THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
"Seek first the Kingdom of God."
This was the command of the Savior, while on the earth, teaching the
children of men.
Having taken a general view of the prophecies, past and future, we
shall now proceed to fulfil this command, and search out the kingdom
of God. But, before we advance, I would again caution the reader not
to accompany me in this research, unless he is prepared to sacrifice
everything, even to his good name, and life itself, if necessary, for
the truth; for if he should once get a view of the kingdom of God, he
will be so delighted that he never will rest satisfied short of
becoming a subject of the same. And yet it will be so unlike every
other system of religion now on earth, that he will be astonished that
any person, with the Bible in his hand, should ever have mistaken any
of the systems of men for the kingdom of God. There are certain
powers, privileges, and blessings, pertaining to the kingdom of God,
which are found in no other kingdom, nor enjoyed by any other people.
By these it was over distinguished from all other kingdoms and
systems, insomuch that the inquiring mind, seeking the kingdom of God,
and being once acquainted with these peculiarities concerning it, need
never mistake it, or be at a loss to know when he has found it. But,
before we proceed any further in our research, let us agree upon the
meaning of the term, the Kingdom of God, or the sense in which we will
use it; for some apply this term to the kingdom of glory above, and
some to the individual enjoyment of their own souls, while others
apply it to His organized government on the earth. Now, when We speak
of the kingdom of God, we wish it to be understood that we mean His
organized government on the earth.
Now, reader, we launch forth into the wide field before us in search
of a kingdom. But stop, let us consider--what is a kingdom? I reply,
that four things are required in order to constitute any kingdom in
heaven or on earth; namely, first, a king; secondly, commissioned
officers duly qualified to execute his ordinances and laws; thirdly, a
code of laws by which the subjects are governed; and fourthly,
subjects who are governed. Where these exist in their proper order and
regular authority, there is a kingdom, but where either of these
ceases to exist, there is a disorganization of the kingdom;
consequently an end of it, until reorganized after the same manner as
before. It this respect the kingdom of God is like all other kingdoms;
wherever we find officers duly commissioned and qualified by the Lord
Jesus, together with His ordinances and laws existing in purity,
unmixed with any precepts or commandments of men, there the kingdom of
God exists, and there His power is manifest, and His blessings are
enjoyed as in days of old.
We shall now take a view of the setting up of the kingdom of God in
the days of the Apostles. The first intimation of its near approach
was by an angel to Zachariah, promising him a son, who should go
before the King to prepare his way. The next manifestation was to
Mary, and finally to Joseph, by a holy angel, promising the birth of
the Messiah: while at the same time, the Holy Ghost manifested unto
Simeon, in the temple, that he should not die until he had seen the
Savior. Thus, all these, together with the shepherds and the wise men
from the east, began to rejoice with a joy unspeakable and full of
glory, while the world around them knew not the occasion of their joy.
After these things, all seemed to rest in silent expectation, until
John had grown to manhood, when he came bounding from the wilderness
of Judea, with a proclamation strange and new, crying: "Repent ye, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand," baptizing unto repentance, telling
them plainly that their King was already standing among them, on the
point of setting up His kingdom. And while he yet ministered, the
Messiah came, and was baptized, and sealed with the Spirit of God,
which rested on Him in the form of a dove; and soon after began the
same proclamation as John, saying--"Repent ye, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand." Then, after choosing twelve disciples, He sent
them forth into all the cities of Judea, with the same proclamation--
"The kingdom of heaven is at hand;" and after them He sent seventy,
and then another seventy, with the same news, so that all might be
well warned and prepared for a kingdom which was soon to be organized
amongst them.
But when these things had produced the desired effect, in causing a
general expectation, more especially in the hearts of His disciples,
who daily expected to triumph over their persecutors, by the
coronation of this glorious personage, while they themselves were
hoping for a reward for all their toil and sacrifices for His sake, by
being exalted to dignity near His person, what must have been their
disappointment, when they saw their King taken and crucified, having
been mocked, derided, ridiculed, and finally overcome, and triumphed
over, both by Jew and Gentile? They would gladly have died in battle
to have placed Him upon the throne; but tamely to submit without a
struggle, to give up all their expectations, and sink in despair from
the highest pitch of enthusiasm to the lowest degradation, was more
than they could well endure. They shrank back in sorrow, and returned
every man to his own net, or to their several occupations, supposing
all was over; probably with reflections like these: "Is this the
result of all our labors? was it for this we forsook all worldly
objects, our friends, our houses and lands, suffering persecution,
hunger, fatigue and disgrace? And we trust it should have been He who
would have delivered Israel; but alas, they have killed Him, and all
is over. For three years we have awakened a general expectation
through all Judea, by telling them that the kingdom of heaven was at
hand, but now our King is dead, how shall we dare to look the people
in the face?"
