Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-04-15

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irhose names are
scritten in hcdrcn" OHebrews xii. 23l.
He urged that the subject be APP
preached prayerfully and honestly
that all who see that there was but
one Church In the beginning. establish
ed by the Redeemer. see also that
there will be but the one Church In
the end. the Church Triumphant in
glory. "the Bride. the Lambs Wife"
For the same reason that there have
been doctrines many amongst the fol
lowers of Jesus, there have been
churches many. as representing those
doctrines.
AS last Sunday the question was,
what is the True Gospel?' and as we
found that true Gospel more or less
scattered In all the various creeds, and
none OF them the pure and unadulter-
ated Gospel. so tonight we should be
prepared TO find that The one true
Church of Christ for the past eighteen
centuries has been scattered here and
there amongst various denominations.
and that not one of these denomina-
tions is the true Church. Not one OF
them can claim 10 contain all the
wheat and none of the 'tares." Not
one OF them can claim TO contain all
OF the saints and no hypocrites. The
time was when the various divisions
of the Christian Church severally laid
claim TO being the one and only
Church. But that time has passed. so
far as the people are concerned, and
has passed so far as the majority OF
the clergy are concerned.
THAT They All May Be One"
am not here to charge intentional
wrong.doing on the part Of any of the
divisions Of the Christian Church. said
Pastor Russell. On the contrary.
shall assume that the trainers of the
various creeds were sincere. honest
men; and that the original followers
OF those creeds were sincere. and that
a few today may be equally sincere. ]
shall assume. however. that the ma
jority Of Christians. ministers and
laymen. realize that the sectarian
fences are largely composed of miscon
ceptions OF the Divine Word and Plan
and that the causes which originally
led TO Church divisions have consid
erably disappeared. II we can now
recognize one true Gospel we may all
reunite. in harmony with our Masters
prayer that IAN may be one. rs Thou
Father. aud | are one
remind you again of the simplicity
OF this Gospel which recognizes the
broad outlines OF the Divine Plan and
allows each individual TO see as many
OF the finer lines OF the same as his
spiritual development will permit. On
thnt broad basis of Christian union
the early Christians were one and rep
rotated any division. st. Paul rebuk.
ed those who said. II am OF Paul; !
am OF Apollos: ! am Of Peter" Il CORN
thlans I. l2l. As only Christ died for
us all. He alone must be recognized as
our Savior As lie Is the Head OF the
Church aud the only Head. He only
must be recognized As all we are
brethren. so the class distinction as
between clergy and laity must be abro.
gated that we all may be one Church
with one Lord. one Faith and one Bap-
tlsm and one God and Father over all
(Ephesians ~. -.
Babylon the Great. the Mother of Har.
lots"
How the divided Church, with clash
Ing creeds. appears TO the Almighty,
He tells us. calling II Babylon-which
signifies confusion And who can deny
the appropriateness OF the namei In
times past Catholics have applied this
name 10 the Protestant sects. and the
Professionals In turn have applied IL TO
the Church of Rome. But when we
come TO examine the Scriptures ON the
subject they seem TO include all-the
Church of Rome being represented as
the mother Church and the various
Protestant Churches as her daughters.
The charge of harlotry which the Lord
makes against mother and daughters
must be acknowledged. although with
some this harlotry has been more open
and pronounced than with others.
Using the Jewish marriage ceremony
as the basis OF the figure all Chris
tians. as members of the true Church.
are declared TO be "espoused to one
husband which Is Christ" nl CORN
thians xi. q. Under the Jewish custom
the espousal brought the woman I'M
der the same obligation OF chastity ms
though the marriage had taken place
Thus the Church. by her vow 70 her
Lord. Is obligated 10 the full. although
the marriage with the Heavenly Bride
groom will not take place until His
Second Advent and the change OF the
espoused from earthly to heavenly con
ditions. for flesh and blood cannot In
herit the Kingdom 81 God" Neyela-
tion xix. z; John xiv. 3; Cor. Ky. 50l.
Spiritual harlotry IL the condition In