like ca ses were p os si b le a n d p ro b ab le

to o c cu r . If h e h ad co n fi n ed t h e teac h i n g of H i s
Gos pe l to o n e par tic u lar li n e of m e n forev er ,

h u m a n ity wo u ld a s s ert it se lf a n d error creep i n to t h e

teac h i n gs as i t did in v ario u s cases of h ere s y an d if
, ,

t h os e h e retics h ad as serted t h eir D ivi n e a u t h ori ty n o ,

e art hly power co u ld h av e det h ro n ed t h e m .

A s we read t he A posto li c an d N i ce n e C reeds u n der ,

t h e A p osto lic C ree d t h e D ivi n e aposto lic s u cces sio n

was a d isci p li n e w h i le u n der t h e N ice n e Creed it was
,

m ade b y t h e approva l o f t h e P ope as part of t h eir ,

be lief an d h e n ce a f ait h U n der t h e apost le s creed

’
.

it is I be lieve in t h e H o ly C at h o li c C h u rc h 0 1 in ,
! 1

ot h er words I be lieve in C hr ist s u n iversa l c h u rc h

,
’
.

“
I n t h e N ice n e C reed t h e sa m e s e n te n ce reads I
!
belie v e in O n e C at h o lic A pos to li c C h u rc h t h at i s , ,

t h ey be lieve in t h e R o m a n C at h o lic or g an izatio n ,

m ade b y t h e apos t le s w h ic h t h e v c all C h u rc h after

,

t h e n a m e of C h ri s t s C h u rc h A s t h e apos t les fou n de d

’
.

t h e R o m a n C at h o lic or g a n izatio n an d if t h at orga n i ,

z a t io n is C h ri s t s C h u rc h t h e n t h e a p ost le s fo u n ded
’

,
’
C h rist s C h urc h s o t h at C hrist h a d n ot h i n g to d o
,

wit h fo u n di n g His C h u rc h .

T h e vi ta l q u es tio n t h e n c a n eas ily b e a n swere d .

Did C h ris t fo u n d an d b u i ld h is C h u rc h or did t h e ,

.

’
a p ost les ? We are c o m pe lled to take C h ris t s wor ds
i n t h e m atter a s b i n d in g an d w hile t h e apos t les did
,

a great a n d good w ork wort h y of t h e ir a p p o i n t m e n t ,

t h ey ca n n ot c lai m t h e h ig h h o n or of f o u n d in g an d
b u i ldi n g C hri s t s C h u rc h
’
We h ave s aid t h a t u n der
.

t h e a p os t le s cree d t h e c lai m ed D iv in e apo s to li c s u c

’
,
18 A pp eal f or C h ri s ti a n U n ity .

ces sio n was a dis ci p li n e T h e s u cces sio n co n sists of.

s e lec t io n a n d t h e n of ordai n i n g by t h e layi n g o n of

‘

h a n ds as a di s cip li n e w h ic h in o u r j u dg m e n t i s a
, , ,

good o n e as it t h i ows respo n sibi lity u po n t h e or dai n er

,

f o r t h e se lec t i o n of t h e fi t tes t .

D ivi n e a u t h ority m us t a l wa y s be derived fro m

e x a m p les of C h rist or fro m dec laratio n s fo u n d i n H is
gospe l . A s t h e 1 e are n o de c laratio n s l n His gos p e l
t h a t ordi n atio n b y layi n g o n o f h a n d s s h a ll co n v ey
D ivi n e au t h ority or t h a t ordi n atio n s s h al l be d o n e
,

by t h e layi n g o n o f h a n d s o r an y particu lar form ,

s h a ll be u sed in o rdi n atio n it fol lows t h at t h e f or m ‘

,

o f ordi n at io n ado p ted b y t h e apostles b y t h e layi n g

o n o f h a n d s was a discip li n e If C h ri st h ad ordai n ed .

a n yo n e in order to se t an exa m p le t o be fo llowed it ,

s h o u ld be fo u n d in H is g o s p e l ; b u t n o suc h ordi n atio n _

c a n b e fo u n d t h ere m u c h les s t h e ord i n atio n by t h e

,

layi n g o n o f h a n d s C h ris t se lected H is a p os tles

.

si m p ly wit h o u t an y ex terior f or m
,
.

It i s c lai m ed b y t h e cat h oli c c lergy t hat t h e

apo s t les cree d t h e N ice n e cree d an d t h e creed o f
’
, ,

P ope Pi u s IV are t h e sa m e an d we ad m it t h at t h ey
.
,

are excep t as t o t h e n a m e o f t h e orga nizatio n t o

,

w h ic h t h ey are applied T h e n w h y did it b eco m e

.

n ece s sary to c h a n ge th e n a m e in t h e a p os t les creed ’

t o t h e n am e in t h e N ice n e creed an d t h e n agai n ,

c h a n ge it to th e n a m e in t h e creed of P ope P i u s IV .

T h e reas o n i s we ll k n ow n t h at t h e firs t c h a n ge w as
m ade b eca u se t h e H oly Cat h o li c C h u rc h bei n g
C h ris t s u n ivers a l C h u rc h cov ered m ore grou n d t h an
’

“
t h e N ice n e n a m e O n e C at h o li c A p ostoli c C h urc h
, ,
!

w h i le t h i s n a m e left o u t t h e w or d h o ly w h ic h w h e n ,

restored m ade t h e n a m e O n e Ho ly Cat h o li c A pos , , ,

t o lic C h u 1 c h T h i s m ad e C h ris t s u n iversa l C h u rc h

.
’

by n a m e T h e A p os tolic R o m a n C at h o li c O rga n izatio n .

A s to t h e fai t h of t h e R o m a n Cat h o li c orga n izatio n ,

fou n ded o n th e A p ost les C reed we h ave n o t hi n g t o ’

,

say except in co m m e n datio n but to t h e n a m e o f t h e ,

orga n izatio n t o w h ic h t h at fait h i s to be ap p lied we ,

h ave so m et hi n g to say for t h at 1 s a s ocial p o liti c al, ,

an d re ligio u s q u e s ti o n a ff e cti n g t h e rig h t s o f i n di

v idu als w h ic h u n d er certai n cir c u m s ta n c e s c an an d
,
 A pp e a l f o r
“

C h ri s ti an U n i ty . 19

m ay beco m e a serio u s o n e m e n aci n g t h e p eace an d ,

good o rde r o f society N o t sa tisfied wit h u s i n g t h e

fi
.

n a m e o f C h ris t s U n iv ersal C h u rc h t h e c h u rc h th at
’
,

C h ris t fo u n ded an d b u il t t h ey c h a n ged i t to O n e ,

Cat h oli c A p os to lic C h ur c h t h e terres t rial orga n iza ,

tio n fou nded an d buil t by Peter C h ris t s a p ost le ,

’

w h ic h m ade P eter t h e h ea d o f C h rist s C h u rc h in ’

,

s tea d o f C h ris t H i m se lf, an d co n firm s t h e a p osto li c

s u c c es sio n fro m a dis c i p li n e i n to a fait h .

N o t satis fied s till wit h t h e n a m e O n e Cat h oli c

A p ostolic C h ur c h t h ey c h a n ged it agai n t o O n e
, ,

Ho ly Cat h olic A p os toli c C h urc h by t h e creed o f

, ,

P ope P ius t h e IV abou t t h e year 1 56 3 A D an d . . .

,

s ti ll a n ot h er ad di tio n was m ade t o t h is creed by Po p e

Pi u s t he I X referri n g t o t h e s u pre m a c y an d in f alli
.
,

b ilit y o f t h e P o p e T h e n e w creed o f P o p e Pi u s t h e
.

IV was m ade t o m eet w h at was de n o m i n ated t h e

.

errors o f Calvi n L u t h er an d ot h er protes ta n ts T h ey

, .

were ca lle d h eretics an d t h e obj ect was t o s h u t t h e m

,

o u t fro m t h e be n efi t s o f C h ris t s C hurc h wit h o u t t h ey

“
’

e n tered it t h roug h t h e R om a n Cat h oli c orga n izatio n

o f w h ic h Peter h ad bee n t h e h ead .

A ll t hese c h a n ges in t h e creed di d n o t afi e c t t h e

fait h derived fr om t h e apostles creed exce p t by ’
,

a pp lyi n g t h e n a m e of a terre stria l orga n izatio n t o

C h rist s C h urc h a spirit u al ki n gd o m w h ic h gav e
’

, ,

stre n g t h an d D ivi n e P ower to th e p ries ts bis h o p s , ,

arc hbis h ops t o t h e cardi n al s an d to t h e P o p e

,
.

W h ile t h e laity h ad n ot h i n g to do wit h t h e subj ect ,

t h ey re m ai n ed q u iet a n d satisfie d an d were eve n ,

p leased wit h t h e ide a t h at t h eir teac h ers were vice

gere n ts of Jes u s C h rist an d t h u s stood in t h e s tep s
o f C h ris t H i m self b y t h e ass u m ed ap ostolic s u cce s
sio n T h is is th e eq u iva le n t to a li tt le red bla n ket
.

h e ld out t o t h e wor ld an d w h ic h h as p rovoked Oppo

si tio u d is c u s sio n an d reta liatio n crystal lizi n g an d
, ,

s tre n g t h e n i n g t h i s orga n izati o n ti ll it h as beco m e o n e

S o lid u n it opposed to every ot h er c h ristia n orga n iza
ti o n T hi s great fire h as co m e fro m a litt le s park
.
,

an d for w h ic h t h e R o m a n C at h o lics o f t o day are n o t -

res po n sible T h at litt le spark was t h e as s u m ptio n o f

.

’
C h ris t s e le v e n a p ostles t h at t h ey co u ld c o n ti n ue ,
 0 ,
A p p eal f or C h ri s ti a n U n i ty .

t h eir s u c c e s s 1o nD ivi n e appoi n t m e n t a n d p o ers

1 11 w
b y t he layi n g o n o f h a n ds o n w h o m t h ey m i g h t
s e le c t , an d we say disti n ct ly t h a t n o s u c h a u t h or i t y
in p lai n la n g u age c a n b e fo u n d in C hris t s gosp e l
’
.

T h e res u lt i s t h at fr o m its b egi n n i n g u n til n o w it ,

h as ta u g h t t h e tr u e fait h derived fro m t h e apos t les

’

creed , a n d b a p t ized i n to C h ris t s C h u rc h m i llio n s o f

h u m a n s o u ls , b u t it h as cos t b y m artyr d o m an d o t h er
deat h s t h o u sa n ds a n d t h o u s an ds of va lu ab le lives .

W h at if t h e s a m e dis cipli n e be c o n ti n ued , i t m ay cost

in t h e f u t u re , n o m an c a n tell or d ivi n e T h is h a s arise n
.

fro m t h e two c lai m s set u p by t h e R o m a n C at h o li c

orga n izatio n T h e firs t i s t h at it i s t h e exact C h u rc h
.

w h ic h C h ri s t fo u n de d an d b u i lt an d ca lled H i s
C h u rc h , of w h ic h H e was t h e L ord a n d H ead , an d t h e
s eco n d is t h at by reas o n of C h ri s t h avi n g g ive n to
H is apos t le s certai n divi n e p o wers t o m ake t h eir 1

teac h i n gs correspo n d an d b e as e fi e c t u al as H is teac h

i n gs of H is gospe l af ter t h e exti n g u is h m e n t of t h ose
powers b y deat h s h o u ld be perfor m ed b y m e n h avi n g
,

t h e s a m e di v i n e p owers a n d positio n s fore ver .

T h ere is n o n e ce s s ity o f m aki n g arg u m e n ts abo u t

ad m it t ed facts , b u t co n sider t h e facts t h e m s e lve s an d
w h at t h ey are D id C h ris t fo u n d an d b u i ld H is
.

C h u rc h or n o t ? I t i s an ad m itted fact t h a t H e did ,

a n d t h erefore t h e exi ste n ce of H is C hu rc h i s an a d
m it te d fact D id t h e apos t le Peter fo u n d a n d b u ild
.

t h e R o m a n Cat h o li c orga n izatio n ? E it h er h e did or

did n o t It i s ad m itted t h a t h e di d, an d t h at i t
.

exi s ts T h e n h e re are two ad m itted facts ; are t h ey

.

o n e fact as c lai m ed b y t h e cat h o lics ? To d eter m i n e

t h i s w e m u s t i n ve s tigate t h e co n str u c t i o n of eac h t h e ,

o b j ect a n d u s e of eac h , an d if t h ey d i ffer , t h e facts

’
d iff er C h ris t s C hu rc h i s H is s pirit u a l ki n gdo m ,
.

a n d exte n d s all over t h e eart h a n d i n cl u des h eave n

an d i s t h ere fore u n iversa l It is a fixed , fi n is h ed an d
.

u n c h a n gea b le co n ditio n a n d n o t a n e n ti ty .

T h e n w h at i s t h e R o m a n Cat h o lic org an izatio n ?

T h e apost le P eter was appoi n ted b y C h ris t t h e h ead ,

of t h at organ izatio n , to do w h at C hris t did in H is

t eac h i n gs , an d h e f u lfi lled h is m is sio n in t e ac h in g 1

C h ris t s gospe l W h at was t h e d eclare d o b j ec t o f

’
.
 ‘
A p p eal f or C h ri s ti a n U n i ty . 21

t h os e t eac h i n gs I t was t o i n for m t h e peop le of

t h e t r u t h s of t h e gospe l t h a t t h ey m ig h t p re p ai e
t h e m se lv e s b y e m b raci n g t he fai t h an d b e b ap t ized
i n t o C h ris t s C h ur c h It fo llo w s t h a t P e ter s o 1 ga n i
’
.
’

z at io n was a n i n s t i t u tio n for i n s tr u c t io n in C h rist s

’

g o spe l ,
a n d t h ey w ere precede n ts for fait h a n d
b a p tis m S o t h a t t h e o rga n iz a tio n was n o t to reac h
.

u p to C h ris t 8 C h u rc h b u t w a s to f u r n is h t h e m ateria l

for it . W h i le t h e a p poi n ted apos tles fo llo wed

C h ris t s d irectio n s in teac h i n g t h ey see m ed n o t to
’
,

h ave u n de 1 stood t he difi e re n c e i n t h e obj ect of t h eir

t eac h i n gs a n d t h e res u l t of t h eir t e ac h i n g s .

A ll c h ristia n o rga n izatio n s h ave t h e sa m e obj ect ,

a n d if t h ey teac h t h e gos p e l an d t h e true fait h a n d

b a ptis m t h ey prod u ce t h e sa m e re s u lt if t h ey pro
,

duce an y I t t h e n is appare n t t h at t h e t w o f ac ts
.

referred to a1 e i n depe n de n t of eac h o t her as facts ,

h e n ce C h ris t s C h u rc h an d t h e R o m a n Cat h o lic orga n i

’

z ati o n are two sep arate a n d d is ti n ct facts a n d exis t

e nc es . C h ris t s C h u rc h i s a spirit u al u n iversa l ki n g

’

d o m w h i le t h e R o m a n C a t h o lic orga n izatio n i s a t e r

re s t ria l corporatio n in corporated b y t h e la w
,

, s of eve 1 y
c o u n try w h ere i t ex i s ts to e n a b le i t to h o ld property

a n d carry o n i ts teac h i n g of t h e go s pe l of Jes u s C h ri s t .

L e t 11 s exa m i n e t h e b eari n g w h ic h t h e c lai m ed

“

apos to lic s u cces sio n h ad u po n th e refor m atio n N o .

o n e wi ll d e n y t h e s u cces s io n as i t i s ca lled in t h e
ordi n ary acceptatio n of t h e word ; b u t t h is is n o t all
t h at cat h o lics c lai m ; t h ey c lai m t h a t t he s u cces sio n
was b y ap o s tf e s h avi n g t h e sa m e divi n e p o wers as
,

t h e twe lv e an d n o t b y t h e dis c ip les of Jes u s C h ris t

,
.

We wo u ld b e w i lli n g an d n o t o n ly wi lli n g b u t i t .

w o u ld b e a c h ris tia n d u ty to ack n ow le dge t hat t h e ,

e n tire s u cces sio n fro m t h e da y o f Pe n teco s t o f p ries ts ,

b is h op s a rc h bis h ops card in a ls an d p O p e s were eac h

, ,

an d a ll vicegere n ts of Jes u s C h ris t an d p o s sess ed

a ll H is de legated p ow e rs to t h e a p ost les i f s u c h c la i m
c o u ld b e fo u n d i n H i s g o s pel n o t b y i m p licatio n or , ,

b y c o n s tr u ctio n b u t b y la n g u age as p lai n as t hat u se d

,

by H i m i n m a k i n g H i s apos t les H is vicegere n ts .

T h e a pos to li c s u cce s s i o n b y n a m e or its e q u i v a le n t

i s n o t f o u n d in t h e gos p e l an d h e n ce i s n o t a p ri m ary
,
22 A p p ea l f or C h ri s ti a n U n i ty .

trut h o f c h ri s tian i ty It is an ass u m e d n a m e n o t

.

fo u n d in s c ri p t u re I t is a good n a m e i f it o n ly
.

re p rese n ted t h e suc c es sio n in p rie s tly o ffi c e s o f

m e m bers o f C h ri s t s C h urc h wit h o u t t h e c lai m o f
’
“

bei n g His v i c egere n ts Na m es do n o t p ro v e ide nt i

.

tie s an d t h e n a m e o f a p os tle doe s n o t m ake an

a p os t le n o m ore t h a n ca lli n g t h e R o m an orga n izatio n
,

C h rist s C h ur c h I n t his co n n ectio n we woul d say

’
.
,

t h at if by an y stra n ge co n s tr u c tio n t h e a p os to lic s u c

c essio n wit h its f u l l cat h ol ic m ea n i n g be ad m itted an ,

i n d is p u table f act arises t h at n o p ro v is io n c an be

,

f ou n d in t h e gos p el givi n g to a n yo n e t h e p ower t o

re v oke t h e D iv i n e p ower give n t o a n a p os t le o r de ,

gra d e h im f ro m t h e p e rfor m a n ce o f h is c alli n g s o ,

t h at o n c e an ap os tl e always an a p os t le u n ti l t he ,

Div i n e a c t o f d eat h c lo s es h is career .

It t h erefore f o llows t h at all t h e s o called a p o st les -

t h a t secede d fro m t h e cat h o li c organ izatio n were

still a p os tles wit h all t h eir D iv i n e p owers as re f or m
e rs . H e n c e L ut h er an d C alvi n an d ot h ers o f th e
r ef orm atio n were a p os tle s o f Jes u s C h ris t wit h full
p o wer an d if t h ey taug h t t h e tr u e fait h an d d octri n e s
,

o f t h e gos pel t h ey h e ld t h e s a m e Divi n e p ositi o n as

,

t h o u g h t h ey belo n ged to t h e or g a n izatio n u n d er t h e

n a m e of R o m a n Cat h oli c If t h ey ta u g h t a n yt h i n g
. ,

difi e re n t f ro m t h e gos p el t h ey were res p o n si b le t o

,

God f o r t h e s in an d p u n is h m e n t wo u ld await t h e m
f o r t h at s in T h ey were respo n s i b le by t h e ru les an d
.

d i s c ipli n e o f t h e R o m a n C at h olic orga n izatio n an d

c o u ld b e ej ected fro m t h a t orga n i zatio n an d de n ied ,

t h e rig h t t o preac h in t h at or g a n izatio n .

A s an i n d i v id u al opi n io n w h ic h doe s n o t a m o u n t
,

to m u c h we t h i n k it a great p ity t h at an orga n iza

,

tio n t h at h as do n e s o m u c h good in t h e past b y ,

bri n gi n g t h roug h its teac h i n gs m illio n s of h u m a n

s o u ls i n t o C h ris t s C h ur c h an d h as t h e p ros p e c t o f
’
,

doi n g t h e s a m e in t h e f u ture s h oul d be h a n dicapp ed ,

by a dis cip li n e w h ic h i s re p u lsive t o o v er h alf t h e

c h ris tia n world T h ere was a ti m e w h e n it m ig h t
.

h ave do n e good b u t t h at day h as pas sed an d in t h i s

, ,

e n lig h te n ed age it certai n ly does m ore h ar m t h a n

goo d f or c h rist ia n ity is a d e m o c ra t i c i n s t ituti o n an d
, ,
 A pp eal f or C h ri s ti a n U n i ty 28

n o t an aristocratic o n e is a u n iversa l o n e an d is n o t
,

c o n fi n ed to o n e part ic u lar s e t of m e n .

