Review and Herald, Vol. 44, No. 8.
Spiritualism Exposed at San Jose, CaliforniaPage 1
Earlier text: Spiritualism Exposed at San Jose, CaliforniaThe Street of Hell!
By R. T. Cross
In 1870 there were in the United States one hundred and forty thousand licensed liquor saloons. If formed into a street with saloons on each side, allowing twenty feet to each saloon, they would make a street two hundred and sixty-five miles long. Let us imagine them brought together into such a street, and let us suppose that the moderate drinkers and their families are marching into it at the upper end. Go with me if you have the nerve and patience, and stand at the lower end, and let us see what that street turns out in one year. What army is this that comes marching down the street in solid column, five abreast, extending five hundred and seventy miles? It is the army of five million men and women who daily and constantly go to the saloons for intoxicating drinks as a beverage. Marching twenty miles a day it will take them more than twenty-eight days to go by. Now they are gone, and close in their rear comes another army, marching five abreast and sixty miles in length. In it there are 530,000 confirmed drunkards. They are men and women who have lost control of their appetites, who are in the regular habit of getting drunk and making beasts of themselves. Marching two abreast, the army is 150 miles long. Scan them closely. There are gray-haired men and fair-haired boys. There are, alas! many women in that army sunk to deeper depths than the men, because of the greater heights from which they fell. It will take them seven days to go by. It is a sad and sickening sight, but do not turn away yet, for here comes another army—one hundred thousand criminals. From jails and prisons and penitentiaries they come. At the head of the army comes a long line of persons whose hands are smeared with human blood. With ropes around their necks they are on the way to the gallows. Others are going to prison for life. Every crime known to our laws has been committed by these persons while they were under the influence of drink. But hark! Whence come those yells? and who are those, bound with strong chains and guarded by strong men, who go raging by? They are raving maniacs, made thus by drink. Their eyes are tormented with awful sights and their ears ring with horrid sounds. Slimy reptiles crawl over their bodies, and fiends from hell torment them before their time. They are gone now, and we breathe more freely. But what gloom is this that pervades the air! and what is that long tide of black coming slowly down the street? It is the line of funeral processions. One hundred thousand who have died the drunkard's death are being carried to their graves. Drunkards do not have many friends to mourn their loss, and we can put thirty of their funeral processions into a mile. We thus have a procession 3,333 miles long. It will take a good share of the year for them to go by, for funeral processions move slowly. Yes, most of them do, but every now and then an unconfined corpse in a rough cart is driven rapidly by, and we hear the brutal driver sing: “Rattle his bones, rattle his bones
Over the stones;
He’s only a pauper whom nobody owns.” Look into the coffins as they go by. See the dead drunkards. Some died of delirium tremens, and the lines of terror are still plainly marked on their faces. Some froze to death by the roadside, too drunk to reach their homes. Some stumbled from the wharf and were drowned. Some wandered into the woods, and died, and rotted on the surface of the earth. Some blew their own brains out. Some were fearfully stabbed in drunken brawls. Some were roasted in burning buildings. Some were crushed to shapeless masses under the cars. They died in various ways, but strong drink killed them all, and on their tombstones, if they have any, may be fitly inscribed, “He died a drunkard’s death.” Close behind them comes another long line of funeral processions; we know not how many, but they are numerously attended by mourning friends. They contain the remains of those who have met death through the carelessness and the cruelty of drunken men. Some died of broken hearts. Some were foully murdered. Some were burned to death in buildings set on fire by drunken men. Some were horribly mangled on the railroad because of drunken engineers or flagmen. Some were blown up on a steamboat because a drunken captain ran a race with a rival boat. But here comes another army—the children—innocent ones, upon whom has been visited the iniquities of their fathers. How many are there? Two hundred thousand. Marching two abreast they extend up the street thirty miles. Each one must bear through life the stigma of being the drunkard’s child. They are reduced to poverty, want, and beggary. They live in ignorance and vice. Some of the children are moaning with hunger, and some all shivering with the cold, for they have not enough rags to keep them warm. A large number of them are idiots, made such before they were born, by brutal, drunken fathers. And worse than all the rest, many of them have inherited a love for liquor, and are growing up to take the places and do the deeds of their fathers. They will fill up the ranks of the awful army of drunkards, that moves in unbroken columns down to death. It has taken nearly a year for the street to empty itself of its year’s work. And close in the rear comes the vanguard of next year’s supply. And if this is what liquor does in our land in one year, what must be its result in all the world through the long centuries! Thus far we have listened to the stories that the figures tell. But they cannot tell all. They give only the outline of the terrible tragedy that is going on around us. They cannot picture to us