The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-13
An Analysis Of Ritua iistic Doctrine.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
In this period Of rituastc tendency it is well to
observe mat there only two ordinances essential
in the present gentle dspensation-the ordinance
Of adult baptism and the ordinance OF the Lords
Supper. Ana for the due performance Of these no
priesty order Is necessary. liable" not an ALTAR"
Is necessary now We have no altar to serve. Christ
offered himself as a sacrifice once for all; thereby
forever aboshing the use OF the altar, and conse-
quently the priestly order for sacricial service.
Henceforth the only sacrifice God requires is that Of
"brOken and contrite heart.' The ordinance OF
the Lords Supper at the table, observed on the first
day Of the week in commemoratiOn OF the resurrec-
tion on that day OF Christ from the dead, and the
ordinance OF adult mot OF infant baptism-baptized
into Christ's death, "burled with Him In baptism
that ike Him might rise TO newness Of lfe''re.
quire no prestly order to perform them. prlestly
order in the Christian dispensaIlon Is an anomaly;
it is thoroughly ant-Chrlstian IN origin and ten
dency. The priestly order was abolished when
Christ abolished the sacrifcial law OF Moses by Of
ferng himself upon the The altar ought to be
thrust out OF every professediy Christian place OF
worship, and all those who mock God by presenting
to oficiate thereat.
As TO the modern ceremony OF 'fayinR on OF nandsp
in ordanne persons for the ministry the prac-
Uce would be far more "honored IN the breach than
IN the Observance" The Apostles did it; but they
men INSPIRED by the Holy Spirit, and by the
laying ON OF hands could confer the gilt of the spirit
10 others. But we must never forget the fact that
the Apostles have had no successors. God never in.
tended there should be more than twelve apostles
many apostles tribes of the house OF Jacob.
Hence see the force Of Christ telling the Apostles
thai In the age and Kingdom 10 come they uhe
twelve Apostlesl should 'sit upon twelve thrones
each one Of them ruling and reigning over one OF
the twelve tribes OF jacob There Is grand design
in all the arrangements OF God concerning bis king
dom III the age or dlspensatlon TO come. The Whole
GOspel seneme or plan OF salvation contains as much
design as the scheme or plan oil an architect to build
temple or a palace. In truth religion Is q holy
science and must be studied such To he fully com
| pretended and appreciated. AS we said before the
| Apostles have had no Successors. The gift OF the
holy spirit ceased with them and the silly pretence
the ministry, where there IS power to confer the
GIT OF the holy spirit f0r the best OF reasons namely,
because no one has II TO conferh Is "A buresque
apostolic power and authority The thing Is eX-
planned at once by the simple lacS that the apostles
have had no successors.
Then there ~ the observance OF the Judicial Gus
tom OF Keeping feast days, holidays new moons and
SaDbaths. all which, we are told. were done away
In Christi Paul, writing 10 the Colossians, says
| Christ "blotted out the handwriting OF ordinances
TO his cross.n ''Whcrefore,n says Paul let no man
Judge you In meat drink or In respect OF an hol
| day, moon or or the sabbath, which are only
shadows OF things TO come. the body OF which |.
| Christ wherefore, If ye be dead with Christ from
the rudments tthc Mosaic A Il VI religionj OF the
world, why, rs though living In the world, are VI
subject ordinances, after the commandments and
doctrines OF mem Touch not, taste not, handle not
which all are TO perish with The using ~
Now. would ike TO know what stronger denuD
ciaton OF the prscucc or observing feast days, las
days SAINTS days, new moon and Sabbaths, cOulC
be required by an infatuated, JudaicaL anti
Christian selfordained order OF priesthood than tn
apostle Paul mere records Tor our obstruction II