Before t h e R efor m atio n t h e Ca t h o lics occ u p ied

m uc h o f t h e c h ris tia n gro u n d an d in les s t h a n t h ree ,

h u n dred an d fifty y ears t h ey h o ld les s t h a n o n e h a lf .

Fro m t h e s tatis t ics take n in t h e U n i t ed S tates t h e

!

fo llowi n g is t h e res u lt
Was h i n gto n Ju n e 2 8 1895
,
T h e ce n s u s report
,
.

co v eri n g t h e s tatistics o f c h u rc h es h as j u s t bee n

i s s u ed T h ere are 1 4 2 dis ti n ct d e n o m i n atio n s in t h e
.
_

U n ited S tates b esi de s i n de p e n de n t c h urc h es an d m is

,

c ella n e o u s c o n gregatio n s T h e to ta l n u m b er of c o m
.

m un ic a n t s of all de n o m i n a t i o n s i s who
be lo n g t o orga n izatio n s o f co n gregatio n s .

T h es e orga n izatio n s h ave edifices w h ic h h a v e ,

s itti n gs f o r pers o n s T h e v alue of all .

c h urc h p ro p erty us ed exc lu sive ly for purposes of

,

w ors h ip i s T h ere are regu lar

m i n i sters n o t i n c lu di n g l ay preac h ers
, T h ere are .

b odies w h ic h h av e m ore t ha n
,
co m m u n i
ca n ts an d t e n m e re t h a n
,
T h e leadi n g de
n o m i n atio n s h ave co m m u n i c a n ts in ro u n d n u m bers
'

as fo llow s ! R o m an Ca t h o lics Met h odi s t

Baptis t P resbyteria n s
L u t h era n s P rotesta n t E pis cop al
I n n u m b er of co m m u n i ca n ts an d va lu e of c h u rc h pro
p erty New Y ork lead s a n d P e n n sy lva n ia fo llows b u t ,

in n u m b er o f org a n izatio n s Pe n n sy lva n ia i s first an d

O h i o se co n d . T h e in creas e in t h e v a lu e of c h u rc h
p roperty si n ce 1 870 h as b ee n or n ear ly
92 p er ce n t .
,
w h ile t h e n u m ber of c h u rc h e s h as in
c reased 4 2 per ce n t T h e i n creas e in th e n u m b er of
.

orga n izati o n s i s 1 2 6 per ce n t .

Fro m t h is i t wi ll b e see n t h at t h e R o m an C at h oli c s

h ave w h i le five of t h e leadi n g p rotesta n t
orga n izatio n s h av e
L e t u s n o w exa m i n e w h at t h e f r u i t o f t h e c lai m o f
h
t e a p os to li c succes sio n h a d u p o n t h e refor m ati o n .

We take t h e stat u s of t h i n gs at t h e ti m e Ki n g H e n ry
V III. o f E n g la n d appl ie d t o t h e Pope of R o m e for a
di spe n satio n to p u t away h is wife an d m arry a n ot h er .

Ki n g He n ry was a m e m b er o f C h ris t s C h urc h 1 11 ’

24 A pp ea l f or C h r i s ti a n U n i ty .

good s t a n di n g a n d h ad b eco m e s o t h ro u g h t h e
,

C a t h o lic orga n izatio n of w h ic h t h e P ope w a s t h e

h ead . T h e p u tti n g aw a y o f o n e wife an d m arryi n g
a n ot h er was a v i o la t io n of t h e V I I co m m a n d m e n t .
,

T h o u s h a lt n o t co m m i t ad u ltery C h ris t speci fi c a lly .

defi n ed t h i s a c t as ad u ltery h e n ce t h e P o p e w as c o m ,

e lle d to ref u s e h is co n se n t
p .

W h e n we speak of t h e P ope b ei n g t h e h ead of t h e

Cat h o lic orga n izatio n we do n o t m ea n t h e h ead by
,

ap o s t o n c s u cces sio n b u t h ead of t h e terres tria l orga n i

,

z a t io n ,
an d w e t h i n k f or s u cces s every c h risti a n
orga n izatio n s h o u ld h ave a h ead s e lected fro m a m o n g
t h e m e m b ers of C h rist s C h u rc h b y s e lectio n of t he
’
,

fittest . T h is P ope was t h e h ead of t h e C at h o li c

org a n izatio n b y s e le ctio n of t h e fittes t fro m a m o n g
t h e m e m b ers of C h ri s t s C h u rc h a n d we pres u m e w as
’
,

in t h e s u cce s si o n li n e fro m C h ri st s a p os tles b y t h e

’

layi n g o n of h a n ds .

I f t h e powers give n to t h e a p os t le P e t e r b y C h ris t , .

,
“
Mat t xv i 1 9 I wi l l giv e u n to t he e t h e key s of t h e
. .
,

ki n gdo m of h eav e n a n d w h ats oev er t h o u s h a lt bi n d

,

u p o n eart h s h a ll b e b o u n d in h eave n A n d w h a ts o .

ever t h o u s h a lt lo os e o n eart h s h a ll b e loos ed in

h eave n be co n str u ed litera lly an d t h e P ope h ad
!
, ,

t h e sa m e p o w e r b y aposto lic s u cces si o n t h e n t h e P op e ,

h ad t h e power t o lo os e t h e b o n d of m arri age b etwee n

Ki n g H e n ry an d h is wife an d b i n d t h e m b etwee n
h im a n d an ot h er wo m a n T h is wo u ld be defeati n g
.

C h r is t s o w n word s an d setti n g aside in ot h er like

’

cas es H i s gos pe l .

A d m i tti n g b y litera l co n s tr u cti o n t h at C h ri s t did

giv e t h e s e powers t o P eter w h i le C h ris t k n ew t h e
frai l ti es of h u m an n at u re dow n t h e ages a n d t h at ,
~ ~

goo d P eter h ad de n ied C h ris t t h ree ti m es a n d t h a t ,

C h ri s t h ad c alled P eter S ata n ( Matt x v i Is i t . .

n o t proof positive t h at H e did n o t i n te n d Pe ter s

’

po w e rs to exte n d b ey o n d h is life A t bes t u n de r .

s u c h p lai n an d positive la n g u ag e i f C h ri st h ad in ,

te n ded it h e certai n ly wo u ld h ave give n t h e p owe r

,

t o exte n d Peter s p owers to ot h ers in eq u a lly p lai n

’ '

a n d defi n ite la n g u age N o s u c h la n g u age c a n b e

.

f ou n d in His gos p el n o r c an it be fo u n d by an y
,
 A pp ea l f or C h r i s ti a n U n i ty . 25

trai n ed co n s tr u ctio n an d t h erefo re we s ay t hat n o

s ,

s u c h p o w er w a s give n t o Pe ter to ext e n d .

It i s u n n eces s ary to say t h at b u t for t h e P o p e ‘

c la im i n g to b e t h e h ea d of C h ris t s C h u rc h b y reas o n
’

o f vicegere n t p o w ers derived b y apos t o lic s u cces si o n ,

t h is app lication of Ki n g H e n ry wo u ld n ever h ave

bee n m ade We do n o t go t o o far t h e n in sayi n g
.

t h a t t h e s ce n e s e nacted s u b seq u e n t to t h is a pp lica

‘

tio n wo u ld n ever h ave s tai n ed h istory b u t for t h i s

c lai m of t h e P ope .

We do n o t k n o w w h at pas sed b e t wee n Ki n g He n ry

a n d t h e P ope exce p t h is ref u sa l t o gra n t t h e dis p e n
s atio n If t h e P ope h ad b ee n a li t t le m o re c o n ci lia
’

t ory an d c om m u n icated to t h e Ki n g s o m et h i n g in t h is
w is e t h e resu lt m ig h t h ave b ee n s o m et hi n g di ffere n t
,
.

I t is n o t in m y power to gra n t y o u t h is dispe n sa

t io n as i t wou ld b e a v io latio n of t h e VII co m m a n d
, , .

m e n t for C hri s t said Matt v 3 2

,
.
B u t I say u n to
,
. .
,
‘

y o u ,
t h at w h osoever s h a ll put away h is wi f e savi n g ,

f o r t h e ca u se of f or n icatio n causes h e r to co m m i t ,

a d u lte ry ! a n d w h os oever s h a ll m ar i y h e r t h at i s
d ivorced s h a ll co m m i t ad u ltery God h a s give n y o u .
’

a co n s cie n ce a n d free will to s in or n o t t h er e fore t h e ,

s in w i ll b e yo u r s a n d t h e p u n i s h m e n t wi ll b e yo u rs
.
,

w it h o u t forgive n es s Is i t n o t reas o n a b le to c o n
.

e lu de t ha t t h i s re proof give n i n a tr u e c h ris tia n spiri t

, ,

m ig h t h a v e c h an ged t h e res u lt .

A m o n g t h e p o wers gi v e n to P eter was t h a t of rai s

i n g t h e dea d a n d every o n e k n o w s t h at n eit h er t h e
,

P o p e or an y ot h er m an c an do t h at as if t h e po wer ’

was exerci s ed it wo u ld d efeat t h e orga n ic laws of

God . Is it n o t t h erefore w ort h y of t h e serio u s c o n
s ideratio n o f t h is powerf u l a n d u sef u l orga n izatio n

in a way to ab an do n a cl ai m t h at i f exerci s ed wo u ld
,

des troy t h at w h i c h b y ot h er co n ceded c lai m s i s c al

c u lat e d t o bui ld u p an d bea u ti f y f or t h e glory of God .

I n o u r h u m b le j u dg m e n t s u c h a co u rse wo u ld re m ove
d eep rooted p rej u dice s an d wo u ld b e a gre at i m p u ls e t o
its exte n sio n an d as we look at th e q u es ti o n it wo u ld
,

u n do u b ted ly b e t h e wis h o f every tr u e c hris tia n _

.

We n o w wi ll giv e s o m e of t h e e ffects of t h e de n ial

o f t h e P o p e t o t h e a p plicatio n of Ki n g H e n ry a n d ,
26 A pp eal f or C h ri s ti a n U n i ty .

t he res u lt s h ows p lai n ly t h at t h ere was s o m et h i n g

dee p er an d s tro n ger in t h e m i n d o f t h e E n glis h peo p le
t h a n t h e si m p le de n ia l of a dispe n satio n ! ng
'
1

H e n ry was as b ad a m an as ever live d an d t h is feat e r ,

t h ro wn u p o n h is dee p seated p rej u di c e s h is p as sio n s ,

flas h ed like dy n a m ite to destroy everyt h i ng cat h oli c

in h is rea lm .It is u n re as o n ab le t o s u ppose t h at su c h
.

a tri fle in itse lf co u ld h ave m o v e d all E n g la n d to t h e

'

s teps take n agai n st t h e Cat h o lics to co n fis cate t h ei r ,

pro p erty b ur n t h eir c h u rc he s s e m i n aries an d m u r

,
.

, ,

der t h eir peop le b y t h o u sa n ds an d te n s of t h o u s a n ds ,

a n d depriv e t h e m o f all civi l ri g h ts S til l t h is was .

d o n e t h ro u g h t h e reig n s of Ki n g He n ry Ki n g E d ,

ward an d ! u ee n E liza b et h .

We do n o t p re t e n t t o say t h at all E n g la n d ap p rove d

o f t h e co u rs e Ki g He ry b ut h s caff old
'

p u rs u e d b y n n t e ,

o r acq u ies ce n ce was t h eir c h oice T h e Ki n g as s u m ed .

t h e pos itio n of s e lf m ade P ope to t h e re ligio n h e

-

e s tab lis h ed an d h e h ad t h e P arlia m e n t at h is back

,

t o e n force b y la w h is c o n ce ptio n s T h e A n g li c a n
‘

’
or g a n izati o n was t h e re s u lt It adopted t h e A pos tles .

Creed as its b e lief an d t h e fait h ded u ced t h erefro m ,

a n d o f co u rs e ado pted fait h a n d b aptis m as a m ea n s

o f e n teri n g C h rist s C h u rc h a n d t h u s t h ey beca m e a
’
,

c h ris tia n orga n izati o n h avi n g p laced itse lf u p o n t h e

,

fo u n datio n pri n ciple s o f t h e c h ris tia n re ligio n A bo u t .

i ts dis cip li n e we h ave n o t h i n g t o say b ei n g outsi de ,

t h e s u b j ect m atter in h a n d .

T he sa m e spirit o f persec u tio n was c o n ti n u ed in

1 850 by a n atte m pt t o p as s i n P ar lia m e n t w h at was
called t h e p e n al b ill We extract a f ew pas s ag e s
.

f ro m t he letters of t h e R e v D W C a h ill D D a . . .
, . .
,

Cat h o lic D ivi n e to Lord Jo h n R u s se ll of date N ove m

, ,

ber 4 th 1 851 “ We c h ar g e y o u b efore a reve n gef u l

,
.

h eave n wit h t h e exi le a n d deat h of o u r pe op le ; bot h

cri m es lie at yo u r do or a n d y o u h ave adde d i n grati
,

t u de to cr u elty ; we h o n ored y o u we fo llowed y o u , .

Y o u did n o t s o m u c h s u rprise u s b y t h e i n trod u ctio n

of yo u r pe n a l b i ll as b y t h e h i storica l fa ls e h ood an d
i n s u lti n g b i g otry of y o u r spe e c h es T hey were n u .

w ort h y t h e h i s tori a n b elow t h e dig n ity o f t h e s t ates

,

m an an d di s h o n ora b le to t h e m an A t h ird rate .

 A p p eal f or C h ri s ti a n U n i ty . 27

orator am o n g s t y o u r o w n p arty an d a fift h rate ,

s p eaker in t h e w h ole h o u se you n ever co u ld lay ,

c lai m t o dis ti n ctio n exc ep t fro m t h e s u p p osed

~
,

h o n e sty an d libera lit y of your p o litica l opi n io n s ;

b u t n o w yo u r i n c o n siste n cy a n d yo u r b igotry h avi n g
tor n fro m y o u r face t h e m ask w h ic h co n cea led yo u r
m ediocrity it i s agreed t h at t h e fore m os t leader o f
,

t h e W higs h a s bee n b e fi t tin g ly tra n sfor m ed i n t o th e

las t hac k of t h e tories .

it a
t 1
X
1

a
s at it a a
t 99 -

96

A las a las w h ere s h al l I begi n to te ll y o u r

,

p oli tica l career as regar d s poor trodde n dow n fait h ,

f u l pers ec u ted Ire lan d ? Nor i s i t wit h in k o r p a p er

,

I wo u ld atte m pt a des cri pt io n of t h e woe s of yo u r

r u le N o ; n o I m y lord t h e deserted V i llage t h e
.
, ,

was te la n d th e u n freq u e n ted c h ape l t h e si le n t g le n

, , ,

t h e pa le fa c e an d t h e m o u r n f u l n a t i o n a l v oice sta m p ,

t h e h is tory of Ire lan d wit h t h e deep deep i m pres s i o n ,

o f your ad m i n istr atio n; w h ile t h e ferocity of t h e u n

brid led la n d lord an d t h e terrors o f t h e uprooted an d
,

m o u l d eri n g cabi n an d t h e cries o f t h e h ou sel es s

,

or p h a n an d t h e t ears of t h e b roke n h earted widow

, ,

an d t h e e m igra n t s h ip a n d t h e p u tri d work h ouse , ,

an d t h e re d ooz i n g p it o f t h e c o ffi n le s s an d s h roudles s
d ea d t h es e t h e se O h all t h e s e are all t h e t hril li n g
, , ,

an d elo q ue n t wit n e s se s t o publis h t o co m i n g ge n era ,

t io n s an d t o u n bor n Iris h m e n t h e c h aracter a n d t h e

laws o f t h e R u ssell cabi n et A h Sir w h e n y o u h ad .
,

read o f t h e terrific facts o f t he m ot h er li v i n g o n t h e

p u trid re m ai n s o f h e r o w n c h i ld an d w h e n y o u saw
t h e awf u l accou n t o f several c ases of t h e dead b odie s
o f t h e p o o r I ris h bei n g ex p os ed for day s in u n b u ried
p

p u tridity an d d ev o u re d by dogs in t h is u n h eard o f

,

state an d w h e n y o u h ad h eard t h e cries t h at were waft

,

e d acros s t h e c h a n n el for h e lp an d t h ose t h at ros e t o ,

h eave n for m ercy fro m S k ibb eree n fro m Bal li n as loe , ,

fro m K il r u s h a n d fro m Ba lli n ro b e h as yo u r h eart

—
,

s ir ever s m ote y o u wit h re m orse

,
t h at y o u h e ard
t h ese cr ies o f Ire la n d w it h a p itt ile s s co m pos u re an d
se n t to st arvi n g a n d d y in g m i llio n s a h e art les s pi t
t a n ce fro m your ov e rflowi n g t reas u ry H istory te lls
t h e re m ai n der a n d h is tory repe ats itse lf
!
.
,
28

CHR I S T ’
S C HU R CH
W e as k t h e all i m porta n t q u es tio n , was C h ris t s
’
-

Miss io n o n eart h t o es t a b lis h te rres tria l c h u rc h es , s o

ca lle d, or to e s t ab lis h t h e c h ris tia n re li g io n u po n t h e
.

laws o f God , a n d u po n t h e teac hi n gs in H i s gos pe l ?

S o m e m ay a n s wer t h is q u es tio n t h at H i s m is sio n was
to es ta b lis h terrestria l c h u rc h e s , b u t t h e co n se n s u s o f
opi n io n w e b e lieve wo u ld b e t h a t H i s m is sio n was t o
e s ta b lis h t h e c h ri stia n re ligio n an d H is c h u rc h as t h e
rece p tac le . W e all u n dersta n d w h at a terrestri al
c h u rc h i s , a n d a n u m b er of t he m i s als o c alle d t h e 1

c h u rc h o f t he d e n o m i n a tio n For w h at o b j e c t are s u c h

.

s tr u ct u res m ade ? T h ey are pl ace s m ade for p eop le

t o as se m b le i n , a n d h ear t h e word of God exp lai n e d
a n d ta u g h t a n d b y s u c h teac hi n gs s o m e a re co n verted
t o t h e tr u e fai t h a n d are b ap tize d in to C h ri s t s C h u rc h ,
’

t h ey are a ls o u sed b y t h e m as p laces of wors h ip .

C h ris t gave to Hi s twe lve apost les a m a n datory law

to teac h H i s gos pe l t o all n atio n s , b u t we fai l t o fi n d
a n y direc t io n s b y H i m to t h e m to b u i ld terre strial
c h u rc h e s or teac h in s u c h c h u rc h e s T h e wor d c h u rc h
.

i s u sed to re prese n t so m a n y di ffere n t e n t it ies t h a t

t h e re h as b ee n great co n f u sio n res u lt in g b y u si n g t h e
s a m e word to repre se n t t h ese e n titie s C h ri st firs t .

u sed it to n am e H i s spi rit u al C hu rc h an d m an y

t h erefore believe t h at t h e n a m e gover n s t h e e n tit y
an d n ot t h e e n tity t h at gover n s t h e m ea n i n g o f t h e
n am e . T o s h ow t h at t h e terres tr ial c h u rc h e s a1 e n o t
p recede n ts t o t h e ac h ieve m e n t o f C h rist s C hurc h , we ’

“
refer t o A ct s ii 47 . . A n d t h e L or d added t o t h e
c h u rc h dai ly s u c h as s h ou ld b e saved .

Fro m w h ic h we lear n t h at n o o n e c an be save d

except t h ey g e t i n to t h e c h u rc h T he q u estio n i s ,
.

w h at c h u rc h was m ea n t , t h e c h u rc h t h at Cat h olics c all

C h u rc h , or C h rist s C hu rc h
’
Were t h ere t w o
c h u rc h e s , P eter s a n d C h ri s t s , or was t h ere b u t o n e
’ ’

c h u rc h ? If s o w h o h ad t h e tit le t o it , P eter o r
,

C h ri s t C h ri st s poke of Hi s c h u rc h an d sa id H e
wou ld b u ild i t u po n t h is rock , t h at H e was th e S o n o f
t h e Livi n g God a n d t h e tr u t h s o f H is gospe l P eter .

was si m p ly a teac h er o f C h ri st s go s pe l wit h p er m is

’
 C h u rc h
’
C h ri s t s . 9

sive po wers giv e n h im by C h rist b u t we fai l to fi n d ,

a n y 1 ecord t h at h e ever u sed t h ese p owers n o r i s it

!

evide n ce t h at t h e pos ses sio n of p owe 1 s n eces sari ly

c alls for t h eir exerc i s e .

