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 THE EVANGELICAL 
 
 DENUMIKATIONS OF TIIK AdK. 
 
 BY 
 
 REV. S. G. PHILLIPS. M.A., 
 
 ,Al rilOK OK "NkKO ok IllK WORLK," " SaCUKU NamK>.'* &C., dti'. 
 
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THE 
 
 EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS OF THE AGE. 
 
 00383 
 
THE EVANGELICAL 
 
 DENOMINATIONS OF THE AGE. 
 
 BY < 
 
 REV. S. G. PHILLIPS. M.A., 
 
 Ai'TiioR OF "Nkkd ok tub World." "Sacrki> Namrs," Sec. &c. 
 
 "And so were the Chtirchen eatablixhed in the faith, and incrfaaed in number 
 
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 TOKONTO : 
 WILLIAM BRIGGS, 
 
 78 & 80 King Strbkt East. 
 1882. 
 
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PREFACE. 
 
 f^pFll^ writer of the following i)ag('s was led at elovpn 
 _1- yrars of age to unit*! himself with a section of the 
 Christian Cliurch. in that communion for forty-tlin-e y«!ars 
 he has >)een endeavoring to do something for the Master. 
 He noA^ looks back with exceeding pleasere to that ]>ortion 
 of his life, (conscious, thas he has hadfellowshi}) with people, 
 the purest, and the best. That he has avoided many of the 
 temptations by which he might have been led astray if he 
 had lived outside the Christian circle. That he has enjoyed 
 unbounded pleasure often in. the public and private means 
 of grace, while uniting with the earnest, zealous, and conse- 
 crated people of (lod. 
 
 He is not blind to the fact, that inconsistent and unworthy 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 persons are somotinifs found in all sortions of the vismlo 
 Churcli of Christ. The Church of which tluty are nicnihcrs 
 is not to l>laMi«^ for their unfaithfulness, for they often i^ive 
 j^reat sorrow to tlios(; who are striving to live purer and 
 better lives. 
 
 Had the writer to live his life over again, with his know- 
 ledge of the ('hurch<'s and their work, he would connect him- 
 self with that ({(nionuBUtion whore he felt he could he the 
 most useful and hajipy, for tht^ following reasons : 
 
 1 He believes that th<^ denominations are in accordance 
 with God's plan, and His plan should be ours. 
 
 2. Within these Christ sheds spiritual light upon the 
 hearts of thousands, sufficient to guide them all the way to 
 heaven. 
 
 '.\. Th<' Spirit of (iod is poured out U])on the lu^arts of 
 millions, producing conversion and complete reformation of 
 life. 
 
 4. Here God is ever present with His people, and is their 
 strength, light, comfort, and defence. 
 
 5. This is a safe asylum for the out(;ast and wanderer, 
 when by the power of God he is rescued from sin and moral 
 death. Ff he is left in the world he will perish ; if brought 
 into the Church it is likely he will be savod forever. 
 
 6. The Church of Christ in the denominations is the sweet, 
 serene, and peaceful home ^f (Jod's spiritual and happy peo- 
 ple. The place of His throne ; the place where His honor 
 
PFIEFACE. V 
 
 dwollotl). Wliorp Oo(i is, is hoavon upon oarth. In " His 
 presence is fulnoss of joy ; at, Ilia right hand, there are 
 pleasures for evermore." 
 
 Of hite, many persons who are not of the infidel class, but 
 who claim to be devout, shun the (churches ; and often during 
 the progress of revival services, advise penitents not to enter 
 them, aflirming that they will receive damage by doing ao. 
 That these pages may reach such people and lead them to 
 see the absurd position they have taken ; and may lead pen- 
 titents into the only place of safety and happiness, is the 
 earnest prayer of 
 
 THE AITTHOK. 
 
 VanKLEEK illLL. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Paok. 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The Evangelical Denominations of the Age parts 
 
 OF THE Church of Christ ^ ^ 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Evangelical Denominations of the 
 goverend by the Laws of Christ 
 
 Age 
 
 24 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 The Evangelical Denominations of the Age, places 
 
 of Safety for the Outcast and Wanderer 36 
 
THE 
 
 EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS OF THE AGE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS OF THE AGE. 
 
 E regret that many persons who seem to be 
 very devout are waging a life waragainst 
 the churches, stigmatizing them as sects. 
 They use this word SECT, with a great deal 
 of bitterness, saying that there is moral corruption in 
 the churches. They often affirm " that the w^orld would 
 be far better without the sects, than with them." I 
 heard a man, professing to l>e a Christian say, some 
 time since, that it would have been far better for the 
 village where he lived, if no church ov minister had ever 
 existed in it. I have carefully considered this class of 
 men, and have found that they are not thinkers, but are 
 in general ignorant, weak, factious, superstitious, and 
 not capable of discerning goodness when it comes in 
 conflict with their own narrow^ notions. People who 
 become weary of their connection with the churches are 
 generally of thi class. The world needs the evan- 
 gelical denominations of this age. I have no objection 
 
1*2 THE KVANJiELK AL DENOMINATlnNS OF THE A(;E 
 
 to tli»' word " soct," as it siinpl y mocan.s a body of per- 
 sons who follow some teacher, and are united in son\e 
 settled tenets; as in religion, or in pliilosophy ; a 
 reliii' )us denomination, o' a philosophical school. 
 Thci'c is certaiidy n i!iing corrupt indicated in the 
 term. 
 The relkjious denominations are the Only re- 
 
 I'RESENTATIVES OF THE ChURCH OF ChRIST AT THE 
 
 RRESENT TIME. I cannot tind, by careful study, that 
 God lias ever suffered the dark, and immoral w^orld to 
 exist without the enlightening, and purifying influences 
 in its midst, of an or<xanized church, under the im- 
 uK'diate direction of God. In patriarchal times, as re- 
 mote as th(^ age of Job, there were altars, sacrifices, and 
 worship, and the patriarchs held the three oflices of 
 Prophet, Priest, and King. We have in the Christian 
 church to-day the sacrifice of Christ, the teaching of 
 the Word, and the government of Christ, the three im- 
 port;! nt elements found in the Patriarchal Church. 
 The Jewish Church was called Israel, was loved and 
 nourish(d of God, and received His word. Her 
 sacrifices symbolized the sacrifice of Christ ; her people 
 were the people of God ; lier laws were holy. She 
 had her prophets and her priests, and God was her 
 King. At last she was superseded by t'le Christian 
 CJhui-ch, which is to continue to the end of time, and 
 never give place to any other religion. Christ, when 
 He commissioned His apostles to preach and govern 
 His church, promised to be w4th them unto the end of 
 
I'Airrs OF THE cm kch of chuist. 13 
 
 the world. " Go ye, therefore, and teach all uafions, 
 baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the 
 Son,, and of the Holy Ghost : Teaehhuj them to obscnw 
 all things whatsoever I have commanded you ; and, 
 lo, I am ii'lth yoii alicay, even unto tlw end of the 
 world. Amen.''* 
 
