concerning the future glory of the Church, but also concerning
individuals that lived before the foundations of the world, and what
would be their state in worlds that are future. And even all things
that Jesus Christ knew concerning the interest, salvation, and endless
felicity and glory of the church--and the misery and final undoing of
such as obey not God, the Holy Ghost would communicate in visions,
dreams, and revelations. Thus the earth would be filled with knowledge,
and Christ would again return here with all the departed saints, and
literally bring down a celestial city of splendid mansions--even the
New Jerusalem--and God would once more dwell with men in peace.
Let it be understood, that not only apostles, but all obedient
believers in the primitive age had the gift of the Holy Ghost, and,
consequently, the "spirit of prophecy." "He that hath the testimony
of Jesus hath the spirit of prophecy." How do men have the testimony
of Jesus? I answer, through the agency of the Holy Ghost. Let it
be understood, and marked with INDELIBLE EMPHASIS, that the HOLY
SPIRIT is the GREAT WITNESS on earth--that He, the spirit of truth,
has transmitted the mind of Jesus to believers in visions, dreams,
prophecyings, &c. For this purpose Jesus sent the SPIRIT into the
world, that he might reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of
judgment.
The Spirit, though unimbodied, now acts in all the authority,
influence, and power that Jesus himself would do if He were on the
earth in very person. But He acts upon and through the body of Christ,
which is the church; through the Spirit's possession of the church,
it displays the "MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD." Whatever varied and abundant
wisdom Jesus himself possessed, the true Church ever has in a measure,
and is destined to have, even to perfect fulness--"the fulness of his
stature."
But how is the true Church to show forth all the omniscience and
potency of Jesus? I answer, sir, by the Spirit of God that is in the
Church, by "the laying on of hands." By this spirit it is signified
to Paul what shall befall him at Jerusalem; and also that the true
Church shall cease from off the earth, with all its miraculous gifts
and blessings, before the second coming of Christ. By the same spirit,
John saw that an angel would again come in the midst of heaven to
restore the original primitive gospel to the earth. By the same spirit
Zachariah heard and saw the angel that should bring it, speak to a
"young man." Isaiah saw the young man take a "sealed book from the
earth," that should be a "marvellous work and wonder," confounding the
"wisdom of the wise." By this spirit the camp of Israel saw and heard
seventy elders prophecy the very hour and moment that hands were laid
upon them. Paul saw and heard more than twelve disciples speak "with
tongues and prophecy," as soon as the "Holy Ghost" was conferred by
"laying on of hands."
No sooner had Annanias laid his hands on Saul, than the Holy Ghost,
ever faithful to his "promise," filled the person of Saul, and opened
his eyes. The same spirit signified to Philip a mission to Gaza, and
after he had baptized the Ethiopian, caught him away with power. By
it also, Sampson stretched forth an arm of omnipotence and slew a
thousand men; and at another time overthrew a large and capacious
building, being filled with people, besides containing three thousand
men and women upon the roof. And by the same spirit, in this day, the
blind have been made to see, the lame to walk, and the deaf to hear,
and hundreds of persecuted famishing Saints, on the banks of the
Mississippi, have been miraculously fed by quails, as ancient Israel
were fed in the wilderness.
Now, sir, can you tell me why sin and blasphemy against the Holy
Spirit constituted a more heinous and unpardonable offence than sin
against the "Son of Man?" Surely there is an importance attached to the
office-work of this DIVINE AND MARVELLOUS WITNESS on the earth that
deserves attention. If there is no forgiveness of such an offence, it
becomes all men, not only to hear before they judge, but also to judge
"righteous judgment." Jesus Christ has told us that He placed in His
Church apostles and prophets, with gifts of miracles, tongues, &c.
These gifts were the gifts of the spirit; and you will not deny that
the Spirit of God, so far as the New Testament speaks of Him, was a
spirit of almighty power, as displayed in numerous gifts and ways.