W h at 1 s C h rist s C h urc h ? We a n swer t h at i t i s

,
’

s u b sta n tia lly t h e gospe l o f Jes u s C h ri s t an d t h e c o n

s t i t u tio n of t h e c h ris t ia n re ligio n a n d is n o t a m ateria l
,

e n tity o r terre s tria l orga n izatio n It i s m ade u p o f .

laws of God reiterated by J es u s C h ris t an d t h ose

, ,

laws are co n ditio n a l pro m ise s of G o d an d C h rist t o

m a n ki n d f o r obedie n ce or di s o b edie n ce of ot h er laws o f
t h e gos pe l T h ese p ro m i s e s of God an d C h ri s t are t h e
.

h ead an d c o n tro lli n g laws of t h e c h ristia n co n stit u tio n .

T h ese laws are t h e proc la m atio n of Je s u s C h rist t o

m a n ki n d to s h ow t h e m t h e road t o s alvatio n an d H is
C h u rc h is t h at road T h e n w h at are t h e g u ide b oard s
.

t h at H e n ai led t o H i s cros s to co n d u ct t h e c h ri stia n

i n to t h e gates o f His C h u rc h ? Be lief t h at H e was t h e
o n ly S o n of t h e Livi n g G o d an d fai t h in t h e tr u t h o f
His go s pe l T h e n ext i s b apti s m in to H is c h urc h
.
,

w h ic h i s sea li n g t h e c ove n a n t of th e pro m ise s o f

C h r ist an d God to m a n ki n d t h at t h ereafter eac h o n e
cove n a n ti n g s h a ll live u p to t h e req u ire m e n ts of t h e
gospe l . T h ey are t h e n in C h r ist s C h u rc h w h ere ’

t h ere i s O n e L ord o n e fait h an d o n e b apt is m

, .

T h ere m u st of n eces sity be a c lear di sti n ctio n m ade

betwee n a divi n e law an d t h e s u b j ect u p o n w h ic h t h e
law o p erates A s f o r exa m ple t h e law of gra v ity
.
,

operate s u n iversa lly an d alw ays t h e sa m e a n d b y it s ,

u s e we are e n abled to carry o n a ll t h e busi n es s of life ,

an d wit h o u t i t we co u ld do n ot h i n g .

I m port an t an d u sef u l as th e law i s in th e ap o sto li c ,

ti m es t h e law w a s u n k n ow n yet t h e p e op le h ad t h e
,

free u s e of i t t h e n as t h ey h av e n o w an d s o it was ,

wi t h m a n y ot h er laws but late ly dis c overe d T h e

,
.

di s covery of a law c ha n ges n ot hi n g b u t m ay exp lai n

.
,

m a n y t h in gs t h at b efore w ere s tra n g e an d s o m eti m e s

m yster io u s . H ow ab s u 1 d it wo u ld be for a n y o n e
k n ow in g w h at t h e la w of g r avi ty i s an d h o w i t a cts , ,

to ca ll t h e h o u se s b u i ld in gs an d t h e co m m u n i ty
,
,

occ u pyi n g t h e m t h e la w of gravi ty .

L e t 11 8 t h e n give C hri s t s C hu rc h it s p roper n a m e

’
 C h ri s t C h u rc h
’
30 s .

an d posi tio n as th e h ead la w of t h e gospe l gover n i n g

all i t s ot h er laws an d all terres trial orga n izati o n s
teac h i n g t h e gospel T e n t h o u sa n d years of teac h i n g
.

a n error wi ll n ev er m ake it a tr u t h t h o u g h i t m ay b e ,

di ffi c u lt t o ack n ow ledge it .

T h e g os p e l record i s our c h ristia n law an d to it we ,

m u s t refer a ll o u r co n c lu sio n s a n d differe n c e s o f

opi n io n T h e law h as two o b j e c t s o n e of reward in
.
,
1

t h e life t o co m e of a s tate of h appi n es s for o b eyi n g

t h e la w i n t h i s life a n d o n e of p u n i s h m e n t for dis
,

o b e yin g it T h e gos pel p lai n ly s ets f ort h t h ese tw o

.

p ositio n s an d t h ey are c o n fir m ed b y t h e w ord of G o d

,

a n d pro m ises of J e s u s C h rist T h e s e pro m is es are .

t h e Gra n d Mag n a C h arta of t h e C hris t ia n fra med in

H eav e n a n d se n t t o eart h in escro wi th Jes u s C h ri s t ,

a n d H e h a s e s ta b lis h ed H i s C h u rc h to b e t h e di s
n s ary of t h e m to t h e peop le o f t h e eart h
p e .

W h at are t h e co n diti o n s u n d er w h i c h m an c an
'

avai l h im self of t h e b e n efits o f t h e Mag n a C h arta

a n d b eco m e a party t o t h e agree m e n t T he c o n
dit io n s are s o plai n ly laid do w n b y C h ri st t h at t h ere
c a n be no m i s u n dersta n di n g t h e m T h e se are belief .

i n Jes u s C h ri s t as t h e S o n of th e Liv in g God a n d o f ,

t h e tr u t h s of H i s gos pe l or in ot h er word s ,
t h at ,

C hris t is God s a u t h ority T h is belie f bei n g p e rfe c t in

’
.
,

v o lve s t h e fait h in t h e p la n of c h ri sti a n i ty as D ivi n e .

T h e co n vert t h e n i s p repare d o n his p art t o acce p t ,

t h e Mag n a C h arta an d clos e t h e agree m e n t b etwee n

h im an d h is God t o t h e n c e forward f oll ow an d obey
t h e teac h i n gs of C h rist s gos p el
’
.

’
C h ris t s i n struc t io n s as t o w h at t h e co n v erter is t o
d o t o acce p t t h i s agree m e n t an d a ffi x h is seal T h ey .

are t h at h e i s to be baptized i n to h is C hu rc h w h e n
—
,

t h e agree m e n t betwee n t h e parties be c o m e s a bi n di n g

law an d t h e accep ti n g party b eco m e s a m e m ber o f
,

C h rist s C h u rc h an d t h i s agree m e n t b ei n g of D ivi n e

’

a u t h o rity n o h u m a n p ower c an d e p os e h im O n ce a
, .

m e m b er al ways a m e m b er an d if h e co m m it s s in G o d
,

wi ll p u n is h h im b u t n o eart h ly power c an do s o
,
.

If h e b e lo n g s to a re ligio u s orga n iza tio n wi th b y ,

laws as di sci p li n e h e c an b e de p osed as a m e m ber o f

,

t h at orga n izat io n or s u c h o th er ac t i o n as th e b y laws

,
-
 C h ri s t C h u rc h
’
s . 31

m ay desig n ate but n o actio n o f t h e orga n izatio n c an

i n terf ere wit h an y D ivi n e la w 0 1 wit h t h e agree me n t ,
1

bet wee n God a n d Man t h e Mag n a C h arta , .

T h is Mag n a C h arta c o n t ai n s all t h e req u ired re la

tio n s b et wee n G o d a n d m an 0 11 a n d after its accept
a n ce b y an y h u m a n b ei n g H e bi n ds h i m se lf or .
,

s h e b i n ds h er self to o b ey all t h e la w s o f God m aterial ,

an d s p irit u a l H e or s h e i s t h e n in C hri s t s C h u rc h ’
.
,

a n d t hi s i s w h at t h e n a m e m ea n s
.

I t s i n stit u tio n b y .

C h rist was to be u n i v ers a l for t h e be n efit of all m an

ki n d an d h e n ce was n o t to be c o n fi n e d to a n y sectio n
, ,

o r to an y partic u lar orga n izatio n It is m ore t h a n .

everlas ti n g for it wil l s u rvive all te m p o ra l t h i n gs

,

an d all existi n g la w s excep t its e l f a n d wi ll be c o ,

exis te n t wit h God .

A s f ait h i n t h e t r u t h of C h ri s t s go s p el is a n all
’

i m p orta n t p oi n t i t i s es se n tia l to k n ow j u st w h at t h at
,

fait h re q u ire s T h ere are s o m a n y co n str u c tio n s o f

.

t h e de c laratio n s of C h rist t h at s o m e m ay be c o n , “

fuse d in de ter m i n i n g w h at co n s tructio n t h ey s h o u ld

f ol lo w It m u s t b e re m e m bered th at C h ris t req u ires
.

f ait h in t h e tr u t h of H i s gos p el a n d n o t in a n y parti e

ular co n s tr u ctio n o f t h e m m a n ki n d i s s o pec u liar ly
c o n s tit u ted t h at t h ey do n o t all see t hin gs a like an d ,

h e n ce draw di ffere n t co n cl u s io n s fro m t h e sa m e s tate

m ent . C h rist in H i s wisd o m k n ew t h is fact an d ,

h e n ce did n o t state an y partic u lar co n str u ctio n o f

Hi s gos p el as t h e e s se n tial to t h e tr u e fait h .

A c h ris ti a n t o be eligi b le for b aptis m i n to h is

C h u rc h i s o n ly bou n d to h ave t h e fait h in th e tr u t h of
Hi s go s pel T h at tr u t h m ay 0 1 m ay n o t be t h e c o n
.
1

str u c tio n in exact n es s w h ic h h e h as b ee n ta u g h t or ,

w h ic h h e h as u n derstood fro m h is rea di n g an d i f h e ,

h as u sed his b e st in te llect in e n deavori n g to si ft out

t h e exact tr u t h he wi ll n o t b e h eld respo n si b le i f
,
’
over t h i s h e b e lie v e s in t h e trut h o f C hrist s gos pe l .

It i s t he i n te n tio n an d d eter m i n ati o n t o b e lieve t h e

gos pe l as t r u t h t h at i s th e ess e n t ial to be t h e fait h an d
, ,

n o t in an y partic u lar c o n str u ctio n T h erefore h av e .

c h arity an d j u dge n o t t h at y o u m ay n o t b e j u dge d

,
.

We wi ll n o w give t h e m a n datory laws of Jes u s

C h ri s t w h i c h t h e C hr ist ia n m u s t o b ey a fter e n teri n g
 C h ri s t C h u rc h
’
32 s

H is C h u rc h T h es e co n s ist of God s orga n ic laws w h ic h

.
’

C h ri s t was s e n t o n eart h as a Mis sio n ary t o teac h t o

t h e wor ld w hic h H e did an d t h e n H e appoi n ted
, ,

twelve a p os t les wit h c ertai n D ivi n e powers to teac h

as m is sio n arie s fro m C h ris t t h e n atio n s of t h e ea rt h ,
.

LA W S THA T C H R I S TI A N S M U S T O BE Y .

G OD O LA w s
’
S R G AN I C .

To acce p t God as t h e Creator o f all t hi ng s Visible

a n d I n v is ib le .

To acce p t Jes u s C h l is t as t h e S o n of God an d as

His Mis s io n ary t o t h e wor ld to estab li s h t h e C h ris ,

tia n religi o n an d to b e th e S avio u r of m an ki n d .

To acce pt t h e H o ly G h os t as t h e m i n d of God an d
Jes u s C h rist .

To acce pt God s m aterial an d i m m ateria l la w s an d

’
,

f or o b edie n c e o f t h e m reward s of h ap p i n es s in t h e li f e
t o co m e a n d f or disobedie n ce of t h e m p u n i s h m e n t ,
.

T E N C OMMAN D M E NT S G I V E N TO Mo s e s .

T h o u s h a lt h ave n o ot h er god s but m e .

T h o u s h alt n o t m ake u n to t h ys e lf an y grave n

i m age n o r t h e like n es s o f an yt hi n g t h at is in
t h e h ea v e n s a b ove or in t h e ear t h be n eat h o r
in t he waters u n der t h e ear t h T h o u s ha lt n o t .

b o w do w n to t h e m n o r wors h i p t h e m For I ,

t h e L ord t h y G o d a m a j ealo u s G od a n d vis it

t h e si n s o f t h e fat h ers u po n t h e c h i ldre n u n to
t h e t h ird a n d f o u rt h ge n eratio n o f t h e m t h a t
h ate m e a n d s ho w m ercy u n to t h o u s an ds in
-

t h e m th at love m e an d keep m y co m m a n d
m e n ts .

T h o u s h alt n o t take th e n a m e of t h e L ord t h y

God in Vai n for t h e Lord wi ll n o t h o ld h im
,

g u i ltles s t hat take t h H i s n a m e in vai n .

R e m e m b er t ha t t h o u keep H o ly t he Sa b ba th
d ay Six day s s h a lt t h o u la b or an d do all
'

t hat t h o u has t to do b u t th e seve n t h day i s ,

t h e Sa bb at h o f t h e L o rd t h y G o d I n i t t h ou
'

.
 C h u rc h
’
C h ri s t s . 33

s h al t do n o m a n n er o f work , t h ou an d th y s o n
a n d t h y daug h ter , t h y m an s e rv a n t an d t hy
m ai d s e r v a nt , t h y cattle a n d t h e s tra n ger t h at
is wit h i n t h y gates F o r in six day s t h e L ord
.

m ade h e ave n an d eart h , t h e sea an d all t h at

,
in t h e m i s an d rested t he seve n t h day
, .

T h erefore t h e L ord bles se d t h e se v e n t h day

!

a n d h a llowed it .

Ho n or fat h er a n d m o t h er t h at t h y day s
th y
m ay b e lo n g i n t h e la n d w h ic h t h e Lor d t h y
God gi v e th t h ee .

T h o u s h alt do n o m u rder .

T h ou s h alt n o t c o m m it a d u ltery .

T ho u s h alt n o t s tea l .

T h o u s h alt n o t bear fals e wit n es s agai n s t my

n eig h b o u r .

T h o u s h a lt n o t cove t t h y n eig h b our s h ou s e ;

’

t h ou s h al t n o t covet th y n eig h b ou r s wi fe n o r ’
,

h is s erva n t n o r h is m aid n o r h is ox o r h is as s ,

n o r a n y t h i n g t h at i s h is .

C T wo C OMM AN D M E NT S
’
n n rs r s
'
.

X I . T h ou s h alt love t h e Lord t h y G o d wit h all

t h y h eart a n d wit h all t h y soul an d wi t h all
t hy m i n d .

X 11 . T h o u s h alt love t h y n eig h b our as t h yse lf .

O n t h ese t wo co m m a n d m e n ts h a n g all t h e
law an d th e p ro p h ets .

ot h er m a n datory
Laws of C h ris t s Gos p el are
’

p rayer , fait h , b ap tis m , t h e L ord s S u ppe r , an d t h e m os t

’

u sef u l an d i m p orta n t o n e give n t o His apostles w as

t o p re ac h t h e gos pel t o al l t h e n atio n s o f t h e eart h
'

C H R I STI A N O R G A NI ! A TI O N S .

T he se o rg an iz at io n s h av e grow n o u t o f t h e n e c e s
'

s it y o f s preadi n g an d tea c h i n g t h e gos p e l of Je su s

C h ris t T h ey were u n k n ow n i n t h eir p rese n t s h a p e
.

a t t h e ti m e o f t h e early teac h i n gs by t h e A p os tles .

 4 C h ri s ti an O rg a n iz a ti o n s
.

T h e re was t h e n but o n e e m bryo orga n iz a ti on o f .

w h ic h Peter was t he h ea d, an d n o laws e x is t i n g

w h ic h it c ould be recog n ize d t o e n able it t o h o ld p ro
! '

p erty an d bui ld b u ildi n gs f o r p la c es o f m eeti n g f o r

i n structio n an d wors hi p It th e n di d n o t exist as it
.

n o w exists wit h civil law t o e n able it t o h ol d

p r o
p erty , build c at h edrals , s e m i n aries , an d v arl o u s ot h e r
p lace s f o r teac h i n g an d s preadi n g t he gos p el . We
f ai l t o fi n d a n y t h i n g in C h ris t s i n s truct io n s t o t h e
‘ ’

ap os tles d irecti n g s uc h orga n izatio n s o r t h e buil d i n g

o f su c h b u ildi n gs .

His i n str u ctio n s t o His a p os tle s were to tea c h H is

gos pe l t o all n ati o n s an d t h at gos p el co n tai n e d e v ery
,

t h i n g n e c e s s ary f o r fai t h , m oral s an d p ra c tice s Di d .

C h ri s t give H i s apostle s t h e so le rig h t to teac h H is

gos p e l We t h i n k n o t , as t h a t would def e at t he
very obj ect He h ad in V ie w o f s p rea d i n g Hi s go s p el .

Did C h ris t di rect o r e m power His a p ostles t o ap

p oi n t m e n in H is n a m e t o tea c h t h e go s p el ? We do
“

n o t fi n d an y s uc h t h in g in Hi s gos p el Di d h e d e n y
t o an y o n e th e ri g h t t o t e a c h h is gospel ? We a n s wer
m os t e m p h ati c a lly N o 1 T h e n if a n y o n e teac h es t h e
t rut h o f His g os p el wit h good i n te n t t o m ake c o n verts
t o t h e C h ri s t ian f ait h , h o w does his p osi t io n di ffe r
f ro m t h at o f an y ot h e r teac h er o f th e sa m e t h i n gs ?
A s teac h ers b ot h sta n d o n p reci sely t h e s a m e f o oti n g
an d fo u n da tio n , t h ey bot h teac h t h e e sse n t ia ls f o r
sa lv atio n b ot h are m e m bers o f C h ri s t s C hur c h , b o t h
,
’ -

p u rsue th e s am e c o n du c t fo r th e C h ri s tian p res cri b ed

by t h e go spe l .

T h e q u e s tio n n at u ral ly aris e s in o n e s m in d w h y

’

t h ey did n o t u s e t h e n a m e o f C h rist s C hu rc h in t h e
’

“
A post le s ’
Creed i n stead of t h e Ho ly C at h o li c
C h u rc h .
!
an d w h y t h e y c h a n ge d t h at n am e i n t h e
N i c e n e C ree d to O n e Cat h o lic A p osto lic C h u rc h
T h e n am e “ C h u rc h is t h e n o u n in t h e t h ree c a ses
’

“
w h e n it is u se d an d C h r is t s ’ ! “
Holy C a t h o li c !

an d O n e Cat h o lic A pos to lic are t h e a dj e ct ives ,

m ak in g t h e k in d of C h u rc h m ea n t in eac h i n s ta n ce .

“ Ho ly Cat h o lic C hu rc h ! “
or Ho ly C at h ol ic or
“
O n e Cat h oli c A pos to lic C h urch . or O n e Cat h o li c
A p o sto li c
!
are n o t to be f ou n d in C h ri st s gos p el ;
’
 C h ri s ti a n O rg a nisa tion s . 35

t h ey are t h ereforebiblical an d m us t b e t re ate d

n ot -

like a ny o r d i n ary la n g u age as n o t i n s p ire d .

T h ere 1 s o n e ot h er say i n g in t h e A p ostles C ree d ’

t hat w e do n o t fi n d in t h e Gos p e l t h e Co m m u n io n ,

o f S ai n ts T his w it h t h e Ho ly Cat h oli c C h u rc h are

!
.

s ubj e c ts o f c o n s tr u c tio n w h i le all t h e re m ain de r o f

,

t h e C reed i s f ou n d l n th e gos p el .

A s t here 1 s b u t o n e C h urc h m e n tio n ed i n t h e g o s

p e l
, we a re bou n d t o c o n s tr u e Ho ly C at h olic C h urc h
a s t h e H o ly u n iversa l C h u 1 c h o f C h ri s t an d t h e C o m ,

m u n io n o f Sai n ts W h ic h at t h at ti m e re f erred evide n t

ly a n d of n e c e s sity to t h e apost les a g ree m e n t in fait h ’
.

T h e N i c e n e Creed covers co n s idera b le m ore grou n d

t h an t h e A postles Creed as wi ll be see n by an y o n e
’
,

readi n g t h e two b u t ca n n ot be regarded as an abro

,

g a t io n of t h e A pos t les C ree d b u t a n e

’
x t e n s 1 o n o f i t ,

s o t h e c a t h o lics were s u re of b ei n g ri g h t a n d t h ey

be li e ve an d practice upo n t h e two as o n e

!

