[Illustration.]
Christ And The Tribute-Money. "Render to Caesar the things that are
Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s." Mark 12:17.
The Author Of Liberty
[Illustration.]
Peter Delivered From Prison. "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought
thee ... out of the house of bondage." Ex. 20:2.
1. How is the bondage of Israel in Egypt described?
“And the children of Israel _sighed_ by reason of the bondage, and they
_cried_, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.” Ex.
2:23. Compare with James 5:1-4.
2. Who heard their groaning?
“_God_ heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham,
with Isaac, and with Jacob.” Verse 24.
3. What did God say to Moses?
“Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto Me:
and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.
Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest
bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt.” Ex. 3:9, 10.
4. In giving Israel His law, how did God describe Himself?
“I am the Lord thy God, which have _brought thee out of_ the land of
Egypt, out of _the house of bondage_.” Ex. 20:2.
5. What provision did God make against slavery and oppression in Israel?
“And if thy brother, an Hebrew man, or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee,
and serve thee six years; then _in the seventh year thou shall let him go
free_ from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, _thou shall
not let him go away empty_: thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy
flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy wine-press: of that wherewith
the Lord thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. And _thou
shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt_, and the
Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing today.”
Deut. 15:12-15. “_Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him_: for
ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Ex. 22:21. See 2 Cor. 1:3, 4.
6. What was one reason assigned why Israel should keep the Sabbath?
“And _remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt_, and that
the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a
stretched-out arm: _therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the
Sabbath day_.” Deut. 5:15.
NOTE.—This would suggest the idea that in their servitude and
oppression in Egypt they had had difficulty regarding the
observance of the Sabbath, which is a fact. From the accusation
brought against Moses and Aaron by Pharaoh, as recorded in Ex.
5:5,—“Ye make them _rest_ [Heb., _Shabbath_] from their
burdens,”—it is plain that the Sabbath had been denied them, that
they had been required to work on the Sabbath, and that Moses and
Aaron were teaching them to keep it. Where individual rights and
religious liberty are recognized, Sabbath observance is neither
denied nor required by civil law.
7. What proclamation was to be made throughout the land of Israel every
fifty years?
“And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and _proclaim liberty throughout
all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof_: it shall be a jubilee unto
you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall
return every man unto his family.” Lev. 25:10.
8. Because Israel failed to do this, became oppressive, and disregarded
and misused the Sabbath, what did God do?
“Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ye have not harkened unto Me, in
proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his
neighbor: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the
_sword_, to the _pestilence_, and to the _famine_; and _I will make you to
be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth_.” Jer. 34:17. See also Jer.
17:24-27; 2 Chron. 36:19-21.
9. What fault did God find with the way in which Israel came to celebrate
her fasts and seasons of worship?
“Behold; in the day of your fast ye _find pleasure_, and _exact __ all
your labors_. Behold, ye fast for _strife_ and _debate_, and to _smite
with the fist of wickedness_.” Isa. 58:3, 4.
10. What does God set forth as the acceptable fast to Him?
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to _loose the bands of
wickedness_, to _undo the heavy burdens_, and to _let the oppressed go
free_, and that ye _break every yoke_? Is it not to _deal thy bread to the
hungry_, and that thou _bring the poor that are cast out to thy house_?
when thou seest the naked, that thou _cover him_; and that thou hide not
thyself from thine own flesh?” Verses 6, 7.
NOTE.—All this shows that God loves liberty, and hates bondage and
oppression.
11. What was Christ’s mission to this world?
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach
the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me _to heal_ the broken-hearted, _to
preach deliverance_ to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind,
_to set at liberty_ them that are bruised.” Luke 4:18.
NOTE.—The Gospels show that a large part of Christ’s time even on
the Sabbath was devoted to relieving the oppressed and distressed.
12. In what condition are those who commit sin?
“Whosoever committeth sin is _the servant of sin_.” John 8:34.
13. Why was Christ’s name to be called Jesus?
“And thou shalt call His name Jesus: _for He shall save His people from
their sins_.” Matt. 1:21.
14. What lies at the root of all sin?
“When _lust_ hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin.” James 1:15. “I had
not known _lust_, except the law had said, Thou shalt not _covet_.” Rom.
7:7.
NOTE.—Lust, covetousness, and unlawful desire are only different
names for _selfishness_. Selfishness lies at the root of all sin;
and selfishness is simply the love of self to the disregard of the
equal rights of others.
15. By what scripture is the equality of rights clearly shown?
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor _as thyself_.” Lev. 19:18.
16. What rule of conduct has Christ laid down in harmony with this
command?
“Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
Matt. 7:12.
NOTE.—Selfishness, then, must be uprooted from men’s hearts before
they will recognize the equal rights of their fellow men.
17. Who alone can cleanse men’s hearts from selfishness?
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. See
also 1 John 1:9.
18. Who alone, then, can give men real freedom?
“If _the Son_ therefore shall make you free, ye shall be _free indeed_.”
John 8:36.
19. What was Christ’s attitude toward unbelievers?
“If any man hear My words, and believe not, _I judge him not_: for I came
not to _judge_ the world, but to _save_ the world.” John 12:47.