With these reflections, each pursuing his own course, all was again
turned to silence, and the voice had ceased to be heard in Judea,
crying: "Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus slept
in the arms of death; a great stone with the seal of of state, secured
the tomb where he lay, while the Roman guard stood in watchful
silence, to see that all was kept secure; when suddenly, from the
regions of glory, a mighty angel descended, at whoso presence the
soldiers fell back as dead men, while he rolled the stone from the
door of the sepulchre, and the Son of God awoke from His slumbers,
burst the bonds of death, and soon after appearing to Mary, He sent
her to the disciples with the joyful news of His resurrection, and
appointed a place to meet them. When, after seeing Him, all their
sorrow was turned into joy, and all their former hopes were suddenly
revived, they had no longer to cry--"The kingdom of heaven is at
hand," but were to tarry at Jerusalem until the kingdom was
established; and they prepared to unlock the door of the kingdom, and
to adopt strangers and foreigners into it as legal citizens, by
administering certain laws and ordinances, which were invariably the
laws of adoption, and without which no man could ever become a
citizen.
Having ascended up on high, and having been crowned with all power in
heaven and on earth, He again comes to His disciples, and gives them
their authority, saying unto them: "Go ye into all the world, and
preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth, and is
baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them;
they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark, xvi,
15-18. Now I wish the reader not to pass over this commission until he
understands it, because when once understood, he never need mistake
the kingdom of God, but will at once discover those peculiarities
which were forever to distinguish it from all other kingdoms or
religious systems on earth. Lest he should misunderstand, we will
analyze it, and look at each part carefully in its own proper light;
first, they were to preach the Gospel, or in other words, the glad
tidings of a crucified and risen Redeemer, to all the world; secondly,
he that believed, and was baptized, should be saved; thirdly, he that
did not believe what they preached should be damned; and fourthly,
these signs should follow them that believed: first, they were to cast
out devils; second, to speak with new tongues; third, to take up
serpents; fourth, if they drank any deadly thing, it should not hurt
them; fifth, they were to lay hands on the sick, and they should
recover.
Now, it is wilful blindness, or ignorance of the English language,
that has ever caused any misunderstanding here. For some tell us that
those signs were only to follow the Apostles; and others, that they
were only to follow believers in that age. But Christ places the
preaching, believing, salvation, and the signs that were to follow,
all on an equal footing; where one was limited, the other must be;
where one ceased, the other did. If the language limits these signs to
the Apostles, it limits faith and salvation also to them. If no others
were to have these signs follow them, then no others were to believe,
and no others were to be saved. Again, if the language limits these
signs to the first age or ages of Christianity, then it limits
salvation to the first ages of Christianity, for one is precisely as
much limited as the other; and where one is in force, the other is;
and where one ends, the other must stop. And as well might we say,
preaching of the Gospel is no longer needed; neither faith nor
salvation; these were only given at first to establish the Gospel; as
to say, the signs are no longer necessary, they were only given at
first to establish the Gospel. But, says the astonished reader: "Have
not these signs ceased from among men?" I reply, prove that they have
ceased, and it will prove that the Gospel has ceased to be preached,
that men have ceased to believe and be saved, and that the world is
without the kingdom of God; or else it will prove that Jesus Christ
was an impostor, and His promises of no effect.