 This Cluirch is in tlie wovhl to-day. Wlicre is it 
 represented if it is not in the (ivanjjjelical denomina- 
 tions ? What organized body of people outside these 
 denominations hold and propagate tlie truth of C'hrist^ 
 and save souls out of the world, and huiM up believers ^ 
 Where is there an asylum for the outcast and wanderer 
 wdien he is reclaimed ? And where is there a home for 
 the people of God ? Let these people wIkj are constantly 
 opposiiig the ditferent branches of the (Jhurch of 
 Christ tell us where she is to be found to-day. Has 
 she finished her work and entered into her rest ^ Or 
 is she hidinir her litrht in some unknown wilderness ^ 
 I look into the evangelical denominations of the age, 
 and I tind that Christ walks in their midst as once He 
 walked in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, 
 representing the seven Churches of Asia Minor. The 
 denominations illustrated by these seven golden can- 
 dlesticks are golden ; they are solid and precious in the 
 sight of God, and they bear up the light of Christ before 
 the world. They are the representatives of Christ's 
 Church on earth, and I can find no other. 
 
 As ORGANIZATIONS THEY ARE PARTS OF THE ChURCH 
 
 * Matt, xxviii. 19, 2U. 
 
14 THE EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS OF THE AGE 
 
 OF Christ. What constitutes the Church of Christ ? 
 It is made up of human beings who are united in one 
 body, haWng Christ as their head. Thus united, they 
 have one Lord Jesus Christ ; one faith, faith in Christ ; 
 one baptism, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 It is made up of hitman beings, existing among 
 human beings for Christian work, havinsf a visible 
 form called an " Assembly,"* " Church of God,"-(- 
 " Congregation of Saints,"^ " Family in Heaven and 
 Earth,"j^ " Golden Candlesticks,"|l " God's Building,"1I 
 
 "House of God,"** " Temple of God."tt 
 
 The Church of Christ is an organization as a 
 SOCIETY, " A Congregation of Saints ;"|J " Flock of 
 Godfjijjlj " A Fanuly."|ill All who belong to this congre- 
 gation, Hock, or family, have one aim and work, under 
 a constitution, and laws. First, their aim is their own 
 salvation, God's glory, and the salvation of their 
 fellow-men. Secondly, the laws by which they are 
 governed are found in the New Testament and in the 
 Moral Law, which says : " Thou shalt love the Lord 
 thy God with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with 
 all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and thy 
 neighbor as thyself." 
 
 The division of the Church of Christ into dif- 
 ferent BODIES is unavoidable IN HER PRESENT CIR- 
 
 • Psalm Ixxxix. 7. II Rev. i. 20. t+ Psalm cxlix. 1. 
 
 t Acts XX. 28. r 1 Cor. iii. 9. g§ Ezck.xxxiv. 12,13. 
 
 X Psalm cxlix. 1. **1 Tim. iii. 15. llj| Eph. iii. 15. 
 
 § Eph. iii. 15. ttl Cor. iii. 16, 17. 
 
PARTS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. 1 
 
 r 
 
 CUMSTANCES. I think it is in accordance with God's 
 plan of extending His Church in the world and 
 does not in tlie least interfere with the essential 
 principles found in the true Church of Christ, 
 which is the union of faith, spirit, and life. A 
 great army under one general nia\' be well dis- 
 ciplined, and have one given object in view, the 
 defence of a nation, or the overthrow of one, and yet 
 it may be divided into regiments, brigades, and com- 
 panies. This is necessary in order for it to be pro- 
 perly officered, equipped, and employed. The Church 
 numbers millions of members. No building or place 
 would be large enough to contain them all ; yet, when 
 divided up into small companies, they may meet in 
 our churches, and, officered in every place, can -be use- 
 fully employed, and no part of the work need be 
 burdensome or oppressive. 
 
 The same (Jhurch exists in difierent countries, 
 speaking different languages, England, France, Ger- 
 many, Asia, or Africa. It is the same Church in 
 every place. The seven Churches of Asia Minor were 
 " golden ;" they all held up light to the world, and 
 •* Christ walked in the midst " of them. The same is 
 observable in the denominations of our own times. 
 
 The Church of Christ exists in the form of 
 DENOMINATIONS. In the fundamentals of the Chris- 
 tian religion these denominations are united, in ncn- 
 essentials they allow liberty to all. They hold the 
 same truths, believe and worship the same Saviour, 
 
16 THE EVANOKLK'AL DExNOMiNATImNS OF THE AOE 
 
 and in spirit, in faith, and life are one, holding one 
 Lord, one faith, one baptism. 
 
 ThH division of THE CHURCH INTO DIFFERENT 
 DENOMINATIONS IS A RENEFIT RATHER THAN OTHERWISE, 
 IF EACH I'OSSKSSES THE SPIRIT OF ChRIST, WHICH IS 
 
 ITNLIMITKD CHARITY TOWARD ALL. I do not believe in 
 denominational bitterness, strife, or bigotry. In a 
 qualified and limited sense I do believe in division, 
 as I do in a nation, an army, or any great body of 
 people appointed under different leaders to do either 
 different kinds of work, or work extending over a 
 large field of operations, where in a divided form they 
 can do more work, and better, than they possibly 
 could in one great body. No one denomination knows 
 all the truth. As our churches are made up of differ- 
 ent classes of persons, some ignorant and unlearned, 
 some pedjudiced by early influence, such as erroneous 
 teaching and example ; some self-willed, holding too 
 high an estimate of their own abilities, and indeed of 
 their piet}', there must necessarily exist in the de- 
 nominations more or less error. Should the Church 
 of Christ form only one body, these many errors 
 would of necessity exert a more damaging influence 
 than now. The Church being thus divided, we strive 
 to correct each other's errors, and emulate each other's 
 excellencies. As brethren in Christ we approve what 
 is excellent, and we strive to correct what is defective. 
 In short, we strive to help one another. There is a 
 great difference in the denominations, some are more 
 
PARTS OK THF CfirHrU OF (HHIST. J7 
 
 Spiritual and useful than others, while there is a lar<;c 
 amount of <,'ood in all. All the Ohurchefi have pecu- 
 liarities adapted to the character, conditions, and 
 circumstances of the thousands of their adherents. A 
 certain class of persons can be more useful in the 
 denomination adapted to its own mt^ntal states, and 
 to its peculiar suiroundinufs, hence \ think these 
 divisions are important, and of Divine appointment. 
 What I ohject to is denomlxational higotry, 
 which holds that the Church of whieli I am a mem- 
 ber is the only safe Church, the only true Church, Tlie 
 ('hurch. In other words all who are out of this 
 Church are not Christians, and, therefore, must perish. 
 A good little work was published some time ago en- 
 titled : The Voyagk to Glory. The author repre- 
 sented the ditierent denominations as ships out upon 
 the ocean of time, laden with hundreds of precious souls 
 saved b}^ the grace of Christ, bearing them on to the 
 port of glory. What if one of these ships should sink 
 midway in the ocean ? Must the souls she bears perish ? 
 Ah, no ! There are other sliips sailing for the same port, 
 they have room enough, and tlie souls are safe tliough 
 the ship may sink. If the Methodist, cr Episcopalian, or 
 Congregational Churches should cease to exist, the souls 
 saved through their instrumentality need not perish 
 while the Evangelical Churches are doing the same soul- 
 saving work. This I conceive to be God's plan, that 
 if one ship sinks, one Church fails, He has others 
 in which He can save precious souls, and the work of 
 
