Part 2

This is an endowment from on high. It is the Comforter which fills the absent place of the personal Christ. It is a manifester of truth. It bears witness of the Father and the Son. It is the light of eternity. It reveals things present and past, and unfolds events that are to come. It is the true scripture-maker. By it the prophets wrote the word of the Lord. It proceeds from the presence of God. It is the communicating element between man and his Maker. It is the source from which flow the spiritual gifts of the gospel. Without it no one can say from knowledge that Jesus is the Lord. Without it, the things pertaining to immortal spheres cannot be comprehended by mortals. Without it, no one can see the way which leads to eternal life. Without it, none can enter the kingdom of God.

There is a set mode by which this great gift is conferred upon mankind. God's house is a house of order. His laws are set in the spiritual as in the physical universe, and there is no confusion in any of His works. The ways of men are not His ways, and He does not bend them to suit men's diversified notions. To obtain the gift of the Holy Ghost, the necessary conditions must be complied with. These we have already explained. The method by which it is conferred is, the laying on of hands by men who have themselves received it and have been called of God and ordained to administer it.

True faith, genuine repentance, correct baptism, properly administered, are as surely to be followed by the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, through the laying on of hands, authoritatively administered, as the harvest is to come from seed sown in good soil and ripened by the rains and sunshine of heaven, or as the results of a chemical experiment are to be achieved when the needful elements are correctly compounded.

The effects of this gift upon the recipient are not generally of a startling character. They are not necessarily physical. The chief office of the Holy Ghost is to enlighten the internal man or woman. It administers to the spirit. It brings peace, comfort and joy to the soul. It gives assurance of divine acceptance; and it establishes inward strength to resist sin and evil and lay hold upon all that is good. But it does not convulse the system. It produces no contortions of the countenance. It will not throw people to the earth as if they were dead. Neither will it cause them to yell, shout, jump around in paroxysms or act in an unseemly manner.

Its internal fruits are faith, knowledge, wisdom, joy, peace, patience, temperance, long suffering, brotherly kindness and charity. Its external gifts are manifested in prophecies, visions, discernments, healings, miracles, power over evil spirits, speaking in various tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc.

These several gifts are distributed according to the will of God among the various recipients of the Holy Ghost. One person may receive several of them. Some may not obtain any of those gifts which are manifested outwardly. Neither are the latter always the most to be desired. "Prophecy" is better than "tongues" as a gift, though the latter is more showy, and wisdom and faith are better than either. Divine knowledge with divine wisdom in its use is a gift of priceless worth, bringing joy beyond expression to its possessor, and conferring untold blessings upon others.

These various gifts of the Spirit are obtainable through the prayer of faith. "Ask and it shall be given you" is the promise to the Saints. And they are called Saints who have obeyed the laws and ordinances we have explained, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. But their desires must be pure in order to obtain the blessings for which they ask. These are not given as signs to be consumed on any one's lust. Neither are they bestowed as wonders to create astonishment or feed the love of the marvelous. They are designed for the comfort and confirmation of the faith of the true and obedient believer, and as tokens of the love of an indulgent Father, and they must be used in wisdom, or they will be withdrawn and work injury instead of benefit.

The ceremony of the bestowal of the Holy Ghost is called confirmation. As baptism is the birth of water, so confirmation is the birth or baptism of the Spirit. Both are necessary to entrance into the kingdom of God, whether that is viewed in the light of the Church on earth or the glorious dominion of the Father in heaven. Only they who are led by this Spirit are truly the "sons of God."

As it is bestowed through obedience, so it may be withdrawn through disobedience. The condition of those who lose this gift after having enjoyed it is truly lamentable. The light that was within them becomes darkness, and their last state is worse than their first. Their spiritual tastes become dead or vitiated, light seems to them darkness, and that which was once their greatest delight becomes the object of their deepest aversion. They then become a prey to influences of evil; hatred and malice spring up in their hearts towards the children of light; and the culmination of their career, if persisted in and reclamation does not come, is the shedding of innocent blood, for which there is no forgiveness.

The possessor of the Holy Ghost is infinitely rich; those who receive it and lose it are of all men the poorest. But there are various degrees of its possession. Many who obtain it walk but measurably in its light. But there are a few who live by its whisperings, and approach by its mediumship into close communion with heavenly beings of the highest order. To them its light grows brighter every day. For them are joys, anticipations and glorious hopes that thrill no other bosoms, sweet experiences that earthly pleasures cannot bring, and a spiritual growth towards the stature of Christ Jesus that eternity only will fully unfold to general view.