It i s n o t .

s tra n ge t h ere f ore t h at t h ey s h o u ld be lieve in t h e O n e

Cat h o lic A p osto lic O rga n izati o n w h ic h t h ey f o u n ded
t h e m selve s a pri vi lege w h ic h an y C h 1 i st ia n O rga n i
,

z a tio n h a s as o f 1 n l1 e 1 e n t rig h t We t h e re f 0 1 e s ay dis .

t in o t ly t h at t h e R o m a n Cat h oli c O rga n iz atio n h as th e

rig h t to m ake it s o wn d is cip lin e fra m e its o w n co n s ti ,

t u t io n an d p rac t ic e t h e l r o w n wors h ip provided t h e y ,

do no t i n t erfe re i m plied ly 0 1 o t h er w is e wit h t h e s oci a l 1

p o lit ic al or re lig io u s rig h t of t h eir n e ig h b ors or ot h ers

‘

It is we ll for u s to co n s ider t h e tr u e p os iti o n s a n d

co n di ti o n s of religio u s org an izatio n s w it h o u t an y
sq u e am is h n e s s a s to ter m s T h e y a re b u s in es s org an i .

z at io n s h avi n g for t h eir p u rp os e t h e acco m p lis h m e n t

of a certai n e n d an d t h is i s t h e o b j ect of every

.
,

e art h ly or ga n izat io n an d of all i n div id u a l or co llec t ive

e ffort T h e obj ect to b e ob tai n e d b y re ligi o u s c i g a n i
.

z a t i o n s i s to lay u p treas u re i n h eave n w h i le t h e ,

o b j ect of a ll o th er ear th ly e ff ort i s t o lay u p tr e a s u re

o n e art h N o wo n der w h y re lig io u s o rg an iz a t io n s h av e
“

differ e n t di s cip li n e an d p u rs u e di ffere n t m e an s o f a o

co m p lis h in g t h e sa m e e n d O n e set of m e n co n s ider .

t h e c o u rse t h e y p u rsue t h e b est to acco m p li s h t h ei r

o b j e c t w h i le a n ot h er t h i n k diffe re n t ly an d p u rs u e
,

a n ot h er c o u rs e eac h fi n a lly arrivi n g at th e sa m e e n d

,
.
86 C h ri s ti a n O r
g a n iz a ti o n s .

T h i s i s a u 11 iv e rs al r u le a pp lie d t o all eart h ly e ff or ts

» .

A ll b u si n es s C h ris tia n O rga nizatio n s f ollow t h e

s a m e ge n era l p rin c ip le s in t h eir p u rs u it t h at s ti m u lat e
‘

all ot h er b usi n e s s purs u its , an d t h at is t o take su c h

a co urse of a c tio n as t o p rod u ce t h e greates t res u lt by
taki n g t h e bes t m ea n s accordi n g t o t h e ir j udg m e n t o f
c o n d u cti n g t h e b u si n e s s S carce t w o far m ers e v e r
.
-

t ill t h eir gro u n d a like f o r t h e sa m e crop ; scarce t w o

m erc h a n ts p u rs u e t h e sa m e co u rs e in b u si n ess , n o r
an y two corporatio n s ai m i n g t o acco m p lis h t h e sa m e
end . Y e t t h e two f ar m ers are rewar ded wi t h t he
sa m e crops ; t he tw o m erc h a n ts m ake e q u a l a m ou n t s
o f m o n ey , a n d t h e t w o cor p oratio n s serve t h e c o m
m u n ity wit h eq u al s u cce ss It i s t h ere f ore appare n t
’

t h at it i s n o t t h e partic u lar m a n n er of doi n g t h e busi

n es s o f t h e discip li n e of C h ristia n O rga n izati o n t h at
i s co n trolli n g a n d es s e n ti al , b u t to acco m pli s h t h e
req u ired re s u lt an d rea c h t h e goa l .

A s a n ecessary res u lt f o r s u cce s s , ev ery orga n izatio n

a n d every i n d u s tria l e ff ort m ust h ave a h ea d, a n d t h e
orga n izatio n b e g u ard ed b y co n ve n tio n al r u le s , an d
w h e n a p plied to gover n m e n ts terrestrial , o r gover n
m e n t s ce le stial , t h e se r u les are cal led laws T he .

religiou s orga n izati o n s b ei n g co m prise d o f p art o i th e '

p eo ple g o v e rn e d, m u s t o f n eces sity co m e u n der t h e

,

gov er n m e n tal law S o t h at t h ese orga n iz atio n s are

.

re cog n ized as b u si n es s org a nizatio n s an d are i n cor

p o ra t e d like t h e m , wit h power t o t ra n sact t h ei r

busi n es s , h old property an d do all ot h er t h i n g s

aut h or ized by t h eir c h arter .

T hey t h e n perfor m all t h e d u t ies as a citize n re

q u ired of t h e m by t h e law A m o n g t h os e d u t ies a re
.

t h e pay m e n t o f taxe s n eces sary t o t h e pay m e n t o f

t h e legal expe n ses o f th e gover n m e n t T h e se taxe s
‘

are ge n erally re m i tte d o n th e property of t h e religiou s

orga n izatio n s ; ot h er taxes h owever are n o t an d t h e ,

m o n ey t h u s obtai n e d passes i n to t h e p u b lic tre a s u ry

t o be u sed accor d i n g t o law T h e title o f th e tax
.

p ayer t o h is m o n ey c eases o n its pay m e n t N o one .

c an t h ere f ore ask t o h ave th e m o n ey t h us p ai d re

t ur n ed t o him f o r h is u se s i n p ro m oti n g h is i n d i
v id ual in teres t , o r t h a t o f t h e orga n iza t io n t o wh i c h
 C h ri s ti an O rg a n iz a ti o n s . 37

he be lo n gs , an d i f h e does , i t 1 s mu t i n y 1 n c 1p 1e n t

agai n s t t h e law o f eq u al rig h ts a n d

e q u a l privilege s .

T h e s e re ligio u s organ izatio n s are c h artered u n der

t h e tacit u n ders ta n di n g t h at t h e y wi ll n o t di sse m i n ate
a m o n g t h e peop le s disi n tegrati n g e le m e n ts s u c h as ,

t h e p os ses sio n of i n d ivid u a l p owers an d disti n ctio n s ,

w h ic h t h ey de n y t o t h os e gra n ti n g s u c h pri v i leges

“

o r to a n y o n e e ls e o n t h e eart h H e n ce t h ese powers

-

an d dis ti n cti o n s s h o u ld b e f o u n ded u po n p lai n la n

g u age in S cript u re a n d s h o u ld n o t be c lai m ed to b e
‘

derived fro m ded u ctio n s an d do u b tf u l c o n str u ctio n s .

I n t h is Gov er n m e n t of eq u a l laws eq u al rig h ts an d , ,

eq u a l privileges s u c h u n e q u a l do c tri n e s m us t in t he
, fi

e n d prod u ce c o n flic t T h ere is co n flict n o w in o pi n io n

.

an d as t h a t s tre n gt h e n s an d g rows eac h p arty b eco m es ,

s tro n ger an d stro n ger in t h e ir o p i n io n s til l h istory

'

repeats itse lf ;
If t h es e c lai m s o f t h e C at h o lic O rg an iz at io n w ere
n ece ssary t o S a lvatio n of So u ls a n d t h ey were f o u n d ,

i n p lai n la n g u age as o t h er req u ire m e n ts are in ,

C h ris t s Gos pel we wo u ld as k t h at t h ey s h o u ld b e

’
,

p osted in letters o f go ld o n every door post in t h e -

cou n t ry ; b u t t h ey are n o t c la im ed t o be s u c h n o r are ,

t h ey b ut are a dis ci p li n e o f t h e or g a n izatio n m a d e

,

by i n divid u als an d co n t i n ued by ot h er s w h o were an d

are alo n e e fi e c t e d by t h e m d irectly w h ile t h ey h av e ,

a beari n g u po n t h e exc l u s ive recepti o n of t h at re ligio n

an d g o t o s u s tai n t h e T h eology t h at t h i s terrestrial
org an izati o n is a lo n e t h e true C h urc h o f Jes u s C hris t .

T here i s great stres s p u t u p o n th e f o llowi n g pas s

ag e t o s h ow t h at t h e R o m an Ca t h olic O rga n izatio n is
alo n e C h ri st s C h urc h
’
.

Ma t t xvi ii 1 5
. . M ore over i f t h y b rot h er s h all
.

t res p as s a g a in st t h ee go a n d te ll h im h i s fa u lt b e
t wee n h im a n d t h ee a lo n e ! i f h e s h al l h ear t h ee t h e n
t h o u h a s t g a in ed t h y bro t h er .

16. B u t i f h e will n o t h ear t h ee t h e n take wi t h ,

t h ee o n e or t oo
m ore t h at i n t h,
e m o u t h of two o r

th ree w it n es s e s ev ery w ord m ay b e e s t ab lis h e d .

17 . A n d if he s h all e
n g lec t t o h ea r t h ee te ll i t u n t o

h
t e C h urc h ,
bu t if h e n eg lect t o h ear t h e C h u rc h l e t ,

him be u n t o th ee as a h eat en h n m a n an d a p b i ca
u l n .
38 C h ri s ti a n O ,
rg a n i z ati o n s ,

Here was a l egal m o ral q u e s tio n t o b e de c ide d an d

‘
‘

we h ave C h ris t s m et h od o f de C idin g it H e t o ld

’ ’

.
,

t h e m t o refer i t to t h e C hu rc h W h at C h u rc h ? T h i s .
-

was b efore t h e A pos tles c o m m e n c e d t h eir m i n i s t ry s

an d b efore a n y orga n izatio n o f t h e Cat h olics .

t h at ti m e t h er e w as b u t o n e C h u rc h an d t ha t w as ,

C h ri s t s C h u rc h w h ic h He h ad proc lai m ed an d H e
’
,

referred t h i s lega l q u estio n t o t h e l aw o f H is C h u rc h .

T h e C h u rc h b ei n g t he h e ad law o f t h e g o s p e l it -

,
*

was n atura l t h at H e s h o u ld re f er all m oral qu es tio n s

to i t f o r decisi on
T h i s p ri n cip le i s m ore clear ly s e t f ort h in an ot h er
pas sage Lu ke x 2 5 A n d b e h o ld a c ertai n lawyer
,
. .

s tood u p an d te m p ted h im sayi n g Mas t e r w h at s h all

, ,

I do t o i n h erit e t er n al life 3
‘

26
,
He s aid u n to h im W h at i s writt e n i n t h e ,
-

law 2 How reades t t h ou 2

27 A n d h e an s vv e rin g s aid t h ou s h a lt lo v e t h e
’

.
,

L ord th y God wit h all t h y h eart an d wit h all t h y ,

s o u l an d wit h all t h y stre n gt h an d wit h all t h y

, ,

m i n d a n d t hy n eig h b or as t h y se lf
,
.

28. A n d H e s aid u n t o h i m t h o u h ast a n s wered

rig h t T h i s do an d t h o u s h a lt l i ve
. .

C h ri s t t h ere approved of t h e lawyer g al n l n g k n ow

le dg e b y rea di n g t h e S cr ipt u re wit h o u t t h e aid o f a n y
terrestri a l orga n izatio n w h ic h i s a very i m p orta n t ,

p oi n t in th i s dis cus sio n .

C O MP O S ITI O N 0 11 C H R
1
I S T IA N
O R G A N I ! A TI O N S .

T h ese o rg am z atio n s are co m posed of t h ree clas se s

of peop le n a m e ly T h c s e w h o atte n d m eeti n gs h e ld
—
,

for i n s t r u ctio n o n ly t h ose w h o are lega l m e m b er s of

,

th e o rga n izatio n a n d m e m b ers o

,
f C h ris t s C h u rc h ’

w h o h ave bee n b aptized i n to it .

T he firs t c las s are t h ose w h o are attracted for v an

ous reas o n s fro m c u riosity desire to see an d b e s ee n

, , ,

to gai n re ligio u s i n for m atio n an d s o o n T h e se co n d

,
.

c lass are t h e es s e n tia l m ateria l of t h e o rg an l z atl o n ,

are lega l m e m b ers o f i t a n d c o n stit u te t h e b u si n es s “

p ortio n o f th e co n gregatio n m ake t h e b y law s an d ,

-
as si s t in e s t abl is h i n g t h e Dis c i p li n e T h e t h ir d c l as s
.

o c c u p y i n a c o n g re g a ti o n tw o p osi t i o n s O n e as a;
‘

m e m b er o f t h e b usi n e s s o rg an iz ati o n an d o n e as a ,
—

m e m b e rzo f C h ri s t s C h ur c h h avi n g acce p ted t h e fait h

’ “

t h at C h ris t was t h e S o n o f t h e li v i n g G o d an d be e n
‘

ba p tized in t h at fait h
A ll C h risti a n orga n izatio n s t h at a cc ep t t h e A p o stle s
’

Creed as t h e b as is o f fa it h are e n ti t led t o t h e a pp el

,

l atio n o f C h risti an D e n o m i n atio n s an d all t h ose w h o,

do n o t are n o t e n t itled t o t h at h ig h dis ti n cti o n

,
.

T h at creed e m b odie s t h e l an d m arks o f C h ri s t s Gos p el

’

T he m a n n er o f orga n izatio n o f t h e se d e n o m i n atio n s

b e i ng m ai n ly do n e by b u s in es s m e n h avi n g b u si n e s s
v iews o f t h i n gs t h ey n at u ral ly m ix u p terre stria l
,

m atter wit h t h e pri n c i p les o f religio n an d h e n c e ,

t h ey h a v e di s ci p li n e s w h ic h are n o t co n tai n e d o r t o ,

be f o u n d in C hri st s Gos p e l S ti ll th e teac h ers t eac h

’
.

t h e pri n ci p les of t h e gos p el in additio n t o t h e c arry

in g o u t t h e re quire d d i s ci p li n e a n d as f ar a s t h ey
teac h C h ri st s Gos p e l t h ey are teac hi n g C h ristia n ity ;
’
,

b u t if t h e di s ci pli n e does n o t bear d irectly u po n it ,

t h ey are ta lk in g t o th e wi n d a b ou t su b j ects n o t c o n
n e c t e d w it h t h e C h ri s tia n religio n .

T h e m ac h i n ery o f d i s ci p li n e in s o m e orga n izatio n s

1 s s o c u m berso m e a n d o n erous t h at i t disco u r ages t h e
,

lay m a n fro m u n dertaki n g it i n stead of i n viti n g h im

,

by th e si m p licity o f C h ri st s teac h in gs T h i s s tate

’
.

o f t h i n gs i n v olves t h e n eces si ty of lay m e n t h i n ki n g

f o r t h e m s e lve s an d striki n g o u t to di s cover t h e si m p le
ker n e ls o f C h ri stia n ity I t n o w t ake s a ca n didate
.

for t h e m i n istry t o g o t h ro u g h a reg u lar co u rs e of

S e m in ary S t u d ie s to fi n d o u t w h at h e is t o teac h of
'

t h e g os pel a n d d is ci pli n e of h is de n o m i n atio n f o r we ,

ca ll disc ip li n e all t h at i s pre ac h ed in t h e p u l p it o u t

side t h e gospe l o f Je s u s C h ris t .

Most o f t h e q u arre ls wi th i n de n o m i n ati o n s a n d b e

t w ixt de n o m i n ati o n s are du e to po in ts of d isc ip li n e ,

an d t h e s e are ge n era lly ca lled h eres ies T h ey a re .

si m p ly di ff ere n ce s of op in io n as t o w h et h er t h e
t eac h er is fo llow in g th e dis c ip l in e or n o t T h ere are .

v er y fe w case s of h ere sy u po n t h e f u n da m e n ta l d oc

tri n e s o f C h ri s t ia n ity T h e greates t C h r is t ia n quarre l

.
40 C o mp o s i ti o n o f C h ri s tia n O rg a n iz a ti o n s .

of t h e w orld w h i c h resu lted in t h e P rotes ta n t R e fo r

m atio n was ca u s ed by a poi n t o f Discipli n e o f t h e
R o m a n Cat h o lic O rga n i zatio n b y reaso n o f Ki n g
‘

He n ry VI II b ei n g a cat h o li c t he q ue s ti o n a t i s s u e
.
!

h ad t o b e referred t o t h e P ope .

T h ere is n o t h i n g in t h e C h ris tia n world t h at t e

q uire s so ri g id an exa m i n ati o n an d a m e n d m e n t as
t his s u b j ect o f D is ci p li n e T he gospe l o f C h ri s t an d
.

t h e p ri n cip les of C h ri s tia n ity wi ll t ak e c are o f t h e m

‘

s elve s b u t t h e m ai n m ach i n ery o f t h e m ode O f t h i s

,

dis se m i n a ti o n req u ires revisio n be c a u s e i t is c o n ti n u

all y c h a n g i n g .

T h at t h e lay m an m ay b e relieved o f re s p o n sibili t y

'

o f errors o f co n s tr u ct i o n a n d ge n eral teac h i n gs o u t

s ide of t h e gos pe l h e m u st h im self k n ow w h a t t h e
,

req u ire m e n ts o f t h at gos pe l are f or h is sa lvatio n I f .

h e c an b y a n y m ea n s arrive at t h at i n for m ati o n h e ,

c an di scard a ll te ac h i n gs i n c o n siste n t w it h it .

A c c ide n t ed u catio n as s oci atio n an d vario u s ot h er

, ,

c au ses b ri n g h i m i n to atte n da n ce o f a give n de n o m i

n atio n of C h ristia n s a n d h e b e co m es a m e m ber o f

,

t h at de n o m i n atio n wit h o u t as a ge n era l r u le b ei n g

!

, , ,

a ble to as sig n an y reas o n f o r doi n g s o He h as a .

res po n sibi li ty o f h is o w n as w e ll as t h e m i n i ster s

,

w h o teac h h im He s h o u ld firs t ascertai n w h e t h e r

.

t h at de n o m i n atio n a c c e p ts t h e A post les C reed as th e

’

basi s o f f ai t h w h ic h i s t h at C h ris t was t h e o n ly S o n

,
’
o f t h e livi n g G o d a n d t h at C h ris t s Gos p el is tr u t h ,

an d t h at t h e tr u e fai t h an d bap tis m are es s e n tial t o

beco m e a m e m ber o f C h rist s C h u rc h an d as a m e m be r
’
,

h e i s b ou n d t o l iv e a cc or d in g t o t h e require m e n ts o f
t h e Gos p el .

E very lay m a n t aki n g an i n tere s t in his S al vati o n

s h oul d k n ow t h es e b asic pri n ci p les o f C h ristia n ity ,

an d it i s easy f or h im to as c ertai n w h et h er t h es e are

t h e a c k n owle dged p ri n ci p les o f t h e de n o m i n atio n t o
w h ic h h e proposes t o b elo n g an d i f h is e n q uirie s are ,

as s u re d in t h e affi r m ative i t i s a C hris tia n de n o m i n a

tio n an d s afe f o r h im t o trus t h i m self an d h is salva n

t io n t o it s tea ch i n g s an d i n s tr u ctio n T he c o m .

m u n ity o f i n tere s ts b etwee n t h e tea c h er an d th e lay

m an are suc h t h a t e n qu iries by th e lay m a n s h oul d
 C o mp o s i ti o n o f C h ri s ti a n O rg a n i z a ti o n s .

not
“

be co n si dered as an i n terfere n ce wit h t h e p re ro g a

;

t iv e s o f t h e teac h er b u t s h o u ld b e e v i de n ce t o h im o f
,

a dee p i n terest in t h e s u bj ect .

T h e respo n s i b ility f o r digre s si v e preac h i n g fro m

t h e Gospe l in p u lpits i s n o t a lo n e t h e respo n si b i lity
,

o f t h e preac h ers for t h e lay m a n s h o u ld i n for m h im

,

s e lf s o a s to b e a b le to c h e c k s u c h d ig res si o n s b y c o n
c ilia t o ry o b j ectio n s T h is wo u ld h ave t h e effect c f
.

doi n g away wit h m u c h of t h e u se les s a n d ofte n dam

a gi n g h ara n g u e s freq u e n t ly h eard fro m iti n era n t
p reac h ers in p u lpits c o n se crated t o t h e service s of
G o df If t h e C h ri s t ia n literat u re an d p u lp it oratory o f
,

t h e day c o u ld b e i n f u sed wit h m ore C hristia n C h ari ty

an d love t h ey w o u ld all co m e n e arer o b eyi n g t h e
,

E leve n t h an d T w e lf t h Co m m a n d m e n ts o f Je s u s C hrist .