 9 
 
IS TFIE EVANGELHAJ. I JKNOMl NATIONS OF THK AdE 
 
 extondinnj His U'in;:]fflo?n may tluis ^o on. Finally, 
 upon this point read :* "And as tln\v \V( nt throuj^li tho 
 cities thoy dolivenHl thcni the decrees for to keep, that 
 were ordained of tlie apostles and elders which were at 
 Jerusalem, and so were the churches estai»lis]ie(l in the 
 faitli, and increase(l in nuniher daily." Here notice : 
 
 1st. Paul and Timotheus went through the cities 
 visiting tlie chnrch(^s. 
 
 2nd. Thc^y delivenMl to tlu^se cluirches the decrees 
 for to keep that were ordained of the apostles and 
 elders that were at Jerusalem.-|- 
 
 3rd. The result of the didivery of those decn^es 
 was — the chui'ches increased in numhers daily. 
 
 The Chuiich of Christ is officered, and the 
 officers are all found in the different denoimin- 
 ATIONS of THE PRESENT AGE. There are two classes, 
 ministers and deacons. Of ministers in the early 
 Church, there were bishops, elders, prophets, and evan- 
 gelists. Paul says : " And Cod hath set some in the 
 church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly 
 teachers, then gifts of healing, helps, governments 
 diversities of tongues."J Again, in his Epistle to the 
 Ephesians, " And he gave some, apostles ; and some, pro- 
 phets ; and some, evangelists ; and some, pastors and 
 teachers ; for the perfecting of the saints, for the 
 work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of 
 Christ : Till we all come in the unity of the faith, 
 and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a per- 
 
 * Acts xvi. 4, 5. t Acts xv. 23, 2\). J 1 Cor. xii, 28. 
 
PARTS OF TIfF, CirrTRCFI oF rmnsT. 19 
 
 feet man, unto the moasiire of the stature of the full- 
 ness of (/hrist."* No one will doiiht that this ministry 
 odlled hy Jesus (^hrist, an<l (pialified hy the saiietifyinjij 
 ))ower of the Holy Spirit, was necessary to sti^ni^then 
 and increase the early ('hureh of Christ. T3ut did the 
 necessity for this ministry eease at the close of the 
 apostolic period ? No one of conmioii sense will admit 
 of this. You employ an architect to Imild a maijnifi- 
 cent palace, he lays tlie foumlation, and partly huilds 
 the walls, you then dismiss him, an<l suhstitute no 
 other. I ask, if neither he nor any one else equally 
 <j^ifted should complete the structure how couhl it be 
 finished <! If the jxo<llv and self-tlenyini; ministers of 
 this age are not the minsters of Christ, who are, and 
 where are they to i)e f<mnd ^ If ministers such as 
 Christ called and qualified to preach were necessary at 
 the commencement of the Christian Church, are they 
 not e(|ually so in this age of infidelity and sin ? Most 
 enlightened people of this age belieye in the Divine 
 appointment and usefulness of the ministers of Christ, 
 while others urge the indiscriminate abandonment of 
 that department of Christian toil performed by them 
 in the churches. On this subject there are two classes 
 of persons in the religious worhj who go to extremes. 
 One class will uphold a despot and tyrant if only he is 
 named a minister of the Christian Church, and another 
 which will hinder as far as it can the usefulness of the 
 most godly, humble, and self-denying mini.-iters, who 
 
 ♦Epli. iv. 11, u. 
 
20 THK KVAN(iKM("AI< DKNoMINATloNS oK TIIK A(JE 
 
 ]iav(> only two a'lns in their liv«!S, tlie glory of Oo*), 
 and tlu' salvation of num. 
 
 TlIK grAl.IKICATloNS KOHTHK \Vn|{K OKTIli: MINISTUV 
 IN Tin: KAHI.V ClirMCfl WKUK I'KKriSKLV WHA'I' AlU: 
 NKKDKI) MV THK MIMSTKUS <)}-' TIIK MoDKKN (IUKCH : — 
 
 1. I^liy.sical Stren^^tli. " Tliey wore in labors many." 
 
 2. Intollt'ctual <,nt'ts to enable tbcm to understand 
 the truth, and impart it to othei's. 
 
 2. The nfit't of laniiuaire, to »'nable thcni readily to 
 communicntr tlieir knowiedf'C! to otliei\s. 
 
 4. A well-directed judfj^mcnt to discriminate ])etween 
 rijLjfht and wronf]^, Qfood an<l evil. 
 
 5. Spiritual gifts, a regeneivite*! nature, and th(^ 
 baptism of the Holy Spirit. 
 
 Ministers in our denominations possess tlie same 
 (|ualifieations, accomplish the same work, an<l tlieir 
 labors are crowned with the same success. From the 
 whole we learn : 
 
 1. Tliat true ministers in all ages are called of God. 
 All possess the same general qualifications, and do the 
 same work. 
 
 2. All are instrumental in the salvation of souls, 
 some more so than others l)ecause of the (juality and 
 extent of tlieir labors. 
 
 3. Common sense teaches us that there should be 
 this ministry. 
 
 4. The Bil)le clearly defines it, and its work. It 
 points out a certain class of persons for the work, and 
 these shall be provided for in the work. " Moreover 
 
I'AKTS OK TIIK rniKril oK 'MHIST. 21 
 
 ke comiiutudcti the pfoplr tluit dwelt in Jet'siudem to 
 glue the port ion of the priests and the Lerities, that they 
 might he eaconnujed in the l(uu of the Lord."* And 
 l*uul ill his cpistlo to tlu' (Ijilatiaiis says, " Let liim 
 that IS taught in the; Word cnmiminicat*' unto him that 
 teachi'th in all «>uo(I thiii;(s."f licrc you have proof 
 that a paid ministry is a'-cordin;^' to (Jod's plan, and to 
 the usa<res of the Apost' lie Church : — 
 
 1. It is (iod's plan that ministers sliould preach the 
 Word, ami s[)iritually ^r,,v,'rn the ehurehes.:^ Those 
 who oppose thr nnnistry of the churches believe in 
 lay ai^eney ; so do we. 
 