20. What spirit did Christ say should control His disciples?
“But Jesus called them to Him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they
which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise _lordship_ over
them; and their great ones exercise _authority_ upon them. But _so shall
it not be among you_: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your
_minister_: and whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be _servant
of all_. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45.
21. What is present where the Spirit of the Lord is?
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there
is _liberty_.” 2 Cor. 3:17.
22. What kind of worship only is acceptable to God?
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship
the Father _in spirit and in truth_: for the Father seeketh such to
worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him
in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23, 24.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Freedom and reason make brave men;
Take these away, what are they then?—
Mere groveling brutes, and just as well
The beasts may think of heaven or hell.
Know, then, that every soul is free
To choose his life, and what he’ll be;
For this eternal truth is given:
That God will force no man to heaven.
He’ll call, persuade, direct him right,
Bless him with wisdom, love, and light,
In nameless ways be good and kind,
But never force the human mind.
The Powers That Be
[Illustration.]
Worship Interfered With By The State. Christians surprised by troops while
worshiping in a cavern.
1. Who should be subject to civil government?
“Let _every soul_ be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power
but of God.” Rom. 13:1.
2. By whom are the powers that be ordained?
“The powers that be are ordained of _God_.” Same verse.
3. What does one resist, who resists civil authority?
“Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth _the ordinance of
God_: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” Verse
2.
NOTE.—“That is, they who rise up against _government itself_, who
seek anarchy and confusion, who oppose the regular execution of
the laws. It is implied, however, that those laws shall not be
such as violate the rights of conscience or oppose the law of
God.”—_Dr. Albert Barnes, on Rom. 13:2._
4. What do the Scriptures indicate as the proper sphere and legitimate
work of civil authority?
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the _evil_.... If thou
do that which is _evil_, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain:
for he is the minister of God, _a revenger to execute wrath upon him that
doeth evil_.” Verses 3, 4.
5. For whom is law made?
“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but _for the
lawless and disobedient_.” 1 Tim. 1:9.
6. How are Christians admonished to respect civil authority?
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey
magistrates, to be ready to every good work.” Titus 3:1. “Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to
the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him
for the punishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do
well.... Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” 1
Peter 2: 13-17. “For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s
ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to
all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom;
fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” Rom. 13:6, 7.
7. In what words does Christ show that there is another realm outside of
Cæsar’s, or civil government?
“Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s; _and unto God
the things that are God’s_.” Matt. 22:21.
8. To whom alone did He say worship is to be rendered?
“Thou shalt worship _the Lord thy God_, and _Him only shalt thou serve_.”
Matt. 4:10.
9. What decree did King Nebuchadnezzar once make respecting worship?
“To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, that at what
time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery,
dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye _fall down and worship the golden
image_ that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up. And whoso falleth not
down and worshipeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.” Dan. 3:4-6.
NOTE.—This decree was in direct conflict with the second
commandment of God’s law, which forbids making, bowing down to,
and serving images. It was religious, idolatrous, and persecuting
in character.
10. What answer did the three Hebrew captives, Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego, return when asked by the king why they had not fallen down and
worshiped the golden image, as he had commanded?
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O
Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be
so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be
it known unto thee, O king, that _we will not serve thy gods, nor worship
the golden image which thou hast set up_.” Verses 16-18.
11. What did Nebuchadnezzar then do?
“Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was
changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: ... and he commanded the
most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abed-nego, and to _cast them into the burning fiery furnace_.” Verses 19,
20.
12. After their miraculous deliverance, what did Nebuchadnezzar say?
“Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered His
servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king’s word, and
yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god,
except their own God.” Verse 28.
NOTE.—By preserving these men in the fire, and thus changing the
king’s word, God was demonstrating before all the world, through
this greatest of then-existing earthly kingdoms, that with the
question of religion civil governments can of right have nothing
whatsoever to do; that religion is a realm outside the legitimate
sphere of civil authority; and that every individual should be
left free to worship, or not to worship, according to the dictates
of his own conscience. The lesson to be learned from this is that,
although ordained of God, civil governments are not ordained to
direct or oppress men in religious matters.
13. How only did the envious princes and rulers under King Darius conclude
that they could effect the downfall of Daniel?
“Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel,
except we find it against him _concerning the law of his God_.” Dan. 6:5.
14. To this end, what decree did they prevail upon the king to make and
sign?
“That whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days,
_save of thee, O king_, he shall be cast into the den of lions.” Verse 7.
NOTE.—Unlike the decree of Nebuchadnezzar, this decree forbade the
worship of the true God, and was therefore in direct conflict with
the first commandment, which forbids the worship of any other than
the true God. Like it, however, it was religious and persecuting
in character.
15. How did Daniel regard this decree?
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house;
and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, _he kneeled
upon his knees three times a day, __ and prayed, and gave thanks before
his God, as he did aforetime_.” Verse 10.
[Illustration.]
Daniel Praying In Babylon. "When Daniel knew that the writing was signed,
... he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, ... as he did
aforetime." Dan. 6:10.
