The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-11

a logical and dozmatic form. 1t is the history Of
life eliminating in the Christ He preached
and lived the principles OF the kingdom Of God;
and 1t was given to the apostles TO organize
the church, which was not supposed to be an
end, but rather q means TO an end. So ii fol.
lows that the church was subordinate to, and
came into existence for the sake of the king
dom; aud not the kingdom for the sake of the
church. 1t is an organized body existing in the
world for the advancement of the laws and
principles OF the kingdom of God. But this
point ia overlooked or lost sight OF very often:
hence the Indifference and siperticialism that
characterize the nonconforrnst churches at the
present time. In very mysterious manner Our
religious life has become matter of taste and
not of principle; the cheapest article in the
market is the best. 1t wss not so with the
apostles; their ideal was in the Christ and not
in the ritual Of the popular religion of their
days.
It should not be forgotten that We in order
TO be able to define our position as Protestants,
must seek icr the definition in tile end The
apostles had in view when organizing the first
church. 1t is true that the nature Of en-
vironments is different to what theirs was, but
it is equally true that the mission of the church
is exactly Of the same nature in every age. 1t
is nothing less than the propagation of truth,
and ultimately the final victory Of Christ over
the world. Hence the end OF the Reformation
must be- a church spiritual and undividcd
body Of beievets free from the tramnels of
human traditions; and, like Christ, in the
world but not of the world The reformcrs be-
gan this great work with much carnestness, zeal
and determination; they had to suffer pe,secu-
tions because they had the courage of their
convictions to ignore the traditions OF the
Church OF Rome, and to hold fast to the SIM
pcity OF the gospels and it is ours TO carry
1 10 hpy left
DONE
DIFFERS FROM CHURCH OF ROME.
We differ from the Church of Rome in regard
to the authority OF the Scriptures. According
to the creed OF that church the traditions are
equal III authority to the Bible; while VIC hold
that the Bible is the only authority. and there
fore final on all questions pertaining to our faith
and conduct. 1t seems that Newman. because
he could not find the Church of England pre-
vious TO the Reformation, joined the Church OF
Rome; and that Luther and others. because
they could not find the apostolic idea in the
Roman Catholic church, left her and faced the
world with the Word of God in its simplicity in
their hearts. They brought with them some
things, which. had they been LETT where they
were, the Protestant church would be in n
healthier state and better condition today. But
the Reforncrs did noble work and it is re-
markable fact that they were clean.
The argument on the rcformers was that the
religious traditions were human; the Bible was
the inspired word OF God, and the apostolic
church the ideal II was their mission TO lead
the men OF their time and the future genera
tions away from the Catholic traditions and cen
ter the mind of the future ages on the infallible
word, as Gods will and TO define the church
in principle and government in the light of the
Bible. They tried, and succeeded TO a great en-
tent, TO teach men to think for themselves: Z:
and in that they were damctrically opposed TO
the customs and practices of the Catholic church.
1t was theirs to point ou. the simplicity of the
doctrine and life OF Christianity; and to do
away with the idols the ritual and the religious
ceremonies which were held as sacred p9sses.
sons
In that lpht the Reformation was n ccnsure
on the Roman church; and the Bible was opened
for the world to read it, The religious freedom
we eniov TODAY is the result of the Reformation:
ana though an important section oil the Chnrci'
OF England Is at II tfyihg 10 UNDO 'he work
o' 'he reto'i"epS, we sun oeIe'e, anu we oe'ie'e
because the hinie leaeNes us 'he doctrine OF
personal re'poiisioiiily 'hat man can approach
God without the ana OF intervention OF IN or
uathed pastor OF priest
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irNDr'Nei W ''pN''
Still there may be tendency towards Rome
in our churches today; not IN doctrine, hut in
church government and practice. The Bible is
not read and studied "a 1t should be; people