Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1888-04-27

word of God, the claw of the Spirit al
Life" furnishes u perfect converting pow
er ever present with Us, and ever ready; /
So that "they are without excuse"
Then, ~ to the other class the con
vertcd Paul SAYS; "All scripture is Civ .
en- by inspiration Of God and is proiita- /
bile ior doctrine ltcachingl for reproval,
for correction. for instruction in right |
eousness, that the man OF God may be
perfect thoroughly furnished with all
good works; , Tim ;hld-l1. The man of
God does not desire Ia br furnished 10
any but good works; and no one can be
more than thoroughly furnished.
Therefore the christian needs no other
and can have no other furnishing. Adj
ditions, made and provided 10y men, will
prove hindnnccs -barnacles, not helps.
Hence Paul says "Ye are complete in
Him" Christ; Col. 2;lO.
On this basis W. have the divine inhi-
bition in Rev. 22:ls-l0. No man shall
add Ia il or take from it under the most
fearful penalties. 1t is perfect as it is. Ii
Won take one item from il then il will
not bc perfect. Ii YOU add one item 10 IL
il will not bee perfect. 1t would he like
adding numbering wheel TO perfect
machine, or removing link from Il gol-
den chain.
Spreading the gospel missionary work,
is good work Christians are therefore
thoroughly furnished to and for il. See
how Paul and others did missionary
work. Hence all human societies and
organizations Tor the work Of the church
are so many barnables ON the old ship of
Zion, The pure and simple gospel sue
cecdcd better nj first without any of
these, even with all the powers OF dark
ness combined in opposition. - it was
in the beginning OF this reformation. II
succeeded better. pruportionally. oeteris
p1rubUs, than il has ever since, or ever
will till our return 10 the true scriptu-
raj plan Of doing all church worship and
work.
- NV w wv ~ 'AhhE'i " 'fh"ihE
/ down upon ourselves the anathemas pro-
nounced un those who add to or take
/ from the word OF Cod" when We neg
/ lcct Gods WAYS, or add our own inyen-
tons? The church is Gods missionary
society. Ills benevolent society, etc. do
We need another Can We do il without
having "thc plaques written therein add.
ed" To u.s.
>. Can We add human creed to the
divine aud perfect one, without incurr
ing this anathema?
. Can We add a. the divine and per
feet names for Gods church and people
and not br guilty OF adding to the wor,
Of God?
I. Can we add To- the music Gods per
feet system provides singing the prais,
of God any human instrument, with
out all the guilt that attaches to the wor,
of God? Can We? And this idea is un
utteraAv intensified 10y the tact thai
many oi the purcst OF God's people ar
sincerely offended 10y instrumental mu
sic in the worship; churches are divide,
and the sins oi diScorl sown broadcas
over all the land' All for human add
tions 10 a perfect system of worship
Had lie wished il in the worship lie
would certainly have put il there, an,
He did not. Nor WAS there IN instru
mcnt in the worship for 700 years An'
then it was only in the corrupt Churcl
, OF Rome. Nor is there any evidence tina
il ever was or ever can he in any but
corrupt church The simplicity am
, purity of the New Testament and Apos
tolic Worship has neither use nor room
, Tor il. Well did Alexander Campbell
say that il was in such an assembly "a
a cnw-bell in concert; though il nigh
be very agreeable to people prompt
. ed and controlled by the flesh, and no
-. by the spirit.
!. Can W. add the mourner'S bench
the Romish Amicular confession, tn
manipulations OF the third century io
exercising or driving out the demon pre-
paratory to baptism, the amounting will
oil, making the sign OF the cross, salt wa
ter etc, and not incur the guilt OF add
ing 10 the word of God? And so ofcvery
thing not really necessary to the tru
worship.
The only possible escape here is in tn
specious and unreal plea that these sew
eral things belong to the eNpedient de
pertinent of the christian system. sa.
specious and unreal because they prov
themselves to be exceedingly ineXpedi
ent, as when the organ comes in, to tn
positive injury of the singing, and t
the wounding OF christian feeling am
the disruption of the church, or when
in any way proves cause OF discord, O
binders obedience to the command I
teach and admonish in singing-which
always the case to greater or less ex
tent.
Still there are many expedients, works
e etc, not really necessary to the worship
4 and yet connected with it; AS meeting
D house fires and all that contributes to dc
cency and order. And these things ar
|, IN no decided nv us But they must.