16. What was finally done with Daniel?
“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and _cast him into the
den of lions_.” Verse 16.
17. What did Darius say to Daniel the next morning when he came to the
lions’ den?
“The king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God,
is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the
lions?” Verse 20.
18. What was Daniel’s reply?
“Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever. My God hath sent
His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me:
forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O
king, have I done no hurt.” Verses 21, 22.
NOTE.—Here again was demonstrated by a most remarkable miracle,
wrought in the face of the greatest nation then in existence, that
with the directing, prescribing, proscribing, or interfering with
religion or its free exercise, civil governments can of right have
nothing whatever to do; that religion is an individual matter, and
should be left to the dictates of each one’s own conscience.
19. Before leaving His disciples, what command did Christ give them?
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark
16:15.
20. What counter-command did the Jewish Sanhedrin soon afterward give
them?
“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in
the name of Jesus.” Acts 4:18.
21. What reply did Peter and John make?
“But Peter and John answered and said unto them, _Whether it be right in
the sight of God to harken unto you more than unto God, judge ye_. For we
cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Verses 19, 20.
22. For continuing to preach Jesus, what did the Jewish rulers do to the
apostles?
“Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is
the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation, and _laid
their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison_.” Acts
5:17, 18.
23. What did an angel of God then do?
“But the angel of the Lord by night _opened the prison doors, and brought
them forth_, and said, _Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people
all the words of this life_.” Verses 19, 20.
NOTE.—Here once again is demonstrated the fact that men have no
right to interfere with the free exercise of religion, and that
when the laws of men conflict with the law and Word of God, we are
to obey the latter, whatever the consequences may be. God Himself
has set the seal of His approval to such a course. John Bunyan was
imprisoned for twelve years for daring to preach the gospel
contrary to law.
24. Upon the apostles being called before the council again, what question
did the high priest ask them?
“_Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?_
and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to
bring this man’s blood upon us.” Verse 28.
25. What reply did the apostles make?
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, _We ought to obey
God rather than men_.” Verse 29.
NOTE.—“Obedience is to be rendered to all human governments, in
subordination to the will of God. These governments are a
recognized necessity, in the nature of the case, and their
existence is manifestly in accordance with the divine will. Hence
the presumption is always in favor of the authority of civil law,
and any refusal to obey must be based on the moral proof that
obedience will be sin.... It is still true that obedience to human
law often involves sin against God and man. There are cases so
clear that no one can question the duty to refuse obedience. In
all times and in all lands such cases have arisen.” “It is too
obvious to need discussion, that the law of God, the great
principle of benevolence, is supreme, and that ’we ought to obey
God rather than men’ in any case of conflict between human law and
the divine.”—_“__Moral Philosophy,__”__ by James H. Fairchild,
pages 178-181._
26. Who is higher than the “higher powers”?
“If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of
judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for _He that
is higher than the highest_ regardeth; and _there be higher than they_.”
Eccl. 5:8.
NOTE.—In attempting to defend the right of civil government to
enforce religious observances by law, some still ask, “Shall we
not obey the powers that be?” We answer, “Yes, when they are in
harmony with the higher powers that be. God made His law for all
the universe. He created man; He gives the bounteous provisions of
nature, and holds our breath and life in His hand. He is to be
recognized, His law honored, before all the great men and the
highest earthly powers.”
27. Because Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman in accordance with the
command of King Ahasuerus (Esther 3:1-6), what decree did Haman succeed in
having the king issue and send to every province throughout the Persian
Empire?
“And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, _to
destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old,
little children and women, in one day_, even upon the thirteenth day of
the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them
for a prey. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every
province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against
that day.” Esther 3:13, 14.
NOTES.—By an overruling of Providence the carrying out of this
terrible decree was averted, and Haman was hanged on the very
gallows which he had erected for the execution of Mordecai. See
Esther 7:9, 10.
God has placed the sword (civil authority) in the hands of Cæsar
(civil government) for the punishment of evil-doers; but when the
sword is raised to slay the _innocent_, as in the case of the
children of Bethlehem (Matt. 2:16); or to _enforce idolatrous
worship_, as in the case of the three Hebrews (Daniel 3); or to
_prohibit the worship of the true God_, as in the case of Daniel
(Daniel 6); or to slay _all of God’s people_, as in the time of
Esther; or to _enforce the observance of a false sabbath_, as in
the case of all Sunday laws, it is an _abuse_ of civil authority,
and not a proper or justifiable use of it; and God honors those
who, under such circumstances, in the face of persecution,
oppression, and death, remain loyal and true to Him.
“Government is never the gainer in the execution of a law that is
manifestly unjust.... Conscientious men are not the enemies, but
the friends, of any government but a tyranny. They are its
strength, and not its weakness. Daniel, in Babylon, praying
contrary to the law, was the true friend and supporter of the
government; while those who, in their pretended zeal for the law
and the constitution, would strike down the good man, were its
real enemies. It is only when government transcends its sphere
that it comes in conflict with the consciences of men.
“But it is objected that the example is corrupting,—that a bad man
will violate a good law, because the good man refuses to obey a
wicked law. The cases are just as unlike as right and wrong, and
any attempt to justify the one by the other is gross dishonesty.