Now, sir, what has become of this miraculous and almighty spirit? Has
he ceased wholly from the earth? If so, then the WATER and the BLOOD
are the only witnesses now left on the earth. But perhaps you will say
that the same spirit still remains, without exercising his miraculous
gifts and powers, (seeing they are not now necessary.) Shall we then
understand that this Almighty Spirit is still on the earth, and in the
diversified and conflicting churches, and comparatively silent and
inefficient, withholding from these churches (which are by supposition
the BODY of Christ), his majestic displays of supernatural power in
prophecies, healings, tongues; causing the dumb ass to speak with man's
voice, causing powerful armies to flee before the pursuit of one man;
and yet the world is perishing for lack of knowledge, and christianity
losing ground every day? Might we not as soon think the spirit has
grown old to dotage, or lost his first love, or been beguiled into
other pursuits of less importance? Surely He never wrought so lazily,
or in such imbecility and indifference in any other age, when true
believers or prophets were on the earth? Strange, indeed, sir, that he
should drop off so suddenly his royal robes of prophetic, miraculous
grandeur and power, to become the silent and inefficient inmate of
more than six hundred clashing, contentious churches, that are yearly
subdividing into minute fragments, to the confusion of all common sense
throughout boasting christendom! What a falling off of the spirit's
power, and of the spirit's light and unity! Will the Holy and Eternal
Spirit of God endorse such a powerless distracted state of things,
as being in any way connected with His presence on the earth, or
in any way the result of His doings? No, sir, by no means. For the
honour of this illustrious personage, let us never ascribe to HIM such
a powerless distracted organization of heterogenous ignorance and
imbecility, as modern christianity presents in contrast with ancient
christianity. The heavens may well blush with shame at this modern
picture, purporting to be the kingdom of God on the earth. If it is
the kingdom of God, how shorn of its miraculous strength! How are the
prophets and seers covered!! How dim that fine gold that once shown
resplendent with the celestial lustre of prophetic visions!!! Then men
spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and the sick were healed,
and he that lied to them was paralyzed in instantaneous death, at times.
Orators "boast," as it is written of them in these "perilous times,"
of the spread of christianity. Christianity spreading! Where is the
evidence of its increase of power or knowledge? Where the least signs
of approximation to "unity of faith," and the "full stature measure of
Christ" in "manifold wisdom and power?" Where the ornamental beauty
and symmetry of the Bride that is preparing for the marriage feast of
the Lamb? How many ten thousand years must elapse before it can be said
of christianity, "the Bride hath made herself ready!" "clear as the
sun, fair as the moon, and terrible as an army with banners." Surely,
since her prophets have lost their power "to quench the violence of
fire, and subdue kingdoms, and stop the mouths of lions," and her
servants and handmaids to see visions, &c., the beauty of the Bride has
failed--her breasts have diminished--her face is wrinkled--her eyes are
dim and cannot see afar off; she is no longer a chaste virgin espoused
to one husband--but she has as many husbands as sects, and yet none of
those with whom she is now living can be called her husband.
Now, sir, will the Spirit join with such a _Bride_, and say to Jesus
the Great Bridegroom, "come!" the Bride hath made herself ready! No,
sir, the Spirit of God will say, I never knew you; depart from me, you
pusillanimous, benighted, powerless, contentious christianity. "Thou
Aholibah and Aholibamah, thy lewdness is in all high places;" "thou
hast played the harlot with many lovers--yea, thou hast even hired
lovers" (with human inventions), instead of commanding admiration by
the grace of thy "seers," and the "visions of thy handmaids," and the
"healing power of thine elders." Thou shalt be burned with fire.
In humble assurance of your willingness to see the unsheathed
glittering sword of truth, I have the pleasure to subscribe myself.
Your humble servant,
For Christ's sake,
ORSON SPENCER.
LETTER VI.
APOSTACY FROM THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH.
_Liverpool, July_ 12, 1847.
Reverend and Dear Sir,--The subject of my sixth letter is APOSTACY FROM
THE PRIMITIVE CHURCH.
If modern christianity is only an enlargement of the system of early
apostacy from the true Apostolic Church of Christ, it certainly
deserves the most serious consideration. It shall be my direct object
in this epistle to show, that modern christianity possesses such a
faint resemblance to that system of faith established by Jesus Christ
and his apostles, that it cannot be called a likeness, or a copy, or
even an imitation.