the wretched squalor of a drunkard’s home. They cannot tell us how many unkind and cruel words strong drink has caused otherwise kind and tender-hearted husbands and fathers to utter to their dear ones. They cannot tell us how many heavy blows have fallen from the drunkard’s hand upon those whom it is his duty to love and cherish and protect. They cannot tell us how many fond expectations and bright hopes which the fair young bride had of the future had been blasted and turned to bitterest gall. They cannot number the long, weary hours of night during which she has anxiously awaited, and yet fearfully dreaded, the heavy footfall at the door. Figures cannot tell us how many scalding tears the wives of drunkards have shed, nor how many prayers of bitter anguish and cries of agony God has heard them utter. They cannot tell us how many mothers have worn out body and soul in providing the necessities of life for children whom a drunken father has left destitute. They cannot tell us how many mothers’ hearts have broken with grief as they saw a darling son becoming a drunkard. They cannot tell us how many white hairs have gone down in sorrow to the grave, mourning over drunken children. They cannot tell us how many hard-fought battles the drunkard, in his sober moments, has fought with the terrible appetite; how many times he has walked his room in despair, tempted to commit suicide, because he could not conquer the demon. And finally, we cannot search the records of the other world, and tell how many souls have been shut out from that holy place, where no drunkard enters, and banished to the regions of eternal death by the demon of drink. What man, what woman, what child would not vote to have that whole street, with its awful traffic in the infernal stuff, sunk to the lowest depths of perdition, and covered ten thousand fathoms deep under the curses of the universe?—Rev. R. T. Cross. Pagan Idolatry Revived.
By A. A. H.
In Waterbury, Vt., a series of meetings have been recently held by two Jesuit priests of the Catholic order, for the purpose of reclaiming the backslidden Catholics, and to bring their church more devotedly to the strict observance of the forms and doctrines of the Romish theology. The efforts put forth by the priests and church adherents, resulted in bringing together crowds of French and Irish, day after day, to the call of the priests. Among the things practiced at these assemblies, was the public sale of little crosses, crowns, beads, and jewelry of different kinds—taught by the priests to contain divine graces and supernatural power to make the purchasers holy and to keep diseases and misfortunes away from them. Many purchased liberally at these sales, and thus much money was obtained by the priests, from the poor and ignorant, probably to be spent in lustful excesses. After all had been drawn out from the people that could be in this way, another article was brought forward by the priests and said to contain all the virtues of the various other, and the people were ordered to burn all the former articles which they had purchased, and buy the one newly produced, which was something in the form of a lady’s needle-book; and so another draft of funds was made upon the people. Last, but not least, a statue of the Virgin Mary, probably of iron painted, was brought to the place, an altar built in one part of the church house and the idol seated thereon for worship. Then comes the service. The worshipers, in turn, bowed themselves at the altar and offered a prayer to the idol, at the same time making their “cross” and performing other papal rites. Such is the practice of a numerous people among us, who claim to be a direct line of descendants of the apostolic order. When we see such reckless deceptions and swindles practiced upon the ignorant and unlearned people, mingled with heathen idolatry, and behold the same spirit working into many of our Protestant churches, in the form of church fairs, levees, festivals, and oyster-suppers; with their grab-bags, ring-cakes, fishing-ponds, back-gammon, eucher-packs, and palatable wines; attended with a display of gold, jewelry, silks, and costly equipage,—“eating and drinking with the drunken, whose God is their belly”—thus worshiping fashion, wealth, popularity or some other idol of earth, we would to God there were Martin Luthers and Malancthons of modern times, who, with sword (Bible) in hand, would fearlessly wage war against these modern “Indulgences” both of Catholic and Protestant churches. Were there such, we would soon see the rising tide of infidelity driven back, and old-fashioned Bible salvation spreading and filling the land. Then would the great evils of intemperance, gluttony, adultery, and such like excesses, be permanently held in check by a divine influence that holds as naught beside can do. Soldier of the cross of Christ, arouse from thy slumber, gird on the armor, unsheath the sword, unfurl the blood-stained banner and fling it to the breeze, rend the band of formalism and with Heaven-born courage, go forth to meet, to fight, the foe; yea, and thou whited sepulchers, open thy barred doors and let the breezes of glory fan thy putrid vaults; let the river of salvation flow in and cleanse those corrupted cells, and be as thou clean. Let Zion travail and bring forth unto the Lord of hosts, and the name of our God shall be exalted among the people, and idolatry be banished from the church.—A. A. H., in Biblical Messenger. If I could only surely know
That all these things that tire me so
Were noticed by my Lord,—
The pang that cuts me like a knife,
The lesser pains of daily life,
The noise, the weariness, the strife,
What peace it would afford! I wonder if He really shares
In all my little human cares—
This mighty King of kings?