Unquestionably, the principle can be abused by the wicked, and so
can any truth whatever; but the principle of unquestioning
obedience to human law is false, and needs no perversion to make
it mischievous....
“It should always be remembered that the great end of government
is human well-being, that law and authority are nothing in
themselves, and that all their sacredness arises from the uses
which they serve. The machinery of government is valuable only for
the work it does; in itself, it has no value.... The most grievous
of all imperfections in government is the failure to secure the
just and good result.... Injustice and oppression are not made
tolerable by being in strict accordance with the law. Nothing is
surer, in the end, than the reaction of such wrong to break down
the most perfectly constituted government.”—_“__Moral
Philosophy,__”__ by James H. Fairchild, pages 184-186._
God is above all earthly rulers, and His law above all human laws.
He made us, and we therefore owe allegiance to Him before any
earthly power, potentate, or tribunal. And this is saying nothing
in disparagement of civil authority exercised in its rightful
domain—civil things.
Individual Accountability
[Illustration.]
Esther At The Banquet. "We are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to
be slain, and to perish." Esther 7:4.
1. What is religion?
“The recognition of God as an object of worship, love, and
obedience.”—_Webster._ Other definitions equally good are: “The duty which
we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it.” “Man’s personal
relation of faith and obedience to God.”
2. In religious things, whom alone did Christ say we should recognize as
Father?
“And call no man your father upon the earth: _for one is your Father,
which is in heaven_.” Matt. 23:9.
3. When tempted to fall down and worship Satan, what Scripture command did
Christ cite in justification of His refusal to do this?
“Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written,
_Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve_.”
Matt. 4:10. See Deut. 6:13; 10:20.
4. To whom alone, then, is each one accountable in religious things?
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself _to God_.” Rom.
14:12.
NOTE.—With this agree the words of Washington: “Every man who
conducts himself as a good citizen, is accountable alone to God
for his religious faith, and should be protected in worshiping God
according to the dictates of his own conscience.”—_Reply to
Virginia Baptists, in 1789._
5. What do those do, therefore, who make men accountable to them in
religious affairs?
They put themselves in the place of God. See 2 Thess. 2:3, 4.
6. Why, in religious matters, did Christ say men should not be called
masters?
“Neither be ye called masters: _for one is your Master, even Christ_.”
Matt. 23:10.
NOTE.—Every one, therefore, who acts as master in Christ’s church,
or lords it over God’s heritage (1 Peter 5:3), puts himself in the
place of Christ.
7. To whom, then, as servants, are we responsible in matters of faith and
worship?
“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? _to his own master he
standeth or falleth_.” Rom. 14:4.
8. Whose servants are we not to be?
“Ye are bought with a price; _be not ye the servants of men_.” 1 Cor.
7:23.
NOTE.—“Satan’s methods ever tend to one end,—to make men the
slaves of men,” and thus separate them from God, destroy faith in
God, and so expose men to temptation and sin. Christ’s work is to
set men free, to renew faith, and to lead to willing and loyal
obedience to God. Says Luther: “It is contrary to the will of God
that man should be subject to man in that which pertains to
eternal life. Subjection in _spirituals_ is a real worship, and
should be rendered only to the Creator.”—_D’Aubigne’s __“__History
of the Reformation,__”__ edited by M. Laird Simons, book 7, chap.
11._
9. Where must all finally appear to render up their account?
“For we must all appear _before the judgment-seat of Christ_; that every
one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath
done, whether it be good or bad.” 2 Cor. 5:10.
NOTE.—Inasmuch, then, as religion is an individual matter, and
each individual must give account of himself to God, it follows
that there should be no human constraint nor compulsion in
religious affairs.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Dare to be a Daniel,
Dare to stand alone;
Dare to have a purpose firm,
Dare to make it known.
P. P. BLISS.
Union Of Church And State
[Illustration.]
Paul And Silas In Prison. "These men, being Jews, ... teach customs, which
are not lawful for us ... to observe, being Romans." Acts 16:20, 21.
1. What was already at work in the church in Paul’s day?
“For _the mystery of iniquity_ doth already work.” 2 Thess. 2:7.
2. What class of men did he say would arise in the church?
“For I know this, that after my departing shall _grievous wolves_ enter in
among you, not sparing the flock. _Also of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them._” Acts
20:29, 30.
3. Through what experience was the church to pass, and what was to develop
in the church, before Christ’s second coming?
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for _that day shall not come, except
there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed_, the son
of perdition.” 2 Thess. 2:3.
4. In what was shown the first tangible evidence of this “falling away”
from the truth of God?
The adoption of heathen rites and customs in the church.
NOTE.—“The bishops augmented the number of religious rites in the
Christian worship, by way of accommodation to the infirmities and
prejudices, both of Jews and heathen, in order to facilitate their
conversion to Christianity.... For this purpose, they gave the
name of _mysteries_ to the institutions of the gospel, and
decorated particularly the holy sacrament with that solemn title.
