Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-04-11


the Roman Empire went to pieces the
Papal Church entered into covenant re
lationship with various divisions OF
the civil government: and some OF
these para mours she still has. while
others have 1eft her. France is gone
Portugal also. and Italy. Spain is
moody: Austro-Hungary Is her CHIEF
reliance at the present time She is
well treated in America. but not joined
to the American Government She is
well entertained and given every lib
erty in Germany and by many in
Great Britain. but these countries are
not her paramours.
"Like Mother, Like Daughters"
The Greek Church is joined to the
Russian Government: the Church OF
England to the British Government
The Lutheran Church is married 10
several European governments. 9th
ers of our Protestant Churches. having
no opportunity for atfilis<-oL with
earthly governments. have beeo1ce unit.
ed to worldly systems. worldly organ
iZations of their own. in which. as g
rule, wealth. mammon. sits at the head
of the table. Like mother. like daugh-
ters'' is an old saying. Instead OF
charging this whole matter upon 9th
ers. let us each recognize and take IL
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
tians-but all such names will be alb
horred as reminders of the unfaithful-
ness which we now deplore. 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 q symbol or picture of the
burial of the iRdiriduGlS ,oili and inter
ests in death-like unto and in fellow
ship with our Lords self-renounce-
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 10 the flesh FAC
cepted by the Father 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 tRomans
vi, A. 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, gentleness, love,
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-
tons 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 and churches. and some outside
of them all, the espoused. chaste viz
gin" of the Lord is not prominent
feature in Church affairs and is Who'll
Iy unknown to the world. Indeed.
these. while in the world. are not of
it and usually are disesteemed. AS the
Master said. Marvel not if the world
hate you. Ye know that it hated Me
before it hated you. If We were of the
world. the world would love its own
q John iii. 10; John XIV, Is, 19l.
If, then. the spirit-begotten ones. con-
stituting 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 We're
ever so determined and energetic. The
masses and classes rule. Wealth, learn
ing, earthly interests and earthly pow
er 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 a recognition of the sanity few in
her midst. whom she considers foolish
in claiming to be 'the elect" and true
Church. To apply the Apostles words,
She esteems the sanity class fools
all the day long" 1.-THE filth and off
securing" OF the earth To her they
are the impracticables. To her they
are insurrectonists. always crying out
for the simpb cities of the Gospel. the
rights and liberties of the individual
in person an6 conscience. for holiness
unto the Lord. not merely in name, but
in deed and In Truth. For this true
Church class so small a minority in
Babylon. to walt for the conversion
of the worldly masses OF the various
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