Completeness in all the works of God are everywhere manifest. Harmony prevails in the vast system of worlds above, and all around us. By the aid of the telescope, we view with delight the increasing magnitude of those heavenly bodies, from the asteroid, up to that mysterious orb that gives life and light to the vegetable and animal kingdoms, and the worlds that move in space. The chain is complete. Every link is in its proper place. This is correct in both kingdoms. You may trace with profound interest the smallest insect that crawls upon the leaf to the giant mastodon that roams the forest. This law prevails likewise in the kingdom of grace. As one star differeth from another star in glory, so also is the resurrection. And when we stand upon the sea of glass mingled with fire, and gaze upon that innumerable company that have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, the law of necessity, and development will be manifest. Heaven would be very incomplete if this were not true. If there were none but arch-angels and matured saints; if the children of all grades, those just blooming into life were not there; if men and women with the feeblest intellect redeemed to God by the blood of the Lamb were not there, then indeed, the chain would be broken, and Heaven would be incomplete. What joy comes to the Christian parents, when compelled to lay their dear child, that had already given them so much real pleasure, away in the cold silent grave, to feel that we shall meet again, and be forever with the Lord.
We now come to a different consideration, that is, the Christian church or churches. This is of a twofold character, internal and external. It may have an existence where it does not appear externally; and what often has an external appearance as the church of Christ, may have no relation to Him. Nevertheless, it does possess the invisible and the visible organization. The invisible or spiritual church of Christ, is one, in Heaven, and on earth. The visible organization is manifold. She might well be compared to a family with many members, all striving to do the will of the parent. All have not the same office. Every branch of the Christian church have their mission, and will be required to do just what they are fitted for by nature, culture, and by grace. Where much has been given, much will be required. Responsibility measures up to the above rule.
The whole family of churches evolved one after another from the old Catholic church: and all, seem to have a mission in the world’s drama. Just what that mission is, I am not able to define. Perhaps some are to operate as parasites on others. The mission of the church of Christ was to seek and save the lost and perishing. The Wesleyan Methodist church declares in her book of discipline that they were raised up to spread scriptural holiness over these lands; and while she was true to her mission, nothing could stand before her. Where ever she unfurled the banner of the cross, rebellion ceased, and Jesus Christ was crowned Lord of all. At least multitudes were saved to God and joined the ranks of the redeemed.
The doctrines of the M. E. Church were ordained in heaven, honored of God, and blessed to the salvation of millions. Her general rules were a strong tower; mighty bulwarks, rendering her when within that fortification impregnable. For nearly a century she stood the assault and rage of earth and hell without flinching, and the glory cloud did rest upon her. But the time came when she fell; not by the mighty invading forces without altogether, but by internal foes that she had taken to her loving embrace. Her manner of life is entirely changed, or nearly so. Humility has given way to pride and ostentation. The doctrines that she once placed such stress upon, the witness of the spirit, entire holiness, a confession of sin, restitution, plainness of dress, she now largely ignores. Those internal foes that she cares for so tenderly have robbed her of her Spiritual life and power. The glory manifested during the service of preaching, prayer or class-meeting, has in many places entirely disappeared. Beside the enemies already mentioned, she had taken within her pale, members that belong to speculative Free Masonry, who are opposed to Jesus Christ and his gospel; hence, war was waged within the church by this army of Satan, against Christ and His army, the saints. This division of purpose by the two armies within the church was everywhere manifest: each party, seeking for the supremacy. While the saints held tenaciously to the ancient land-marks which our fathers set, Satan’s wing labored to introduce the new order of things.
One of the great mistakes made by this church is in receiving members that were never converted, but simply had a lukewarm desire to go to heaven when they had exhausted every round of earthly pleasure. Bishop Peck made this statement in a sermon that he preached a short time before his death, “I am persuaded that more than three-fourths of all the members in my beloved church, were never converted.” A sad confession indeed; but observation proves his statement correct. No wonder, with these elements within, our mother sought to array herself in gorgeous apparel. What a contrast between these days of pomp, and vanity, and worldly mindedness, and the days of blessed memory, when arrayed in Christ’s righteousness. No wonder that there was war in the church, when Susie and John came home from boarding school, backslidden completely from good desires, with the new order of things fresh in their minds, were ashamed of mother’s old fashioned style, determined that there should be a change in the programme. So they commenced by banging mother’s hair and putting rings in her ears and on her fingers. The bustle, put in its horrid appearance with extra yards of cloth, buttons, ribbons, all of which gave our dear old mother the appearance of a stranger. Of course, she was urged to comb her hair back as in the days of her simplicity, and decorate herself in modest apparel, without gold, or pearls, or costly array; but she was obstinate, and has been ever since.
The time was when the Methodists were a plain, clean, Godly class of people. Their churches were built plain with free seats, good enough for the rich, and none too good for the poor; and all were welcome, rich and poor. The principle that actuated them in bygone days was, the house of God should be as free as the gospel we preach, and both as free as the air we breathe; and on this line the glory of the Lord was manifest in the salvation of souls, and in the sanctification of believers.
The new order of things brought with it a new order of church edifices; seemingly just to accommodate the rich to the great neglect of the poor! Of course, in all churches where the seats are sold, a few are reserved for the poor, and for colored people. After a poor man or woman have accepted the paupers’ seat for a Sabbath or two, they get tempted over it, and stay away from church altogether; when if the seats had been free, they would have continued their attendance upon divine service, and likely been converted to God, and made a great blessing to the church, and to the world.
It is a tremendous mistake, the practice of dedicating a church to God, and then selling it out to whom? why, anybody that have a mind to buy it; and in a multitude of cases, wicked, ungodly wretches have bought the best seats in the house, giving them power over that society, so that in ninety-nine cases out of every hundred, the preacher in the pulpit of such churches, is gagged; some subjects he dare not touch, because forsooth, his bread and his butter is at stake; that because of this system, millions have been kept away from the house of God and have perished.
One of the most embarrassing things the learned clergy of to-day have to meet constantly is, what shall we do with this great estrangement of the poor from the house of God?
My answer to the above proposition is, free churches throughout the land, baptized with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, will solve this mighty problem. This is the only solution.