Startle not, reverend sir, if I unhesitatingly declare that a
counterfeit bill of currency, that should have no more resemblance
to a true emission from the bank, than modern christianity does to
the ancient religion, would never be likely to do much harm. Modern
christianity is the very opposite extreme and counterpart of the
ancient order of "apostles and prophets." If you will read patiently, I
will show clearly the proof of my position.
In the Primitive Church, the Holy Ghost, after Jesus left the earth,
came and took possession, and constituted the grand main-spring,
life, light, and power of it. And the apostle Peter (of indisputable
authority) declares, in the Second of Acts, that the _promised gift_
of the Holy Ghost SHOULD CONTINUE even to "all the Lord our God should
call."
But this wonderful agent is not known in modern christianity. His
powerful agency, as foretold by Joel in prophecy, in tongues and
interpretation, in discerning of spirits and in healing, is not now
recognised as being any part of the present christianity. That Spirit
that was to make amends for the departure and absence of Jesus, by
acquainting believers with all truth--past, present, and future--that
they might be comforted with knowledge and light, such as could not
be obtained from books, whether inspired or uninspired, was the great
_sine qua non_ or essential thing in ancient christianity; but in
modern christianity, the fruits of such a spirit would be sneered at,
even by divines! What! exclaims one, prophecy in these days! speak in
tongues now! heal the sick now! have visions of future things, and
even heavenly things like unto the ancients! The exclaimant stands
aghast with astonishment, as a perfect stranger to the most obvious and
conspicuous principles of ancient christianity.
Modern christianity professes to derive all its light, and its various
clashing creeds, from the Old and New Testament. If modern christianity
is, indeed, the offspring of the Bible, it is a prodigy with many
hundred heads; but ancient christianity drew its light from the ROCK of
immediate revelation, and previous scriptures were only confirmatory of
the Spirit's testimony. Illiterate fishermen, like Peter, traditionated
by a corrupt priesthood, could know next to nothing of the written
manuscripts of the Bible. What he learnt was not from flesh and blood,
but from the spirit of revelation; and let it be always in your
mind, sir, that Christ has said, that on "THIS ROCK" of _immediate
revelation_ "He will build His church."
A christianity contained exclusively in a small volume like the Bible,
is an insult to the capacious revelations of the Eternal Spirit of
God, that even searches the deep things of God--a mere drop compared
with the mighty ocean! The full biography of Jesus Christ contained in
the New Testament? Nonsense! Preposterous mockery! You certainly are
not ignorant of the last verse in John's gospel--"_The world itself
could not contain the account, if written, of the acts and doings_ of
Jesus Christ." But shall the knowledge of Christ be buried in oblivion
because his acts and sayings cannot be written? No, by no means; God
forbid! What saith the scriptures? the all-wise "Spirit shall bring
_all things_ to your remembrance, even the deep things of God--things
that the tongue cannot utter nor the heart conceive."
Without the Holy Spirit of revelation, to take of the things of Jesus
and convey them to the knowledge of men, I boldly aver that NO man
can harmonize a consistent system from the Old and New Testament, or
find eternal life. Every man must be born of that spirit which gives
revelation and knowledge of Christ, or he can never see the kingdom
of God. But a prominent feature in the creed of modern christianity
is, that there is no further need of revelation, consequently the
distinct office-work of the Spirit, to bring to mind unwritten acts
and doctrines of Christ, and harmonize those which are written and
scattered promiscuously through the Bible, is abrogated and deemed
superfluous by modern christianity!
O thou benighted advocate of modern christianity, how long shall thy
eye be veiled in reading the New Testament, and thine heart be too
gross to perceive the beauty, and comfort, and power of that blessed
Spirit that gave life and salvation to ancient christianity? Hast thou
lost all admiration for the Spirit's miraculous gifts, power, and
blessing? settled down under reconciliation to a load of doubts and
fears, hoping that death will remove thy tormenting burden? Vain hope!
No longer then do despite to that Eternal Spirit of revelation that
is freely promised to all that will honestly receive it. If Gentile
christians are ashamed of the Jew, because a veil was before their eyes
in reading the Old Testament, has not the Jew equal cause to be ashamed
of the Gentile, that has so soon turned away from the primitive path of
the Spirit's gifts of visions, prophecies, healings, &c., and thereby
been "cut off for not continuing in His goodness," according to the
warning threat of Jehovah against Gentiles.