Now, having analyzed and understood this commission, let us still
pursue the subject of the organization of the kingdom of God in the
days of the Apostles. The Savior, having given them their authority,
commands them to tarry, and not undertake their mission, until they
were endowed with power from on high. But why this delay? Because no
man was ever qualified, or ever will be, to preach the Gospel, and
teach all things whatsoever Jesus commanded him, without the Holy
Ghost; and a very different Holy Ghost, too, from the one enjoyed by
men who are not inspired, for the Holy Ghost of which Jesus spake
would guide into all truth, bring all things to remembrance,
whatsoever He had said unto them, and show them things to come--not to
mention that it would enable them to speak in all the languages of the
earth. Now, a man who preaches needs that Holy Ghost very much; first,
to guide into all truth, that he may know what to teach; second, to
strengthen his memory, lest he might neglect to teach some of the
things which were commanded him; and, third, he needs to know things
to come, that he may forewarn his hearers of approaching danger, and
that would constitute him a prophet. From this, the reader may see how
careful Jesus was that none should preach His Gospel without the Holy
Ghost. He may also learn how different the Spirit of Truth is from the
spirit now abroad in the earth, deceiving the world, under the name of
the Holy Ghost. If the churches of the present day have the Holy
Ghost, why are they so much at a loss to understand truth? Why do they
walk in so many different ways and doctrines? Why do they need whole
libraries of sermons, tracts, divinities, debates, arguments, and
opinions, all written by the wisdom of men, without even professing to
be inspired? Well doth the Lord complain, saying: "Their fear toward
me is taught by the precepts of men." But to return; the Apostles
tarried at Jerusalem until endowed with power, and then they commenced
to proclaim the Gospel.
Here we have discovered several things towards a kingdom: first, we
have found a King, crowned at the right hand of God, to whom is
committed all power in heaven and on earth; second, commissioned
officers, duly appointed to administer the affairs of government;
third, the laws by which they were to be governed were ALL THINGS
WHATSOEVER JESUS HAD COMMANDED HIS DISCIPLES TO TEACH THEM.
And now, if we can find how men became citizens of that kingdom, I
mean as to the rules of adoption, then we have found the kingdom of
God in that age, and shall be very much dissatisfied with every thing
in our own age, professing to be the kingdom of God, which is not
according to the pattern.
It happened that there were no natural born subjects of that kingdom,
for both Jew and Gentile were included in sin and unbelief; and none
could be citizens without the law of adoption. All that believed on
the name of the King had power to be adopted, but there was but one
invariable rule or plan by which they were adopted; and all that
undertook to claim citizenship, in any other way whatever, were
counted thieves and robbers, and could never obtain the seal of
adoption. This rule was laid down in the Savior's teaching to
Nicodemus, namely: "Except a man be born of water (that is, baptized
in water), and of the Spirit (that is, baptized with the Spirit), he
cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Now, to Peter were given the keys of the kingdom; therefore it was his
duty to open the kingdom to Jew and also to Gentile. We will therefore
carefully examine the manner in which he did adopt the Jews into the
kingdom on the day of Pentecost.
Now, when the multitude came running together on the day of Pentecost,
the Apostle Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and reasoned with them from the Scriptures, testifying of Jesus
Christ, and His resurrection and ascension on high--insomuch that many
became convinced of the truth, and inquired what they should do. These
were not Christians, but they were people who were that moment
convinced that Jesus was the Christ; and because they were convinced
of this fact, they inquired--"What shall we do?" Then Peter said unto
them: "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ, for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost: for the promise is unto you, and your children, and to
all that are afar of, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." My
reader, do you understand this proclamation? If you do, you will see
that this Gospel is not generally preached in modern times. Let us
therefore analyze and examine it, sentence by sentence. You recollect
they already believed, and the next thing was for them to repent;
first, faith; second, repentance; third, baptism; fourth, remission of
sins; and fifth, the Holy Ghost. This was the order of the Gospel.
Faith gave the power to become sons, or citizens; repentance, and
baptism in His name, was the obedience through which they were
adopted; and the Holy Spirit of promise was the seal of their
adoption, and this they were sure to receive if they would obey.