If he, who guides, through boundless space,
Each blazing planet in its place,
Can have the condescending grace
To mind these petty things? It seems to me if sure of this,
Blent with each ill would come such bliss
That I might covet pain,
And deem whatever brought to me
The loving thought of Deity,
And sense of Christ's sweet sympathy,
Not loss, but richest gain. [The author adds, in a note, that he had intended to end his song here, but on reading it aloud, his little daughter of eight years said, “Papa, it seems to me that there ought to be just one more verse to tell what you really do think about it.” So the following stanza was added.—Ed. S. S. T.] Dear Lord! My heart hath not a doubt
That thou dost compass me about
With sympathy divine!
The Love for me once crucified,
Is not the love to leave my side
But waiteth ever to divide
Each smallest care of mine. —G. S. D. in S. S. Times. It is related in the Congregationalist, of the father of the late Rev. Dr. Storrs, of Braintree, Mass., a strong advocate of the doctrine of foreordination, that having once made an appointment to exchange with the late Rev. Dr. Osgood, of Springfield, he started for the latter place with his own team on the Sunday agreed upon; and, when about half-way thither, met Dr. Osgood driving down. They stopped, naturally, for a moment's conversation, and Dr. Storrs soon glided into his favorite theme. “Why,” said he, “see how wonderful are the decrees of Providence. Here it has been foreordained from all eternity that we should exchange pulpits to-day, and sure we are met, talking the matter over.” “What’s that,” said Dr. Osgood, not quite sure on this foreordination business; “do you say that it has been decreed that we should exchange pulpits to-day?” “I do,” replied the other, solemnly. “Well, then,” returned Dr. Osgood, “I’ll break one of God’s decrees, for I shall preach in my own pulpit to-day;” and, turning his horse about, he drove rapidly homeward, leaving the astonished Dr. Storrs to return to Longmeadow, musing on the possible uncertainty of decrees. A Hindoo Paper on the Bible
A HINDOO paper published in Bengal, called Sojjona Rajina, speaks of the excellence of the Bible. In advocating the introduction of the Bible into government schools, from which British timidity, indifference, and infidelity, had excluded it, these heathen writers describe it as “the best and most excellent of all English books, and there is not its like in the English language. As every joint of the sugar-cane, from the root to the top, is full of sweetness, so every page of the Bible is fraught with the most precious instructions. A portion of that book would yield to you more of sound morality than a thousand other treatises on the same subject. In short, if any person studies the English language with a view to gain wisdom, there is not another book more worthy of being read than the Bible.”—Southern Presbyterian. Let Yourself Be Led by Him
LET yourself be led by Him; do not think so much of yourself. Make a general resolution to serve God in the best way you can; and waste no time in subtle dissection as to what is precisely the best way, thus overpowering your will, and hampering it with deceitful wiles. FAITH connects me to God, hope enables me to endure as seeing Him who is invisible, but love makes me like God, for “God is love.” Former Times vs. Modern.
