News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-03-03

Bible shows un-
mistakably that God never designed
that there should be more than Twelve
ApostleD of the Lamb-St. Paul taking
the place of Judas-the Pastor declar-
ed that it is evidently through some
serious misunderstanding Of Gods
Word that our Roman Catholic, Greek
Catholic and Church of England
friends claim to have Apostolic Bish-
ops. He sympathized with those gen.
tlemen who have dropped into certain
positions and who have been taught
for centuries that they are Apostles,
speaking with the same authority as
The Twelve whom our Lord appointed.
But he could not permit their delusion
to hinder him from remembering what
our Lord Jesus said and taking the
right viewpoint. Whoever holds back
Gods Truth for fear of man is shar-
ing In the sin and wrOng.-Jer. 1928.
Origin of the Nicens Creed.
Then the Pastor reviewed the history
Of the Church. Early in the Second
Century the Bishops began "to lord it
over Gods heritage" Gradually the
Church separated into clergy and laity.
Then, later on, the declaration was
made that the Church was composed
only of the clergy, and that the people
were the children of the Church. All
this occurred centuries before the in
vention of printing, when very few
had Bibles or could read Thus the
people were dependent upon the Bish-
ops. When these began to claim to be
Apostolic, they gave the people to I'm
derstand that they alone were author
lied to read and interpret Scripture.
But these Apostolic Bishops did not
agree amongst themselves, as did The
Twelve whom Jesus appointed In the
Fourth Century the Emperor Constan-
tine professed Christianity for policy's
sake. Perceiving the need of unity of
belief, he called all the Bishops to con-
vene at Nicea, 325 A. d. About 1884 re-
sponded-far from the entire number
There the First Ecumenical Council of
the Church was held aside from that
held in Jerusalem by the real Apostles.
acts 15:6-29D Supposing that the
Bishops were fully authorized to be
Apostles, the Emperor proposed that
they draw up a creed setting forth
what they considered correct doctrines.
That creed he offered to enforce if
they would support him.
Thus the Nicene Greed, the first great
creed, was formulated by self-appoint-
ed Apostolic Bishops. So an end was
put to all Bible study; for the Apostolic
Bishops could teach all that the people
needed to know. Thereafter all teach
ings that differed from the creeds were
pronounced heresy.
For twelve hundred years the Bible |
was unknown to the people. In 1926 /
Professor Tyndale translated the New |
Testament into English. but was COM
PEELED to go to Germany to get it print
ed, so strong was the adverse infu- !
ence of the English Bishops. The
books were imported to London, where
the people eagerly purchased them.
But the Bishops bought up the entire
edition and burned them.
The speaker traced the matter down
to our day. and showed that in course
IF time both Protestant and Catholic
Bishops were forced by public opinion
10 give the people the Bible. But in
50 doing, they warned the people that
eternal torment awaited any who
would interpret Gods Word otherwise
han did the Bishops. Thus the infiu-
nee of the Bible was largely multi
led After the beginning of the Nine
zenith Century education became more
general Bible Societies sprang into
existence. Superstition is gradually
breaking down. and people dare TO
hink for themselves. The creeds of
he Dark Ages are manifestly so alb
urd that no intelligent orthodox min
ster thinks of defending that of his
wn denomination.
Making Way For Gods Kingdom.
The Pastor urged his hearers to
tudy the Bible for themselves and to
reak away from the errors and su-
hat the Scriptures teach that Satan. ]
ot our forefathers, is responsible for
hese errors. We are living I'm time
Then more light than ever before is
ne upon Gods Word. The great Eu-
Opean war is the beginning OF the
Of the Scriptures Ac-
or1ing to Gods Word. the trouble
pom the nations will increase until all
be world L. engulfed in anarchy. But
pom the ruins Of the Present Order
cd win erect the Messianic Kingdom. +
-hich viii assume full control OF the
ord and its affairs.