The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-02-08

the Divine authority, when he commits
any act, or engages in any pursuit, or in
dulges in any pleasure which he suppo-
ses God has forbidden, or which he is
not certain, God has allowed This is a
view of the matter which men of the
world, with their minds alienated from
God, are unwilling to adopt. With the
christian it is otherwise. He recollects
that conscience is faculty, with which
he has been endowed by his CREATOR
That it has been bestowed in order that
it may judge and act for God. 1t is His
deputy in the Soul that has been renewed
and enlightened by His grace, and it is u
christians, duty to obey the behests of
conscience, in relation to everything, re-
garding the moral propriety Of which he
is in doubt.
Cd. The text enjons abstinence from
all that the church, with which we are in
communion, condemns and testifes against.
On this, we have the express teachings
of the Spirit" Whether therefore ye
eat or drink or whatsoever we do, do all
to the glory of God. Give none offence,
neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles,
nor the church of God" "The reason
for this is given, in what immediate ly
follows "even as l please all men in all
things, not seeking mine own profit, but
the profit of many, that they may be
saved" The world judges to great ex-
tent of the character of the gospel, by
Al, ao,,l,,o1 and l,gn n thn oh.,et
Inconsistency on his part, is laid to the
account of that which he processes to
have espoused; and if inconsistency on
the part of friend of the gospel, tends
to repel the world from the belief
and acknowledgement of it, on the
same principle, consistency must tend
to win respect, and ultimately, ac-
ceptance of the truth. This is the idea
in the mind of the Apostle. as expressed
in the passage we have quoted But, he
also warns against giving offence to the
church. A consideration of what the
church is, will impress our minds, with
the importance of the particulars under
present discussion. In the book of Acts
we meet with this language &" the cb urch
of God, which he hath purchased with
his own blood" This intimates that she
is the property of Christ at cost
which is above all possible computation.
He, who by profession of faith in Christ,
unites with the visible church, must, in
christian charity, be accounted in spiritu-
al union with Christ; belonging not on
ly to the church visible, but also to the
church invisible. 1t follows then, that
he recognizes the constitution divinely
given to the church, and his obligation to
respect and obey it. IF he neglect to
hear the church, let him be unto thee, as
an heather man and publican. "Verily
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" Here, Christ
teaches that in the government of the
church, certain men duly chosen, have
his authority to execute judgment; and
that the discipline exercised by them,
when just and righteous, is sanctioned
by Heaven. From this, no inference is
more legitimate then, that the offence conf
mitted against the church, is offence COM
mitted against Christ In uniting with
any particular church, the individual pro-
fesses submission to all the existing laws
of that church just as l in becoming a
citizen of these United States, promise
submission to the civil government of the
States generally, and the particular state
in which my residence is fxed* The
question is not, is the law such as l like
and approve, but does it exist. Its exis
tence, is my obligation to obey it, or sub
NIT to the penalty, and so long as | remain
under the government this is my duty
The same is true with the visible churcl
with its laws as they are. | placed my
self voluntarily, under its authority, anc
solemnly pledged obedience. Breach o
these laws, is rebellion against Christ th'
head of the church, and the moral sensi
bilities of that individual must be blunt
ed, and his moral principle doubtful in
deed, who, in the face of any law or rule
which, in express terms, or by implica
ton, condemns any act or practice, per
sists in the indulgence of it. Take tina
oooouut nf thn ohurnh alraodu oita6 g th