By Uriah Smith
STRANGE as it may seem to those who have eyes to discern the present moral condition of society, there are multitudes who claim, and perhaps really believe, that the world is daily growing better; and in support of their claim they will refer to some particular defects of past times, which modern enlightenment has remedied, and consider that a triumphant settlement of the question in their favor. This is illustrated by a letter we have received from a friend in New Hampshire. He says:— “You seem to delight in trying to believe the world never was so corrupt and wicked before. Have you read history? Look at England two centuries ago. Think of the hanging of Quakers, witches, &c. A century and a half ago, you would not have been tolerated; and if you had lived in those ‘good old times,’ your life would have been short or your doctrines changed.” And we imagine if our friend had his way, we should not long be tolerated now, unless we changed our doctrines; and so the present would be no improvement in this respect over the past. But does he not perceive that he is speaking about one thing, and we about another? Why were Quakers hanged, and Baptists whipped and banished, a century and a half ago? Was it because the morals of men were then so corrupt? because there was so much adultery, and murder, and defalcation, and cheating, and covetousness, and thieving, and robbery, and lawlessness, in the land? No; but quite the reverse. It was because the conscientiousness of the people was raised to that pitch that the devil could pervert it to his own use, and lead men into the bigotry and sin of persecution for opinion’s sake. But society has now put on another phase. And we utter no mere opinion of our own, but simply echo the general sentiment expressed in almost every newspaper in the country when we say that violence fills the land, blood touches blood, equity is fallen in the streets, bribery turns away justice, and fraud, adultery, and murder, are rampant in all parts of the country. Even in the small inland cities like our own, we find those standing apparently at the head of society in wealth and position, in their private life false to every principle of chastity and honor. The degree of corruption which is in our days general, pervading all classes of society, the high and low, the rich and poor, is almost equal to the worst local manifestations of ancient times. And how does the civil and religious liberty we now enjoy help this state of things in the sight of Heaven? This liberty itself is by thousands upon thousands perverted to the most unbridled license. This liberty does not transmute vice into virtue, nor the filth of corruption into the white robes of innocence. It does not make men’s characters better in the sight of God, nor will it restrain the judgments which he has threatened against such practices. As the word of God has said it should be in the last days, iniquity abounds, the love of many waxes cold, evil men and seducers wax worse and worse, the form of godliness supersedes the power, Satan works with lying wonders, and foul spirits and hateful birds invade even the precincts of the professed church. It requires the exercise of the graces of the Spirit to discern clearly the present age of the world; 2 Pet. 1: 9; but worldly men, philanthropists, statesmen, see enough to startle and alarm them. Christ said to the men of his time, “He that hath ears to hear let him hear.” We may say, He that hath eyes to see let him see! U. S. Convinced, but not Obedient.
By Uriah Smith
If all who stand to-day fully convinced of the truth would immediately obey it, how prodigiously would it swell the ranks of commandment-keepers. Those who have had much experience in preaching the word know that the hard spot in the battle is to induce men to commence the practice of Christian duties that are urged upon them, even after they are persuaded that the word of God demands it at their hands. To convince the judgment is a comparatively easy work; to lead men to that which is the vital part of conversion, a reformation of life, is a more difficult matter. To openly acknowledge the claims of duty, to avow a clear understanding of what God's law requires, and yet refuse to obey, is a position so strange, so presumptuous and indefensible, that few are willing to own that that is where they stand. Multitudes, as it is easy to see, are fully convinced of the truth, who will not in so many words acknowledge it, yet some in unmistakable language confess their true position. Thus a friend writing from Richmond Switch, R. I., says:— “MESSRS. EDITORS: I have been taking your valuable paper called the ADVENT REVIEW AND HERALD OF THE SABBATH about six months on trial, and it has fully convinced me that the seventh day is the only day to keep and conform to God's commandments. It may be that I never shall keep the seventh day as the Sabbath; but notwithstanding this, I freely confess that the seventh day is the only true Sabbath to keep. It seems to me that all honest persons should admit that you are right in the advocacy of the Sabbath. You elucidate it so plain that it cannot be misunderstood.” If others would be as frank in the expression of their views, we think there would be many more testimonies to the plainness of the Sabbath truth. But how shall we account for his words when he says, “It may be that I never shall keep the seventh day as the Sabbath”? Why not keep it? Since you see and acknowledge that God requires it, why not? Such a position under such circumstances is a most inexcusable and dangerous one. What excuse will such persons render for their