Now, reader, where do you hear such preaching in our day? Who teaches
that those who believe and repent, should be baptized, and none
others? Perhaps the reader may say the Baptists do; but do they call
upon men to be baptized as soon as they believe and repent? And
moreover, do they promise the remission of sins, with the gift of the
Holy Ghost? Recollect, now, what effect the Holy Ghost has upon people
who receive it. It will guide them into all truth, strengthen the
memory, and show them things to come. And Joel has said, it would
cause them to dream dreams, to see visions, and to prophesy. O! my
reader, where do you find a Gospel like this preached among men? Would
men go mourning for weeks upon weeks, without the forgiveness of sins,
or the comfort of the Holy Spirit, if Peter stood among us to tell
precisely how to get such blessings? Now, what would you think of a
camp meeting, where three thousand men should come forward to be
prayed for, and one of the ministers should (Peter like) command them
every one to repent, and be baptized for the remission of sins,
promising that all who obeyed should receive the remission of sins and
the gift of the Holy Ghost, which should cause them to dream dreams
and prophesy; and then should arise with his brethren of the same
calling, and the same hour commence baptizing, and continue until they
had baptized them all; and the Holy Ghost should fall upon them, and
they begin to see visions, speak in other tongues, and prophecy? Would
not the news go abroad, far and wide, that a new doctrine had made its
appearance, quite different from any thing now practised among men? O
yes, says the reader, this, to be sure, would be something new, and
very strange to all of us. Well, strange as it may seem, it is the
Gospel, as preached by Peter on the day of Pentecost; and Paul
declares that he preached the same Gospel that Peter did; and he has
also said: "Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other
gospel, let him be accursed." Now, the reader need no longer be
astonished to see that these signs do not follow them that believe
some other gospel, or doctrine, different from that preached by the
Apostles.
But now let us return to the kingdom of God organized in the days of
the Apostles; you discover that three thousand persons were adopted
into the kingdom the first day the door was opened. These, together
with the numerous additions which were afterwards made, were the
subjects of this kingdom; which, being fitly framed together, grew
into a holy temple in the Lord. Thus, we have cleared away the rubbish
of sectarian tradition and superstition, which arose in heaps around
us; and having searched carefully, we have at length discovered the
kingdom of God, as it existed at its first organization in the days of
the Apostles; and we have seen that it differs widely from all modern
systems of religion, both in its offices, ordinances, powers, and
privileges, insomuch that no man need ever mistake the one for the
other.
Having made this discovery, we shall proceed to examine the progress
of the kingdom among Jew and Gentile; and what were its fruits, gifts,
and blessings as enjoyed by its citizens.
Soon after the organization of the kingdom of God at Jerusalem, Philip
came to Samaria, and there preached the Gospel: and when they believed
Philip, they were baptized, both men and women, and had great joy. And
afterwards, Peter and John came from Jerusalem, and prayed, and laid
their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Mark here, they
first believed, and then were baptized, having great joy, and yet had
not received the Holy Ghost. But that was afterwards given, by the
laying on of hands and prayer, in the name of Jesus. O how different
from the systems of men!
Witness Paul's conversion while on his journey to Damascus: the Lord
Jesus appeared to him in the way; but instead of telling him his sins
were forgiven, and pouring the Holy Ghost upon him, He sent him to
Damascus, telling him that it should there be told him what he should
do. And coming to Damascus, Ananias being sent, commanded him not to
tarry, but to "arise and be baptized, and wash away his sins, calling
on the name of the Lord;" then he arose and was baptized, and was even
filled with the Holy Ghost, and straightway preached that Jesus was
the Christ.
Again, witness Peter going to Cornelius, a Gentile of great piety,
whose prayers were heard, and whose alms were remembered, and who had
even attained to the ministering of an angel; yet with all his piety,
and the Holy Ghost poured out upon him and his friends, before they
were baptized, they must be baptized, or they could not be saved. Why?
Because the Lord had commanded the Apostles to preach to every
creature, and every creature who would not believe and be baptized,
should be damned, without one exception. Witness the words of the
angel to Cornelius: "He (Peter) shall tell thee words whereby thou and
all thy house shall be saved." Now, query, could Cornelius have been
saved without obeying the words of Peter? If so, the angel's errand
was in vain.
Now, perhaps a minister, who should find a man as good as Cornelius
was, would say to him: "Go on, brother, you can be saved, you have
experienced religion, you may indeed be baptized to answer a good
conscience, if you feel it your duty; or, if not, it is no matter, a
new heart is all that is really necessary to salvation," etc.; as much
as to say, that the commandments of Jesus are not absolutely necessary
to salvation; a man may call him Lord, Lord, and be saved, just as
well as by keeping His commandments. Oh vain and foolish doctrine! Oh
ye children of men, how have you perverted the Gospel! In vain do ye
call Him Lord, Lord, and do not obey His commandments.