They used in that sacred institution, as also in that of baptism,
several of the terms employed in the heathen mysteries, and
proceeded so far, at length, as even to adopt some of the rites
and of the ceremonies of which those renowned mysteries
consisted.”—_Mosheim’s __“__Ecclesiastical History__”__
(Maclaine’s translation), cent. 2, part 2, chap. 4, pars. 2-5._
5. How early was this tendency manifested?
“This imitation began in the eastern provinces; but, after the time of
Adrian [emperor 117-138 A.D.], who first introduced the mysteries among
the Latins, it was followed by the Christians who dwelt in the western
parts of the empire.”—_Id._, par. 5.
6. What has been one great characteristic of the Papacy?
A union of church and state, or the religious power dominating the civil
power to further its ends.
7. When was the union of church and state formed from which the Papacy
grew?
During the reign of Constantine, 313-337 A.D.
8. What was the character and the work of many of the bishops at that
time?
“_Worldly-minded bishops_, instead of caring for the salvation of their
flocks, were often but too much inclined to travel about, and _entangle
themselves in worldly concerns_.”—_Neander’s __“__History of the Christian
Religion and Church__”_ (Torrey’s translation), Vol. II, page 16.
9. What did the bishops determine to do?
“This theocratical theory was already the prevailing one in the time of
Constantine; and ... the bishops voluntarily made themselves dependent on
him by their disputes, _and by their determination to make use of the
power of the state for the furtherance of their aims_.”—_Id._, page 132.
NOTE.—The “theocratical theory” was that of a government
administered by God through the church, particularly through the
church bishops.
10. What was the date of Constantine’s famous Sunday law?
A.D. 321.
11. When and by whom was the Council of Nice convened?
By the emperor Constantine, 325 A.D.
12. Under what authority were its decrees published?
“The decrees ... were published under the _imperial authority_, and thus
obtained a political importance.”—_Id._, page 133.
13. What was one principal object in calling this council?
“The question relating to _the observance of Easter_, which was agitated
in the time of Anicetus and Polycarp, and afterward in that of Victor, was
still undecided. It was one of the principal reasons for convoking the
Council of Nice, being the most important subject to be considered after
the Arian controversy.”
“It appears that the churches of Syria and Mesopotamia continued to follow
the custom of the Jews, and celebrated Easter on _the fourteenth day of
the moon_, whether falling on Sunday or not. All the other churches
observed that solemnity _on Sunday only_, namely; those of Rome, Italy,
Africa, Lydia, Egypt, Spain, Gaul, and Britain; and all Greece, Asia, and
Pontus.”—_Boyle’s __“__Historical View of the Council of Nice,__”_ page
23, edition 1836.
14. How was the matter finally decided?
“_Easter day was fixed on the Sunday_ immediately following the full moon
which was nearest after the vernal equinox.”—_Id._, page 24.
15. What was decreed by the Council of Laodicea, A.D. 364?
That Christians should keep the Sunday, and that if they persisted in
resting on the Sabbath, “they shall be shut out from Christ.” See Hefele’s
“History of the Councils of the Church,” Vol. II, page 316.
16. What imperial law was issued in A.D. 386?
“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by Constantine
were more vigorously enforced; and, in general, civil transactions of
every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—_Neander’s __“__Church
History,__”_ Vol. II, page 300.
17. What petition was made to the emperor by a church convention of
bishops in A.D. 401?
“That the public shows might be transferred from the Christian Sunday and
from the feast-days to some other days of the week.”—_Ib._
NOTE.—The desired law was secured in 425 A.D. See pages 444, 489.
18. What was the object of the church bishops in securing these Sunday
laws?
“That the day might be devoted with less interruption to the purposes of
devotion.” “That the devotion of the faithful might be free from all
disturbance.”—_Id._, pages 297, 301.
19. How was the “devotion” of the “faithful” disturbed?
“Church teachers ... were, in truth, often forced to complain that _in
such competitions the theater was vastly more frequented than the
church_.”—_Id._, page 300.
20. What does Neander say of the securing of these laws?
“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance
of her ends.”—_Id._, page 301.
NOTE.—In this way, more perhaps than in any other, church and
state were united. In this way the church gained control of the
civil power, which she later used as a means of carrying on most
bitter and extensive persecutions. In this way she denied Christ
and the power of godliness.
21. When the church had received help from the state to this extent, what
more did she demand?
That the civil power should be exerted to compel men to serve God as the
church should dictate.
22. What did Augustine, the father of this theocratical or
church-and-state theory, teach concerning it?
“Who doubts but what it is better to be led to God by instruction than by
fear of punishment or affliction? But because the former, who will be
guided only by instruction, are better, the others are still not to be
neglected.... Many, like bad servants, must often be reclaimed to their
Master by the rod of temporal suffering, ere they can attain to this
highest stage of religious development.”—_Id._, pages 214, 215.
23. What is Neander’s conclusion regarding this theory?
“It was by Augustine, then, that a theory was proposed and founded, which,
tempered though it was, in its practical application, by his own pious,
philanthropic spirit, nevertheless contained the germ of that whole system
of spiritual despotism, of intolerance and persecution, which ended in the
tribunals of the Inquisition.” “He did not give precedence to the
question, What is _right_? over the question, What is _expedient_? But a
theory which overlooks these distinctions leaves room for any despotism
which would make holy ends a pretext for the use of unholy means.”—_Id._,
pages 217, 249, 250.