course in the great day of accounts? Others who refuse to keep the Sabbath profess to have some reason for so doing. They take those things for reasons which of course are no reasons, and no doubt force their consciences to the acceptance of excuses with which they are not themselves satisfied. Nevertheless they think that they can make some show of reason for their course of action when they shall be required to answer for the deeds done in the body. But he who acknowledges God's will, yet refuses to obey it, confesses judgment beforehand. On such points as are covered by his confession, at least, he bars the way against all excuses. He advertises himself in advance as one who, when the King comes in to examine the guests, will be speechless. Sins of ignorance, and sins of judgment, have some palliation; but sins deliberately committed against light and knowledge, none. “If I had not come,” says Christ, “and spoken unto them, they had not had sin; but now they have no cloak for their sin.” How can persons occupy such a position and calmly contemplate the future? Some indescribable infatuation must be upon them. We would earnestly entreat them to offer no longer willful provocation to the judgments of Heaven. We would plead with them to make haste to obey that which they know to be truth. Delay not to keep the commandments of the Lord. Confer not with flesh and blood. Give no weight to worldly objections in the scale of moral duty. Most deplorably wretched among the lost will be those who have plunged on to perdition with the light of truth glaring in their very faces, and the voice of duty tenderly imploring them at every step to turn into the way of everlasting life. Pollok, saving only his wrong idea of the duration of future punishment, forcibly describes the condition of such:— “And as I listened I heard these beings curse
Almighty God, and curse the Lamb and curse
The earth, the resurrection morn, and seek,
And ever vainly seek for utter death,
And to their everlasting anguish still
The thunders from above responding spoke
These words which through the caverns of perdition
Forlornly echoing fell on every ear—
‘Ye knew your duty but ye did it not.’
And back recoiled again a deeper groan.
A deeper groan! Oh, what a groan was that!’”
THE NATURE, POSITION, AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH
By George Ide Butler
Thoughts on Church Government.—No. 2.
THE NATURE, POSITION, AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHURCH.
By the church, I mean an organized body of believers in Jesus Christ who take the Holy Scriptures for their rule of faith and practice, and labor for the salvation of their fellow-men, who receive additions to their membership upon proper professions of faith, who accept the ordinances which Christ gave for his church, and who have repented of their sins, and believed on the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, and are trying to carry out the principles of holy living taught by him. To such a body of believers, the Bible gives rules for its government, directions for its guidance, powers and authorities to exercise, enables it to appoint proper officers for its management, prescribes their duties and privileges, and threatens penalties to those who shall refuse to listen to its counsels. The church is the human agent through which God educates and saves man. Having introduced to man the principles of his government through his law and word, and having sent his own Son to set man a perfect example, as well as to die for him, and thus make his salvation possible, God’s work in the world is represented by the church. Its course must be a matter of deep concern to him, and its members will be objects of his solicitude. He will own and accept such a church, manifest in them his Spirit, work the work of grace upon the hearts of its members, and affect other souls through their instrumentality, as long as they are true to the principles of Bible religion. When they become so far apostatized from them that they no longer correctly represent that religion in vital principles, he will withdraw himself from them, and they will be left a dead, fallen church, having all the outward forms and mockery, perhaps, left in proper order, but lacking that inward life, power, and vitality, ever present where God’s Spirit is working. Such a church, then, becomes a worldly church, dangerous to the unwary, who may mistake the form for the substance, and be satisfied therewith. The world has seen many such in the past and present, and millions of unbelievers have stumbled over their unconverted example, senseless forms, and dry formality, thinking they represented the Lord and Saviour. The truly wise need not mistake in this matter, for the Bible gives plain characteristics by which the true church of God may ever be identified. The true church of the Lord is much like a school, receiving constant accessions of scholars, giving them lessons more or less perfect, in proportion as it stands in the light of God. Apt pupils who will be submissive to proper discipline, and learn faithfully the lessons of virtue and purity, will graduate with eternal honors at the close of their probation. The church is not made up of perfect beings. We cannot hope that all of its members will be true children of God. As those who receive members into the church are human and fallible, and cannot read the heart, they could not always tell the true character of those desiring admission. And, further, we well know that the church is designed to instruct and save poor, imperfect human beings. People who are perfect and fit for Heaven do not need any church to save them. We should never therefore consider the church as a place in which perfect souls are to retire from active life, and lie still doing nothing. But it is an institution where men are trained to battle with sin, and the passions of their own hearts; where they are to learn to overcome, and where they need the help of all other followers of the Lord Jesus. The Scriptures plainly teach that both classes will exist in the church. They represent the church as a temple or building, erected upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ being the chief corner-stone. Upon this foundation the edifice is erected of various materials, gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. In the house are vessels of honor and of dishonor. 