Next, we call to mind the jailor and his household, who were baptized
the same hour they believed, without waiting for the day; and Lydia
and her household, who attended to the ordinance the first sermon they
heard on the subject. Also Philip and the eunuch, who stopped the
chariot at the first water they came to, in order to attend to the
ordinance, although the eunuch had heard of Jesus, for the first time,
only a few minutes before. Now, I gather from all those examples of
ancient days, and from the precepts laid down in them, that baptism
was the initiating ordinance, by which all those who believed and
repented were received and adopted into the church or kingdom of God,
so as to be entitled to the remission of sins, and the blessing of the
Holy Ghost; indeed, it was the ordinance through which they became
sons and daughters; and because they were sons, the Lord shed forth
the Spirit of His Son into their hearts, crying, Abba, Father. It is
true, the Lord poured out the Holy Ghost upon Cornelius and his
friends, before they were baptized; but it seemed necessary, in order
to convince the believing Jews that the Gentiles also had part in this
salvation. And I believe this is the only instance, in the whole
record, of the people receiving the Holy Ghost without first obeying
the laws of adoption. But mark! Obeying the laws of adoption would
not constitute a man an heir of the kingdom, a citizen entitled to the
blessings and gifts of the Spirit, unless those laws and ordinances
were administered by one who had proper authority, and was duly
commissioned from the King; and a commission given to one individual
could never authorize another to act in his stead. This is one of the
most important points to be understood, as it brings to the test every
minister in Christendom; and questions the organization of every
church on earth, and all that have existed since direct inspiration
ceased.
Now, in order to come at this subject in plainness, let us examine the
constitution of earthly governments in regard to the authority and
laws of adoption. We will say, for instance, the President of the
United States writes a commission to A. B., duly authorizing him to
act in some office in the government, and, during his administration,
two gentlemen from Europe come to reside in this country, and, being
strangers and foreigners wishing to become citizens, they go before A.
B., and he administers the oath of allegiance in due form, and
certifies the same, and this constitutes them legal citizens, entitled
to all the privileges of those who are citizens or subjects by birth.
After these things, A. B. is taken away by death, and C. D., in
looking over his papers, happens to find the commission given to A.
B., and, applying it to his own use, assumes the vacant office;
meantime, two foreigners arrive, and apply for citizenship, and being
informed by persons ignorant of the affairs of government, that C. D.
could administer the laws of adoption, they submit to be administered
unto by C. D., without once examining his authority; C. D. certifies
of their citizenship, and they suppose they have been legally adopted,
the same as the others, and are entitled to all the privileges of
citizenship. But by and by, their citizenship is called in question,
and they produce the certificate of C. D.; the President inquires--
"Who is C. D.? I never gave him a commission to act in any office, I
know him not, and you are strangers and foreigners to the
commonwealth, until you go before the legally appointed successor of
A. B., or some other of like authority, who has a commission from the
President direct in his own name." In the meantime, C. D. is taken and
punished according to law, for practising imposition, and usurping
authority which was never conferred upon him.
And so it is with the kingdom of God. The Lord authorized the Apostles
and others by direct revelation, and by the spirit of prophecy, to
preach and baptize, and build up His church and kingdom; but after a
while they died, and a long time passed away, and men, reading over
their commission, where it says to the eleven Apostles--"Go ye into
all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature," etc., have had
the presumption to apply these sayings as their authority, and without
any other commission, have gone forth professing to preach the Gospel,
and baptize, and build up the church and kingdom of God; but those
whom they baptize never receive the same blessings and gifts which
characterized a saint or citizen of the kingdom in the days of the
Apostles. Why? Because they are yet foreigners and strangers, for the
commission given to the Apostles never commissioned any other man to
act in their stead. This was a prerogative the Lord reserved unto
himself. No man has a right to take this ministry upon himself, but he
that is called by revelation, and duly qualified to act in his calling
by the Holy Ghost.