NOTE.—It was thus that the union of church and state was formed,
out of which was developed “the beast,” or Papacy, of the
Apocalypse, which made “war with the saints” and overcame them. A
like course cannot fail to produce like results today. Dr. Philip
Schaff, in his work on “Church and State,” page 11, well says:
“Secular power has proved a satanic gift to the church, and
ecclesiastical power has proved an engine of tyranny in the hands
of the state.”
Sabbath Legislation
[Illustration.]
Christ Reproving The Pharisees. "For the Son of man is Lord even of the
Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8.
1. Who made the Sabbath?
“In six days _the Lord_ made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in
them is, and _rested the seventh day_; wherefore _the Lord blessed the
Sabbath day, and hallowed it_.” Ex. 20:11.
2. To whom does the Sabbath belong?
“The seventh day is the Sabbath of _the Lord thy God_.” Verse 10.
3. To whom, then, should its observance be rendered?
“Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and _to God the things that
are God’s_.” Mark 12:17.
NOTE.—When men make Sabbath laws, therefore, they require Sabbath
observance to be rendered to the _government_, or, presumably, by
indirection, to God _through the government_, which amounts to the
same thing.
4. In religious things, to whom alone are we accountable?
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself _to God_.” Rom.
14:12.
NOTE.—But when men make compulsory Sabbath laws, they make men
accountable to the _government_ for Sabbath observance.
5. How does God command us to keep the Sabbath day?
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it _holy_.” Ex. 20:8.
6. What does He indicate as one of its purposes?
“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest,
_an holy convocation_; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of
the Lord in all your dwellings.” Lev. 23:3.
7. Seeing, then, that the Sabbath is _holy_, is to be _kept holy_, and is
a day for _holy convocations_, what must be its character?
It must be _religious_.
8. What, then, must be the nature of all Sabbath legislation?
It is _religious legislation_.
9. When the state enacts religious laws, what is effected?
A union of church and state.
10. What has always been the result of religious legislation, or a union
of church and state?
Religious intolerance and persecution.
11. What was Constantine’s Sunday law of March 7, 321?
“Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest
on the venerable day of the sun; but let those who are situated in the
country, freely and at full liberty, attend to the business of
agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for
sowing corn and planting vines; lest the critical moment being let slip,
men should lose the commodities granted by heaven.”—_Corpus Juris Civilis
Cod., lib. 3, tit. 12, 3._
12. What further imperial legislation in behalf of Sunday observance was
issued in 386?
“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by the emperor
Constantine were more rigorously enforced, and, in general, civil
transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—_Neander’s
__“__Church History,__”_ Vol. II, page 300, edition 1852.
13. At the instance of church bishops, what still further law was secured
under Theodosius the Younger, in 425?
“In the year 425, the exhibition of spectacles on Sunday and on the
principal feast-days of the Christians was forbidden, in order that the
devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—_Id._, pages
300, 301.
14. What does the historian say of this legislation?
“_In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance
of her ends_.... But had it not been for that confusion of spiritual and
secular interests, had it not been for the vast number of mere _outward
conversions_ thus brought about, she would have needed no such
help.”—_Id._, page 301.
15. What did Charlemagne’s Sunday law of 800 require?
“We decree ... that servile works should not be done on the Lord’s day,
... that is, that neither should men do field work, either in cultivating
the vineyards or by plowing in the fields, by cutting or drying hay, or by
placing a fence, or by making clearings in the woods or felling trees or
working on stones or constructing houses or working in the garden; neither
should they come together to decide public matters nor be engaged in the
hunt.... Women may not do any textile work nor cut out clothes nor sew nor
make garments.... But let them come together from all sides to church to
the solemnities of the mass, and let them praise God for all things which
he does for us on that day.”—_“__Historical Chronicles of Germany,__”_
Sec. 2, Vol. I, 22 General admonition, 789, M. Martio 23, page 61, par.
81.
16. How does the Sunday law of Charles II, of 1676, read?
“For the better observation and keeping holy the Lord’s day, commonly
called Sunday: be it enacted ... that all the laws enacted and in force
concerning the observation of the day, and repairing to the church
thereon, be carefully put in execution; and that all and every person and
persons whatsoever shall on every Lord’s day apply themselves to the
observation of the same, by exercising themselves thereon in the duties of
piety and true religion, publicly and privately.”—_“__Revised Statutes of
England From 1235-1685 __A.D.__”__ (London, 1870), pages 779, 780; cited
in __“__A Critical History of Sunday Legislation,__”_ by A. H. Lewis, D.
D., pages 108, 109.
17. What did the first Sunday law enacted in America, that of Virginia, in
1610, require?