GO D S O R G A NI C LA WS .

T he g reat s c h e m e o f exi ste n ce of all t h i n gs w h i c h

c u lm i n ate i n t h e esta b lis h me n t of t h e C h r istia n
re ligio n sh o u ld b e co n sidered as a u n i t an d t h at ,

re ligi o n an d t h e acts w h ic h b ro u g h t it i n to exi ste n c e

as t h e c row n i n g factor Wit h o u t t h is vie w , C h risti
.

a n i t y s t a n di n g a lo n e u p o n its m erits eve n , fai ls of

t h e proofs an d s u p p ort w h ic h i t h as w h e n li n ked i n t o
t h e c h ai n o f e ve n ts w h ic h le d u p to its esta b lis h m e n t .

I n fact i t i s i m possib le to see ho w a f u ll an d c lear

c o n c e p tl
io n of C h ri sti an ity c an b e arrived at b y a n y
r eflecti n g m i n d wi t h o u t a k n owledge of every pre

cedi n g ele m e n t U po n w hi c h it de p e n d s for its exist

e n ce We d o n o t wis h t o be u n ders tood as s ay i n g
.

t h at a pers o n ca n n o t b e a si n cere c h ri stia n a nd e n j oy

all t h e b e n efi t s res u lt in g t h erefro m wit h o u t t h e k n ow
le dge o f every p recedi n g s te p in t h i s c h ai n of eve n t s .

H o w is a k n ow ledge o f t h ese eve n ts t o b e o b tai n ed ?

A s t h e firs t an d all i m p orta n t re q u i site at leas t , t h e
e n q u irer m us t be lieve in God t h e A u t h or an d Creato r
o f all t h in g s , vi sib le an d i n visi b le , an d b elieve i n t h e
i n s p ired record of t h e Creatio n an d t h e J e w is h
re li g i o n in t h e origi n al Hebrew of t he O ld Te sta m e n t
a n d in C h ri st s Gos pel in t h e ori g i n al greek in t h e
’

New T e sta m e n t Wit h ou t t h is be lief t h e in q u ire r

.
'
42 Go a s O L aws
!
rg an i c .

woul d b e li m it e d to wh a t h e se es in na ture ,
and wh at
h e c o u l d h ear o f J esus C h ris t as a m an an d n ot as
m an a n d G o d l n co m b i n atio n E ve n t h is k n owl ed g e
.

s houl d be s u ffi c ie n t t o lead h is m i n d o n to i n v e s t ig ate

t h e furt h er a n d loftier s ubj ect , b ut wit h t h i s li mi ted
belie f a n d k n owledge h e wo u ld be u n q ua lifie d t o
reac h t he tr u e n am e an d p ositio n o f t h e C h ri s tia n .

A s su m i n g t h e n t h at t h e e n q uirer belie ve s in G o d, in
Jesus C h rist , in th e i n s p irat i o n o f at leas t t h at p o r
tion o f S cri p t ure re lati n g t o t he Crea t io n , t o t he
Jewi s h religio n , t o t he C h ri s tia n r eligio n an d t h at .

G o d a n d C h ri s t h a v e t h e sa m e m i n d us u a lly c al le d
t h e Ho ly G h os t , h e is prepare d t o e n ter u p o n t h e
facts o f God s O rga n i c Laws
’
.

T h e C re at io n an d t h e O rga n ic la ws resulti n g f o r
'

t h e reg u latio n of all t h i n gs , is t h e n or m a l idea t h at .

p res e n ts i tse lf to t h e reflecti n g m i n d Followi n g t h e .

cre a tio n in t h e order g l v e n l n t h e Ge n esis , we s ee t h e

c o n tro lli n g p ri n ciple t h a t go v er n s all t h i n gs , n am ely ,
t he de p e n de n ce o f o n e t h i n g u po n a n ot h er Thu s .

t h e or d er of c reati o n b egi n s by God creati n g s pace ,

o r ro o m t o p u t H i s o t h er Creatio n s i n , a n d cal led i n

t h e H ebre w h eave n o r expa n s e , an d t h e n t h e creat io n
o f pri m ordial m atter , ( eart h wit h o u t for m an d v oi d ! ,

t h e n t h e lig h t t h e n t h e waters t h e n t h e dry la n d

, ,

( eart h p ri m ordial m atter co m bi n ed !, t h e n t h e gat h er

in g t oget h er t h e waters t o m ake seas , lake s an d
ri v ers , t h e n t h e p la n ti n g o f t h e Vegetab le Ki n gdo m ,
t h e n givi n g m otio n t o t he Heave n ly Bodie s t o g i ve u s
d ays n ig h ts an d seas o n s t h e n t o create t h e i n h ab i
, ,

ta n t s of th e waters an d t h e a n i m al ki n g d o m , an d
fi n al ly to m ake A da m (i n correct ly tra n slated in all
“
Bi b les m an b eca u s e in G e n v 2 , A dam 1 s s p e c ifi
!
. .

cally defi n ed as m ale an d fe m ale crea ted l n t h e day

!

of creati o n an d n a m ed A da m an d t h e n create d T h e
,

A da m (m i stra n s lated m an ! t h e h u s b a n d of E v e , a n d
t h e n a n ot h er c las s of m a le an d f e m ale , m aki n g in all
of h u m a n bei n gs created o n e c las s of m a le a n d fe m a le
u n der t h e n a m e o f A da m ( t h e Ge n ti le race ! a n d T he

A dam t h e h u s b a n d of E v e an d t h e ot h er clas s o f m ale

an d fe m ale bei n g Hebrews .
 Go d s O rg a n i c L a ws
’
. 43

T he firs t c h a p ter Ge n e s is in o u r j u dg m e n t i s th e
of
rta n t o n e of the e n ti re B i b le as it i s t h e ,

h is t ory o f t h e f o u n da tio n o f a ll God s works a

’
nd of ,

a ll H is laws m ateria l an d im m at e 1 ia l a n d i s o f n e
, ,

c e s s it y t h e g rou n d work o f t h e C h 1 i s t ia n re li g io n ,

an d stil l it i s t h e m os t n e glected p o i t io n of S cri p t u re ,

an d p ro b ab ly for t h e r e as o n t h at t h e i e are s o m a n y
m is t ak e s o f t ra n s latio n t h at h av e ru n s o lo n g n o o n e ,

is d esirous o f bei n g t h e first t o rectify t h e m I t ha s .

t h us beco m e t h e least u n derstoo d o f all t h e Bib le .

T h e Cre atio n s t h e e stab lis h m e n t o f t h e O rga n ic

,

,
w s o f G o d t h e creati o n o f m a n ki n d t h e es tab lis h
, ,

m e n t o f t h e Jewis h re ligio n t h e s e n di n g o f Je s u s,

C h ris t as a M is sio n ary fro m G o d to t h e w orld His ,

teac h i n gs H i s exa m p le s Hi s cr u cifixio n His ri si n g

, , ,

f ro m t h e dead His a sce n sio n lea v i n g be h i n d H im

, ,

His e s ta b lis h ed C h u rc h are li n ks in t h e gre at c h ai n

,

t h at bi n d m an t o h is G o d E ac h li n k i s of eq u a l.

bi n di n g s tre n gt h u p o n h u m a n i ty an d t h e C h ri s tia n s ’

ed u catio n s h o u ld e m brace t h e m all eq u a lly .

T h e i m p orta n ce of eac h li n k in t h e c h ai n c an be read

ily see n by aski n g t h e q u e stio n w h at w o u ld t h e C h ri s,

t ia n re li g i o n b e if an y o n e of t h e m w as e li m i n ated ?
T h e q u e stio n a n s wers its e lf an d s h ow s t h e i m p ort
a n ce of eac h an d ev ery o n e of t h e m to fi n i s h t h e b ea u
t if u l s tr u ct u re f or t h e i n str u ctio n an d ad m iratio n o f
t h e C h ri stia n St u de n t I n depe n de n t of t h e i n form a
.

tio n as to t he God p la n o f C h 1 is t ian ity t h ese li n ks w i ll

serve a d o u b le p u rpose a s e lu cidati o n s of t h e m ai n
subj ect an d as coi n cide n t proofs of t h e r e cord w h ere
t h ey are fou n d for t h e s cie n tific propositio n i s t h a t
,

w h e n t w o s t raig h t li n e s coi n cid e in tw o p o in ts t h ey ,

c oi n cide t h ro u g h out T h e o n e straig h t li n e b ei n g

.

t h e i n s p ired porti o n s o f t h e O ld a n d N e w T e s ta m e n t ,

an d t h e o t h er straig h t li n e bei n g t h e O rga n ic laws o f

Go d an d b y co m p ari n g t h e two an y n u m ber o f c o in c i
,

de u ces c an be fou n d .

It i s we ll t h e n t o see w h at th e O rga n i c laws of God

are as defi n e d in n at u re an d in t h e S cri pt u re I n s pira
,

t io n b ot h n atural a n d s p iritua l .
 rg a n i c L a ws
’
44 Go d s O .

T H E O R GA N IC LA WS .

God th e Creator of all t h i n gs vis ible an d in v 1 s ib le

“

Je s u s C h rist th e S o n o f G o d an dS av io u r o f m a n ki n d
‘
.

T h e Holy G h o s t t h e m i n d o f G o d a n d J e s u s C h r is t .

T h e m aterial a n d i m m ateria l Laws o f G o d go v er n

in g t h e U n i v ers e a n d m an ki n d .

O bedie n ce o f m a n ki n d t o t h ese laws .

R eward s in t h e life to co m e t o m a n ki n d f o r obe d i

e n ce t o t h e m an d p u n i s h m e n t f o r dis obedie n c e
,
.

T h e T e n C o m m a n d m e n ts d elivere d by G o d t o Mose s .

T h es e laws were all e s t alis h e d wit h i n t h e si x d ay s

o f C reatio n an d h av e co n ti n u ed u n c h a n ged t o t h e
p rese n t ti m e an d wil l co n ti n u e s o t o t h e e n d Is i t
, .

t h e n of co n seq u e n ce t hat the C h ris tian s h o u ld u n der

s ta n d t he firs t c h apter or Ge n esis w h ic h w h e n in , ,

v e s t ig at e d c learly an d acc u rate ly gives t he f a ll

,

acco u n t of t h e b ri n g i n g i n to exis te n ce b y t h e fiat o f

G o d e v e ry co n ceiva b le e n tity wit h its q u a litie s as a
c

firs t f or m an d as a n eces sity of D ivi n e L a ws for t h ei r

,

co n ti n ua n ce an d reg u latio n .

We lo ok wit h a m aze m e n t an d wo n der at t h e S u n ,

t h e M oo n th e Pl a n ets an d t h e S tars in S p ace an d

, ,

w hy ? Beca u se o f t h eir i m m e n s ity a n d o f t h eir ,

val u e to m a n ki n d E ac h creatio n i s depe n de n t u po n

.

a n ot h er an d all ce n tre in u s e in sup p ort of t h e

,

h u m a n races a n d t h u s th ey be co m e t h e avo we d
,

obj e cts o f creatio n T h e m ore c lose ly an d m i n u tely

.

we exa m i n e all t h ese t h i n gs t h e m ore t h e i n ves ti ,

'

gator be c o m es c o n vi n ced t h at th e desig n of God was

t o p lace m an at t he pi n n acl e an d all els e u n d er h im ,
'
.

T o i llu s trate t h i s idea a n d s h o w its m ag n it u de t h e re ,

b y to gai n s o m e co n cepti o n of m a n s i m p or ta n ce in th e ’

U n i v e rs e w e q u ote an article f ro m C h a m ber s Jour n a l !

’
,

T H E D I S TAN C E T o T H E S TA R S .

Astro n o m ers agree in fixi n g t h e dista n ce o f t h e

n eares t star at 2 2 000 m i les an d we are , ,

proba b ly n o t far fro m t he tr u t h i f we s e t t h e dis

 La ws
“

Go d
’
s O rg a n i c . 45

t an c e o f S i n us at abo u t m iles
‘

It .

“
is cal c u lated t h at th e b a ll fro m an A r m stro n g 1 00
p o u n der q uit s t h e g u n wit h t h e s p eed o f a b o u t 400
y ar d s per seco n d N o w i f t h i s velocity co u ld b e
.
,

ke p t u p i t w ou ld re q u ire n o fewer t ha n 1 00 ,

ye ars before t h e ball co u ld reac h S iri u s .

WH A T W E SE E A N D KN O W .

It i s ad m itt ed t h at t h ere are n o w an d hav e b ee n ‘

s in c e t he e s tablis h m e n t o f t h e C hris t ia n e ra s i x dis ,

ti n c t ra c es o f h u m a n ity u p o n t h e eart h an d i f t h e y ,

a re re p ro d uce d in p urity o f ty p e wit h o u t h ybridity ,

t h e re p ro du ctio n wi ll be t h e s a m e i n eac h rac e .

T h es e ra c es a re t h e Caucasia n t h e Mo n golia n t h e , ,

Malay t h e I n d ia n t he N egro an d t h e He b rew A t

, , ,
.

t h e ti m e o f t h e es tablis h m e n t o f t h e C h ristia n re
lig io n t h e s e race s were all o n t h e eart h an d are n o w
, ,

h ere an d t h e C h ris tia n i s b o u n d t o ack n owledge an d

,

n o t de n y t h is O rga n ic law o f God Tr u e s c ie n ce an d “

a n every d ay observatio n h a v e develo p ed a n d trace d

in a c tio n t h e laws o f re p rod u ctio n in t h e se ra c es .

wh i le th e T h e o logia n s h a v e battled wit h t h ese s c ie n t

is t s o n t h e t h e ology o f t h e u n i ty o f t h e race in A da m
an d E ve .

T he C h ur c h es by t h eir t eac h i n gs , an d all ort h odo x

s acre d writers h a v e m ai n tai n ed t h at A da m an d E v e
were o u r fi rst p are n ts f ro m w ho m all hu m an ity o n
e ar th h ave bee n pro d u ced S u c h 1 s t h e s tre n gt h an d
.

d ept h of t h is ed u catio n , t h at w h e n ever 1 e fe 1 e n c e is 1 1

m ade to t h e su b j ect , t h ey t h row aside t h e orga !

n ic
law o f God , an d i n sis t u p o n ca lli n g A da m an d E v e
our firs t pare n ts .

A t t h is poi n t arises an im p o 1 tan t q u es tio n ! A re we

to take as o u r guide in readi n g t h e Ge n esis t h e ,

o rigi n a l H e b rew wh ic h g ives 11 s a divers ity o f o 1 ig in

,

i n t h e h u m a n f a m ily or s h a ll we take a s o u r g u ide

,

t h e t h eo logia n s tra n slati on of i t w h ic h m akes or ,

e n dea v ors to m ake t h e h u m a n lam ilv to h ave co m e

fro m A da m an d E v e ? A s t h e Hebrew i s t he ad m it te d
an d u n do u b t ed i n spirati on of God an d a s it diffe l s ,

wi de ly fro m t h e E n g lis h a n d ot h er tra n s la tio n s to

46 rg a n i c
’
Go d O L a ws
“

s .

w h ic h we 1 e f e r w e a d o p t t he Hebrew as o u r g u ide in
,
1

t he acco u n t o f Creatio n i n t he Ge n e s i s
I t m ay b e a s u r prise t o s o m e re ade i s o f t he E n g h s h
Bi b le t h at A da m in t h e H e b i e w was n o t t h e n am e o f
E v e s h u s b a n d n or was E v e crea ted in t h e s ix day s
’
,

o f c 1 e a t io n b u t was m a de fro m t he rib o f T h e A da m

, ,

t h e n a m e o f h e rh u s b a n d s o m e t i m e after he h ad b ee n
,

t i n to t h e Garde n o f E den A n d a lt h o u g h t h e
p u .

n a m e o f E ve s h u s b a n d
’
T he A da m appears in t h e , ,

firs t E le v e n C h a p ters o f Ge n esis in t h e Hebrew f o rt y

’
s eve n ti m es b y n a m e a n d ide n ti t y h e r h u s b a n d s n a m e ,

h as ne v e r yet ap p eared in a n y t ra n sla tio n o f t h e Bi b le

—
.

S t Pa u l w as t he a u t h or of t he T h eo logy o f t h e
.

U n ity of t h e race in A da m T ha t d og m a is n o t .

fo u n d eit h e r in t h e accou n t of Creati o n in t h e H e

bre w o r in t h e Je wis h religio n in t h e O ld Tes t a m e n t
, ,

o r i n C h ri st s Gos p el in t h e N e w S til l it h a s bee n

’
.

ta u g h t 1 n th e early C h u rc h es fol lo wi n g t h e lead o f S t .

P a u l t o th e prese n t ti m e as C h u rc h dis cipli n e A s .

t h at do g m a h as n o fo u n datio n i n tr u t h n o w n o r h ad ,

it at t h e t i m e t he C h ris tia n re ligio n was i n a u g u rated ,

t h e C h ris t ia n m u s t rej ect it an d c li n g to t h e B ib li

c a l record i n t h e He b re w as a n O rg a n i c L aw of G o d .

It i s di ffi c u lt t o deter m i n e exa c t ly w h ere t he erro r

aros e b u t as t h e pres e n t He b rew i s fro m t h e H eb re w
,

m a n u s cripts fro m w h ic h t h e tra n s latio n i n to t h e

Greek was m ade it is reaso n ab le to s u ppose t h at t h e
,

m is take occ u rre d in S e p t u ag e n t in t h e Greek as fro m ,

t h is tra n sl atio n was m ade i n t o th e Lati n an d fro m ,

t h is all ot h er tra n slatio n s h ave bee n m ade It was a .

v ery n atural m is take as t h e m aterial laws were n o t

we ll u n d ers tood an d t h e tra d iti o n o f t h at day w as
,

t h at all h u m an ity h ad spr u n g fro m a si n gle pa i r .

I n t h e Ki n g Ja m es Bi b le t h e tra n s lators in or de r
t o m ake t h e ac c o u n t correspo n d wi th t h e u n it y o f t h e
race were co m pelle d t o drop t h e s e i m porta n t Hebrew
,

“
T he A d a m
!
w ord s n a m e ly
, A dam an d t h e
,
“A n
word d at t he h ead o f Ge n e si s i 2 7 an d s u b
,
!
.
,
“ fo r “
s tit u t e A da m T h e A da m
!
m an an d an d ,

s o for t h e He b rew wor d A n d F u rt h er in t h e .

a c co u n t b y i n terc h a n ge ab ly u si n g A da m for
“T h
e A da m an d tra n slati n g
! “ T h e A d am ! “ t he
,
 L a ws
’
C od s O rg an i c . 47

m an , an d le av in g ou t o f s ig h t t h e n am e T h e A d a m
t h e h us b an d o f E v e , t h ey m ade o u t t h e u n i t y o f t h e
race in A d am an d E v e .

T h i s be in g a ve ry im p ort an t p oi n t f o r t h e C h ri s t
ian t o u n der s tan d , we gi v e t h e t w o v erse s in t h e
Ge n es is wh ic h is all t hat rel a te s t o t h e creatio n o f
m an k i n d an d als o give t h e Ge n e s is v 2 , w h i c h c learly .

defi n es t h e n a m e A da m in t h e day o f Creatio n .

G en e sis i 2 6 A n d G o d s ai d le t u s m ake A d am i n
. .

o u r i m age a f ter o u r like n ess , an d let th e m h av e

d om i n io n o v e r t h e fi s h o f t h e s e a an d o v er t h e f o w l
-

o f t h e air, an d o v er t h e cat t le an d o v er all t h e eart h ,

an d ( 1 e v ery cree p i n g t h i n g t h a t c ree p et h u p o n t h e ,

I v er
e art 1
G e n i 27 . A n d G o d create d T h e A d a m in Hi s
. .

o w n i m age in t h e i m age o f G o d create d He h im ; m ale

,

a n d fe m ale crea te d H e t h e m .