FOURTH LEAF.

Divine Authority--Without it all Gospel Administrations Vain--It Cannot be Acquired--The Priesthood, its Antiquity, Power and Blessings--The Priesthood of Melchisedek--The Aaronic Priesthood--Priestcraft--The Authority of God Must Come From God--Ordination--Value of the Priesthood.

The ordinances of the gospel, being of divine origin, require divine authority in their administration. Baptism at the hands of one not appointed to attend to it is void. It is therefore without value and without effect. If any unauthorized person were to lay hands upon a baptized believer, even if the correct form of the ordinance were observed, the Holy Ghost would not flow to the subject. No matter how good the intentions of either party might be, the lack of authority would vitiate the whole transaction. No company, firm, society, court or government would acknowledge or become responsible for the acts of any but its duly appointed and properly accredited agents. Why then should the Great King endorse the doings of men who take upon themselves duties not required of them, or bestow, through their unauthorized performance, blessings that belong only to the administrations of His chosen ambassadors?

It is strange that intelligent persons who clearly perceive the necessity of valid authority in human affairs, should imagine that it is not necessary in divine affairs; that while no earthly potentate would be expected to pay the slightest attention to proceedings of any pretended representative of a nation or ruler, the Eternal Monarch of the universe must needs honor the acts of any individual of a devotional cast of mind, who chooses to perform ceremonies and ordinances in His great name.

A man may have such faith in God as to obtain choice blessings, behold visions, receive heavenly gifts, and lay hold upon extraordinary spiritual powers, and yet have no right to administer any ordinance in the name of the Lord. Man cannot acquire this authority; it must be conferred upon him in the appointed way.

In every age when the Almighty has had a church or organized body of true worshipers on earth, He has sent among them men who were authorized by Him to act in His name. Of such were Noah, Melchisedec, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John, and many others. They were not only endowed with the Holy Ghost, but were also appointed and set apart to administer needful rites in God's stead. What they sealed on earth by this authority was sealed in heaven, and what they loosed on earth was loosed in heaven. In other words, what they performed, as directed of God, was accepted by Him and was of the same force as though attended to by Him in person. Any authority less than this is the same as no authority.

This delegated power from God to man is called the Priesthood. Sometimes this term is used in reference to the men who hold this authority. Properly speaking, however, it relates to the office rather than the person. Melchisedec was a great high priest, and the authority he held was eternal in its nature; without beginning of days or end of life. It did not depend upon lineage either of father or mother, and it is written that he who holds it in faithfulness "abideth a priest continually;" that is, he retains it in this world, and also in the world to come. Aaron received a Priesthood which was of another order, and that ran in a family line, descending from father to son, and was subordinate to the higher Priesthood after the order of Melchisedec.

John the Baptist held and administered the Aaronic or lesser Priesthood, but Jesus received and acted in the Melchisedec or higher Priesthood. So John could baptize the repentant for the remission of sins, but could not confer the Holy Ghost as Jesus did. In like manner, Philip, acting in the lesser Priesthood, could baptize the people of Samaria, but had to send for Peter or some other apostle acting in the higher Priesthood, to come down and lay hands upon them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

Jesus did not take this authority upon Himself although he was the Son of God. "He glorified not Himself to be made an High Priest," but His Father called Him, saying, "Thou art a Priest forever, after the order of Melchisedec." Moses and Elijah held similar authority in their day and retained it when they left the sphere of mortality. And they came and administered in that Priesthood to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. As the Father called Him, so called He the apostles, and so, under divine direction, they called and ordained others.

Thus the Priesthood in both orders or branches was continued in the early Christian Church, until through transgression, it was taken from among men, and in its place a spurious priesthood, destitute of divine authority, divine inspiration and divine power, was set up by ambitious and designing men. This is priestcraft, the base counterfeit of the true and heavenly coin.

When the Priesthood is once lost it cannot be regained merely by the hopes, wishes or acts of men. No matter how strong a desire any one may have to benefit his fellow man, he must not attempt to administer to him any ordinance or ceremony of the gospel unless called of God so to do. And this call does not come to men merely "in the heart" or the imagination. A great many enthusiastic persons have felt themselves "called" to the ministry. But this over-anxiety does not give them the Priesthood, any more than strong wishes of a politician for the post of minister to Berlin, clothe him with authority to represent this government in the German empire.