“_Every man and woman shall repair in the morning to the divine service
and sermons preached upon the Sabbath day, and in the afternoon to divine
service, and catechizing_, upon pain for the first fault to _lose their
provision and the allowance for the whole week following_; for the second,
to _lose the said allowance and also be whipped_; and for the third to
_suffer death_.”—_Articles, Laws, and Orders, Divine, Politique, and
Martial, for the Colony in Virginia: first established by Sir Thomas
Gates, Knight, Lieutenant-General, the 24th of May, 1610._
NOTES.—These are the original Sunday laws, after which all the
Sunday laws of Europe and America have been modeled. Church
attendance is not generally required by the Sunday laws of the
present day, nor was it required, in terms, by the earliest Sunday
laws; but that is and ever has been the chief object of all Sunday
legislation from Constantine’s time on, and it is as much out of
place today as it ever was.
Who Persecute And Why
[Illustration.]
The Stoning Of Stephen. "Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you
will think that he doeth God service." John 16:2.
1. Because Jesus had not kept the Sabbath according to their ideas, what
did the Jews do?
“_Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him_, because
He had done these things on the Sabbath day.” John 5:16.
2. What kind of fast is most acceptable to God?
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? _to loose the bands of
wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free,
and that ye break every yoke?_” Isa. 58:6.
NOTE.—This is what Jesus did. He, the Author and Lord of the
Sabbath, in addition to attending and taking part in religious
services (Luke 4:16), went about doing good, healing the sick,
relieving the oppressed, and restoring the impotent, lame, and
blind, on the Sabbath day. But this, while in perfect accord with
the law of God, the great law of love, was contrary to the
traditions and perverted ideas of the Jews respecting the Sabbath.
Hence they persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him.
3. Why did Cain kill Abel?
“For this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning, that we
should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew
his brother. And wherefore slew he him? _Because his own works were evil,
and his brother’s righteous._” 1 John 3:11, 12.
NOTE.—The following comment upon this passage by M. de Chesnais, a
Catholic priest of New Zealand, is well put: “If you would read
the Word of God, you would find that from the beginning all good
people were persecuted because they were good. Abel was slain by
his brother because he was good, and Cain could not endure the
sight of him.”—_Kaikoura (New Zealand) Star, April 10, 1884._
[Illustration.]
The Fiery Furnace. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace." Dan. 3:17.
4. Commenting upon the treatment of Isaac, the son of Sarah, by Ishmael,
the son of the bondwoman, what principle does the apostle Paul lay down?
“But as then, _he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was
born after the Spirit_, even so it is now.” Gal. 4:29.
5. What other instances of persecution mentioned in the Bible, demonstrate
the correctness of this principle?
_a._ Esau, who sold his birthright, persecuted Jacob, who vowed his
loyalty to God. Gen. 25:29-34; 27:41; 32:6.
_b._ The wayward and envious sons of Jacob persecuted Joseph, who feared
God. Genesis 37; Acts 7:9.
_c._ The idolatrous Egyptians persecuted the Hebrews, who worshiped the
true God. Exodus 1 and 5.
_d._ The Hebrew who did his neighbor wrong thrust Moses, as mediator,
aside. Ex. 2:13, 14; Acts 7:26, 27.
_e._ Saul, who disobeyed God, persecuted David, who feared God. 1 Samuel
15, 19, 24.
_f._ Israel, in their apostasy, persecuted Elijah and Jeremiah, who were
prophets of God. 1 Kings 19:9, 10; Jer. 36:20-23; 38:1-6.
_g._ Nebuchadnezzar, while an idolater, persecuted the three Hebrew
captives for refusing to worship idols. Daniel 3.
_h._ The envious and idolatrous princes under Darius, persecuted Daniel
for daring to pray to the God of heaven. Daniel 6.
_i._ The murderers of Christ persecuted the apostles for preaching Christ.
Acts 4 and 5.
_j._ Paul, before his conversion, persecuted the church of God. Acts 8:1;
9:1, 2; 22:4, 5, 20; 26:9-11; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:12, 13.
NOTE.—The history of all the religious persecutions since Bible
times is but a repetition of this same story,—the wicked persecute
the righteous. And thus it will continue to be until the conflict
between good and evil is ended.
6. Who does Paul say shall suffer persecution?
“Yea, and _all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution_.” 2 Tim. 3:12.
7. What is essential to extensive religious persecution?
Ecclesiastical control of the civil power, or a union of church and state.
8. Since persecution is invariably wrong, and the persecutor is generally
in the wrong on religious subjects, what must be true of persecuting
governments?
They likewise must be in the wrong.
NOTES.—“There are many who do not seem to be sensible that all
violence in religion is irreligious, and that, whoever is wrong,
the persecutor cannot be right.”—_Thomas Clarke._
“Have not almost all the governments in the world always been in
the wrong on religious subjects?”—_Macaulay._
“Do not the Scriptures clearly show that they who persecute are
generally in the wrong, and they who suffer persecution in the
right,—that the majority has always been on the side of falsehood,
and the minority only on the side of truth?”—_Luther._
“Religion was intended to bring peace on earth and good will
towards men, and whatever tends to hatred and persecution, however
correct in the letter, must be utterly wrong in the
spirit.”—_Henry Varnum._
God never forces the will or the conscience; but, in order to
bring men under sin, Satan resorts to force. To accomplish his
purpose, he works through religious and secular rulers,
influencing them to enact and enforce human laws in defiance of
the law of God.
