Milford chronicle., 1909-05-28

/
/ Lord Jesus is to shed forth, first upon
his Church for its perfecting on the
spirit plane. and secondly through the
Church upon the world. "the rebellious
also" are Of the Father though through
the Son. Our Lord received the dig
nifty, blessing and power OF the Father.
as st, Peter tells us, and then shed
forth a part Of what he had received
upon the waiting Church in the upper
room at Pentecost The blessing still
continues with all who are his, all
who come into the position Of Justif-
cation by faith and Sanchfcation Of
heart
"eave Gifts Unto Men,"
We might have had room for specu-
lation as to what kind of gifts the
Lord bestowed had not the Apostle
proceeded to specify and to leave US
without a question Of doubt. He says
He gave some (the gift to be- apos
ties, and some prophets, and some
evangelists, and some pastors and
teachers" This declaration is IN hal
mony with another from the same pei
to the effect that God hath scr The 81.
rious members in the Body lot Chris
the Church, as it hath pleased hin
The Scriptures clearly teach Chat o.
twelve were set to be apostles: tl
the Office is not. as some cl3i.l. pr
longed in the bishops, cardinals auo
popes. The Scriptures tell us of III
twelve apostles Of the Lamb" who's,
names are written in heaven, and of
the twelve foundations Of the New Je-
rusalem. Another picture of the same
thing IN Revelation represents the
Church as a woman, upon her head
twelve stars. no more. no less, one be-
ing chosen in place Of one of the Origi-
nal, Judas. who was lost so that the
tiCelre might be maintained. While the
number Of pastors, teachers and evan
gelists is evidently greater, we are not
for a moment to doubt that the Lord
has the supervision Of this matter and
has been giving the gifts to the Church
the Gospel Age as their
were necessary and, as be |
levers were prepared. to make use Of |
their assistance. Here we are remind |
ed Of the Apostles words, "Are all /
apostles? Are all prophets? Are all .
His intimatiOn assuredly is /
that all are not so recognized of the |
Lord; that God makes his own selec-
tion-and it is for his people to hear
to recognize his voice and to follow
the same and not to follow the voice
Of strangers.
Alas. that an important Truth is
sighted; that the Lords people have
forgotten that he himself is the Head
IF the Church; that by his appoint
nent the twelve apostles are the chan
lels Of his blessing; that only through
kem do the streams of Truth go forth,
md that evangelists, pastors and
teachers are to be needed only as they
,an show that their messages are
rom this Fountain Spring. Would
hat every consecrated Christian would
'ealize what the Apostle Paul so clear
Y sets forth, namely, that all the
represented in the name of
he Lord and the apostles are TO be
proven, to see whether or not they do
,roceed from these Fountains and
admixture and adulteration.
"Perfeeting of the Saints"
For what purpose did the Lord give
hese gifts unto men? For the con-
ersion OF the world, someone an
wers. Yes. we reply, but not directly
o. We must be guided by the Apostle
( we would know the Truth of the
natter. He says distinctly that these
lifts were for the perfecting of the
aints for the work Of the ministry,
or the edifcation OF the Body of
'hrist, till we all come into unity Of
aith aud Of the knowledge of the Son
( God: unto full-grown men; unto the
Of the stature Of the fullness
Z Christ (Ephesians iv. 11-13l.
According to this It is a mistake to
oppose that Gods will is accom-
lished in the mere preaching Of the
rst principles Of the doctrines OF
Ihrist. The Apostle explains that our
rst standing in Christ is that Of
abes, but that we need to be nour
she'd. strengthened. developed to per
ection, to the condition of manhood.
We believe that the Apostle would find
lult with the sentiments of men to-
ay on this subject; that he would
I'll us that the doctrines Of Christ are
OF sufficiently taught and not sufh
Iently understood to produce the fin
ihed Christian character which the
ord desires. Men are to become
lints first, and then to attain a per-
citing as saints. Full conservation,
is a mere beginning Of the
latter and not the end Of It. We
ust "gO on unto perfection"
"Unto a Perfect Man."
St Paul says that these gifts through
lostles, prophets and teachers are to
evelop the Church to the condition
a perfect man, unto the measure +
the stature of the fullness Of Christ" 4
e does not mean that each Individual =
to become Of Christ's measure and r
ature and character Nothing of the n
nd is possible nor has ever been ac- o
,mplished. His meaning is that from q
e Divine standpoint Of intention The -
nricf Of which Taeus &c tho Head %