The Washington herald., 1915-04-19

only let us be call
49, 4 6lM | ed by Thy name
X TO take away GU
lASI0R RUssEIg) reproaeh," G lisa,
in part:
Many Of the Old Testament prophe
cies are highly figurative. Doubtless
they had some measure Of application
at the time when they were written. bu
We have Apostolic authority for conclu
ding that they were intended for Spir
itual Israel. q Peter LID Our Lore
and the Apostles quoted continually
from the prophecies and invariably ap
piled the lesson to the Gospel Age
Hence We are abundantly justified in as
Stunning that our text is applicable to the
present. Its peculiar expression, in tina,
Day is usual throughout Scripture II
referring to the close Of the Gospel Age
with its trouble and confusion incident
TO the inauguration of the Millennium.
Throughout the Scriptures a woman is
a symbol of the Church-a pure woman
of n pure Church, a corrupt woman OF
a false Church. Our Lord compared
the true Church in the end of this Age to
a company of virgins-part wise and part
foolish-and Himself to the bridegroom.
come at the end of the Age to receive
His espoused Church to Himself in glory
John the Baptist used the same figure
saying. He that hath the Bride is the
BRIDEGROOM and ST. Paul amplfies the
thought. declaring, Il have espoUSed you
,the consecrated Church, as chaste
Virgin unto one husband, Christ" John
-: = Corinthians 1l:2D Here. as in the
parable of the Ten Virgins. the Jewish
marriage is set forth as typical OF the
union between Christ and the Church.
With the Jews in Olden time. when a
botrothaI took place. legal and binding
documents were signed by or for the
contract ting parties. but no actual mar
riaec occurred for about year. During
that period it WIS required that the es-
poused be as faithful to her espousal as
is now expected of any true wife. We
see the harmony between the Jewish
marriage custom and tho Lords deal
ing with the Church. No one is es-
poused to our Lord who has not entered
into definite contract with Him. On
our Lords part the contract is the as
Surance of the great and precious prom
Uses that if tn" cspoused is faithful. she
shall be joint-heir with her Lord in His
Millennial Kingdom. On the Church S
part the contract is our covenant of con-
secration. faithfulness to our Redeemer
even unto death.
ccptance of the Lords gracious promises
and our death corresponds in a measure
to the betrothal period of the Jewish
maiden: but the more exact fulfilment OF
the figure is found in the history of the
~'hurch as whole. AT PsnteCost our
lords virgin Church was espoused to
Him. and has since been awaiting tn"
coming OF the Bridegroom and her res
direction change 10 glory, honor and i'm
mortaIity-the marriage the union-for
nearly nineteen centuries.
The Bride in kingdom Glory.
In His last Message to the Church our
ord continues to picture tho Church as
= b"throthed virgin. under strictest obi
cations /" purity and faithfulnfs IS down 10
the end OF the Gospel Age, where she is
represented as making herself ready for
The Bridegroom's coming and for the
marriage. TO be ready she must have
on the wedding garment. and ii must he
without spot or wrinkle or any such
1 hing" IEphesians 3:c1) That robe rep
rcsents the imputed righteousness of
Christ. covering her every unintcntional
hlcmish and imperfection: and any spot
pI WITHIN upon io't "SN''N
such grief 10 tho hethothcd ono that the
stain would be removed and the wrinkle
PRESSED out by the gracious arrangement
made therefor by the Heavenly Bride
groom; for lie presented the robe and
gave directions by which IL might be
kent ''unspotted from the world
With her resurrection change in the
end of this Age the ''espoused VIRGIN
,'hurch will be no more. She will have
spd the exalted state oil
the Bridc-united to her Lord and Bride
groom. Note the symbolical picture by
which she is represented-the New
i Jerusalem. coming down from God out
OF Heaven That is. the Heavenly
Kingdom, the now ruiership of the
world, is then pictured as the Bride. The
grand work OF the Church in glory is
also pictured as the work of the Bride
The Spirit and the Bride say, Come.
And whosoever will, let him take of the
Water Of Life INSTRUMENTATION 2l:e.
9, 10: Ell.
Not only is the Church not the Bride
now, but she is not privileged TO say.
Come, 10 whatsoever will: for with the
calling Of this Age there is a measure of
e eee' Come unto Ne o except tn. ne Pa ms
which sent Me draw him" John SAD
Moreover. there is no River OF Water of
Life now. That bountiful provision is for
the world during the Millen mia. Age.
become His consecrated followers have
within themselves "a well OF water
springing up unto everlasting life
John Ala.
Many Churches of Christ.
The heather and children in Christian
lands when they begin to study the Bible
are perplexed and inquire, Which is the
Church of Christ? They see churches OF
various names claiming to be branches
of the Church: and they ask. Which did
Jesus establish? The answer implies
confusion and reproach. All claim genu-
ineness and originality. but none can
show any evidence of Its present organ.
izatiou earlier than the Third Century.
When we contrast their elaborate and
formal services with the simplicity OF
the early Church. as described In the
New Testament. we are sure that they
cannot be the same. When we compare
their doctrines with those OF Christ and
the Apostles. as set forth In the New
Testament, their claims fall to the
ground for lack of support.
To illustrate: The Scriptures teach
that there is but one God, the Father,
and one Lord Jesus Christ q Corinthians
$50; that the Father. who Is above all.
sent His Son to b our Redeemer: that