 2. It is Ood's plan that private members shall re 
 gard his ministers and treat th»Mn as messfmrrors from 
 Him. § 
 
 II 'J'hat they shall attend to their instructions.il 
 
 4. That they shall hold them in re|tutation and even 
 love them.*l 
 
 '). That they shall help them.** 
 
 (). They are ordaiiied.-f-f 
 
 Surely such a ministry appointed by God, to which 
 is given such pronnnence in the Scriptures, and wdiich 
 is doino- Apostolic work, is worthy of the esteem and 
 confidence of every ri;^dit-niinded religious person. 
 
 Illustrations.— God has made his ministers lishers 
 
 * 2 0111011. xxxi. 4. J; ] Cor. iv. 1. ** Phil. iv. ;3. 
 
 t I ( 'or. i.x. 7-14 ; Cul. :, Matt, xxiii. 3 ; J'liil. ft Mark iii. 14 ; Titus 
 
 ^'i- ^■- "-29. i.5: IThn. ii. 7; 
 
 t Acts xvi. 1. Ii 2 Cor. viii. 7. Acts xiv. 23. 
 
22 THK EVANGKLICAL DENOMINATIONS OK THE A(iE 
 
 of men. This image is very fine. The fisher casts his 
 net not knowing whether he will gather any or not, 
 or whether many or t'ew^ The tisher takes his prey 
 alive, and draws them together, and to himself. The 
 work of the fisher is one of art and not one of force 
 and violence. And even the death of the fish when it 
 is drawn out of the waters has its analogy in the 
 higher spirit world. A man drawn forth from the 
 Gospel nets — from the worldly, sinful element in 
 which he before lived and moved — dies to sin, to the 
 world, and out of this death he rises to a higher life 
 in Christ. — Trench. 
 
 To stand up between God and man, to deliver God's 
 message, to preach to man, is truly beautiful. It is 
 among the most lovely and touching sights to be be- 
 held on eartli. The position of a man striving to save 
 the souls of men, to remove human sorrow, to alleviate 
 the misery of man, is the highest, the noblest, and 
 truest of all public functionaries on earth. Is any one 
 worthier of the livelihood he has than himself ? J 
 believe not. 
 
 How hard some people are toward their ministers. 
 A person called on his minister to tell him he could, 
 not enjoy his preaching as much as he once did. " Well 
 my brother," said the minister, " before you tell me 
 what in me you have to find fault with let us pray 
 together. Will you kneel down and pray for me V 
 They knelt dow^n and prayed, and when they arose, 
 the minister said, " Now, dear brother, sit down and 
 
PARTS OF THE CIirRCH OF CHRIST. 
 
 23 
 
 tell 1110 what fault you have to fiad." The man said, 
 " I am ashamed of myself. I have no fault to find 
 at all." " Why, how is that, my brother ?" " Why, sir 
 since you asked me to |)i7iy fur you 1 cannot hnd fault 
 with you : J believe now, sir, the fault is in myself; I 
 never prayed for jiju before, but now I will." 
 
 ""^^xai^ 
 
 ^^1^ 
 
 ^~?rc22lD^ 
 
 r ^: 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS OF THE AGE. 
 
 |HE ^reat end of Christ's mission on earth was 
 i(| to form a Church that sliould extend her 
 '^' influence to the utmost limits of earth, and to 
 the end of time. Daniel saw Christ's mission 
 fulfilled in the vision recorded in the second chapter of 
 his book, where he saw the destruction of the in.age re- 
 presenting thefour monarchiesof the ancient world; the 
 Assyrian, the Medes and Persians, the Grecian, and 
 the Roman. The head of gold, the breast and 
 arms of silver, the belly of brass, and the feet 
 and legs of iron and of clay, illustrated these four 
 great monarchies. ''He saw till a stone was cut 
 out of the rock without hands, which smote the 
 image upon his feet that were of iron and of clay, 
 and brake them to pieces."* " And in the days of 
 
 * Daniel ii. 34. 
 
r.OVERXEI) in- TTIK LAWS OF rHRtST. '^ 
 
 Z> 
 
 those kings shall the God of heav(m set up a kingdom 
 which shall never be destroyed ; and the kingdom 
 shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in 
 pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall 
 stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the 
 stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and 
 that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the 
 silver, and the gold. The great God liath made known 
 to the king what shall come to pass hereafter."* In the 
 extension of this kingdom, now the kingdom of the 
 stone, but in after ages to become the kingdom of the 
 mountain, and to fill the whole earth. Ministers, 
 teachers, evangelists, and deacons, appointed by God 
 himself, and qualified for this great work are to take 
 a prominent and important position. They are to en- 
 force and explain the doctrines of Christ, and thus to 
 confirm the people in a holy profession and the practice 
 of Christian virtues, for the purest systems of religion 
 must become corrupted, or dwuiidle into nothing if 
 they are not perpetually inculcated and explained by 
 a regular standing ministry. So the best histoi-ians 
 affirm. A body so large as the Christian Church can 
 not be governed without definite, just, and righteous 
 laws. 
 
 The laws of the Christian Chl'rch are clearlv 
 GIVEN. Neither Christ nor His Apostles commanded 
 anything as to the external forms of the Church- 
 The regulation of this was to be left in some measure 
 
 * Dauiel ii. 44, 45. 
 
2{j IKE EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS OF THE A(.E 
 
 to tiiiios and cir(3Uiri.stances, and to the wisdom and 
 piety of the rulers. Yet there are definite laws laid 
 down by (yhrist, and His inspired Apostles for tlie 
 government of the Christian Church in her relations 
 to Christ, to the world, and the mutual relationship 
 existiuLi" between her memht^rs. 
 
 TI/(^ l<nrs litiil (loir)i fnj Ch I'lsf (ive found chiefly In 
 His Sertttoti on tite Mount. Some are left to be 
 im]«lied, others are plainly i,dven, the former we have 
 in the folio wini^' : — '' Blessed are the poor in spirit." 
 (Be ve hundjle.) "Blessed are they that mourn." 
 (Be ye sorry for sin.) "Blessed are the meek." (Be 
 ye meek.) " Blessed are they that hunj^ei' and thirst 
 after ]'i<diteousness." (Hunfjer and thirst after riq;ht- 
 eousness.j " Blessed are the merciful." (Be ye merci- 
 ful.) " Blessed are the pure in heart." (Be ye pure 
 ill heart.) "Blessed are the peace-makers." (Make 
 peace with one another.)* These are all implied laAvs 
 given by the Great Lawgiver in the keeping of which 
 He has promised a blessing. Further He says, " Let 
 your light shine." He commanded that His disciples. 
 shouM keej) the moral law. " Think not that I am 
 come to destroy the law and the prophets : 1 am not 
 come to destroy but to fulfil. For, verilv I say unto 
 you, till heaven and earth shall pass one jot or one 
 tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be 
 fultilled. Whosoever shall break one of these least 
 commandments, shall be called least in the king- 
 
 * Matt. V. 3-9. 
 