Where, sir, are the splendid gifts of apostles and prophets,
evangelists, pastors and teachers, that Christ gave to men and set in
his church, forever to continue in the ministry, edifying "the BODY of
Christ till we all come to the unity of faith," and to such a knowledge
of God, and fulness of power and wisdom as dwelt even in Jesus? They
are nowhere to be found in modern christianity! Modern christianity has
the effrontery and shamelessness even to say that she does not need
them; consequently she says that she does not need "to come to unity of
faith," and to that full and potent knowledge of God that Jesus in the
flesh possessed, and had decreed that all Saints should possess and be
like their "elder brother."
Not one of these great and precious gifts are retained. The bare
name of evangelists and pastors is retained in modern christianity,
without the shadow of the power and prophetic knowledge of the Holy
Ghost, with which these officers were _obliged_ to be endued in the
primitive church. She admits, indeed, the form of the office, "denying
the power." She says, indeed, that she can come to "unity of faith,"
&c., without apostles, and without the help of the good old-fashioned
Almighty Holy Ghost.
But how long a time does she want to run for this prize of "unity
of faith, &c.?" She has been running for the stakes nearly EIGHTEEN
HUNDRED YEARS, and is further from the goal than when we started. When
she started, "false apostles and deceitful workers" were her champions.
In order to win the prize, these shed the blood of true apostles, and
the blood of saints was found in their garments. And when her followers
found that she had only the form or name of apostles and prophets
without the power, she said, we have no further need of apostles, they
have done their work and miracles have ceased. Oh, thou blood-guilty,
"lying," Gentile christianity! thy lineage takes hold of the mother of
abominations, clothed in scarlet! How great will be the severity of
God's judgments upon all that are accessory to modern christianity,
except they repent and obey the gospel!
She has also changed the ordinances. Where is now the ordinance of
anointing with oil? Where the ordinance of imposition of hands? The
healing of the sick is given up to medical men, whose reliance is on
anything but the _power_ and established ordinance of God. Is it not
written for the benefit of the sick, that they should call for the
_elders_ of the church, whose duty it is to "anoint the sick with oil
and lay on hands and they _shall recover_?" Now the consequence of
changing this _one ordinance_ of the Bible to the medical nostrums of
men, is the literal death of thousands, who change the ordinance and
contribute to make this whole earth the _burying ground_ of nations.
Sir, may I not significantly ask, will the priests of the day return
unto the Lord and teach his "law and his testimony," or will they with
hearts of stone see the inhabitants of the earth perish under the curse
of "trusting in _medical_ man and making flesh an arm?"
The prophet Isaiah says, the consequence of changing the ordinances
is, to make the earth empty and desolate! But this is not the only
ordinance that is changed. By laying on hands for the gift of the Holy
Spirit, the authority to prophecy, speak with new tongues, and cast out
devils, is conferred. Now, unless boasting christianity has secured
peace and fellowship with the devil, it is of much importance to know
how to cast him out. Unless they have wisdom and power, and the spirit
of prophecy, to supersede the need of the Holy Spirit, it is very
essential to observe the ordinances by which, alone, it is conferred.
But it is certain, that if the Holy Spirit, in all its supernatural
office-work of miraculous omnipotence and wisdom, does not come and
reign on the earth, then the kingdom of God will never come on the
earth as it exists in heaven. But the scriptures assure us that
the kingdom of God will break in pieces all other kingdoms, and be
established on earth, even as it is in heaven, and the palace of God
(tabernacle) be in the midst of the human family.
The Holy Ghost is the grand agent by which the different orders of
priesthood, have all their authority, wisdom, and power, to teach and
administer the laws and ordinances of heaven to men on earth. The
"MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD" flows through these orders of priesthood from
heaven to earth. But modern christianity has abolished these orders of
priesthood, as no longer necessary; consequently, the communications
from heaven to earth have been stopped for nearly _eighteen hundred
years_; and from _this cause_, our race has witnessed the most
appalling picture of the progress of crime and wretchedness, that
has ever pervaded the earth since the dawn of creation. No man has
sufficient knowledge of figures to enumerate THE MILLIONS that have
been slain in war, since the Gentiles were cut off for unbelief. The
pestilence has never slumbered since man rejected the healing ordinance
of God, for the aid of physicians that are of no value. Famine has
locked hands with pestilence, causing _rot_, and _blast_, and _mildew_
to lead many to fear that God had repented himself of the "promised
seed time and harvest."
