River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-07-29

from the trammels of unknown Ian
guages and circulating it in the YER
nacular of the people. Wycliffe freed
the Bible from the shackles of a dead
language and Tyndale freed it from
the limitations of manuscript copy by
using the newly discovered art OF
printing. Luther gave to biblica.
truth still larger liberty through
tongue and pen, appealing to the
Scriptures as the authoritative word
of God, which even kings and popes
must obey.
1t was the Puritan movement which
broke the tyranny of the church over
the state. A Puritan was one who
sought purer life, purer creed and
a purer church Cranmer and Ridley
sacrificed their lives on this altar and
God who makes the wrath of man to
praise him used Henry VIII. to break
the power of the church over the
state, though the wicked king cared
little for purer life, purer creed or
purer church. Then came the tyr
amy of the state over the church.
The king took the scepter from the
pope and proclaimed himself head of
the church and Elizabeth followed the
example of her father. 1t was CAPT
tai offense to deny that the queen was
head of the church. The Puritan, how
ever, believed that Christ is. the only
head of his church and was no more
reconciled to an usurping state than
he had been to an usurping church.
A little band of Bible liberty lovers,
worshiping at the village of Scrooby,
in the house of William Brewster, de-
termined to leave their native land
that they might find a place where
they could practice what they be.
Iieved the Bible taught, unmolested by
church or state; and, after much wan
dering, landed on Plymouth rock,
Mass, 1920. A few years later about
| 10000 men and women of kindred
spirit and purpose came to Salem and
vicinity. Their single aim was to es-
| tablish and enlarge the church Of
| Christ. But they brought with them
the mistaken idea that the church and
state should be identical. They wished
| to found a genuinely Christian state,
with only such citizens as were wor-
thy of church membership; and when
they discovered that some among
them were heretical in creed, if not in
life, they placed the offenders on ship
board and sent them back to England.
These Puritans, in common with
Blackstone, the great commentator on
law, and John Wesley, the great
preacher, believed in witchcraft, and
hanged some men and women accused
of practicing the black art. We make
no apology for them. They ought to
have known better. But be it said to
their everlasting honor that they saw
their error and turned from it with
genuine repentance fifty years before
the European world abandoned the SUI
perstition. The Puritans were the
leaders in delivering the world from
the horrors of witch trials and exc
cutions.
The Unitarian disruption greatly
weakened Congregationalism, for the
Unitarians, by process of law, gained
possession of every church in Boston
except one, with more than hundred
other churches in the state Of Massa-
chusetts. Yet Unitarianism as a re-
ligion has proved stupendous fail
ure, though it has been eminent in ed
ucation and literature. It's denial of
the deity of Christ and it's rejection
of the Bible as the authoritative word
of God have made it powerless, be-
cause, while appealing to reason, it
has failed to be Influenced by the
sound reasoning which establishes
both of these claims. It's best friends
acknowledge that the Unitarian
church is passing, though they con-
sole themselves with the fact that it's
principles have so permeated other
churches as to make them virtually
Unitarian. If this be true, the victory
is short-lived, for if other churches
have adopted Unitarian principles
they have simply taken into their sys-
TENS the poison that will kill them
too in a few decades. The recent great
revival in Boston under evangelical
preaching proves that Unitarianism in
its stronghold has ceased to control
public sentiment.
Charles G. Finney, with logic set on
fire of the Holy Spirit, wins hundreds
of thousands to Christ and establishes
Oberlin college. Joseph Parker, true
to Christ and Bible in every fiber of
his great being, is the Boanerge of
London. eve hope that he does not
know of present conditions, else there
would be tears in heaven.) D. l..
Moody. born of Unitarian parents, is
led to Christ by man in whom
glowed the spirit of Finney and Par.
ker and he becomes the greatest evan.
gelist of the century.
These mighty men preached "Chriss
and him crucified" in the power of the
Holy Spirit and Congregationalism
flourished under their ministry, be.
cause freedom from the guilt of sin,
through the atoning blood of Christ, is
basis of character which fits men fol-
civil and religious liberty. IF the
Son shall make you free, ye shall be
free indeed" and if Christ does not
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