The Pleasantville press., 1912-11-27

of their own what ceremonies, if any.
shall accompany that ordination or ap-
pointment Who can dispute this? No
Protestant denomination, surely; for
their own ordinations are on this basis.
i "Not Of Men, Nor by Man."
The entire subject of ordination of
ministers of the Gospel seems to have
fallen into confusion during the shuf-
filings of the Dark Ages; and few seem
to have gotten fully back to the Bible
teachings on this subject as on other
subjects st. Paul is particular in en-
phasizing the fact that he did not re-
ceive his commission as preacher and
Apostle of Christ from his brother
Apostles. He distinctly declares him
self an Apostle by Divine authorize
ton. This is the general Scriptural
principle underlying Divine Ordination
to the ministry of Christ.
Before we proceed with an exposi-
ton of the Bible teaching on Diyine
Ordination, it will not be improper for
us to note the practical operation of the
different human organizations-of men
/ and by men merely.
Have all bishops Of the Catholic
Church, the Anglican Church, and the
ETY., patterns to the flock? Have all
given evidence of Divine authorization
to teach and to preach the True Cos
pei? Their Staunchest votarieS must
! admit that many Of them have been
unworthy; and that from these very
ones have proceeded doctrines and
practises contrary to the Word of God.
/ Of what value, then, are their ordina-
! tions by men and of man? None what
4 ever! On the contrary, the claim that
they were Divinely authorized, and
guided and inspired to be teachers of
the Church, helped forward the errors
which they promulgated. By reason
of their claimed authority to teach.
the people believed them too implicitly
and did not sufficiently criticise their
utterances and practises in the light of
the Holy Scriptures.
How is it today in the various Prot
estant denominations of Christendom?
! Are all those who receive sectarian or
dination, of men and by man, benefited
thereby? Has such ordination kept
/ them free from weaknesses of the flesh
to which others were exposed? Has it
not, on the other hand, exposed them
to greater temptations, because they
were pedestaled by the people and
1 thereby injured with pride, haughti-
ness, etc.? Has such ordination in
any denomination preserved its min
listers from doctrinal errors more than
the people, who did not have similar
ordination of men and by man?
The answer is found in the num-
bers who have left various de-
nominations and ordinations to go
into other denominations and ordi-
nations. 1t is answered also in the
fact that today the great majority of
ordained ministers in all denomina
tions entirely repudiate the Bible as a
/ Divine Revelation. Their ordination
did not protect them from our modern
infidelity, called Higher Criticism. I'm
der its influence they have ceased to
be teachers of Bible Christianity. and
have become merely essayists, leaders
in political and social reform and in
humanitarian work Manifestly their
ordination of men and by man did not
hold them to the faith once delivered
to the saints" dude 81 1t did not as
sist them to appreciate the Bible as
being sufficient that the man of God
might be thoroughly furnished unto
every good word and work.
Let US consider the matter again.
from another standpoint. Did any of
these human ordinations of men and
by man impart the Holy Spirit or give
a mental illumination by which any of
these humanity ordained ministers were
qualified for preaching and teaching
the Lords people? The answer is, Nol
AS deep spirituality and as deep in
sight into the teachings of the Scrip
lures are to be found outside of the
pulpit as inside. The ordination. evil
IDENTIFY, brought no enlightenment. no
gift of the Holy Spirit-the thing
above all needed by those who would
teach others and expound the Gospel.
Has Served Bad Purpose.
The ordination of ministers, of men
and by man, has been injurious in that
it has perpetuated the misconception
that the Church is divided into two
classes-clergy and laity The ordained
have been injured by being puffed up to
suppose themselves of a higher caste
than their brethren. The unordained
have been injured in that human ordi-
nation has helped to befog their minds
in respect to the real ordination. Thus
the ''laity" have been hindered from
entering upon the very service which
God intended should be their chief aim
and object. In the early Church, the
Elders were considered merely elder
brothers of the Church--not elders in
years necessarily, but advanced ones
In spiritual things, able to help the
brethren properly to understand the
Word Of God and to attend to all the
duties and privileges inculcated by the
Gospel for their preparation for share
in Messiah's Kingdom. The ordination
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