The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-27
THE REFORMED EPIsCoPAI CuuRClI.

Synopsis OF Sermon Preached Yester.
day by the Pastor, the Rev. E. II. Jen.
kyns.
TExT-"And are built upon the foundation Of the
Apostles and prophets Jesus Christ himself being tho
chief corner StOnS."-Eph. ], 10
The comparison Of the Christian church
to temple or building is one that we fire.
quently meet with in the Scripture. Thus
we find that in addition to to the compare
son which St. Paul institutes here, ho ap-
plies the same metaphor in the First Co
rinthians, 8 Xxx, "For we are laborers to-
gether with God; We are Gods husbandly;
ye are Gods building. According to the
grace Of God which is given unto me as q
wise master builder, have laid the foun-
dation and another buildeth thereon, but
let him take heed how he buildeth."
Such a comparison was probably institute
ed because the Jewish mind would fire.
quently revert to the Temple at Jerusalem,
and because Of its beauty, its costliness
and It's sacredness itwould be looked upon
as an appropriate symbol Of the Christian
church. But in addition to this fact we
must bear in mind that the Temple was
the sacred place where God was wont to
dwell upon earth, and inasmuCh as His
spirit was now poured forth upon all be-
lievers, it was natural idea for the Jew
ish mind to speak OF the church as the
temple or residence Of God.
Now the apostle here states that the doc
trines which the prophets and apostles
taught form the basis upon which the
church rests. The Christian church, he
asserts, Is not founded on philosophy or
culture; it is not based on traditions or
human laws, neither does 1t appeal to men
by reason Of its venerable antiquity; but
II Is founded on the great truths which
God has given to men. Welearn also that
nothing Is to be regarded as fundamental
part OF the Christian system, or rs binding
upon the conscience, which cannot be
found IN the prophets and apostles, that
is, the-Holy Scriptures.
The apostle also states that Jesus Christ
70 the chief corner stone. We all know
how the corner stone is the most impor-
tant in every building, and upon which
the whole edifice mainly depends. This
symbol Of the corner stone is applied 10
the Lord Jesus Christ because not only the
whole edifce rests upon him, but also the
foundation laid by "prophets and apos-
ties" Were It not for this fact the struc-
ture would not be sustained, and 1t would
fall into decay and ruin. Let US therefore
rejoice in the fact that not only the Christ
ian church, but also the Holy Scriptures
are all founded on the Divine authority,
and have the Divine sanction to support
them, as well as the Holy Spirit to accom-
pauy them. The church so built has been
described by Christian writers from very
early period as the church universal or
catholic. It's described by the apostle in
these words, SIN whom, that Is in Christ
Jesus, the whole family in heaven and
earth is named" Heincludes, therefore,
all believers, whether in heaven or on
earth, in the one great family OF God. This
is the church universal, the Catholicchu
And therefore every Christian who by the
new birth OF the Spirit is admitted intoth
family OF God can take up the expression
Of universal Christendom, 81 believe in
the Catholic and Apostolic church."
The term Catholic isderiYed from tho
Greek word (Kath.olor) which means
the same thing as universal. Cyril says it
is called catholic because it is throughout
the world and is not restricted to any
place; and because 1t teaches universally
and completely the truths which ought to
come to mems knowledge concerning the
will OF God. We apply the same term
catholic to describe those epistles OF the
New Testament which were not addressed
to any particular church. Two additions
have been made TO the term Catholic"
which are OF comparatively modern lnven-
ton. The term "Anglo Catholic is q
term which came into use with tho Pusay-
tie movement at.0xford, and Is very gen.
orally used to describe the Church oil Eng
land and those churches which arc in
union with tho same. The other term,
"Roman Catholic" Is not to be found in
history until we come to the creed OF Pope
Plus w., and in that creed tho "holy
Apostolic Roman Church" Is assumed to
be identical with the Catholic Church.
You will see, then, that when ques-
ton arises between different persons as to
which Ia the Catholic Church, you cannot
separate this question for these other qu0s,
tons: What Is the Church? and what arc
the signs OF tho church, and what is
Schism? There arc some who assume to
dispose OF tho whole question In 8 very
summary manner. They say that that is
the church which has unity on its side,
and Is everywhere visible. The history Of
the Christian Church shows very clearly
that mere organic unity may mean only
an organized conspiracy against the truth
and 80 also the proud assumption OF the
term Catholic by individual churches may
Il NJ Ia
to oil minds on terms fatal to the church's
true and holy design. For 1t has often
happened that what is opposed to mere
organic unity is the true faith. II has
often happened that the few have been on
on tho truths side; and the many on the
wrong, For truth does not stand or fall
according to the numbers who defend it,
or are opposed toit. Cyprian, who lived
lin the third Christian century, gives i'm
preston to his convictions on this subjec,
In tho following language: "He Is moi
Joined to the Church who Is not Joined 70
Thus we also find that Athanasius, on &c
count OF his convictions as to the teach
lnas OF Gods word, was far outnumbereC
BY his oppoppRts and he has left this ties
. ltinony on record, Mpot because ! am LEI
SO much alone Is the faith less precious
lis supporters have often been the few; al
witness the three contessors who stood on
against the tdolatrpps king.n And anoth
er writer Of that early period gives tbi
. sensible advice; EITHER intelligently de
!. fend from the scriptures what you believe
!. or else cease to profess what you eanno
deiend.n Then again Augustine, ono Q
: the most learned and earnest aetenAers
Christianity in the early ages, and psrileR