But the reader inquires with astonishment, "What! are none of all the
ministers of the present day called to the ministry, and legally
commissioned?" Well, my reader, I will tell you how you may ascertain
from their own mouths, and that will be far better than an answer from
me; go to the clergy, and ask them if God has given them any direct
revelation since the New Testament was finished; inquire of them
whether the gift of prophecy ceased with the early age of the church;
and, in short, ask them if revelations, prophets, the ministering of
angels, etc., are needed or expected in these days, or whether they
believe that these things are done away, no more to return to the
earth; and their answer will be that the Bible contains sufficient,
and that since the canon of Scripture was filled, revelation, the
spirit of prophecy and the ministering of angels have ceased, because
no longer needed. In short, they will denounce every man as an
impostor who pretends to any such thing. And when you have obtained
this answer, ask them how they themselves were called and commissioned
to preach the Gospel, and they will be at a loss to answer you, and
will finally tell you that the Bible commissioned them, saying--"Go ye
into all the world," etc. Thus, you see, all who have no direct
personal revelation from the King of heaven, either by angels, the
voice of God, or the spirit of prophecy, are acting under authority
which was given to others, who are dead, and their commission stolen,
and their authority usurped; and the King will say--"Peter I know, and
Paul I know, I commissioned them, but who are you? I know you not, I
never spoke to you in my life; indeed you believed it was not
necessary for me to speak in your day. Therefore you never sought in
faith for any revelation, and I never gave you any; and even when I
spake to others, you mocked them, and called them impostors, and
persecuted them, because they testified of the things I had said unto
them, therefore depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,
prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was an hungered, and ye
fed me not; I was naked, and ye clothed me not; I was a stranger, and
ye took me not in; sick and in prison and ye visited me not." "Ah!
Lord, when did we fail in any of these things?" "Inasmuch as you have
not done it unto the least of these my brethren (taking them for
impostors, because they testified of the things which I had revealed
unto them), ye have not done it unto me." But to return: having
examined the kingdom of God as to its offices and ordinances, and
having discovered the only means of adoption into it, let us examine
more fully what are the blessings, privileges, and enjoyments of its
citizens. You have already seen that they were to cast out devils,
speak with new tongues, heal the sick by the laying on of hands in the
name of Jesus, as well as to see visions, dream dreams, prophesy, etc.
But let us look at the kingdom in its organized state, and see whether
these promises were verified to Jew and Gentile, wherever the kingdom
of God was found in all ages of the world.
Paul writing, first, "To the church of God at Corinth;" second, "To
them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus;" third, "To them who are
called to be saints;" and fourth, "To all that in every place call on
the name of Jesus Christ our Lord," says to them all, in 1 Corinthians,
xii, 1: "Now, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have
you ignorant." And then, continuing his instructions, a few verses
further on, he says: "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to
every man to profit withal; for to one is given, by the Spirit, the
word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
to another faith by the same Spirit; to another, the gifts of healing
by the same Spirit; to another, the working of miracles; to another,
prophecy; to another, discerning of spirits; to another, divers kinds
of tongues; to another, the interpretation of tongues; but all these
worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as He (Christ) will. For as the body is one, and hath many
members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one
body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free;
and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not
one member, but many. If the foot shall say, because I am not the
hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if
the ear shall say, because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is
it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where
were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath Got set the members, everyone of them in the body, as it
hath pleased Him. And if they were all one member, where were the
body?" I reply, it would not exist. "But now are they many members,
yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need
of thee; nor again, the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay,
much more those members of the body which seem to be more feeble, are
necessary; and those members of the body which we think to be less
honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor: and our uncomely
parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no
need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more
abundant honor to that part which lacked: that there should be no
schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care for
one another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer
with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Now, ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God
hath set some in the church, first, apostles; secondarily, prophets;
thirdly, teachers; after that, miracles, then gifts of healings,
helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all
prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the
gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But
covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more
excellent way." From the thirteenth verse of the above chapter, we
learn that the Apostle is still speaking to the whole church in all
ages, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free, even all who should ever
compose the body of Christ, and showing that Christ's body consisted
of many members, baptized by one spirit into one body, possessing all
these different gifts, some one gift, and some another: and then
expressly says, that one member possessing one gift, should not say to
another member possessing another gift, we have no need of thee.
