Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-08-10
&eadiuq fur the $abbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
IOriglnal.1
THE TRUE CHURCH.

It is fact, which has never been denied,
that man is is a sinner. No matter when or
how he become sinner, the fact stares us
in the face continually. tits also fact taught
in the Scriptures, and corroborated by the
providence of God, that some remedial scheme
has been devised by which the evil consequent
ces of sin may be averted. Nosooner, accord
ing to the Bible account, had man sinned than
God made the announcement that he had de-
vised scheme by which his law could be
maintained, in all its dignity, and sinners
saved. This announcement was sat sundry
times and in divers manners, !" repeated during
period of full four thousand years.. In pro-
cess of time, it assumed all the characteristics
of a covenant. On each successive announce
ment the promise was made more clear, until
the fullnesS Of time came, and the Messiah was
born, and the canon of Scripture completed.
Those who accept the promise that the seed
of the woman shall bruise the head of the SER
pent, constitute the Church of the living God.
In point of time, they are scattered from Ad-
am down to the present moment, and will ex-
tend from the present time to the final con-
summation of all things. In other respects
they embrace the inhabitants of all lands, and
individuals of all.raceSr
This Church, which Cod in mercy establish
ed here on earth, has become greatly corrupted.
There is no pure church in this world. The
great arch enemy of souls has sown tares of
corruption, and they continue to grow and
propagate themselves.
Notwithstanding the fact that the Church of
God has, by evil doers, been corrupted, it is
still the duty of all who profess to be members
of the church to strive to keep it pure and
spotless There is a false church as well as
true church. There is counterfeit money as
we'll as genuine coin. However close the re-
semblance of the counterfeit may be to the
genuine coin, it is still very injurious to the
progress of the country in which it circulates.
Just so it is with false religion It'may have
many Of the apparent characteristics of true
religion, but still it is in the end ruinous.
The tendency of the evil is to root out good.
The husbandman finds no small part of his la
Dor to consist in destroying noxious weeds
Just so to destroy the false church is no small
part of the labors of the true church. The
characteristic of the true church is that it is
strictly Bible Church. Every false church,
and every corruption of the true church is
anti-Bible, both in theory and practice. To
the true Church the Bible is lawon every point.
1t is law so far as doctrine, form of govern
ment and mode Of worship are concerned. In
true religion there are no doctrines which are
not taught in the Scriptures, neither are there
any forms of church government allowable,
which are not laid down in the Bible, and to
worship God in way not appointed in his
word is a heinous sin. tmay be said that the
Church, in distinction from all false and cor
rupt churches, has Bible creed, a Bible form
of government and Bible mode of worship.
The true Church may be, and often is corrupt
ed by introducing into it, for doctrines, the
commandments of men, and for rules of gov
ernment the thrones of politicians, and for
modes of worship the suggestions of proud
and corrupt hearts.