Ge n v 2 .Male an d fe m ale c rea t e d He th e m an d

. .

b les sed t h e m a n d cal led t h eir n a m es A d a m in t h e

'

d ay w h e n t h ey were create d .

Fro m t h is it wil l b e see n t h at A da m was th e n a m e ,

give n by G o d t o a clas s o f m a le an d f e m ale create d ,

a n d h e n ce co u ld n o t be t h e h u sba n d o f E v e w h ile
'

T h e A d a m was an i n di vi d ual m an create d an d a f ter ,

h e w a s p u t i n to t h e Gar d e n o f E d e n t o dres s it an d
kee p it t h e foll owi n g t ook p la c e !
,

G e n ii 2 1 . A n d t h e L ord G o d c ause d a d ee p slee p

. .

t o f all u p o n T h e A da m an d h e slept an d He took o n e ,

o f h is ri b s an d c l ose d u p t h e fles h i n stead t h ereof .

G e n ii 2 2 . A n d t h e rib w h i c h t h e L ord God h ad

. .

take n f ro m T h e A da m m a d e He a wo m a n an d b ro u g h t
h e r u n to T h e A da m .

T h i s s ettl e s defi n i t ely s o m e i m por ta n t p o m t s .

First t h at T h e A da m n o t A da m was t h e h u sba n d o f

, , ,

E ve .
Seco n d t h at E v e w as n o t created o n t h e d ay o f
,

creati o n a m o n g t h e fe m a les t h e n created T h ere .

h avi n g b ee n ot h ers c reated an d livi n g before s h e was

m ade a b out
, w h ic h t h ere c a n be n o q u estio n t h e ,

tra n s latio n or co n str u ctio n of u n ity o f th e race in t h e

fol lowi n g verse i s a b old error ,
.

i
’

Ge n ii 20 . A nd T
. h e A da m ca l
.
led h s wife s n a m e '

E v e b e ca u se s h e was th e m o th er o f all liv in g .

 C O rg a n i c L a ws
’
48 od s .

If t h e co n s tr u c tio n of t h is v erse i s t h a t E v e was t h e

mo t h er o f all liv in g o f t h e J ewis h li n e t h a t w as te
'

e vo lve Jes u s C h ris t t h e n i t is correc t ,

.

G e n 1 2 6 i s t h e record of t h e Crea tio n o f t h e

. .
,

Ge n t ile races n a m e ly t he C a u casia n M o n golia n

, , , ,

Mal ay , In dia n a n d N egro w h i le G e n i 2 7 record s

, ,
. .
,

t he crea tio n of t he H eb re w r ac e w h ic h i n cl ude s t h e

J ews T h is is p rove n by t h e W ord do m i n io n i n G e n
. .

i 26
. . T he five ge n t i le race s h ave h e ld do m i n io n o f
t h e ear th d u ri n g a ll h is t or y w h i le t h e He b rews i n , ,

pa rt t h e J e ws a t te m p t ed to b u i ld t h e Tow e r o f Babel
,

a n d beco m e a n atio n b u t God frus trated t h eir desig n ,

a n d s cattered t h e m a m o n g t h e I sles of t h e Ge n t ile s

“

a n d n ati o n s of t h e eart h b y co n f u si n g t h ei r la n g u age .

T h ey m ade a s e co n d atte m p t in Ba b ylo n wi t h t h e ,

s a m e r es u lt .

T h e dri ft of t he acco u n t a n d his tory goe s t o s h o w

t h a t t h e ear t h was pe op led in n u m b ers s u b s ta n tially
as t h ey n o w exis t T he C a u casia n h avi n g bee n .

created in E u rope t h e M o n golia n s an d Malay s i n ,

E as ter n A sia t h e Neg roe s in A fri ca a n d t h e I n dia n s

, ,

i n A m eri c a T h is req u ire s t h e n e c e s si ty of t h e

.

creatio n of t h e Vege ta b le Ki n gd o m s u b s ta n tially as

i t n o w exis ts for food of t h e a n i m al ki n g do m an d ,

f or h u m a n ity I n s h ort , t h a t t h is ear th an d a ll u po n

.

i t wa s crea t ed s u b sta n tially as i t n o w exis ts an d h as

b ee n co n ti n u ed by t h e n ever v a1 y in g la w of Go d b y
repro du cti o n i n ty pe .

T h e l eadi n g w or ld req u ire s to b e e le c t 1 ifi e d an d

a m u sed h e n ce we see h o w readi ly i t s n ap s at a n y
,

t h eory o f c 1 e a t io n .

Geology ca m e for ward wit h a v e i y p lausible t h eory ,

h avi n g f o r its fo u n dati o n t h at God c o u ld n o t create a

f os sil as we ll as an y ot h er reprod u ced t h i n g t h at h ad
p are n ts T h e pare n t s o f t he fos si l a1 e t h e previ ous
.

e xi ste n ce of pla n t o r a n im al li fe an d n ece s sary foo d

f or its f or m atio n T h e foss il i s t h e c o m p leted res u l t
.

f ro m existi n g pare n ts a n d s o is m an an d every ot h e r , ,

re pro du c ed t h i n g I n t h e creati o n i t was res u lts t h at

.

w ere cre ated a n d n o t t h e pare n ts h e n ce t h e fossil ,

was create d as a res u l t t h e sa m e as a ll ot h er t hi n g s

W ere create d T h e geo logists de n y t his an d say t h at
.
 Go d
’
3 O rg an i c L a ws 49

G o d co u ld no t creat e a f os s il an d t h is is t h e fo u n daf
‘

ti on sto n e of t h eir t h e ory W e a s k h o w do t h ey

.
,

k n o w t hat God co uld n o t c rea t e a f os si l 2

'

G eo l ogy is t h e old s cie n ce of m i n era l ogy e le c t ri fied

with t he den i al t hat God c o u ld n ot crea t e a fos si l .

T h e Min era logica l a rran ge m e n t o f t h e vario u s

.

c k s , m i n era ls &c
,
corre spo n di n g wit h t h e si m i lar
.
,

arra n ge m e n t of parts of t h e h u m a n syste m h ave t h e

s am e ge n era l arra n g e m e n t o f p art s to m ake a w h o le .

H av m g give n a n y par tic u lar p art we are e n abled at

o n ce to tell its loca t io n in th e co m p le t ed b ody E v o .

l a tio n 1 s a n ot h er t h e ory t h at is attrac ti n g m uc h

atte n tio n fr o m o u r p u lpits We do n o t in te n d to
.

d isc u s s t h e m erits of t h i s t heory but dis m i s s i t wit h ,

a ll ot h er t h e ories o f Creatio n as t h ey are an ti b ib li ,

~

cal a n d a n ti c h ris t ia n
-
.

S o far as t h ey are a n ti b iblica l we n eed n o t give ,

argu m e n t s We h ave a p lal n s 1m p le an d tr u ly s c ie n,

t ifi c acco u n t of t h e C reati o n i n t h e Ge n esi s an d ,

C h ris tia n s b elie ve and as su m e it as t h e w ork of God

a nd His i n s piratio n .

A s far as we h av e see n of a n y t h eory of creati o n ,

n ot h i n g h a s yet appeared to ov ert h row t h a t accou n t .

To de n y t h e Ge n esi s acco u n t of Crea t io n we m u st set ,

“
asi d e a part o f t h e Fo u rt h C o m m a n dm e n t For in ,

si x da y s t h e L ord m a d e Heav e n a n d E art h t h e sea ,

an d al l t h at t h er e i n i s an d rested t h e s ev e n t h da y
!
.

I t is als o part of C h rist s teac h i n g in H is Gospe l

’
.

A ll t h es e t h eorie s w h ic h go to ill u s trate a di ffere n t

m ode o f Creatio n fro m t h e o n e la id dow n in t h e
i n spire d S cri p t u re te n d t o bri n g C h ri s t ia n ity i n to
,

bad rep u te .
T h ey c erta in ly do n o good an d n o o n e
c a n p oi n t t o n
a y good resul t t h at h a s co m e fro m
th e m . W h e n G o d aba n do n ed His p rotecti o n to t h e
Jew s an d t h e Jew is h re lig io n an d esta b li s h ed t h e
ne w Di s pe n satio n of t e C
h h r i stia n relig i o n w it h C h ri s t
as t h e Head every e le m e n t of t h e eart h an d all u po n
,

it an d every n atural la w w a s i n co m p lete or d er T h es e .

w it h m a n k i n d were t u r n e d o v er t o C h ri s t as a n e w .

Creat io n wi t h all t h e a dva n tage s o f pas t exper i e n ce

an d k n ow le dge .

Nei th er C h ri s t n o r Hi s re ligio n w as c a lle d u p o n t o

 rg an i c L aws .
’
50 Go d O
1
1
s

d e f e n d an y t h e orie s o f c reatio n o r d og m as o f rel ig ion .

He h ad a free an d o p e n field an d w as al o n e t o b e
“

'

g uided by t h e laws w h i c h He fo u n d i n o p e r a t io n a t
t h at time . Th er e was n ot h i n g t o i n te rf e re wit h
C h ris t s Go s p el an d t h e n e w p ri n ci p l es w h ic h it ih
’

c u lc a t e d; all wa s a n e w br ig h t an d p l ai n ro ad
, .

T h e O rga n i c L aws o f G o d toget h e r wi t h t h e m an da

tory law s w h ic h He was t o lay d o w n in H is Gos pe l ,
were t h e o n ly res trai n t upo n Hi s teac h i n g s It w as to .

be a n ew worl d a n e w d e p art u re an d a n e w re v el a t io n
, .

We c a n n ot be t o o e m p h atic o n t h e p oi n t as t o t h e
re s p o n sibility o f t h e C h ristia n in a c ce p t i n g obeyi n g ,

an d teac h i n g t h at t h e m aterial laws o f G o d in o p era

,

tio n at t he ti m e o f t h e es tablis h m e n t o f t h e C hristia n

R el igio n were t h e laws o f G o d to be re c og n iz e d as
part o f C h ris tia n ity an d bi n di n g upo n it A t t h at
’ !

, .

ti m e six type s o f h u m a n i t y exist e d u p o n t h e eart h in

n u m bers an d h ave b ee n u n i f or m ly reprod u ced in ty p e
fro m t h at ti m e t o t h e prese n t A b o u t t h is t h ere c an
.

be n o di ff ere n ce o f opi n io n it i s an es tablis h ed h is ,

t oric fa c t . T h e C h ristia n abstract ly h as n ot h i n g t o

do wit h t h e ories m istakes m is tra n s lation s o r tradi
, ,

tio n s o n t h i s poi n t ; h e h as t h e laws o f G o d in opera

tio n be f ore h is eye s daily an d a k n owledge t h a t t h ese
laws o f reprodu ctio n h a v e n ever c h a n ged d uri n g t h e
C hris tia n E ra T h i s defi n ite ly s e ttle s f o r t h e C h ris
.

t ia n t h e q u es tio n o f t h e u n ity o f t h e ra c e s f ro m a
~

s i n g le p air o f h u m a n bei n gs an d co n fir m s t he a c co u n t
in t h e origi n al Hebrew in G e n i 2 6 2 7 an d G e n 17 . .
, , . .

2 o f a d iversity o f people c reated

,
.

We will n o w e n d eavor t o s h ow t h at t h e O rga n i c

L aws o f G o d are a ll para lleled in t h e i n s p ired record .

T h e firs t laws n a m ed as orga n i c were t h e e x is te n ce o f

t h e Fat h er S o n an d Ho ly G h os t ( t h e m i n d o f G o d
,

an d C h rist ! as t h e C re at o r o f all t h i n gs vi s ib le an d
’

i n vi si b le an d o f m a n ki n d o n e o f t h os e s p e c ific acts .

T h e s pecificatio n of His bei n g t h e Creato r o f all

m aterial t h i n gs is f ou n d in t h e Ge n esi s co m m e n c i n g
wi t h h eave n ( spa ce ! an d t h e n eart h wit h o u t f orm
( pri m or d ia l m atter ! a n d t h e n li g h t a n d t h e n waters
an d t h e n dry la n d ( eart h co m b i n ed of pri m ordi al
m atter ! t h e n t h e gat h eri n g toget h er t h e w at e rs t o
 Go d
’
8 O rg an i c L a ws . 51

m ak e s e as , l ake s ; ri v ers ,
~

a n d t h e n p la n ti n
g t h e
e art h wit h t h e V egetab le Ki n gdo m , t h e n gi v i n
g
m otio n t o t h e Heave n ly b odies t o m ak e day , n ig h t an d
t h e s e as o n s , t h e n creati n g t h e fis h e s t o p o p ulate t h e
waters , an d t h e n t h e fowls t o fly in t h e a ir, an d t h e n
t h e a n i m als o f t h e eart h , an d lastly creati n g m a n ki n d .

T h i s i s s o c lear an d m arve lously c o n n ects t h e Creator

w it h t h e c reate d , t h at word s ca n n ot i m prove t h e c o n
d itio n .

T h e p roof o f t h e G o d H ea d bei n g p aralleled in t he

Ge n e si s is fou n d in t h e creatio n o f A da m .

G e n i , 26
. . A n d G o d s aid le t U s m ake A D AM in
O U R .
i m age after O U R l ike n es s , an d le t T H E M h av e
d o m in io n , & c .

'
W h i le it i s ev ide n t a n d p lai n ly ex p re s sed t h at th e
c reati o n o f A d a m was t h e act o f t h e God Head , t h ere
i s a si n g u larity at first t h o u g h t t h at t h e creatio n o f
T h e A da m was exe c u ted b y G o d a lo n e .

Ge n i 2 7. . . A n d G o d created T h e A da m in His O W N
i m age ; in t h e im age o f G O D created He h im .

T h ere wo u ld see m t o be a b o u t as m u c h m ystery in

t h e la n guage of t h e s e t w o creat io n s as t h ere is in t h e
Creatio n itse lf B u t a s cr u ti n izi n g i n ve s tigatio n
.

w il l c h a n ge t h at sup p o sed m y s tery i n to a m ost i n ter

es t i n g an d v a lu ab le Bib lical les s o n .

O n t h e i n tel lige n t rea d i n g o f t h ese two accou n ts of

creatio n rests t h e w h ole s tr u c t u re of t h e Bib lica l a(
cou n t o f t h e C h ris tia n re lig io n We do n o t w is h to b e
.

u n ders too d as sa y i n g t h at t h e C h ri s ti an re ligi o n de

p e n d s u p o n t h e corre ct readi n g o f t h es e two v erses , or
u p o n t h e c orrect tra n s latio n of an y p artic u l ar p as sage ;
b u t as m a n ki n d i s t h e subj e c t of religi o n , it is at leas t
p lea sa n t fo r t h e C h r istia n t o k n ow t h at h is c reati o n
f ro m t h e h a n d o f G o d i s corre c t ly give n to h im b y
te ac h ers s u p pos ed t o k n ow w h at t h e y are te a c h i n g .

A ll t h e O rga n i c Laws o f G o d are u n iversal in t h e ir

-

ac ti o n over t h e s u bj ect s t o w h ic h t h ey ap p ly res p ect

iv e ly , an d t h e la w o f o b edie n ce is t h e n ex t in ord er
f o r c o n si d erati o n .

T h e par allel of t h is law is fo u n d in t h e in s p i rat i o n

w h e n G o d co m m a n d e d T h e A da m n o t to eat of th e
t ree o f L i f e . S till h e did eat of it t h ro u g h th e p er
 Go d rg a n i c L a ws
’
52 3 O .

s uasi o n O f h is wi f e E v e an d p u n is h m e n t i m m e d i ately
, .

fo llowed t h e di s obedie n ce T h e c as es Of T h e A da m
.

an d O f h is da u g h ters m ar1 y in g i n to t h e Ge n t ile ra c e s

were t h e firs t an d o n ly o n es recorded in t h e early
h is tory O f diso b edie n c e ; but t h ey acc u m ul at e as t h e
h i s tory goe s o n .

A ll C h ris tia n s ack n ow le d ge t h at obe d ie n c e t o t h e

Law s o f G o d an d p u n is h m e n t fo r t h eir di s obedie n ce
are t h e tw o great bou n d ary li n e s Of t he C h ris tia n
religio n a n d were e q ual ly s o fo r t h e Jewis h religio n
, ,

an d h ave b ee n u n i versal law s fro m t h e c reatio n O f

m a n ki n d an d e q ua lly b in d i n g u p o n all m e n
,
We .

c a n no t u n dersta n d h o w a pio u s good m an w h o obey s

all t h e laws O f God an d loves H im an d W h os e c o n
, ,

du c t fu lfi ls all t h e re q u ire m e n ts Of t h e Gos p e l s h o u l d

b e h eld re s po n s ible a nd be p u n is h ed f o r t he s i n s Of
,

a n ot h er T h e o n ly exce p tio n m ade by G o d is f ou n d

.

in t h e Fift h C o m m a n d m e n t w h ere H e de c lare s t h at

,

He i s a j ealo u s G o d an d v isi ts th e s i n s O f t h e fat h er s

u p o n t h e c h i ldre n u n to t h e t h ird an d f o u rt h ge n era

tio n s Of t h e m t h at H A T E Me an d s h ow m ercy u n to
t h o u s a n ds t h at L O V E Me an d keep My Co m m a n d
m e n ts T h is i s a m a n da tory law an d co n tro ls all th e
.

ologies an d s u ppositio n s as t o th e tra n s m issio n O f s i n s ,

o r res p o n s i b ility f or t h e si n s o f a n ot h er as t h e clas s ,

t o w h ic h t h e e xc e p tio n a pp lies i s o n ly t h os e w h o H AT E
Go d an d its co n ti n u a n ce o n ly f o r a li m ited period
,
.

T h is t h e ology Of res p o n s i b i li ty f or s in co m m i tte d

by a n ot h er h as b ee n as fr u i t f u l O f dis c u s sio n as t h e .

u n ity O f t h e race o n w h ic h i t h as bee n f o u n d ed T h e .

’
orga n i c law i s t h at s in agai n s t God s Laws wi ll be
pu n is hed N o w s in i s an act m e n t al o r o th erwis e
.
, ,

a n d i f t h ere is n o act c o m m itted accordi n g to t h i s

‘

orga n i c law t h ere c an b e n o p u n i s h m e n t to fo llow .

T h e t h eology O f origi n a l s in i n A da m re q uire s s in

in all O f h is des ce n d a n ts eve n beyo n d t h e t h ird an d
f ourt h g e n eratio n s eve n t h o u g h t h ey h ad co m m itte d
,

n o s in t h e m selves We s ay t h a t t h e org a n ic law O f

.

pu n is h m e n t for s in co m m itted c o n trols t h is q u es tio n ,

t h at n o o n e c an b e p un is h ed for s in of a n ot h er b e
ca u s e h e d oes n o t co m m it an a c t O f s in w h ic h th e
i g

org a n i c law re quires f o r p u n is h m e n t

i

.
 ‘

Go d
’
8 O rg a n ic L a ws . 53

W e noo m ew t o t h e co
c n c lu di n g orga n ic law s o f

GO d . H is te n C o m m and m e n ts gi v e n t o M ose s wh ic h
r at ify an d co n fi rm i n to m an datory la w s all t h e p re
v i o u s o n es we h a v e co n side red I a m t h e L ord t h y .

God ,
!
c o n fir m s t h e law o f t h e G o d H ea d f o r if it b e ,

a d m itted t h a t t h ere is a G o d t h e n it fo llows t h a t ,

t h e re was a D i v i n e C hris t an d t he H o ly G h os t t h e
“
m i n d O f G od a n d C h rist A n d s h ow m er c y u n t o
1

t h ous a n d s t h a t love Me an d k ee p My C o m m a n d
me n ts . T o lo v e G o d is th us a m a n datory law N ot .

t o ta ke t h e L ord s n a m e in v ai n kee pi n g t h e Sabbat h

’
,

day h ol y worki n g si x d ays an d res t i n g o n t h e S ab

b at h are ea c h m a n d at ory laws “
, F o r in six day s .

t h e L or d m ade t h e Hea v e n an d t h e E art h an d all t h at

’’
i n t h e m is c o n fi rm s t h e literal accou n t of C reatio n
,

i n t h e Ge n e sis an d t h e m aterial laws c o n n ected

,
“
t h e rew it h Ho n or t hy f at h er an d t h y m ot h er
.