The Priesthood is given by ordination. When there is no man living in the flesh, who holds this authority, its restoration can only be effected by the administration of heavenly beings who formerly held it on the earth. They can return when so permitted and instructed, as Moses and Elias did on the mount. But when the link is restored, they never step over the line of the two spheres for this purpose again, while there remains one man on the earth holding the legitimate authority. For God's house is a house of order, and the rights and powers of His Priesthood cannot be invaded with impunity either by mortal men or the heavenly hosts.

Under divine inspiration and certain rules and provisions, those who hold this Priesthood may ordain others by the laying on of hands. Thus, while mankind are worthy of its administrations and accompanying blessings, it may be perpetuated in the earth, a medium of communication between God and man, a guide for the feet of erring mortals to the straight and narrow path that leadeth unto life. Without it, the inhabitants of the earth wander in spiritual darkness, and those who presume to step forward as their teachers, are blind leaders of the blind, and all their ministrations in the name of Him who never sent them are vain, worthless and without force or virtue in time or eternity.

FIFTH LEAF.

The Church of Christ--Its Unity--Christ's Church under His Personal Supervision--Rules of Admission--No Others Available--Apostleship the Chief Authority--Other Authorities and Ministers--Necessity of These--The Church Progressive--It Casts off Evil-Doers--Brotherhood of Its Members--Mission of the Church.

The Church of Christ is an organized body, consisting of those who believe in Him and have shown their faith by obedience to the initiatory ordinances of His gospel. It may contain many branches, but they will all be connected with the main body, and will all have the same characteristics; that is they will hold the same doctrines and be animated by the same spirit. No matter how many sections of the Church there may be, or how widely they may be separated geographically, they will be governed by the same rule of discipline, and be under the direction of the same head.

The Church of Christ must be established under His own supervision, and according to His commandments. A society of persons professing to believe in Him, but organized without any communication from Him, is not and cannot be His Church, whatever its members may call it, or however sincere they may be in their intentions. Some suppose that every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is, by virtue of that faith, a member of His Church. This is a palpable error. As well might it be assumed that all who believe that the Order of Masonry is a correct form of brotherhood, are by that belief made members of the Order.

All societies have some established regulations for the admission of members. The Church of Christ is no exception to the rule. But the initiatory rites in His Church are prescribed by Him, and no one has the right to change them or substitute others in their place. They are uniform for all people, of both sexes, of every race and of every grade of society. The churches established by men have various modes of receiving members and of conducting church government. This is one proof that they _are_ the churches of men, and not of Jesus Christ.

We have already explained the first principles of the gospel which must be received and obeyed in order to obtain a standing in Christ's Church. Those who have believed, repented, been baptized by one having authority for the remission of sins, and have been confirmed by the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, are thus made members of the Church of Christ. And this is the only way of admission. All who have not complied with these rules are outside of the Church and can get in by no other door than this appointed entrance. Christ will not accept the devices and ordinances and ceremonies ordained of men. They are not His, and are of no force or effect so far as the kingdom of heaven is concerned, either in this world or in the world to come.

Christ is the head of the Church, as man is the head of the woman. But as the woman has also a head to her own personality, so has the Church. The apostleship is the principal governing authority thereof. When Christ ascended on high, the earthly headship devolved upon His apostles, of whom Peter, James and John were the chief. There were also the seventy appointed by the Savior as His traveling ministers, and He gave other officers to the Church, such as evangelists, pastors, elders, bishops, teachers, deacons, etc. All these were under the direction of the apostles, who were inspired, and instructed, and led by Jesus, even after His ascension, and were filled with the Holy Ghost, which bears record of the Father and the Son.

A church which has not inspired apostles nor prophets, cannot be the Church of Christ, for these are essential to its full constitution. All the officers we have named are necessary, in their various positions, to the complete organization of the "body of Christ."

Through these appointed servants of God, the members of the Church are instructed in their duties, led along in the path of truth, admonished of their faults, rebuked for their transgressions, brought to the unity of the faith, corrected of their errors, and when they become evil-doers, and reformation is not probable, disfellowshipped from communion or excommunicated from the Church.

The Church of Christ is progressive. That is, it advances in the knowledge of the truth. As fast as its members are prepared for additional light, through the practice of principles already revealed, new manifestations are given, for the growth of all who will receive the truths unfolded towards the fullness of the stature of Christ Jesus. Old truths are not discarded, but new truths are added, and clearer light is thrown upon what was previously known. Thus the Church advances and prepares its communicants for a higher sphere when they pass away from the plane of mortal existence.

