The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-02-16

Brooklyn, Feb. 6-The fourth and
final meeting for the consideration
of doctrina surrendefs necessary to
Church Federation was held today.
Brooklyns largest auditorium, the
Academy OF Music, being crowded.
Pastor G. T. Russell, of the Brooklyn
Tabernacle delivered the address as
follows
Having viewed during the past three
Sundays what the leading denomlna-
tions would need to sacrifice in the in
terest of Federation, we come today to
the final discussion of this series The
Church Militant and Triumphant and
her interest In the Federation move
ment, Let us endeavor to take so
broad view of this subject that there
will be no room for disagreement on the
part of true Christians Of any denomi-
nation.
Unnecessary as II may be To explain
to this large and intelligent audience
the Significance OF our topic, The
Church Militant and The Church Fri.
umphant, must think beyond the
thousands present Of the millions who
tomorrow will receive reports of This
discourse from that great channel OF
the worlds progress, the secular Press.
Hence explain that the term Church
Militant signifies the Church In war
fare, struggling with the powers Of
evil, while The Church Triumphant sig
nfies The Church victorious. glorious,
Joined with her Lord, the Heavenly
bridegroom. as his Bride and Queen
In the great MillcnniaI Kingdom soon
to bless and uplift The world OF man
kind | should further add that while
In this discussion we have considered
the various denominations of Christen-
dom and their erceds, we must today
ignore all human systems and creedS
We must take the broad, general
ground of the Scriptures and reros-
nize only one Church.
Nor may we make the mistake OF
saving that the one Church Is one Sect.
No sect, no denomination, however
great and influential and numerous
and rich, either In sordld or historic
wealth, can be conceded the right to
appropriate the name which our Lord
gave 10 all truly his disciples. Surely
none OF us is sectarlan enough to dis
pute this premise. We must learn to
recognize the church Of Christ from
the same viewpoint AS does the Head
Of the Church. We must learn the
force of st. Peters words to Cornelius,
"Of truth | perceive that God Is no
respecter of persons; but in every ma
ton he that feareth him aud worketh
righteousness is accepted with him
lActs Y. 81, 35,.
Taking therefore. the Scriptural
view OF the Church. we recognize 1t
as the "Body of Christ" OF many men,
bers, over which he is the Head. 1t
Is composed Of conSecrated followers
of Christ irrespective of all denomina-
tional lines-those who turning from
sin, accept Jesus as their Redcemer.
through whom they have forgiveness
OF sins and reconciliation to the Father
those who have become disciples OF
Christ, taking up their cross to follow
him ana who have received the beget
ting OF the holy Spirit. Who could
dispute that these are the Church OF
Christ? Who shall say that they must
belong to this Communion or that, or
lose their relationship to the Head
Christ Jesus? The apostles never re-
ferred to Baptist Christians, Methodist
Christians, Catholic Christians, Pres.
byterian Christians, etc. but merely TO
these whom we have described and
whom they styled saints-"the Church
of the living God, whose names are
written In heaven" NIcbrews Kill 80;
Timothy III, l5l, Let us keep strictly
within the lines OF Gods Word and
avoid the errors OF the past. Let us
today consider this Church MS the
Church Militant and prospectively the
Church Triumphant
The Church Militant.
II we ali agree that we have before
our minds the real Church. the Church
OF the New Testament, let us notice
that there h nominal Church also
and that we are not competent to fully
determine which are the real and
which are the nominal Christians eN
cept by the test which our Lord has
given-''by their fruits We shall know
them" While the real Church Of fully
consecrated believers, faithful to the
Lord and his Word and the principles
of righteousness. Is represented by a
very small number, there Is nominal
L.. ,t.... Al,
the kernel Of n nut. The nominal
Church includes those whose manner
or whose attendance on worship implies
relationship to Christ without having
gone the length of a full faith-accept
ance Of him in sacrifice, perhaps with
out having fully turned from sin even
In their hearts, and without having
made full conservation to serve the
Lord. This nominal class may be sub
divided into believers who are favor
ably disposed toward Christ and right.
eousness; others who regard the
Church as merely Il moral club de
signed for social and moral benefit or
influence upon the world. by counter
acting sinful influences; still others.
bitter al heart. sinful and selfish. hay
ing no faith whatever In Jesus and ne
care whatever for morality and us
ing the name Of Christ hypoeriticaiiy,
-creiy as a garment to deceive. that
tue, insy re better gain their ehGs.
Thus we find the nominal Church to
consist Of:
% Hypocrites; C2) Moralists; 80 In
differents; a. Seekers after godliness;
% The true Church, 1.-THE sanctifed in
Christ Jesus" Il Corinthians, l, D.
members of the Body of Christ
prospective members OF the Church
Triumphant.
Fiohtings Without and Within.
Every member OF "the Church of the
first-born' was called ito suffer with
Christ" that he may be also later glori-