GOVERNED HV LAWS OF CHRIST. 27 
 
 dom of heaven ; but whosoever shall do and teach 
 them, the same shall be called crreat in the kinixdom 
 of heaven."* They were to live in harmony and 
 love one with another.-|- They were not to eonniiit 
 adultery.;]: They were to pluck out the right eye, or 
 cut oti' the right hand, if these canst.' tliem to sin.jjj 
 They were not to encourage divorce, nor swear, nor 
 return evil for evil. Thev were to return ijood for 
 evil, love their enemies, and be perfect as tlieir Father 
 in heaven is perfect.;! In the sixtli chapter of 
 Matthew, Christ gives laws with regard to alms-giving, 
 prayer, fasting, laying up treasure, the Christian 
 should have one aim, should regard heavenly things as 
 more important than earthly.*' This is a brief out- 
 line of Christian law laid dow^n by Christ in His 
 Sermon on the Mount. We find the same laws en- 
 forced by the Apostles all through the Epistles of the 
 New Testament, and we mast not forget that the 
 Apostles were inspired by God in the application and 
 enforcement of these Divine laws. Are not all these 
 taught and enforced in the denominations of the 
 Christian Church to-day i' I think they are ; but no 
 one of them refers to the mode of worship, nor to the 
 external forms of Church government to be adopted 
 by the foUow-ers of Christ in any age or place. As to 
 the enforcement of these laws, we have already shown 
 that this was done by the apostles, elders, and 
 
 *Matt. V. 17, 19. IMatt. v. 27. .; Matt. v. 38-48. 
 
 tMatt. V. 21-2t). §Matt. v, 29, 30. II Mutt. vi. 1-l;4. 
 
2^S TUK EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS OF THE AGE 
 
 deacons. As Paul and Tiniotheus " went tlirongli the 
 cities tliey <lelivered tlieni tlie decrees for to keep that 
 were oi'dained of the apostles and elders that were 
 at JerusaleuL"* Wliat were these decrees ^+ The 
 Apostles showed that the people were to abstain from 
 meats offered to idols, from blood and things strangled, 
 and from fornication. By enforcing these degrees, 
 whicli struck at th ' prevailing corruptions of tlie age, 
 the Churches were established, and increased in num- 
 ber daily.| T/iis is precisdij what Christian ministers 
 are now doing. They are not flying with the wind 
 and swinnning with the tide ; but are enforcing Chris- 
 tian law, opposing the prejudices and sins of the age, 
 and, by preaching Christ and His will, are establishing 
 the Churches and increasing the number of members 
 daily. 
 
 The Church of Christ has a pure systkm of 
 
 REMGIOl'S truth, AND THIS IS TAUGHT IN ALL THE 
 
 EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS. Standing out promi- 
 nently in this .system are the doctrines of the Trinity; 
 the Deity, His attributes, and works ; the divinity and 
 work of Christ;' the divinity, personality, and work 
 of the Holy Spirit ; man's original and fallen state, 
 and the vicarious sacrifice of Christ ; the atonement 
 and the means by which the blessings of the atonement 
 may be applied to the hearts of men ; repentance and 
 faith. The extent of the blessings of justification by 
 faitli, regeneration, santification, and glorification in 
 
 "Acts xvi. 4. tAots XV. 29. t Acts xvi. 5. 
 
HOLD A PURE SYSTP:M OF RELKUOUS TRITM. 21) 
 
 the world to come ; Christ crucified, and His resurrec- 
 tion were prominent doctrines in the Apostolic age. 
 Never were they kept more prominently het'orc the 
 people than at the present time. The Word of Gixi 
 was highly valued, and never was it more appr(3ciated 
 and studied than it is to-day. 
 
 The Apostles were sent forth in their day as heralds 
 to proclaim the death, resurrection, ascension, and 
 triumphant reign of Christ, and in this way to " open 
 the blind eyes," and turn the people from sin to holi- 
 ness, and from Satan to God. Peter on the day of 
 Pentecost, before the assembled multitudes proclaimed, 
 " Ye men of Israel, hear these words of Jesus of 
 Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by 
 miracles, and wonders, and signs ; which God did by 
 Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know : 
 Him being delivered by the determinate counsel, and 
 foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and with wicked 
 hands have crucified and slain : whom God hath 
 raised up."* Peter and John afterward went up into 
 the temple and cured the lame man, and then preached 
 to the multitudes assembled, the same glorious truths. 
 '' Ye denied the Holy One, and the Just, and desired a 
 murderer to he granted unto yoil, and killed the Prince 
 of Life ; whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof 
 we are witnesses." f For this boldness of speech, Peter 
 and John were cast into prison. Afterwards, before 
 the rulers of the Jews, Peter afhrmed, that it was in 
 
 * Acts ii. 2-2, 24. + Acts iii. 14, 15. 
 
:K) the EVAN(iELICAL DENOMINATIONS OF THE A(}E 
 
 the name of Jesus, that this lame man had been 
 liealed. Being iilled with the Holy Ghost he said 
 unto them, "Ye rulers of the people and elders of 
 Israel, be it known unto you all, and to all the people of 
 Israel, that by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, whom 
 vc liave crucified, whom God raised from the dead, 
 even by Him doth this man stand here before you 
 whole."* When was there a time when the death, 
 resurrection, and ascension of Christ, together with 
 His reign of righteousness, and His second coming to 
 judgment, were more fully and impressively proclaimed 
 than they are now ? When Peter proclaimed them, 
 thousands were converted ! So thousands are being 
 converted to-day under the same glorious truths. 
 
 The Christian Church has a pure life produced 
 \vi Christ through the proclamation of His 
 truth. Paul said, " I am not ashamed of the Gospel 
 of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to 
 every one that believeth;"*!* and He who spake as never 
 man spake said, " Search the Scriptures, for in them 
 ye thimk ye have eternal life, for they are they that 
 testify of Me.'' .| This pure life is not simply being 
 educated in religion, nor is it union with the 
 C'hurch of Christ. There are thousands in this ajre of 
 profession who have been educated in religion and 
 make a loud profession of it, who have never known 
 by experience what this life is. Christ refers to it in 
 His conversation with Nicodemus who came to Him 
 
 * Acts iv. 8-10. tRom. i. 16. :|: John v. 39. 
 
Jini.I) A I'l'HE SYSTKM OK HI'I.KilOlS TIUTII. :\\ 
 
 by niglit, dosiriiio- to know the way of otornal life. Ho 
 said, "Except a man be born ai-vain lie cannot enter into 
 tlie kingdom of God."* This life is spiritual. tli.Mvfore 
 heavenly and snpernatural, whereby wc Ii\e to (lod 
 and enjoy peace with Plini, " To bv spi nfn,f//>/ ,,, nnhd 
 is life and p^arr."f "If ye then arc risen with Cliri.st 
 seek those thin<,rs whicli are abo\e, where Christ 
 sitteth at the rii:,dit hand of (rod. Set youi- atlections on 
 things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are 
 dead and your life is hid with Christ in C{od.:|: Many 
 persons of pretended piety, in speaking against the 
 Churches, say they have degenerated and are not what 
 (Christ designed His Church to be. Are thes<' allega- 
 tions true :' If so these are facts which we cannot 
 undervstand. If converted people enjoying this life 
 are not in connection with the denominations of the 
 age, then w^here are they to be found ? Have you ever 
 seen them occupying any other sphere ? Have they 
 all passed to their heavenly reward ? Or have they 
 secreted themselves in some lone wilderness ;' Where 
 are they, we repeat, if they are not found in the 
 Churches ? The greatest enemies of the Churches will 
 acknowledge that they are to be found there, and 
 there are but few, if any, in any otlier place on 
 earth. 
 
