The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1858-04-17

II the true Aiu-Cnflst, ana winch iaStchtu
its deadly fangs upon the church even in
the apostles times But there are many in our
own days, who like Diotrephes, love to have
the pre-enincnce, prating against those who
are disposed 10 be faithful, and casting them
out Of the church, and il becomes grave
question vi A. is the Christians duty under
such circumstances. Undoubtedly God
must have had some good reason for giving
the dominion into the hands OF this spirit
for so long a time as a time, times and
half time, and renewing the lease for the
same period in later times. No good, how
ever. can be derived from attempting a solu-
ton of the motives. We have the proof that
it is so on every side History shows Us
undcnlably that it has bees so. and reveal
ton tastiiies as uncquivocaiiy that it rtH be
50 until dominion be taken away
When the tenpter claimed possession OF all
the Kingdoms OF the earth and tie glory of
them. He who spake as man never spake,
did not dispute the title. While in the sub
lime panorama OF futurity exhibited in Pat
mos no encouragement is held out to the
believer of a speedy termination Of those
DAYS: but on the contrary, lie beho.ds
the witnesses clothed in sackcloth, and the
true church driven into obscurl,s during
another long period Of time, times and
half a time. Seeing these things are so,
there is no way Of escaping the iron heel of
worldly domination which has already worn
out many Of the SAINTS Of the Most High,
but by accepting the terms imposed by the
wisdom of God, / E., to be content with
sackcloth and obscurity for the time has
not yet come when they must possess the
kingdom. Neither is il tl-Ee FOR the servant
10 expect to be treated better than his lord.
l. Is a hard trial 10 stand still and see the
salvation Of GOd-to be counted lukewarm
when eaten up with zeal-to hear the word
of God handled deceitful'y by those who
have usurped an authority over Gods herit
age which he never sanctioned, and who
feel perfe city secure in their arrogance be-
cause the people ioYe 10 haze it so. aud are
deaf TO the protests Of truth. IL is Il hard
trial for the Christian to bear the same treat
.nent in the Christian church which Lis
master had to bear IA the Jewish church,
rcviled, despissd and deprived Of all author
ity in the management Of these affairs spe-
ciaIlv committed I'd him. Yet without such
patient submission no man can he true dis
ciple Of the Savior, and happy are they who
submit willingly to the arrangements OF the
battle field, planned by infinite wisdom TO
secure a final and complete victory.
There are others who will not submit;
but who make shpwreck of tn ,ir heres, be.
cause. impatient of all restraint, they claim
the privilege of choosing their own cross-a
very comuan hereditary disease Of the
whole family of man. OF all the questions
in philosophy, there is not one more diff
cult to comprehend than man himself b
what species of fa,uity is the hypocrite self
deceived: From what iaexhausiible store
house Of casuistry does each one Tor L...>e,i
III : f. his own conscience and reconcile
the perverse alterations Of his own mind
and heart with the dictates Of reason and
duty? How, in a word, a man can make
himself believe that he is doing Gods ser
vice when absorbed in cares and pleasures
OF this lie, whose God is his belly, and who
can res.rt TO subterfu.e and lies that good
NAV come. Yet slch anomalies swarm IN
every church, and the scriptures have not
only foretold such a state Of things, but that
it shall finally be the universe. rule, and not
the exception. 'Wo 10 the inhabiters Of
the earth in those days. Yet IN the same
verse we have the encouraging words, q" Re
ioice We heavens and We that dwell in them,
showing that, then, the perilous times "f the
last days, will be drawing to i close. Even
now the old adage Is true Il" CiHct gHi
patitur," and il. the end the patient VIII
reap If he faints not.
Such reflections are called forth by con-
sidering the anomalous condition Of the
churches Of Jesus Christ in these last days.
y { content with a genera welcome IN the
congregations Of protesting Christians. the
world seiZes every opportunity TO NEEDLE IN
a government whose authority it does not
recognize, while frequently ignoring in de-
fant terms, the most solemn preceptS OF the
constitution of the Christian faith Would
such license be permitted in social or po.iti-
cal or scientific organizations or is 1t now
permitted, (even when purchased by the
most prodigal liberaiity) without full and
explicit acknowledgment Of the established
rules or by laws OF each? Not only do we
ind this practice becoming more and more
universal in the Church Of Christ, but even
its very ministers, when unable to domineer.
TO the full extent of an overweening lust OF
power, over the flock of which God has per-
United them to be appointed oYerseers, ally
themselves to the enemies of those truths
which they profess to teach. For such con-
duct there is no excuse; but for the world
there is at least a show Of justification, and
the responsibility rests at last where 1t
rightfully belongs, on the worldly minded
ness Of protesting Christians.
In many features the Christian Church
no GOubt resembles the JEWISH. ne last
was the type Of the .irst but the type was
a syste,a or code of laws and ordinances in
the power Of all to perform aud obey, and
ineligible to all. The antique is purely
spiritual system, whose sacra,nents are ex-
plicitly declared worthless until stamped
with the seal Of faith. In the history Of the
jewish Church, there stands prominent
continusl tendency Of the lsraelites to con-
form to the customs of the rest of the world,
(aithough chosen to be a peculiar people and
forbidden to do so,) and for which the sacred
record informs us, "they were sold into the
hands of the Philistines," &c, or into the
hands of their enemies. The Christian
Church was in like manner forbidden to
conform to the ways Of the underlying
world around them, and enjoined to be "a
peculiar people"-to "come out and be
separate" Yet wherein does the visible
Church Of Christ differ from the world? In
struggling for worldly pre-eminence; in
toiiing for wealth in luxurious living and
dress; In community of tastes and Gus
toms and fashions; in correspondence of
Sentiment, even, on the great doctriua!
questions OF religion is there not 8 strange
similarity between the majority OF protesting
Christ ANS and those who stand aiosf2 To
pursue the patient plodding path Of duty
without noise or notoriety, has now no
charms for those restless believers, whose
opes and faith, must be buoyed up by
constant action and change, even though it
be for the worse To seek God in the closet
where no eve but His can behold, or 10 wor
ship Him n So upper rcc:n, @. ~ = plain,