The social virtues that ought to be and ever would be, under the
reign of God, like salubrious breezes of heaven, have become like the
antagonistic and forked teeth of a _picking cylinder_, that turned
ever so much, will still be _picking_ either in the offensive or
defensive. The number of the oppressed is becoming so fearfully great
and vast, that the captors know not where to find either room or
keepers for their prisoners. The yoke of intolerance must have fresh
iron fastenings of unheard of tenacity and rigour. The oppressor feels
the danger of an awful outbreak from desperation that can be smothered
no longer. The elements of revolution and self-destruction, are sown
deep in every government, and in every religious and social system that
has not for its basis _truth, immediately and continually revealed from
heaven_!
Now, all this direful state of things is because that men have
"forsaken God, the fountain of living waters, and hewn them out
cisterns that can hold no water." "From the crown of the head to
the soles of the feet," modern christianity, whether Protestant or
Catholic, "is full of wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores."
The prophets and apostles foresaw the Gentile apostacy that would
spread over the earth, under the plausible name of christianity,
obliterating the knowledge of God, and "denying the power of God, and
changing his laws and ordinances," till "gross darkness should cover
the people." They saw the "mystery of iniquity" working, and boldly
foretold the "_falling away_"--the exaltation of the man of sin,--the
removal of the priesthood and light of truth from the seven churches
of Asia,--the refusal to "teach all things that Jesus commanded,"--the
irresistible fact, that men would not "_endure sound doctrines_," but
would multiply discrepant teachers to suit "_itching ears_,"--the
introduction of "_damnable heresies_," and the "_doctrines of devils_,"
and the church becoming like a blood-guilty "_harlot_," that had
exterminated the whole order of apostles, and prophets, and spiritual
gifts, and even denied the need of any such order of gifts and ministry
as existed in the primitive church!
The first doctrine of the devil in the garden was that it was not
necessary to obey God concerning a particular tree of the garden;
and the same doctrine of _devils_ has, _by inches and by piece-meal_
removed and broken every command of Christ, and put bishops and doctors
in the seats of apostles and prophets, and the ordinance of sprinkling
infants, in place of baptism; virtually saying, "that God doth know,"
that without the aid of apostles and the gift of the Spirit by laying
on of hands, you can know truth _enough_; and without baptism "_for
remission of sins_," you can be forgiven through prayer at the altar.
Permit me, sir, in the conclusion to remind you of the reproof given
by an inspired wise man. "_Say not thou what is the cause that the
former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely
concerning this_." The true and only rational revealed cause why
modern christianity is so weak, contentious, discrepant, and so
unlike the majestic, almighty christianity of apostolic days, is,
because _apostate uninspired men_ "HAVE TRANSGRESSED the LAWS, CHANGED
the ORDINANCES, and BROKEN the EVERLASTING COVENANT." Therefore,
_the "earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof."_ "Gentile"
christianity will yet be compelled to come from the "_ends of the earth
and say, surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things
wherein there is no profit_."
_And God has said, sir, because "your_ (Gentile) _fathers have
forsaken him and have not kept his law," "therefore," says God,
"behold, I will this once cause them to know mine hand and my might,
and they shall know that my name is the Lord." The land shall be
utterly emptied and utterly spoiled; for the Lord hath spoken this
word, the earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth
and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The
earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they
have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, and broken the
everlasting covenant. Therefore, hath the curse devoured the earth, and
they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore, the inhabitants of the
earth are burned, and few men left."_
In view of these things, dear sir, my fervent prayer is, that you
and all my brethren in the sectarian ministry will, from this day
forth, stay their hand and voice from upholding modern _boasting_
christianity--that is a "stink" in the nose of Jehovah--that is
_depopulating the earth and abrogating the laws, and ordinances of
God_, and sin no more, and thereby follow the humble example of
Your obedient servant,