“
,
“
T h ou s ha lt n o t kill
!
T h ou s h al t n o t co m m it
T h o u s h a ll n
,
“ !
a d u ltery , o t s teal T h o u s h alt n o t
bear f a lse wit n es s agai n s t t h y n eig h b or “ Tho u !
,

s h a lt n o t covet an y o f t h y n eig h b ors p ossessio n s are ,

ea c h an d all m a n d a to ry laws .

A q u es ti o n m ay be asked o f wh at utility to t he
C h ristia n are all t h ese a n cie n t laws as o ld t h i n gs ,

h ave p as sed away an d C h ris t declared t h e S c 1 ip tu re s

f ulfil led T h e C h ri s t ia n s h o u ld k n ow t h at t h e orga n i c
.

’
laws are God s platfor m are fixe d an d i m m u tab le , ,

an d are t h e sa m e fro m t h eir i n ce p tio n t h ro u g h a ll

ages t o t h e e n d W h e n God se n t His S o n Jes u s
.

C h ris t u po n e art h as a Missio n ary t o give to all th e

peo p le th e n e w d ispe n satio n t h es e laws were t h e n in ,

fu ll f orce an d operatio n an d f or m ed part of His ,

t eac h i n gs ! R evere n ci n g th ese laws an d t h e s u b j e cts

u p o n w h ic h t h ey act fro m t h e u n i for m acti o n of t h e
,

h eave n ly b odie s to th e b lade of gras s in t h e fie ld a ,

s tupe n do u s pla n reac h in g fro m t h e cre atio n to t h e

e sta b li s h m e n t of t h e C h 1 is tia n re ligio n 1 s prese n ted
f or t h e co n te m p latio n an d accepta n ce of m a n ki n d
O n w
.

h at does t h i s acce pta n ce de pe n d 2 We a n swer

t h at i t depe n ds upo n o u r o w n k n ow ledge b e lief a n d b ,

f ai t h T h e n t he q uestio n arises w h at p o rtio n o f t h at

.

acce p ta n ce 1 8 c o v ere d by our k n o wledge w h at p 0 1 tio n ,

 Go d O rg a n i c L a ws
’
54 3
1

by belie f an d w h at p ortio n by fa it h 3 T o arrive at a

,

correc t c o n cl u s io n , w e m u s t u nders ta n d w ha t is
‘

~
-

k n o wle dg e w hat i s belief , an d w h a t is fai t h W e

-

.
, _

a n s we r t h a t t h e e s tablis h m e n t an d a ctio n o f m a t eri al

law s is k n owledge a nd b e lief i s w h a t m ay be calle d
,

s e c o n d ary k n o w ledge w h ic h w e deriv e fro m t h e

i n s p ire d word o f God an d fait h i s t h e a cc e pt an c e o f
,

t h e w h o le pla n o f t h e C h 1 1 s t 1 an re ligi on as r e co r de d 1 1 1

t h e go s p el as trut h S o t h at fait h if it i s stro n g e n o u g h

!

.
, ,

takes ra n k wit h t h e C h ristia n as a m ateria l law .

It m us t be re m e m bered t h at m at e 1 ial law s n eve r

c o n flict w it h t h e true Word o f God a n d t h eref o r e ,

W e are j u s tifie d if we a lw a y s c o n s t 1 u e t h at W ord a s

in h ar m o n y wi t h t h es e laws S o m e clai m t h at t h e
.

m aki n g o f E v e o u t of t h e rib o f T h e A da m an d t h e
c rea t i n g o f C h riS t in t h e wo m b o f a Virgi n were
v io lat i o n s o f His m ateria l laws Suc h p e o p le do n o t
.

u n dersta n d w h at a m aterial law Of G o d i s A m a .

t e ria l law i s t h e co n t i n u a n ce of reprod u cti o n in s tate

or in ki n d of an y e n tity We h av e n o acco u n t o f an y
.

ot h er h u m a n b ei n g m ade fro m t h e ri b of a m an o r ,

an y ot h e 1 c h ild b ei n g cre a ted i n t h e wo m b O f a v irgi n ,

a n d h e n ce t h ere n ever h a s bee n an y re p 1 o du c t io n

o f t h e ki n d in t h e h u m a n fa m ily an d t h erefore t h i s
,

m aki n g an d c 1 e at io n were n o t vio latio n s of m aterial

l aws b u t were b ri n gi n g i n to ex is te n ce h u m a n i t y by
,

difi e re n t proces ses n ever agai n u se d

,
.

If t h e profes si n g C h ristia n b e lieve s in a G o d an d ,

t h a t H e created t h e i n fi n ite n u m ber of s u bj ects f o r

m ateria l laws to a c t u po n w h ic h c o m e wit h i n H i s
k n owle dge w hy s h o u ld h e rej ect t h e creatio n in t h e
,

C o n cepti o n of Mary t h e M ot h er O f J e s u s w h e n af t e r
'

t h at C o n ceptio n t h e c h i ld grew an d w as b orn in

accorda n ce wit h t h e m aterial laws gover n i n g t h e
birt h o f all c h i ld re n T h e C o n cepti o n o f M ary was a
'

si n g le ac t o f C reati o n by God a m o n g m il lio n s y e s ,

co u n t les s creati o n s w h ic h all pro f es si n g c h ri stia n s

,

wi lli n g ly ad m i t to b e t h e A c t o f G o d w h ile s o me re ,

ll r le s of lo ic d e v ide n c e an d d e n y t h at G o d
j e c t a u g a n ,

c o u ld h ave do n e t h i s o n e act an d f o r s o s lig h t a c o n

,

ce s si o n e n da n ger t h eir h app in es s in t h e life t o co m e .

A s t h e I n spired Wor d o f G o d is t h e f o u n d a t io n o f
 God O rg ani c L aws
’
’

3 . 55

o ur b e li ef all c an s e e t h e n e ce s s i t y O f a c orrec t tra n s

,
-

l atio n f ro m t h e o rig i n al i n t o t h e va ri ous la n guag e s .

w h i c h ar e m ad e f o r t h e e d u c ati o n o f th e C h ristia n

x H O w lit t le
t te n ti o n ap p are n tl y h as bee n gi v e n t o
~

a
b j e c t w e h av e f u lly e xp lai n ed W h at c a n we .

e xp e c t fro m suc h d e v iat io n s f ro m t h e t rue Word .

ex ce p t c o n f us io n a n d fa lse d e d uctio n s F ir s t let t h e .

f o u n d at io n b e m ad e c orr e c t an d dedu c t io n s o f tr u t h
will f o llow .

;
T H E CA TH O LI C A N D PR O T E S TA NT LA Y M E N .

T hel ay m an o f an y t ru e C h ri s tia n O rg am z at io n
f ou nded u p o n t h e Go s p e l o f Jesus C h ris t h as t w o ,

d i ffere n t an d d ist in c t relatio n s l n t h e t errestrial

orga n iza ti o n t o w h i c h h e m ay belo n g T he o n e m ay .

be a n d o f te n is be f o re ba p tis m an d e n teri n g C h ris t s

, ,
’

C hurc h an d t h e o th er i s a f ter e n teri n g C h ris t s

,
’

C h u rc h by t aki n g t h e v o ws o f b a p tis m I n t h e firs t .

c o n d i ti o n h e i s b ou n d t o obey t h e law s o f t h e la n d
‘

an d t h e s p ecific laws o f t h e orga n izatio n t o w h i c h h e

b e lo n g s w h ic h is a c orpora t io n an d its b y laws an d
,
.
,

d is c i p li n e are e n forced by t h e s a m e m ea n s in a ge n e
ral way as t h e laws o f t h e la n d
,
O n b ei n g b aptize d .

an d o n e n teri n g C h ris t s C h u rc h t h ro u g h a C h ris tia n

’

O rga n izatio n b y m aki n g t h e baptis m al vows t h e

m e m ber acce p ts t h e o ff e r o f G o d a n d Jesus C h r1 s t to
rewar d h im o r he r in t h e f u t u re li f e wi t h h appi n es s ,

i f t h ey t h erea f te r live a life i n co n for m ity wit h t h e

laws an d re q u ire m e n ts O f t h e Gos p e l o r p u n is h m e n t ,

f o r n o n co m p lia n ce -
.

T h ere i s n o terre strial law t h at c an reward or p u n i s h

a m e m b er o f C h rist s C hu rc h for co m p lia n ce or n o n
’

c o m p li an ce wit h th e laws o f t h e Gospe l b ut h e or -

,

s h e c an b e reward ed or p u n is h ed f or co m p lia n c e or
n o n co m p lia n ce wit h t h e laws o f a C h ris tia n C orpo
-

rati o n I t i s t h e re fo re idle t o s ay t h at a ter res t rial

;

C h ristia n O rga n izatio n i s or c an be C h ri s t s C hurc h , ,

’
,

for t h e o n e c a n exis t W 1 th o u t t h e ot h er w hic h i s

de p e n d e n t u p o n dis ci p li n e of th e C h ris tia n orga n iza
t io n S o t o o by b y laws an d o th er reg u latio n s a
’

.
 6 , C a th o li c an d P ro te s ta n t L ag rn c n .

C h ri s tia n O rga n iza t io n c a n b e i n cor p orated t o r ec ei v e

'

a n d i n c lu de o n ly m e m b e rs o f C h ris t s C h urc h
’
an d ,

n o t to a d m it a n y o t h ers wit h i n t h eir doors ; but t h i s

wo u ld n o t be C h ristia n as t h ese orga n izatio n s are f o r
,

t h e do u ble p u r p ose o f teac h i n g t h e go s pe l t o make

co n v erts t o f a it h a n d f u r n is h a p lace f o r t h e m e m
.
,
.

b ers o f C h ris t fs C h u rc h in w h ic h wors h ip a n d ot h e r

r e q u ire m e n t s o f t h e gosp e l c an b e perfo rm ed .

Fro m t h is it wi ll b e s e e n t h at a t e r1 e s t 1i al orga n i
z a t io n wit h m u ltit u de o f p laces f o 1 tea c h i n g a n d
w ors h ip w h ic h are u s u a lly ca lled a C h u rc h i s n o t
, ,

t h e s a me C hu rc h as C h ris t s C h u rc h
’
on e bei n g ,

gover n ed b y t e r1 e s t 1 ial laws w h i le t h e ot h er is

1 1

g over n ed b y t h e law s of G o d E ve 1 y la y m a n w h o i s
.

deeply i n t eres ted in h is 1 e lig io n s h o u l d n o t fai l t o

acq u ai n t h i m s e lf w it h th e gos p e l I t co n tai n s les s .

readi n g t h a n most n ovels an d w h e n o n e i s acq u ai n ted

,

w it h t h e laws o f God m at eria l a n d i m m a t eria l t h e

, ,
.

readi n g an d u n de 1 sta n di n g o f t h e tr u t h s o f t h e G o s
p el are as s i m p le an d plai n as an y ot h er readi n g .

T h e C h ristia n 1 e lig io n 1 s co n du ct s pirit u al o r ot h er

wi se g u ided by t h e law s o f God an d fo llowi n g t h e
,

exa m p le an d teac h i n g o f Je s u s C h ri s t T h e se are all .

co n tai n ed in t h e Gos pe l! T h ese teac h i n gs a n d ex

a m p les are all co n si ste n t an d gov er n ed b y t h e orga n i c
laws of G o d s o t h at i t i s e a sy to deter m i n e w h at are
,

t h e f o u n datio n pri n cip le s of t h e C h ris tia n re ligio n .

Fro m wa n t o f Gospe l k n ow le dge b y t h e l ay m a n ,

c h ris t ia n ity i s g e n era lly regar ded as a h u g e m y s te ri ,

-
1

o u s c lo u d w h i c h ca n n ot b e pe n etrated by h u m a n
,

k n ow ledge Scraps o f li g h t are pre se n ted h ere an d

.

t h ere a n d du ties de fi n ed h ere a n d t h ere

,
b u t t he ,

m ys terio u s c lo u d l n its w h o le n e s s s ti ll re m ai n s t o
m an y .

T h ere i s so m e tro u ble an d s o m e u n certai n ty in re ad - 1

in g t h e Gospel i n t h e pre se n t da y a s give n t o u s b y ,

t h e A post les in t h e vari o u s la n g u age s i n to w h i c h t h e

“

origi n al h as bee n tra n s late d But w h ile t h ere m ay .

be errors of tra n slati on an d errors O f i n terpretatio n

, ,

w e be lieve t h e es se n ti a l poi n ts of t h e Go s pe l s till

s u rvi ve ; a n d a ll s i n cere a n d dev oted c h ristia n s s h o u l d

a cce p t i t as s u c h C hri s t sa id
.
 C a th o li c an d P ro tes ta n t L a y
/ m e n . 57

Jo h n ii i 5 V e rl ly Veri ly I s ay un to t h ee except
’

. .
, ,

a m a n b e b or n o f water a n d o f t h e S p irit h e ca n n ot
e n ter i n to t h e Ki n gd o m of G o d ;

T h is i s t he a lp h a an d o m e g a o f t h e f o u n datio n o f
t h e C h ris t ian re lig io n a n d co n tai n s a ll o f fait h or O f
‘

c o n d u c t re q u ired b y G o d 0 1 C h ris t Fi rs t as to Fai t h

1
. .

O n t h e fai t h o f P eter t hat C h ri st w as t h e S o n of t h e

li v i n g God C h ris t said h e wo u ld b u ild H is C hu rc h
,

o n t h i s rock a n d t he ga tes of He ll s h o u ld n o t preva il

,

a gai n s t it T h i s is t h e f o u n da ti on of t h e C h u rc h of
.

C h ris t i n s tit u ted f or t h e be n efit of t h os e w h o accept

,

t h e f ait h a n d are b aptized i n to it T h e b apti s m a l .

v o w co m p lete s t h e fait h in t h e tr u t h s o f th e gos pe l

a n d cl ose s b y i ts acce p ta n ce t h e co n tract b etwee n

m an an d G o d t h at h e will t h ereafter c o m p ly by h is
,
\

c o n d u ct wit h it s re q u ir e m e n ts .

T h i s is all as we u n dersta n d it o f t h e C h ri stia n

religi o n .T h ere is no di re c tio n s w h o w h ere o r w h e n , ,

b a p ti s m s h all b e p er f or m ed s o t h at it i s do n e in t h e ,

n am e o f th e Fat h er t h e S o n an d t h e ,
Ho ly G h os t .

C an t h ere be a n y th i n g si m p ler an d easier o f u n d er

s ta n di n g d o n e by G o d o r m an ?
,

E v ery C h ristia n h ear t s h o uld o v erflow wit h gra ti

tu d e to G o d f o r His p ro m is es s o easi ly gras p ed an d
c o m p l ied wit h T h ere c an be n o m i staki n g t h e
.

s i m p le a n d co m pac t Words o f C h rist rei n forced by ,

o t h er pas sages o f t h e Go s pe l .

T h e n ext q u e s t io n in orde r i s w h et h er t h ese re p re

1

s e n ta tio n s o f C h ris t s teac h i n gs t h at t h e A pos t le s

’
,

did p erfor m t h eir re q u ired du ti es wi t h fidelity an d

a cc u racy i n t h i s re s pe t I f t h e an swer be in t h e
n egative t h ose m u st a b a n d o n t h e C h ris ti a n re ligi o n
,
.

I f o n t h e ot h er h a n d t h ey ad m i t t h at t h e e le v e n
A p ost le s did giv e u s a tr u e record of C h ri s t s gosp e l in
’

s i m p le ,
p lai n an d u n dersta n da b le wor d s in th e lan ,

age i w h ic h t h ey re c or d e d t h e m w e h ave t h e re li
g u n .

a b le Wor d o f G o d a n d an e n d uri n g C hr is tia n religi o n

,
.

D id Jes u s C h r is t giv e u s by Hi s A p os tle s a record

t h at c ould be u n derstoo d b y t h e n a ti o n s o f th e eart h
ac c or d in g t o H is m a n d a t ory law o f teac h i n g O 1 did
1

h e g iv e i n s tructio n s t o t h e se apos tles t o m ake a re c o rd

'

t h at c oul d n o t be u n d ers t oo d e xc ep t by th e in te rpre

58 C a th o lic an d P r o te s tan t L ag m en
/
.

t a t io n o f s om e b o dy w h o w ould as su m e t o m ake the

gos p el wh at it s h ould b e accordi n g t o t h eir co n c l u
.
»

sio n s o f w h at w as rea lly t h e i n t e n t io n O f C h ris t an d

Hi s a p os tle s 3 .

I n t e r p ret atio n o f Divi n e law s i s a m o n s tro u s as -

s u m p tio n an d h a s b ee n t h e dire c t caus e o f m ost o f

t h e di s s e n s io n s q u arr e li n gs an d d i s p u te s be tw ee n
,

C hris t ian D e n o m in at io n s
1

Civi l laws s o meti m es th e

.
,

i m perfectio n s o f hu m an ity require h ig h er wi sdo m ,

f o r i n ter p retati o n b u t t h es e are all t h e worki n gs o f

,

weak h u m a n i ty N o t s o wit h Divi n e law s ; t h ey are

.

m ade b y per f ect wisd o m w h ere t h e m i n d o f m an

,

ca n n ot reac h fo ll ow o r fat h o m
, ,
.

We t h e re f O re say t h at t h e Gos p e l O f Je su s C h rist i s

t h e O ff s p ri n g o f Divi n e wi sdo m If t h ere be s o m e .

weak m i n ds t h at ca n n ot u n dersta n d it w it h o u t s u b s ti
tu ti n g h u m a n f o r Divi n e wi s d o m t h ose would do ,

we ll t o follow s u c h p orti o n s as t h ey c an u n ders ta n d ,

f o r t h ere are e n o u g h o f t h os e f o r a ll pra c tical p ur

p ose s O f salvat i o n .

Now le t u s exa m i ne th e orga n i c laws o f G o d t h e ,

m a n dat o ry law s o f Jes u s C h ri s t as a d diti o n s t o t h e

orga n ic law s an d see if we fi n d a n yt hi n g t h at ca n n o t
,

be u n de rs t o o d b y th e si m p les t m i n d w h e n th ey are
ta u g h t orally o r b y readi n g We m ea n by u n d er .

s tan di n g t o accept t h e m as tr u t h T h e n do c h risti an s .

,

a c cept as tr u t h t h at t h ere i s a G o d t h at Jes u s C h ri s t ,

was t h e S o n of God c reated in t h e wo m b o f th e Virgi n

Mary t o b e h u m a n f or m wit h Divi n e m i n d T h at th e .

G o d Head is co m p osed o f t h e s e t w o an d i s g u ided b y

t h e co m m o n m i n d Of b ot h u s u a lly called t h e H o ly
,

G h ost ; t h at th e material or N at u ral L aws o f Go d in

o p eratio n at t h e ti m e of establi s h i n g t h e c h ri sti an
reli g i o n are in u n c h a n ged operatio n n o w an d are
bi n di n g u po n c h ri s t ia n s ; t h at God req u ires o f m an
recog n i ti o n an d o b e die n ce t o all Hi s laws m ate rial .

a n d s pirit u a l ; t h a t He wi ll reward m e n f o r obe d ie n c e

O f t h e m an d p u n is h t h e m for d is o b edie n ce ! t o accept
,

as t h e laws of God t h e T e n Co m m a n dm e n ts give n t o

.
‘

M oses an d w h i c h C h rist m a de p art of Hi s g ospel ; t o

,

accept as m a n datory laws th e X I an d X I I C o m . .

m an dm e n t s of Je su s C h ri s t an d t he ot h er m a n d at ory
,
law s o f p rayer , fai t h , b a pt is m a nd th e L o rd s S u p p er ;
-
’

an d t o t h e a p o s tles t h e m a n dat or y law o f te ac h i

H is G o s pe l t o all n atio n s ?
.