But while it casts off no truth, it eliminates from itself, by natural process, everything obnoxious to its health and vitality. Corrupt and wicked persons occasionally find their way into its sanctuary; some, after being washed from their impurities, turn again to their filthiness, and others become rebellious and discordant. These incongruous elements are gradually separated from the body. For the Church is a living thing, and casts off that which does not assimilate or which is inimical to its growth, harmony and progress.

The members of the Church are all united by a fraternal bond. They are all brethren and sisters, no matter what their condition in life, no matter of what nationality. Indeed nationality is swallowed up in fraternity. They are no longer Jew or Gentile, English, German, Danish or American, they are all one in Christ Jesus. They are no more Catholics or Protestants, Dissenters or Episcopalians, but are baptized by one spirit into one body, and in all essential principles have one faith, and are joined together in the same mind and the same judgment.

The Church of Christ in this and every other age, is connected with the Church of previous ages. That portion behind the vail works in harmony with the new Church in the flesh, and its members, whether in the body or out of the body, move to the common end: the establishment of the kingdom of heaven upon the earth, the spread of the principles of the true Church, until "every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Then the Church will have filled its mission--to preach the gospel, administer in its ordinances, unite the Saints, manifest the things of God, establish righteousness, bring together the heavens and the earth and make straight the path for the Lord Jesus. And the vail of the covering will be taken away; the Church of the Firstborn will be one in all things beneath and above; evil will be swept from the earth; and truth, peace, harmony and praise will glorify this planet and its inhabitants, who will know God, from the least even unto the greatest.

SIXTH LEAF.

Apostasy from the Primitive Church--When it Commenced--The Apostles Predicted it--The Apostasy Universal--The Woman Clothed With the Sun, and the Scarlet-Clothed Harlot--What They Represent--The Reformation--Spread of Truth but Lack of Authority--Multiplication of Sects--No Voice From Heaven.

Comparison of the various sects of modern Christendom with the Church of Christ as established by Jesus and His apostles, which was briefly described in the preceding chapter, will show that there has been a wide and remarkable departure from "the faith once delivered to the saints." It is contrary both to scripture and sound reason to think that Christ would set up two or more discordant religious systems to distract mankind and cause strife and contention. "God is not the author of confusion." There is but one straight and narrow path that leadeth unto life. The mind of God is one; the minds of men are various. The fact then that there are various opposing religions in the world is conclusive evidenced that men have been engaged in their invention. It is also clear that they have established very imperfect imitations of the true Church of Christ.

The departure from the order, doctrine, ordinances and spirit of primitive Christianity commenced at a very early period. Contentions began to creep in among the early saints, and they soon commenced to array themselves in factions, some being of Paul, others of Apollos, others of Cephas, etc. And the inspired leaders of the Church foresaw the great apostasy which would take place, as may be seen from their epistles.

Paul declared that the day of the Lord's second advent would not dawn until a "falling away" should occur. He described the condition of apostate Christendom, when the people "would not endure sound doctrine," but would "heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;" when "doctrines of devils" should be taught instead of the pure gospel; when they would have "a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof;" and Peter declared that false teachers would arise in the place of the duly authorized servants of God, and bring in damnable heresies; who "through covetousness would make merchandise" of the souls of men; and by whom "the way of truth would be evil spoken of." This "mystery of iniquity" had already begun to work even in their day, and rapidly increased after their departure.

The combined powers of the world, the flesh and the devil, made such inroads upon the Church of Christ, that, by the time when John, the beloved disciple, was banished to the isle of Patmos, where he received the great vision known as the Book of Revelation, only seven branches of the Church were worthy of divine mention, and some of them had become so corrupt that terrible denunciations were hurled against them, and they were threatened with complete rejection.

In that same vision the inspired apostle beheld the utter and universal apostasy of the Church and the spread of spurious Christianity until _all nations_ were "made drunk with the wine of the wrath of the fornication" of Babylon, "the mother of harlots and abominations." Instead of the chaste Church of Christ, clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet and the crown of twelve stars upon her head, the scarlet-clothed impostor, sitting upon the beast, grasping a golden cup full of filthiness for the whole world to drink. Regal pomp and state power, instead of the solar glory of the Melchisedec and the lunar rays of the Aaronic Priesthoods, with the stellar crown of apostleship shining at the head! Mystery instead of light! Painted gaudiness instead of modest purity! Names of blasphemy instead of that one sacred name at which every knee should bow!