And having shown that it required apostles, prophets, evangelists,
pastors, and teachers; together with the gifts of prophecy, miracles,
healing, and all other gifts, to compose the church, or body of
Christ, in any age, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free; and having
utterly forbidden any of the members ever to say, of any of these
gifts: "We have no need of thee," He declares the body never could be
perfected without all of them, and that if they were done away, there
would be no body, that is, no church of Christ in existence. Having
shown all these things clearly, he exhorts them to covet earnestly the
best gifts. And in the thirteenth chapter, exhorts them to faith,
hope, and charity, without which all these gifts would avail them
nothing: and in the fourteenth chapter repeats the exhortation:
"Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye
may prophesy." Again, in Ephesians, i, 17, Paul prays that the Lord
would give unto the church the Spirit of WISDOM and of REVELATION, in
the KNOWLEDGE of God. Again, in Ephesians, iv, he tells them there is
one body and one Lord, one Spirit, one faith, and one baptism; and
that Christ ascended up on high, led captivity captive, and gave gifts
to men. And He gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. And if the reader inquire
what these gifts or offices were for, let him read the twelfth verse:
"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ." And if he inquire how long these
were to continue, the thirteenth verse says: "Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of
Christ." And if he still inquire what further object Christ had in
giving these gifts, let him read the fourteenth verse: "That we
henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about
with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."
Now, without these gifts and offices, first, the saints cannot be
perfected; second, the work of the ministry cannot proceed; third, the
body of Christ cannot be edified; and fourth, there is nothing to
prevent them from being carried about with every wind of doctrine.
Now, I boldly declare that the cause of all the division, confusion,
jars, discord, and animosities; and the fruitful source of so many
faiths, lords, baptisms, and spirits; and of the understanding being
darkened; and of men being alienated from the life of God, through the
ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts,
is, because they have neither apostles, prophets, nor gifts, inspired
from on high, to whom they give heed; for, if they had such gifts, and
would give heed unto them, they would be built up in one body, in the
pure doctrine of Christ, having one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and
one hope of their calling; yea, they would be edified, built up unto
Christ in all things, in whom the whole body, fitly joined together,
would grow into an holy temple in the Lord.
But so long as the cunning craftiness of men can persuade them that
they have no need of these things, so long they can toss them about
with every wind of doctrine, just as they please.
Now, reader, I have done our examination of the kingdom of God, as it
existed in the Apostles' days; and we cannot look at it in any other
age, until renewed again in the last days, for it never did, nor never
will exist, without apostles and prophets, and all the other gifts of
the Spirit.
Were we to take a view of the churches, from the days that inspiration
ceased until now, we should see nothing like the kingdom which we have
been viewing with such admiration and delight. But instead of apostles
and prophets, we should see false teachers, whom men had heaped to
themselves; and instead of the gifts of the Spirit, we should see the
wisdom of men; and instead of the Holy Ghost, many false spirits;
instead of the ordinances of God, commandments of men; instead of
knowledge, opinion; guess work, instead of revelation; division,
instead of union; doubt, instead of faith; despair, instead of hope;
hatred, instead of charity; a physician, instead of the laying on of
hands for the healing of the sick; fables, instead of truth, evil for
good, good for evil; darkness for light, light for darkness, and in a
word, anti-Christ instead of Christ; the powers of earth having made
war with the saints, and overcome them, until the words of God should
be fulfilled.
O my God, shut up the vision! for my heart sickens while I gaze; and
let the day hasten on when the earth shall be cleansed by fire from
such awful pollutions; but first, let Thy promise be fulfilled, which
Thou didst make by the mouth of Thy servant John, that Thou wouldst
call Thy people out of her, saying: "Come out of her, my people, that
ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her
plagues;" and then, O Lord, when Thou hast called Thy people out from
the midst of her, by the fishers and hunters whom Thou hast promised
to send in the last days to gather Israel; yea, when Thine everlasting
covenant has been renewed, and Thy people established thereby; then
let her plagues come in one day, death, mourning, and famine; let her
be burned with fire; that the holy Apostles and Prophets, and all that
fear Thy name, small and great, may rejoice, because Thou hast avenged
the blood of Thy saints upon her. I ask these things in the name of
Jesus Christ. Amen.