 Then we cannot understand how it is that if the 
 members of the Church of Christ in the denominations 
 are not in possession of this life, there should be mani- 
 
 *Johniii. 5. + Rom. viii. 6. :J:Cf»l. iii. 1-3. 
 
32 TME KVANCJKI.FfAI, DENOMIXATIONS OF TTIK AHE 
 
 festcd in tho lives of so many its true characteristics, 
 light, purity, peace, zeal, and fidelity. When you sec 
 these fruits of ('hristian living: vou may rest assured 
 that the Holy S])irit of CJod is operating upon the 
 lu^art of the individual on whom the fruit is found. 
 In the spring-time you see the stately tree hearing huds, 
 then tlu' hroad and heautiful leaf, then comes forth 
 the fragrant blossoms, and in process of time the 
 delicious fruit. All this is the result of the flowing: 
 sap, circulating through every bough and brjinch. So it 
 is when the Spirit's influence is poured out upon the 
 human soul, then appears the beautiful leaves of 
 Christian example, and the blossoms and fruits of holy 
 living. The Spirit of God is rlesignated Holy Spirit seve- 
 ral times in the Word of God, because His proper office 
 is to sanctify the people of God. The more we partake 
 of the Holy Spirit's influence, the more devoted and 
 holy Avill our lives become, and the more will they be 
 governed according to the rules of sanctified reason, 
 and tl)e dictates of God's Holy Spirit contained in His 
 Word. When the Spirit of God has taken up His 
 residence in the human soul, He exerts a powerful 
 influence upon all that man's thoughts, words, and 
 actions, and makes him to be ''fruitful and abound in 
 every good word and work.'' Such a life is lived in the 
 Churches, and w^e believe more extensively than in any 
 age since Christianity was introduced into our w^orld. 
 • The Evangelical Churches are freer from cor- 
 ruption [N THIS AGE THAN W1<:RE MANY OF THE EARLY 
 
HOLD A I'L'KK SVSTKM OF JiELKJIOUS TRUTH. 33 
 
 CHIFRCIIKS IN APOSTOLK! TiMKS. Divisions and dissen- 
 sions were fre(|Ucnt in tlu' Cliurchos ot* (joiintlj, 
 Gahitia, and Rome. Tli(> fact tliat iImtc wvw many 
 Clnirclios in tlie Apostolic nifv is no si^n of theiV 
 weakness oi- irregularity. There were seven clmrches 
 in Asia Minor, tlie C'liuiches of Epliesns. Smyrna, 
 Peroranios, Tliyatira, Sardis. I'liiladdpliia, and oi" tlu' 
 Laodiceans. They were desiiriiated golden candle- 
 sticks, the hearers up (.f liM-lit, and Clirist walked in 
 the midst of them. Christ points out certain defects, 
 hut applauds wliat is excellent, and n>akes to the 
 faithful many precious ])romises.* 
 
 In the Cliurches of Corinth, Rome, and (mlatia 
 there was the absence of that spirit nf unity, wincli is 
 the prevailino- spirit of the Christian Clnirch, in its 
 most spiritual state. 
 
 In the primitive Churches some sins were induli-ed in 
 which woukl not be tolerated in (food society outside 
 the Christian Church at the piesent time.f 
 
 The Galatian Church obeyed not the truth but lield 
 the Jewish doctrine of circumcision.";: Tlie Cliurcli of 
 Ephesus left her first love. In the (liui-ch of Peru-amos 
 some held the doctrine of Balaam, who tau«>lit PJalak 
 to cast a stum])ling-block before the children of 
 Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to com- 
 mit fornication. The Church of Thyatiia suffered 
 that woman Jezebel to seduce and to teach Christ s 
 servants to commit fornication, and to eat thinors sacri- 
 *Eev. ii., iii. ('liai)ter.s. fl Cor. v., viii. cliapters. IGa.]. v. 
 
34 EVAN'IELK \l, DENOMINATIONS OP THE A(iE. 
 
 ficcd unto idols. T\w. Chmvh at Sai'dis liad a namo to 
 live and was doail, and tliini,rs tliat ivniaiiuMl wore 
 ready to dir. T\ui Cliurdi of tlie Laodiceans was neither 
 cold nor hot, was wretched, miserable, poor, hlind.and 
 naked.* From a careful study of the Epistles of 
 the New Testament and of the Revelation of St. John, 
 I am convinced there were as many imperfections in 
 the ('lunches planted hy the Apostles in Apostolic 
 tinu^s as are found in the denonunations of this a<i;e ; 
 and in a few instances there were crimes indulijjed 
 in tliai would not now he tolerated outride the 
 visihle Church of Christ. There are some who pro- 
 fess a good deal of piety who seem to take special 
 delight in speaking against the Churches. They .seem 
 to l)e more bitter against them than against infidelity, 
 sin, or worldliness. Th(^ Churches are the repositories 
 of truth, the homes of the faithful, and the place of 
 God's throne. These people should take care lest 
 haply they speak against Cod. 1 would suggest to 
 them, that the best remedy for tlieir spirit of fault-ftnd- 
 inc' would be to assist the Churches to erect barriers 
 ao-ainst tlu^ encroachments of sin and error, and unite 
 with them in the dissemination of Divine truth and 
 Scriptural holiness throughout the land, and through- 
 out the world. 
 
 An example. In a small village in Canada there 
 were a few persons who professed a great deal of 
 sanctity and devotion, and yet who waged a greater 
 
 * Kev. ii. and iii. 
 
HOM) A nUK SYSTEM OF RELIGIOUS TKUTH. ;}.') 
 
 war arrainst tlio Cl.urchcs in tlu' place than against 
 wrong-doing. I startled them one day in their st'i'ong- 
 liold, when I told them that I would prove tliat the 
 ('hurches are pmvr to-day than tliey were in the 
 Apostolic age ; tliat there is more union of spirit, the 
 true union, tlian civer before; tliat there is more 
 purity of doctrim-, more holiness, an.l more zeal, and 
 earnestness; that we have the same truth and the 
 same worshi}), a pure ministry, and as earnest a 
 membership. Upon considrring the subject some con- 
 fessed that I was right. We would 'not, however, 
 relax our ellbrts on this account. It is as important 
 now as it was in the Apostolic days thut we pusli on in 
 the great and good work unto the end, and all we a.sk 
 seekers after the truth to do, is not to impede, but to 
 lielp us ; not to oppose, but to pray for us. Do not 
 class the pure, good, and earnest workers in the 
 Churches with the formal, inconsistent, and hypocriti- 
 cal. This is base in the extreme. 
 