1 Cor. 3; 1 Tim. 2:21. We must understand these materials to mean persons with different characters. Therefore, we can but conclude that there will be more or less unworthy members received into the church. But we should never forget that the reception of such members is a calamity, just as unworthy scholars are an injury to a school. All reasonable precautions should be used to keep the church pure, and keep out those who are unworthy. But the great object of the church should never be lost sight of. That object is to save men. Better a score of unworthy persons be received, even if they have to be cast out again, than that one worthy person who might be saved be discouraged and lost. Persons should be received as members who give reasonable evidence of repentance of their sins, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and a determination to lead a holy life. Members of the church should be thoroughly instructed in the principles of pure religion, according to the rules of the Scriptures. The standard of righteousness should ever be exalted, and all urged and entreated to come up to it. When members walk contrary to sound doctrine, they should be labored with and reproved, according to the rules laid down in the Scriptures. And when it is demonstrated that there will be no effort for improvement, then they should have their connection with the church dissolved, as they are no benefit to the church, or the church to them. In this way the church may keep itself pure and accomplish the objects of its institution. If these general principles are neglected, there will be a constant deterioration, and soon it will be a curse instead of a blessing to the world. But let it faithfully discharge its responsibilities, and the importance of its position cannot well be overestimated. It stands as a visible representative of the Lord Jesus. It then presents the highest example of moral purity seen among men. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set upon a hill cannot be hid. Ye are the salt of the earth,” says our Saviour. Here he is speaking of his church. But if that light become darkness, or the salt lose its savor, then indeed it becomes worthless. But while it retains its high position, and is owned and acknowledged by its divine Lord, its position is an eminent one. Through the church, then, the world receives its light. They have nowhere else to look for the right example. The apostle Paul adds, speaking to Timothy, “that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Tim. 3:15. The word “ground” is here used in the sense of a foundation, and is so translated by some. The church then serves as the column, or pillar, supporting the edifice, and the foundation upon which it stands. Thus God’s truth is borne aloft by the church; and upheld before the world. When it ceases to do that, it no longer answers the purpose of its formation, and is rejected. But what an elevated position is this which is assigned the church by the Saviour and the great apostle. It is to enlighten the world with the rays of divine truth. Not only is the church as a whole to be the light of the world, but each and every member should be a body of light, contributing to the grand result. Says Peter, “To whom coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious. Ye also, as lively stones are (or be ye, margin) built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God, by Jesus Christ.” 1 Pet. 2:4, 5. These lively stones are stones which emit light themselves. What a beautiful figure is this, which the apostle has given us. Fancy a building composed of such material. Could anything be more suggestive. And what a terrible thing when the members become bodies of darkness, instead of light, for poor souls to stumble over to eternal ruin. But we have not yet noticed, by any means, all the particulars entering into the eminence of the church. Great power is committed to her hands. After our Saviour had given instruction how to labor with those who had been guilty of wrong in the church, he says, “If he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.” Matt. 18:17, 18. These words are spoken of the church as a whole, not merely to ministers. We know words similar to these were spoken to Peter, upon an interesting occasion, when he had forcibly declared the great truth that Jesus was the Son of God. This was the truth upon which the church was built. The Saviour said to him, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven,” &c. Matt.61 16:19. It is said that when the Jews made a man a doctor of the law, they put in his hands the key to the closet in the temple where the sacred books were kept and also tablets for writing, signifying that they gave him authority to teach and explain the Scriptures and the law of God to the people. Quite likely the Saviour intended some such meaning as this, as