The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-04-14


came affiliated with or united to the
civil government of Rome: and when
the Roman Empire went to pieces the
Papal Church entered into covenant re-
latiouship with various divisions OF
the civil government. and some of
these paramuurs she still bias. while
others have left her France Is gone.
Portugal also. and Italy. Spain Is
moody: Austro-Huugary is her chief
reliance ut the present time. She is
well treated in America. but not joined
to the American Government She is
we'll entertained and given every lib
erty in Germany and by many in
Great Britain. but these countries arc
not her paramours.
Like Mother, Like Daughters"
The Greek Church is Joined 10 the
Russian Government: the Church of
England to the British Government.
The Lutheran Church is married to
several European governments. 9th.
ers of our Protestant Churches. having
no opportunity for attilia,ion with
earthly governments. have become unit
ed TO worldly systems. worldly organ
izations Of their own. in which. as a
rule. wealth. mammon. sits at the head
of the table. Like mother. like daugh-
tiers" is an old saying. Instead of
charging this whole matter upon 9th
ers. let us each recognize and take to
heart our own share. for which we
are responsible.
AS the doctrinal errors which caused
our divisions gradually developed dur
ing a long period of darkness. so our
development along the lines Of spirit
ual harlotry were gradual. 1t is not
for us to quarrel with the facts, which
are undeniable. but TO sincerely re-
pent of the wrong condition and re-
nounce it. Coming back to the one
faith, we should come back also to the
one Lord. SO doing He will graciously
receive us and thencefOrth His name
alone will be quite sufficient We will
no longer need to style ourselves Ro-
man Christians. English Christians.
Lutheran Christians. CalviniStic Chris.
al
horred as reminders of the unfaithful-
ness which we now depore. As the
name Christian was sufficient for the
early Church it is sufficient today for
all heartily glad to abandon errors of
the past and to come together as the
one Church of the Living God"
As for the one baptism. let us concede
what the Scriptures claim and declare.
namely. that the water immersion Is
merely a symbol or picture of the
burial of the tndiriduals Wil and inter-
ests i'm death-like unto and in fellow
ment. even unto death. Thus all of the
consecrated. of whatever denomina-
ton. can be recognized as members OF
the one true Church if they are dead
with Christ to the world. its hopes and
aims-buried with Him by baptism into
His death. which death to the flesh FAC.
cepted by the FatheD constitutes us
members of the one Body of Christ.
the true Church. If thus baptized into
His death. we shall share also in His
resurrection, says the Apostle {Romans
ri. 4. 81.
The Church In the Wilderness.
Is it asked. Where has the true
Church been during all the eighteen
centuries since the Apostles died? We
answer that the Scriptures picture her
as going into the wilderness condition.
out of public view. for twelve hundred
and sixty years of this time. As pride.
pomp. arrogance and error came into
prominence. meekness, gentIeness. iove.
simplicity. gradually retired. Through
the long period Of the dark ages" no
history of the true Church was written.
just as no such history or record of her
can be written today.
Since none Of the various denomina-
tions is the true Church. therefore
the history Of none of these gives her
history. AS her members are Scrip.
turally declared to contain not many
wise. not many learned. therefore
scattered amongst all the various
creeds aud churches. and some outside
of them all, the cspoused. chaste wiz
GIN of the Lord is not prominent
feature in Church affairs and is who'll
ly unknown to the world. Indeed,
these, while in the world. are not Of
it and usually are disesteemed. AS the
Master said, Marvel not il the world
hate you. Ye know that it hated Me
before it hated you. IL ye were of the
world, the world would love its own
Il John iii. 10: John XIV, Is, 19.
If. then. the spiritbegOtten ones. con-
shutting the Lords betrothed virgin
Church. are few. and If that few be
scattered amongst the four hundred
millions nominally styled Christendom.
it follows that they are greatly in the
minority and could have comparatively
little influence today even if they were
ever so determined and energetic. The
masses and classes rule. Wealth, learn.
ing. earthly interests and earthly pow
err are better pleased with present con-
ditions than with those which Gods
Word promises will be established
when Messiah shall take to Himself
His great power and begin His reign
of righteousness.
Babylon. as the Scriptures declare. is
great. influential. powerful - mother
and daughters. She will never consent
to recognition Of the sanity few in