 ->(i> 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE DENOMINATIONS PLACES OF SAFETY FOR THE 
 OUTCAST AND WANDERER. 
 
 <i|||HE Gluirchos of (Jhristendoni aro tlio only 
 places of safety for the outcast and wanderer, 
 when tijevliave been reclaimed from the world 
 and won to Christ. Wliere else can he go 
 and be safe, while there is Satan to tempt, and the 
 world to allure and fascinate him ? There are only 
 two classes of i)ersons in the world, and eacli moves 
 in its own circle. One is called wicked and worldly. 
 The people of this class walk after the tiesh, after the 
 rudiments of the world, and are in " bondage to sin 
 and Satan" The way they pui'sue is that of sin and 
 death, and there is no safety in it. It is a thorny, 
 wearisome, and dangerous path strewn with the slain, 
 whose blood cries for vengeance from the ground. 
 There are many slain by strong drink. There are 
 others who lived too fast, and while yet young were 
 carried away as with a whirlwind, and are numbered 
 
PLACES OF SAFP:TY FOR OL'TCAST AND WANDERER. 'M 
 
 with the decad. Tliore are also those who, by many 
 irregularities, have brought upon themselves (l(\struc- 
 tion, and upon no other being than themselves, will 
 they be able to cast the odium of their wretched 
 destiny. Others are still carried around in the world's 
 eddies and move in its own circles. There is no 
 safety there for one saved out of the world. He must 
 be lifted out of this perilous way, there is no safety 
 there for one moment. For such the Lord has pro- 
 vided a place of safety. It is, however, in another 
 class, and moving in anotlier circle among the people 
 of God, the righteous. Their experience is thus 
 described, " They walk in the Spirit." " The Spirit of 
 God dwelleth in them." " They are tilled with the 
 Spirit ; " having " Christ in them the hope of glory." 
 Their happy state is designated, " Spiritual life." 
 There are only two words here but they convey a 
 fuller meaning, unfolding the spiritual state of the 
 people who are saved. It is " life," " spiritual life," 
 " eternal life." Here, then there is perfect safety and 
 no where else. The Lord employs special providences 
 in connection with His Church for the preservation of 
 His own people. Reynolds says, "As a man by a 
 chain made up of several links, some of gold, others 
 of silver, others of brass, iron, or tin, may be drawn 
 out of a pit ; so the Lord employs a vast variety of 
 things, insubordinate and independent of each other, 
 for the deliverance of His people. That it may 
 appear to be the work of His own hands. He has 
 
38 EVANGELICAL DENOMINATIONS OF THE AGE. 
 
 sometimes ordered and armed natural canses to this 
 end. The stars in their courses fight against Sisera ; 
 a mighty wind from heaven beating on their faces 
 discomfitted them. So the Christian armies under 
 Theodocius against Eugenius the tyrant, were de- 
 fended by the winds of heaven which blew away the 
 weapons out of their enemies' hands to make good that 
 promise. "No tueapon that is formed against thee shall 
 'prosper^ The Lord slew the enemies of Joshua with 
 hailstones, and on another occasion the Moabites were 
 overthrown by the sun shining upon the water. The 
 Lord has sometimes employed phantasies and frightful 
 apprehensions in the minds of His enemies for the 
 defence of His Church, as in the cases of the Midian- 
 ites and the Assyrians. He caused a voice to be heard 
 in the ten^j/if- before the destruction of Jerusalem, 
 warning the idtli^'v.l to go out of the city and escape 
 for their lives. He employed Cyrus and the Medes 
 and Persians to overthrow the mighty Babylon, to 
 restore the captive Jews to their own land, and to 
 re-establish them and their temple. Cotton rags, 
 thrown aside as good for nothing, drew Jeremiah out 
 of the pit ; and so in searching the pages of history 
 we may find thousands of other instances illustrating 
 the lo /e of God in securing the safety of those who have 
 been rescued from the power of sin, and brought into 
 His banqueting house. 
 
 In THE Churches of Christendom is to be found 
 A suitable home for God's saved people. There 
 
PLACES OF SAFETY FOR OUTCAST AND WANDERER. 39 
 
 are to be found in them all the true elements of home, 
 love, friendship, unity, and mutual forbearance. The 
 elements of a happy home are peace, cleanliness, 
 order, and necessary temporal and spiritual supplies. 
 In the pure Church, living under the smiles of heaven, 
 all these elements will be found. The love that will 
 influence all hearts is spiritual. Its brightness can 
 never be dimmed, nor its ardor ever be quenched. It is 
 of the nature of the love of God ; it reaches out to 
 others, and is never wearied nor discouraged. When 
 felt towards God it is ardent and desires only His 
 g\oYj. When directed towards the members of the 
 family group it seeks both their honor and their 
 happiness. Often it extends its influences beyond the 
 boundaries of home, and seeks to rescue and save the 
 lost. 
 
 Its friendships are also spiritual, therefore of the 
 highest type. They are bonds that should never be 
 broken except by death, and then to be re-united in the 
 better world. They are the closest bonds because they 
 are of the heart, sanctified by the grace of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. They are the delight of youth, the 
 pillar of age, the blossom of prosperity, and the joy 
 of adversity. An important question is, where is a 
 true friend to be found ? Many who wear the title 
 are unworthy of it. He is to be found in the circle of 
 the spiritual, and when found he is valuable and can 
 be relied upon. " A friend loveth at all times, and a 
 brother is born for adversity." * 
 
 * Prov. xvii, 17. » 
 
40 EVANGELICAI, DENOMINATIONS OF THE AGE. 
 
 Then there is mutual forbearance amid tlie little 
 obstructions and inconveniences of life. There is more 
 of real happiness to be enjoyed in this state than in 
 any other on earth. These are order, social purity, 
 and rich and heavenly supplies. In this home nothini^ 
 is wanting to make man holy and happy. It is the 
 only real home of God's people upon earth. 
 
 The Churches of Christendom are typical of 
 THE Church in Heaven. They are formed of the 
 '' faithful of the land:' The best, the most spiritual 
 beings upon earth. Those who after death inherit 
 heaven are gathered within their circle. God sits 
 upon His throne in heaven, and the blessed influence 
 of His presence is felt by all the heavenly company. 
 The same glorious influence is felt throughout His 
 Church on earth, wherever a waiting and worshipping 
 people are to be found. John, when he saw in his 
 vision the heavenly state, said : " Andlsaiu no temple 
 therein, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are 
 the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, 
 neither of the moon, to shine in it ; for the glory of 
 the Lord did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light 
 thereof. And the nations of them which are saved 
 shall walk in the lioht of it : and the kin^s of the 
 earth do bring their glory and honor into it."* Heaven 
 will be enriched with the glory of earth; and this 
 glory can only be found within the denominations, 
 among the people who live in the Lord, and who die 
 
 ' Kev. xxi. 22-24. 
 