9. Under what terrible deception did Christ say men would persecute His
followers?
“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They
shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that _whosoever
killeth you will think that he doeth God service_.” John 16:1, 2.
10. Who is the original murderer?
“Ye are of your father _the devil_, and the lusts of your father ye will
do. _He was a murderer from the beginning_, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of
his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44.
11. When James and John wished to call down fire from heaven to consume
the Samaritans who did not receive Christ, what did Christ say to them?
“He turned, and rebuked them, and said, _Ye know not what manner of spirit
ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to
save them_.” Luke 9:55, 56.
NOTES.—Some of the reasons given in justification of persecution
may be noted in the following quotations:—
“The state cannot afford to permit religious liberty. We hear a
great deal about religious tolerance, but we are only tolerant in
so far as we are not interested. A person may be tolerant toward a
religion if he is not religious.... Intolerance means fervor and
zeal. The best the state can do is to establish a limited
religious liberty; but beyond a certain degree of tolerance the
state cannot afford to admit the doctrine.”—_Monsignor Russell
(Catholic), quoted in Washington Post, May 5, 1910._
“The church has persecuted. Only a tyro in church history will
deny that.... We have always defended the persecution of the
Huguenots, and the Spanish Inquisition. When she thinks it good to
use physical force, she will use it.... But will the Catholic
Church give bond that she will not persecute at all? Will she
guarantee absolute freedom and equality of all churches and all
faiths? The Catholic Church gives no bonds for her good
behavior.”—_Editorial in Western Watchman (Catholic), of St.
Louis, Mo., Dec. 24, 1908._
“The Inquisition was a very merciful tribunal; I repeat it, almost
a compassionate tribunal.... A man was only allowed to be racked
once, which no one can deny was a most wonderful leniency in those
times.”—_Catholic Mirror, official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, Aug.
29, 1896._
“We confess that the Roman Catholic Church is intolerant; that is
to say, that it uses all the means in its power for the
extirpation of error and sin; but this intolerance is the logical
and necessary consequence of her infallibility. _She alone has the
right to be intolerant, because she alone has the truth._ The
church tolerates heretics where she is obliged to do so, but she
hates them mortally, and employs all her force to secure their
annihilation.”—_Shepherd of the Valley (St. Louis, Mo.), 1876._
This erroneous position has been well refuted by Lord Macaulay in
the following words: “The doctrine which, from the very first
origin of religious dissensions, has been held by all bigots of
all sects, when condensed into few words and stripped of
rhetorical disguise, is simply this: I am in the right, and you
are in the wrong. When you are the stronger, you ought to tolerate
me; for it is your duty to tolerate truth. But when I am the
stronger, I shall persecute you; for it is my duty to persecute
error.”—_Essay on __“__Sir James Mackintosh.__”_
Benjamin Franklin well said: “When religion is good it will take
care of itself; when it is not able to take care of itself, and
God does not see fit to take care of it, so that it has to appeal
to the civil power for support, it is evidence to my mind that its
cause is a bad one.”—_Letter to Dr. Price._
John Wesley gave the following Christian advice: “Condemn no man
for not thinking as you think. Let every one enjoy the full and
free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own
judgment, since every man must give an account of himself to God.
Abhor every approach, in any kind or degree, to the spirit of
persecution. If you cannot reason nor persuade a man into the
truth, never attempt to force a man into it. If love will not
compel him to come, leave him to God, the Judge of all.”
12. What does Christ say of those who are persecuted for righteousness’
sake?
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and
persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for
My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in
heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matt.
5:10-12. See Rev. 2:10; 6:9-11.
“In the furnace God may prove thee,
Thence to bring thee forth more bright;
But He can never cease to love thee;
Thou art precious in His sight:
God is with thee,—
God, thine everlasting light.”
13. What divine precepts received and obeyed would do way with all
oppression and persecution?
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matt. 22:39. “All things
whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”
Matt. 7:12.
14. What does love not do?
“_Love worketh no ill to his neighbor_: therefore love is the fulfilling
of the law.” Rom. 13:10.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
The Bigot’s Creed
Believe as I believe—no more, no less;
That I am right, and no one else, confess;
Feel as I feel, think only as I think;
Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;
Look as I look, do always as I do;
And, only then, I’ll fellowship with you.
That I am right, and always right, I know,
Because my own convictions tell me so;
And to be right is simply this: to be
Entirely and in all respects like me.
To deviate a jot, or to begin
To question, doubt, or hesitate, is sin.
Let sink the drowning man, if he’ll not swim
Upon the plank that I throw out to him;
Let starve the famishing, if he’ll not eat
My kind and quantity of bread and meat;
Let freeze the naked, too, if he’ll not be
Supplied with garments such as made for me.
’Twere better that the sick should die than live,
Unless they take the medicine I give;
’Twere better sinners perish than refuse
To be conformed to my peculiar views;
’Twere better that the world stood still than move
In any way that I do not approve.