The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1915-04-01


dom. which will bring knowledge and
opportunity to all the families OF tbs
earth the living and the dead.
The Twelve Foundation Stones.
SC. Paul declared that the saints OF
God. the true catholic Church. "arc
built upon the foundation OF the Apos
ties and Prophets. Jesus Christ Him
self being the Chief Corner Stone.
Ephesians 2.20l The Twelve Apps
ties are here referred to In their dou'
BILE oflice-Apostles especially commits.
stoned By the Lord as His representa-
lives, and Prophets mouthpieces, Tor
the proclamation OF the Message to
the Church. Jesus. referring to these
same foundation stones, pictures the
Church Of Glory as the New Jerisa'
lem. and its twelve foundations MS
twelve precious stones. IN which are
the names OF the tirolre Apostles OF the
Lamb--no more. no less-St Pau be-
Ing Gods choice 10 take the place OF
Judas. the betrayer.
To think OF St Peter as the only
foundation for the Church would be TO
deny Christ's teaching and St Peters
own statement-tha the entire Church
is symbolically represented as living
stones built together by the Lord
through the Holy Spirit q Peter 2:i-o)
Ii was costly mistake when our fore
fathers, overlooking this well-estab-
lished point of Scripture, thought OF
the bishops OF the Church as Apostolic
Bishops, and took their decisions In
councils assembled as the voice OF God
to and through the Church. The voice
OF God to and through the Church came
only through the twelve Apostles OF
the Lamb" All others SO claiming are
denounced by Jesus Himself as pseudo
Apostles-faIse Apostles. %.
Gods true saints Of all denomina-
lions should ignore all human creeds
and return to the Bible and Its dec
laration Of lone Lord. one faith. one
baptism. one God and Father of ALL
(Ephesians 40. g. Are we more loyal
to human organizations than to God,
His Truth. His Church-all saints and
one people, imbued with one spirit the
world around-the catholic Church?
Power In Heaven and In Earth.
As st. Peter was only one Of the
twelve foundation stones OF the
Church, so. likewise, he was only one
of The Twelve to whom the Lord de-
clared, Whatsoever We shall bind on
earth shall be bound in Heaven; and
whatsoever We shall loose on earth
shall be loosed In Heaven" (Matthew
1S:1S)-the same statement exactly
that on another occasion He made to
st. Peter only. But He gave the keys
to st. Peter alone.
Would it seem reasona BILE that Jesus
should tell the twelve Apostles that
God would do anything that they babe
Him do--taking to Heaven whom they
pleased and excluding whom they
chose? Would it be wise or safe to
entrust to poor humanity such dicta-
torial powers respecting the eternal In
terest of even one Individual? AS
suredly not! When we remember that
these Apostles declared that they were
men of like passions with others, that
st. Peter himself dissembled on one
occasion and on another denied his
Master, we are the more convinced
that Jesus did not mean that God
would abdicate His authority and wis
dom in favor Of any twelve men.
What. then, does the passage mean?
We answer, 1t implies that the Lord
would so overrule the utterances and
writings Of His twelve Apostles as to
make them safe guides for His Church
To these Apostles would be given
through the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
wisdom enabling them to understand
which things of the Jewish Law were
binding upon the Church and which |
not binding Their decision would be |
absolutely right, and the entire Church |
might have confidence that what the |
Apostles bound or loosed Oh earth was |
equally bound or loosed in Heaven.
As an illustration Of this binding and |
DOSING, see Acts 1928. 20.
To get back into proper relationship |
with each other and rid of all seeta-
ian systems, Gods people must recog-
lize that only the words of the New
Testament Apostles and Prophets are
properly representing the
Divine mind. Other things men have
pound and loosed on earth, without
In Heaven The things
necessary TO the Church are found only
u the Bible, as St Paul declares.-2
Timothy 3:16, II.
The Church Upon the Rock.
"Other Foundation can no man lay
han that which is laid. Jesus Christ"
] Corinthians BILL In the Divine ar
Jesus Christ is the Founda-
ion, the Rock. upon which is built the
ntire superstructure or His Church
he one Catholic, world wide Church
IN this Rock, Christ Jesus. as st Pc
err declares. all the Church Is being
,uilt as a Temple of God. Il Peter
:410) The New Jerusalem. the
,hurch In glory, bad twelve founda-
lon stones. built upon the one Foun.