We h ave b ee n u n a b le t o disc over l n a ll C hrist s ’

G o s p e l t e a c h in g s , an y n e w pri n ci ples o f m ora ls O r

‘
'

duty , w h ic h h as n o t its root in s o m e O n e o f t h e a b ove

l a w s , e x cep t th e m a n datory law t o H is a p os t le s t o
‘

teac h H is Gos pe l t o a ll n atio n s

! We n o w as k t h e
.

p erti n e n t q u es t i o n ! I s t h ere a n y o n e o f t h e a b ove laws

o f G o d o r o f Je s u s C h ris t , w h ic h are req u ire m e n ts o f

C h ri stia n d u t y , t h at ca n n ot b e u n derstood an d accept

e d as tr u th ? T h e n w h ere i s t h e n ecessity or exc u se
f o r i n ter p retati on Wit h o u t i t be , t o be n d t he Gospel
t o t h e s u p port O f s o m e T h eolo g y , an i d ea o f a m an ?
A ll s h ould accept t h e w riti n gs o f t h e good m e n
w h o wrote o f m atters s u pporti n g th e pri nciples o f
t h e Go s pel , b u t s h o u ld rej ect a n y d octri n es , if t h ere
b e a n y , t h a t are a n tago n i stic t o Go d s laws w h et h er
’

m ateria l o r s pirit u a l .

Miracle s perfor m ed by aut h ori t y o f Go d are li m ited

a c t s f or t h e ti m e bei n g .

T H E A PO ST O LI C E R A .

J e s u s C h ri s t laid dow n i n H is perso n a l teac h i n gs

t h e e n t ire f o u n dat io n of t h e C h ris t ia n re li g io n W it h
e v e ry la w go ver n i n g i t T h e firs t grea t poi n t t h e n
'

w a s to a d opt a m ea n s o f circ u lati n g t h es e pri n cip le s

t o t h e k n ow ledge o f t h e worl d T we lve of H i s a d
.

h e re n t s , O 1 dis ci p le s were s e lect e d as apos t les eac h to

1

re p re s e n t H im to de liver H i s Gos pe l to t h e n atio n s o f

t h e ear th E ac h was to h ave t h e sa m e D ivi n e p owers
.

t o p e rfor m m irac les as H e u sed s o t h at t he peo p le ,

wo u ld m ore readi ly b e lieve E ac h of t he e leve n .

apost les was for t h e p u rpose of teac h i n g t h e gospe l ,

t o b e (for t h is p u rpose ! a C h rist f or life .

A ccordi n gly t h e day of pe n tecost was appoi n ted as

t h e ti m e to co m m e n ce t h e s e apos t o lic teac h i n gs a n d ,

t h row ope n th e doors o f C h ri s t s C h u rc h to t h e wor ld

’

P eter s first e ff ort was rewarded b y t h e co n versio n o f

’

“
t h re e t h o u sa n d s o u ls t o t h e fai t h , t h at Jes u s C hri s t
was th e S o n o f th e livi n g G o d an d o f t h e tr u t h s of
60 A p o s to li c E ra .

His Gospel an d were ba p tized i n to C h ri s t s C hurc h

,
’
.

T h e q u estio n h ere ar i ses were t h e se c o n ve rts bap ,

’
t iz e d i n to C h rist s C h u rc h w h ic h He f o u n ded upo n
t h e fait h t h at H e was t h e S o n o f t h e livi n g G o d an d ,

o n t h e tr u t h s a n d req u ire m e n ts o f t h e v o ws O f b ap ~

t is m t o lead a li fe accordi n g to i t s req u ire m e n ts o r

!

w ere t he y b aptized i n to t h e R o m a n Cat h oli c O rga n i

z a t io n of w h ic h P e ter was t h e h ead a n d v o w e d o n
, ,

b aptis m to o b ey its b y laws an d disci p li n e in additio n

to t h ose req u ired b y C h rist s C h u rc h ? ’

To b e lo n g to t he C at h olic O 1 a n y ot h er C h ris t ia n ,
1

D e n o m i n atio n a m e m b e r of t h at orga n izatio n m u s t

,

b i n d h i m s e lf to O b ey t h e discip li n e of t h e orga n iza !

tio n an d i f h e doe s n o t h e c a n b e s u spe nded o r dis

, , ’

m is sed 0 1 ot h erwi se dea lt wit h

,
1
.

T h e p ositio n o f a m e m b er of C h ris t s C hu rc h is
’

very differe n t O n ce a m e m b er a lwa y s a m e m ber

.
, ,

an d n o h u m a n p ower c a n displace h im 0 1 i n terfere

1

wit h h im If h e i s a m e m b er of C h rist s C h urc h a n d

.
’
,

als o a m e m b er o f a C hrist ia n orga n izatio n h e c an be ,

d ealt w i t h by it for an y vi olatio n o f b ap ti s m a l v ows ,

or vi o latio n o f an y dis cip li n e o f t h e orga n izatio n .

H is b apti s m al Vows are w it h God to acce pt His

pro m i s es o f reward f or good co n d u ct or t o be p u n ,

i s h e d f or s in f o r deed s d o ne in t h e b ody .

T hi s i s t h e co n tract b e twee n t h e m e m b ers of

C h ri st s C h u rc h an d G o d an d i s t h e Mag n a C h arta
’
,

o f t h e C h r istian a n d G o d wi ll h old h im re s p o n sible

,

f o r an y viol a tio n o f t h at co n tra c t T h e Gos p el doe s .

n o t co n fi n e t h e m ak in g of t h i s C o n tract t o a n y p ar
t ic u lar C h ri sti a n O r g a n izatio n t o an y p a l tic u lar m e n , ,

o r t o an y
p arti c u lar perso n or an y particular positio n , ,

n o r do es i t specify t h e drops o f water to be u sed in

bapti s m s o t h at t h e u s 1 n g of a drop or m ore o r an
, ,

O cea n co m p lie s wi t h t h e req u ire m e n ts o f t h e Gos p e l

,
.

If every O rg an izati o n h ad c o n fi n ed itself t o th e

t eac h i n gs of t h e e leve n apost les l n t h e A po stolic E ra ,

t h ere w o u ld be n o n eces si t y t o day t o m ake an ap p eal

f o r C h ristia n u n ity as th e re w o u ld be in t h at e v e n t
, ,

u n it y u po n t h e Gospe l as tau g h t by C h rist o f o n e ,

Lor d o n e F a it h an d o n e Bapti s m
, T h ere are C h ris .

t ia n De n o m i n ati o n s s o cal le d w h i c h do n o t a cc e p t
-
 Ap o sto li c E ra .
61

all o f Go d s O rga n ic laws an d t h e e n tire o f C h r is t s

’ ’
,

Gospel a n d suc h ca n n ot be c a lled C h ris tia n ; b u t t h e re

,

are very m a n y t h at do an d t h ey are C h ris tia n an d if

, ,

t h ey h ad fo llowed t h e teac h i n gs o f t h e A pos t olic

E ra wi t h o u t a n y f urt h er dis cip li n es 1 n t h eir orga n i
,

z at io n s peace a n d C h ris tia n love wou ld h ave dis ti n

,

g u is h e d t h e m to d ay f ro m t h e q u arre li n g b ickeri n g ,

s ects w h ic h n o w di st u rb t h e C h ristia n Wor ld .

N i n e t ee n t we n tie th s o f all t h e di ff ere n ces be t wee n

C h ristia n D e n o m i n at io n s arise o u t of D is cip li n e an d
n o t fro m t h e Gos pel
!
S o m e D e n o m i n atio n s are s o
.

h a m pered by c u m b ers o m e di sci p li n e t h at t h e p ri n ,

c ip le s an d req u ire m e n t s o f t h e Gos pel are los t sig h t

of , an d t h e dis ci p li n e h as s o m eti m e s be co m e t h eir
re ligio n i n s tead of t h e Gos pel T h ere 1 s a ltoge t h er
t o o m u c h m ac h i n ery i n dis ci p li n
,
.

e an d wit h o u t th e,

lay m a n i s a s c h o lar in t h e gospe l it is di ffic u lt f o r ,

h im t o disti n g u i s h betwee n dis ci p li n e an d gos p e l .

T h is m u ddle s u p C h ristia n ity t o s u c h an exte n t ,

th at it i s n o t s u rpr i si n g t h at co m p lica t io n s t h at n o w
e x ist h av e good gro u n ds f o r t h eir exi s te n c e .

Cree ds as s u c h are n o t fo u n d in th e Gos p el b u t

, ,

are c o m p i latio n s fro m i o f i ts sa lie n t poi n ts T he

t
A pos tles Creed as it i s calle d was t h e firs t o n e
’
.

ad opted by t h e R o m a n Cat h olic O rga n izatio n T he .

Gospel rea d er 1 s s u r p ri se d n o t t o fi n d in it t h e key

s to n e o f t h e C h ri st ia n R e ligio n w h i le t h at 1 s s e t fort h
,

p ro m i n e n tly i n t h e Go spe l n a m ely fait h an d b apti s m

, ,

as re q u ii e m e n t s t o e n t er upo n a C h ri sti an life an d ,

f u rt h er th at th e n a m e g ive n b y C h ris t t o Hi s C h u rc h
,

( C h r i st s
’
C h urc h ! 1s e n tire l y ig n ored b y n a m e i n t h at
Cre e d an d a n o th er n a m e n o t f o u n d in th e Gospel
,

( Ho l y Cat h o li c C h ur c h ! u sed i n it s s tead T h i s l atter .

is an in de fi n i t e n a m e w h ile C h r ist s C h urc h is a de fi

’

n i te o n e w h ic h all c an u n ders ta n d t h at read t h e Gospe l

,
.

It is pro b ab le t h at t h is m ay h ave b ee n t h e reaso n

w h y th e s am e Cat h o li c O rg a n izat io n fo u n d it expedi
e n t t o m ake a n ot h er Cree d ca lle d t h e Ni ce n e Cree d ,

in w h ic h t h e n am e H o ly Cat h olic C hu rc h w as drop p e d ,

an d t h e n am e O n e Cat h o li c A p osto lic C h u rc h w a s

u se d i n s t e ad S till n o re f ere n ce was m a de in t h i s
.

C ree d t o C h r is t s C h u r c h o r t o fa it h an d ba p t is m as
’
,
62 A p o s to li c E ra .

a m ea n s e n j o yi n g its bles si n g Ti me and di s c u s s io n

of .

n o d oub t sugge sted t h e fact t h at t h e n a m e ? in t h e

i w
N ce e Creed as t o o g e at a d eparture f ro m t h e A p O s 3
'

n r
’
tles Cre ed by h av i n g droppe d t h e w o rd H o ly s o t h e ,
~
=

P ope p prove d f a la t er C reed w h ere th e n am e O n e

!

a o l

H o ly Cat h olic A po s tolic C h u rc h was ad o pte d S till n o .

re f ere n ce W as m a de in t h is Creed t o C h rist s C h urc h

’
,

o r t o fai t h an d baptis m t h e Key S to n e o f C h ri stia n ity -

.

I t i s u p o n t h is C reed t hat t he C a t h olic O rga n iz a

“

’
tio n f o un d t h eir c lai m o f bei n g t h e o n ly C h ris t s
C h urc h f ro m w h i c h it will be see n t h at t he c la im is
’

ba s e d u p o n t he dis ci p li n e o f t h eir O rga n izat io n an d ,

-
‘

n o t u p o n t h e gos p el We m ake n o c o m m e n ts u p o n
.

t h e se fac ts leav i n g e v ery o n e t o d raw h is o w n c o n

,

e lusio n fro m t h e m s o t h at every lay m a n l n a n y C h ri s

,

ti an De n o m i n atio n c an see t h at h e c an b elo n g t o a n y

O n e o f t h e m an d re c ei v e t h e b e n efits pro m is ed wit h
, ,

o u t bei n g co m pel led t o b elo n g t o th i s Cat h olic O rga n i

“
z a tio n w h ic h clai m s t o b e t h e excl u sive an d o n ly
C h ri st s C h u rc h W e co n cl u de t h at it will be a lo ng
’
.

t i m e before C h ri s tia n u n ity will be acco m p lis h e d o n

t h i s b as is if ev er ,
.

T h e Gos p e l te ac h i n gs o f t h e Cat h olic O rga n izati o n s ,

as far a s we are a c q u ai n t ed wit h t h e m are u po n t h e ,

fo u n d ati o n p ri n cip les o f th e C h ris tia n re ligio n an d ,

i t h as d o n e v as t g ood in th e pas t in m aki n g co n verts

t o t h e tr u e fait h an d baptizi n g m illio n s i n to C h r ist s
’

C h u r c h an d i ts vas t O rga n izati o n pro m ise s e q u a lly

,

g reat a n d g ood w ork f o r t h e f u ture but it s d i s c ip ,

lin e teach in g s t h at t h e P ope t h e Cardi n a ls A rch

,
, ,

b is h op s B is h op s an d Pries ts are Vice g ere n ts o f C h ris t

,

w it h p er m is s i v e p ow e rs to h ea l t h e sick cast ou t devi ls , ,

r ais e th e de ad an d for g ive s in s p owers g iv e n b y C h ris t ,

o n ly to H i s tw e lve A p os t les an d t h at it i s t h e o n ly
!

C h r is t s C h u rch are c la im s t h at exc it e t h e wors t pas

’
,

s i o n s of h a lf th e C h r is t ia n wor ld t h at i s n o t Cat h ol i c .
,

If we are r ig h t ly in for m e d th e P ope approve s o f ,

e v e ry A r tic le of F aith an d every p oi n t of d iscip li n e ,

a n d th e lait y a c c e p t t h e m a s t h e re q u ire m e n ts o f
th e ir r e lig io n I s it t h e n s u r p ris in g t h at th e C ath o lic s
.

a r e
, a ll b o u n d t o g e th e r i n o n e s o li d p h a la n x a g ai n s t
all ot h er di ffe ri n g O pi n i o n s Fro m t h is ca u s e t h e y
.
 A p o s to li c E ra . 63

are a d e v o te d an d s i n c e re p e o p le , c o m ply m g wit h all

th e r e qui re m e n ts o f fai th an d dis ci p li n e T h e re .

i re m e n t s o f di s ci p li n e are s o n u m er o u s a n d ex t e n
q u
s i v e t h a t t h e s u b j ec t o f t h es e 1 e lig io u s d u tie s 1 s ke p t
,

c o n s t a n tly in t h eir m i n d s T h e t eac h i n gs begi n l n t h e

.

m ot h e 1 s b ei n g e n gaged l n t h is c c
c upa t io n u n t il t h e c h ildre n a re o ld e n o u g h t o atte n d
th e h igh er te a c h i n gs l n th e h o u ses o f t h e orga n izatio n .

T h is 1 8 b u t a f ractio n o f th eir te ac h i n g s t h e n u mer ,

o u s or ders s ocieties p riests a n d n u n s al m ost bey o n d

, , ,

p u t atio n co m ple t e an ar m y o f devoted c h ris tia n

te ac h ers . H e n ce it i s n o t s u r p ris i n g t h at t h ro u g h
t h i s r igid atte n tio n t o t h e w h o le s u bj ec t t h ey h ave ,

a c ce p te d as fait h t h e d i s ci p li n e o f t h e a p os to lic su c
c es s i o n with D ivi n e per m i s sive powe rs an d th e m is ,

n o m er o f C h ris t s C h u rc h f o r t h e R o m a n Cat h o lic

’

O rgan izatio n . T h ere m ay b e fo u n d s o m e ex c u se f or

th is an o m a lo u s co n di tio n T h e Ca th olic laity a s a
.

ru le do n o t s tudy th e g o s p e l m u c h f 1 o m t h e record o f
it gi ve n t o 11 s in t h e New Testa m e n t b u t acce p t all ,

o f t h eir teac h i n gs w i t h o u t a t h o u g h t of rese rvati o n .

W h e n th e A p osto lic E ra was e n ded 1 11 th e estab li s h

m e n t o f th e pri n c ip les of t h e C h ri s ti a n re ligio n it was
’
A F R E E F O R A L L beca u se C h ri s t s C h urc h was t o be
,

an d i s u n ivers a l an d it w a s n at u ral t h at th e Cat h oli c

,

O rga n izat io n s h o u ld fol low t h e teac h i n gs of t h e g o s

p e l
,
as t h e a p ost les h a d do n e a n d,
s trive to m ake
t h e ir co n verts b e lieve t h at t h is w a s t h e o n ly tr u e
C h ri st s C h u rc h wit h o u t very cl os e i n vestigati o n
’

,
.

No do u b t t h e ir zeal overcam e t h eir abs ol u te kn o w

le dg e o f t h e Go s pe l an d t he y fe ll i n t o a ru t t h at all
,

s u b s e q u e n t cat h o li c s h ave f o llo we d .

If t h e y h a d in v estigated c lose ly t h ey wo u ld h ave ,

fo u n d t h a t t h e orig in al n u m b er of C h ri st s A post le s ’

wi t h D iv in e p ow e rs was twe lv e , an d after J u das

ki lle d h i m s e l f t h er e were e leve n Now i t is c lai m ed
, .

t h at t h e 1 e wer e twe lv e M a tt h ias h av in g b ee n c h ose n

b y th e E leve n as th e T w e lft h to fill th e p lace of J u das .

’
I n t h e fi s t p la c e t h e l e I S n o t h i n g l n C h ri s t s Gospe l
t h at g ave th e li vi n g apos tle s p o w e 1 to fi ll v ac an c ies
T h is is si m p le as s u m p t io n T h ere were t w o c an di
.
'
64 A p o s to li c E
‘

ra ,

date s fo r t h e p lace o f J u das Mat th ias an d Bars ab as ;

,

t h e lot f e ll u p o n Matt h ias a n d h e was selecte d ,

T h ere n o t b e ing a word 1 n th e Gos pe l t h at C h ris t

m ade a n y p rovi s i o n f o r gi v i n g an y o n e th e Di v i n e
p e 1 m 1 s s 1 v e powers t h at He gave His t w elve a p o s tle s ,
n o r a llowi n g t h e m t o do s o t h e se o w ers c eased
p , a t
t h e deat h o f eac h a p os t le .

Will an y o n e p 1 e t e n d t o say t h at C h ris t s m a n d a ’

t ory law to th e twe lve a p os tles t o tea ch th e Gos p el t o all

n atio n s a p pl ied t o a n y p ers o n s exce p t t h ose n a m e d ? ,

It was a s pecific co m m a n d with a S pecific obj ect , ,

a n d t h a t obj ect was t h at His gos p el s h o u ld be m ade

k n ow n to all n atio n s . T h e accepta n c e o f His gos pel
after th e A p os to lic E ra an d th e t ea c h i n gs t h at w o u l d
,

an d did n atura lly result is q u ite a di ff ere n t m o d e

,

f ro m th e A p os to lic teach i n g .

S u ppo s e th e A p osto lic tea c h i n gs h ad co n v i n ced n o

o n e i n th e n at io n s o f t h e eart h d id C h rist in H is ,

gospe l m ake an y co n d itio n s o r arra n ge m e n ts f o r su ch

a co n ti n ge n cy ? By n o m ean s ; all was c e nt ere d u po n
th e A p os toli c te a c h i n gs o f th e eleve n an d n o o n e c an ,

gai n say t h at propos i ti o n S till C h rist s poke m a n y

.

ti m es o f th e acc epta n ce by th e wo 1 ld o f His Gos p e l ,

a n d t h at th e gate s o f Hell co u l d n o t p revail agai n s t

Hi s C h u 1 c h an d th e c ou rse o f e v e n ts goes t o pro v e
,

Hi s word s as true as all oth ers o f His de c larat l o n s

, .

S u c c es sio n o f good teac h ers by th e layi n g o n o f

h a n d s is a val u a b le dis c ip li n e as i t h olds res p o n sibl e
,

th e ordai n er t o s e le c t th e fittest f o r th e work T he .

eleve n apos tles e s tabli s h e d th i s d isci p li n e as ou t s id e

t h e gospe l as C h ris t n ever or d ai n ed an y o f H is
,

A pos t les by an y su ch for m b u t si m p ly by s electi o n

, ,

an d t h e f or m ca n n ot be fo u n d in Hi s Gos pel I n like .

m a n n er t h e A posto lic s u c cessio n wit h D i v i n e p ower s

’
f or m s n o par t o f C h ris t s Gos p e l
C h ri s t s C h urch was estab lis h e d b y H im an d H e
.

was a n d i s t h e o n ly tr u e Hea d Peter was th e firs t .

h ead o f th e C at h o li c O rga n izati o n an d was t h e fir st ,

o n e occ u pyi n g th e pos i ti o n o f P ope a n d t h at O rga n i ,

z at io n h as co n ti n u ed t o h ave a P ope e v er si n ce an d ,

t o th is i n a g re at m eas u re c an be referre d th e c o n
, ,

t in u an c e an d great s u c c es s o f t h at O rga n izati o n .