Peter was to be a leading man in explaining the gospel of Christ through which men were to be saved. However that may be, we know that the power to bind and loose was committed to the whole church in the language we have quoted. How is this to be exercised? We understand in the following manner: when the church deals with an individual according to the instruction of the word of God and guided by the Holy Spirit, that Spirit sanctions the act of the church. This is the connecting link between the body and the Head. Under these circumstances, the decision of the one is the decision of the other. The offending individual therefore will have to make his peace with the church if they have dealt justly with him. Here is a principle reasonable and consistent. But this is a high and powerful prerogative and shows plainly that God has committed a power to his church by no means to be despised. Thus it is seen that through the church God has designed to save men. By associating together in this capacity, we may help each other on in the way to life. In union there is strength. It is important in every worthy enterprise that those having the same object in view labor together for the same result. And although there will always be much imperfection in the church, as in everything else that is human, yet on the whole, it is the best means that could be devised to lead men from sin up to God. The responsibility resting upon the church is immense, if its nature and position be what I have assigned to it. If it be God’s great school of morals and religion, the divinely appointed lightbearer to the world, with the power to bind or loose, according as the Spirit of God should direct; if it be that to which the eye of the world should be directed to find the nearest approximation to the life of holiness taught by the Son of God; then, indeed, is its responsibility almost fearful. The world have a right to expect of members of the church of God a high example of living. No one has a right to become a member of it who has not in his soul determined to set such an example. There is a great, a terrible, responsibility resting, not only on members of the church, to set a proper example, but upon the church itself, that it see to it that its members walk worthy of their calling. While the church tolerates members in its fold who are guilty of iniquity, and makes no adequate effort for their improvement, the church itself is just as responsible as the member for that iniquity. It tolerates what the member does. Here is a branch of responsibility which, in my judgment, has been most sadly neglected in all time past, as well as in the present. The church does not exercise its high prerogative. The very means which God designed for the purpose of keeping the body pure is not put in exercise. There is a constant accession of those who are unworthy, and who, upon trial, are found unwilling to conform to wholesome principles; and, as there are not adequate efforts made to reform them, or to get rid of them when they will not reform, they are left in the body to cast an influence detrimental to the truth of God. They are a load upon the hearts of the faithful ones who are striving for purity and holiness; and honest souls who are looking on to see if the church really does amount to anything for good become disgusted at what they behold, and have no desire for a closer relationship with it. Under such a state of things, God’s Spirit is hindered, the progress of affairs is rapidly downward, until the worldly level is reached. Any one who will look around in the world can see this result fully developed, and it is becoming a serious question whether we, as a people, are not going over the same track. It is a very easy track to pass over. The tendency of the age is all in the direction of laxity. There is a great prejudice of public sentiment against bringing anybody to account in church matters especially. False sympathy is always ready to step in, and personal feelings to be aroused. But there is a great responsibility resting upon the church of God, to set before the world such principles, by precept and example, as will give no uncertain token of where God’s true church is to be found. God will not smile in those assemblies where every kind of iniquity is tolerated. Souls will go to ruin unless the church sets the proper example before the world. And it is high time that we were examining our position carefully, to see if we are doing our duty faithfully. Our responsibility is immense in this age of peril and laxity. In succeeding articles I will endeavor to show more clearly the Bible directions upon this point. Government, embracing instruction, labor, reproof, correction, discipline, and faithful dealing generally, is demanded by the nature, position, and responsibility, of the church. It cannot be neglected with safety any more than it can be in the nation, the family, or the school. The issues involved are of a magnitude second to no other. While it is important to give evidence of our desire to welcome those to a place among us, whom it is reasonable to hope can be helped, our duty is not then done. The main work is yet to be done. It is only commenced. Members should watch over each other for their mutual good. With the deepest love, officers should labor to help those under their watchcare, and not suffer sin upon them, and thus bring disgrace upon the cause and leave souls to go to ruin. And as a solemn duty to the individuals, as well as to the cause of God, those who are incorrigible, who will not submit to right principles, should be cut off from the fellowship of the church.