The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-01-14
The PenduIum's Swing.

In the long ago past our forefathers
studied these Scriptures. but misun-
derstood and misapplied them. They
assumed that God had given to the
Church authority to establish His
Kingdom The espoused virgin Church
became united or married to the world
to civil power and ceased to wish
for and 10 pray for the Heavenly
bridegroom to whom she was espous
ed through the Gospel. Under the de
iusionS that she had been authorized to
establish Messiah'S Kingdom and that
her share in earthly dominion brought
about by union with civil power con
stituted 1t the Kingdom of Messiah
the Church endeavored to apply and Ia
fulfil these prophecies.
An attempt was made to rule tn,
world with rod of iron through thf
civil governments. and to put unde
the Church's feet everything antagonis
tic to her supposed rights and interests
As result of this mistaken interpra
tation of the Lords Word the worio
ties were committed by professed fol
i0wers OF Christ. who. however sincere
they were in many respects. served
the cause OF Satan and misrepresente.s
the Cause Of '.od
Imperfect human reasoning is apt to
go from one extreme TO the opposite.
Honco roxolffno fror,, tho tbo,,ohf ~
the Churchs conquering the world by
sword and flame, by thumb-screw and
rack and stake. the general miscon.
ception turned to an expectation OF
conquering the world by the Gospel
Message. This second mistake is moi
so serious in some respects as the first
lit does not involve horrible atrocities
in the name of God and the Savior.
However. it is equally misleading as
respects the Truth 1t sets aside the
Word of God and substitutes the hu.
man theory that the preaching of the
Gospel is TO convert the world The
Divine Word is that the preaching OF
the Gospel is for the purpose of select
ing a Church to be Messiah's joint
heirs in His Kingdom
If the Church could convert the
world with the Gospel it would be
very fine. But it is surely absurd to Sc
expect in the face of our experiences OF
the past century and Of the plain state
ments of Gods Word to the contrary.
All see that tue world is not being con-
verted: and that if Christianity cannot
convert the people at home. it would
be vain for her to expect to convert
the heather abroad If great religious
centers such as London, Rome and
Washington are no nearer to having
Gods will done in them as it is done
in Heaven. what hope would there be
of better results in heathendom?
l am not saying one word against
Foreign Missions. God Forbid In pro.
portion as we are able to send the light
of Truth into more benighted lands, let
us do SO. But. if possible. let us send
the True Light from Gods Word. And
let us trim our lamps that we our
selves may have that True Light in
Oui ldNOlGu ldHQ. W udl We uAS 10
that Christian people should come back
to the teaching of the Bible. In order
to do this. each denomination should
throw away its creedal spectacles.
which have injured the spiritual sight
of all of US. All true children of God
should study afresh the Divine Chart
which shows us where we are and the
Port for which we should strive.
Heirs of the Kingdom.
Thus doing, all is plain. The shad-
ows and mists of darkness flee away
We begin TO realize and to see that
the Elect Church are all that are be-
ing saved as yet; and that they are
being chosen out of the world for a