PLACES OF SAFETY FOE OUTCAST AND WANDKUEU. 4J 
 
 in the Lord. " T lieard a voice from heaven spy- 
 ing unto me, Write, blessed <(re the dead which die in 
 the Lord, from henceforth : Yen, saith the Spirit, thit 
 they may rest from their labors; and their works do 
 folloiu them."*' Believers will carry their liglit, purity, 
 and life with them into heaven. In the higher life on 
 earth we have the earnest money, or foretaste of the 
 heavenly life to come. We sometimes call it heaven 
 begun below : 
 
 " Br faith we already Ijcliold 
 
 That lovely Jerusalem here : 
 Her walls are of jasper ami gold, 
 
 As crystal her buildinj^'s are clear. 
 Inimovably founded in grace, 
 
 She stands, as she ever hath stood, 
 And brightly her Builder displays. 
 
 And Haines with the glory of God. " 
 
 The saints of God, who are the sons and daughters 
 of the Most High, are all found in the churches. They 
 have no suitable resting-place outside these sacred 
 enclosures. What they are here, they will be in a more 
 perfect state m the better world. What they possess 
 here spiritually they will possess in a higher degree in 
 the better land. The death -bed experiences of many 
 show that there is but a short distance between the 
 Church of Christ on earth and the Church of Christ 
 in heaven. 
 
 Example. — A Christian on the morning of his death 
 asked of his daughter some food, and then medita- 
 
 * Rev. xiv. 13. 
 
42 p:vangemcal denominatioiNS of the age. 
 
 ting a wliile Hcaid, " Hold ! daughter, hold ! My Master 
 calls me." With these words his sight failed and he 
 asked for the Bible and to have his fingers put on the 
 text in Romans. " J am persuaded that neither death 
 nor life," &c.* " Is my finger upon it ? " he asked. 
 Being told that it was, he added, " Now God be with 
 you, my dear children. I have breakfasted with you 
 and shall sup with my Lord Jesus Christ this night," 
 and then expired. 
 
 Is not such an experience heavenly ? 
 The influence of the denominations is precisely 
 THAT OF THE Church OF GoD. Luminous, peaceful, 
 and converting, from the very beginning of the 
 Christian Church, the Gospel has been preached in the 
 denominations, and such has been the effusion of the 
 Holy Spirit that millions have been converted. The 
 work is still advancing. We have no reason to believe 
 that there is any change for the worse ; but we have 
 abundant evidence that there are signs of constant and 
 unceasing improvement. One of the evidences of this 
 improvement is that Christians are active. Suppose 
 that during a war between two nations, a recluse 
 should shut himself up in some cave in the mountain 
 side and meditate upon his country's glory, would 
 you call him a patriot ? You would say, '' Bring him 
 out into the camp, arm him and equip him for the 
 war," and then as he waved his colors, or brandished 
 his sword, you would say, " There truly is a patriot." 
 
 * Koin. viii. 38, 39. 
 
PLACES OF SAFETY FOR OUTCAST AND WANDERER. 4.S 
 
 In his mountain don a fungus would be of as much 
 use as he. There are some useless members in the 
 Church of Christ to-day, this wo will not deny; but 
 there are many loving, active, earnest w^orkers too, and, 
 because there are, the Church is advancing. When 
 you see a little stone grow into a mighty mountain 
 and make inroads upon all the kingdoms of the world ; 
 when you see kings and emperors submit to a doctrine, 
 proclaimed at first by weak and unlettered men, op- 
 posed to'the natural inclinations of men, and teaching 
 nothing but self-abnegation ; when you see that doc- 
 trine spread and prevail, you behold the power of the 
 Gospel. It is not human but divine. It is not the 
 might of intellect, w^ealth, or social relationship. It 
 is the influence of the Spirit of the living God upon 
 the hearts of men. 
 
 There is unity, not separation, in the Evangeli- 
 cal DENOMINATIONS OF CHRISTENDOM. WhAT THAT 
 UNITY MEANS. Perhaps the strongest reason uro-ed 
 against the denominations of Christendom is that of 
 sectarian bigotry. This, which in nearly all cases is 
 regarded as a foul blot, is often nothing more than a 
 strong love of home. Here is a Christian who has 
 received all his good in a certain branch of the 
 Christian Church. . By experience he knows nothing 
 of the good to be gained in others. This is his spiritual 
 home. Why should it not be to him the happiest place 
 upon earth ? The home of his second birth, and the 
 channel through which he receives the largest amount 
 
44 EVAN(JELICAL DENOMINATIONS OF THE AGE. 
 
 of spiritual o-ood. As Christians come more together 
 they learn to love each other. As the churches frater- 
 nize, they become more united in spirit, which I think is 
 the true union, such as that explained and illustrated 
 in the Word of God. If they hold Christ as their 
 common Head and Saviour, one atonement, one faith, 
 one baptism ; if they are agreed upon the fundamental 
 doctrines, and the true life of Christianity, they are 
 Scripturally one. If the enemies of the denominations 
 can show that this oneness is not found in the churches 
 of Christendom let them do it ; we think they have a 
 difficult task before them. 
 
 Illustration. At a meeting held some time ago, 
 I mentioned the apocalyptic account of the seven 
 churches of Asia Minor, and that there then existed 
 seven churches distinct and separate, but united in 
 spirit. They were denominated churches which were 
 in Asia, unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto 
 Pero-amos, and unto Thvatira, and unto Sardis, and 
 unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. I stated that 
 these were real churches, existing in the cities men- 
 tioned. A person who had been preaching a good 
 deal against the denominations stated, that the passage 
 above referred to, was not to be understood in a literal 
 sense, but in a symbolical one, that it was intended to 
 symbolize the present state of the churches, their cor- 
 ruption and separation. I replied that for the sake of 
 arofument we would admit so much. Then we must 
 come to the following conclusions : — 
 
PLACES OF SAFETY FOR OUTCAST AND WANDEKEli. 45 
 
 1. These churches were separated from each otlier as 
 far as the cities were distant. 
 
 2. They were one in doctrine and spirit. 
 
 3. Tliey were golden. Seven golden candlesticks. 
 Gold is the purest, rarest, most precious, and ihirahle, 
 of all metals. If these churches were symbolical of 
 the churches of Christendom, then they are the purest, 
 rarest, most precious, and durable of all systems of 
 religion. 
 
 4. With all their imperfections, Christ walks in the 
 midst of them. According to the above exposition, 
 Christ walketh in the midst of the churches to-day. 
 We have no doubt that this is so, and notwithstanding 
 hundreds of persons holding the positions of religious 
 teachers are trying to pull down and destroy the 
 churches of Christendom, they cannot succeed, for 
 Christ walketh in the midst of the churches, and as 
 they are built upon the Rock of Ages the gates of hell 
 cannot prevail against them. 
 
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