,bytheway1 ,jean-,michel ,carter1 ,byron ,clark1 ,ben ,crowder1 ,meridith ,crowder1 ,tom ,de,forest1 ,eric ,heaps4 ,,the ,,great ,,apostasy ,,considered ,,in ,,the ,,light ,,of ,,scriptural ,,and ,,secular ,,history ,by ,,james ,e4 ,,talmage ,d4 ,sc4 ,d41 ,ph4 ,d41 ,f4 ,r4 ,s4 ,e4 ,press of ,zion's ,printing and ,publishing ,company ,independence1 ,jackson ,county1 ,missouri4 ,published by the ,missions of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints in ,america ,,bureau ,,of ,,information--,temple ,block1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah4 ,,california ,,mission--#aec ,w4 ,adams ,st41 ,los ,angeles1 ,calif4 ,,canadian ,,mission--#cf ,ferndale ,avenue1 ,toronto1 ,ontario1 ,canada4 ,,central ,,states ,,mission--#cjb ,s4 ,pleasant ,st41 ,independence1 ,mo4 ,,eastern ,,states ,,mission--#bgc ,gates ,ave41 ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y4 ,,hawaiian ,,mission--,p4 ,o4 ,box #cbbh1 ,honolulu1 ,hawaii4 ,,mexican ,,mission--#ceca ,fort ,blvd41 ,el ,paso1 ,texas1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,,northern ,,states ,,mission--#beee ,n4 ,sawyer ,ave41 ,chicago1 ,ill4 ,,northcentral ,,states ,,mission--#bgbe #c;d ,ave4,s41 ,minneapolis1 ,minn4 ,,northwestern ,,states ,,mission--#bfd ,east #beth ,st41 ,portland1 ,ore4 ,,southern ,,states ,,mission--#cga ,e4 ,north ,ave41 ,atlanta4 ,ga4 ,,western ,,states ,,mission--#ech ,east #gth ,ave41 ,denver1 ,colo4 ,,preface4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints proclaims the restoration of the ,gospel and the re-establishment of the ,church as of old1 in this1 the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times4 ,such restoration and re-establishment1 with the modern bestowal of the ,holy ,priesthood1 would be unnecessary and indeed impossible had the ,church of ,christ continued among men with unbroken succession of ,priesthood and power1 since the meridian of time4 ,the restored ,church affirms that a general apostasy developed during and after the apostolic period1 and that the primitive ,church lost its power1 authority1 and graces as a divine institution1 and degenerated into an earthly organization only4 ,the significance and importance of the great apostasy1 as a condition precedent to the re-establishment of the ,church in modern times1 is obvious4 ,if the alleged apostasy of the primitive ,church was not a reality1 the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints is not the divine institution its name proclaims4 ,the evidence of the decline and final extinction of the primitive ,church among men is found in scriptural record and in secular history4 ,in the following pages the author has undertaken to present a summary of the most important of these evidences4 ,in so doing he has drawn liberally from many sources of information1 with due acknowledgment of all citations4 ,this little work has been written in the hope that it may prove of service to our missionary elders in the field1 to classes and quorum organizations engaged in the study of theological subjects at home1 and to earnest investigators of the teachings and claims of the restored ,church of ,jesus ,christ4 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah1 ,,james ,e4 ,,talmage4 ,november #a1 #aiji4 ,,preface ,,to ,,the ,,second ,,edition4 ,the first edition of ,the ,great ,apostasy was issued by the ,deseret ,news1 ,salt ,lake ,city1 in ,november1 #aiji1 and comprised ten thousand copies4 ,the author has learned1 with a pleasure that is perhaps pardonable1 of the favorable reception accorded the little work by the missionary elders of the ,church1 and by the people among whom these devoted servants are called to labor4 ,the present issue of twenty thousand copies constitutes the second edition1 and is published primarily for use in the missionary field4 ,the text of the second edition is practically identical with that of the first4 ,salt ,lake ,city1 ,utah1 ,,james ,e4 ,,talmage4 ,february1 #aiaj4 ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,introduction3 ,the ,establishment of the ,church of ,christ4 ,conditions at beginning of ,christian era4--,religious systems1 ,jewish1 ,pagan1 and ,samaritan4--,jewish sects and parties4--,law of ,moses fulfilled and superseded4--,apostles chosen and ordained4-- ,apostolic administration4--,the ,church established on the western hemisphere4--,the meridian of time4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,the ,apostasy ,predicted4 ,the ,church has not continued in unbroken succession4--,divine fore-knowledge4--,the divine purposes not thwarted4--,apostasy from the ,church compared with the apostasy of the ,church4--,specific predictions concerning the apostasy4--,the ,law of ,moses a temporary measure4--,isaiah's fateful prophecy4--,predictions by ,jesus ,christ4--,by ,paul4--,by ,peter4--,by ,jude4--,by ,john the ,revelator4-- ,apostasy on the western hemisphere predicted4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,early ,stages of the ,apostasy4 ,the apostasy recognized in apostolic age4--,testimony of ,paul4--,mystery of iniquity4--,summary of ,paul's utterances concerning early apostasy4--,testimony of ,jude4--,of ,john the ,revelator4--,messages to the churches of ,asia4--,nicolaitanes denounced4--,testimonies of ,hegesippus4--,early schisms in the ,church4--,declension of the ,church before close of first century4--,apostasy on the western hemisphere4--,destruction of ,nephite nation by the ,lamanites4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,causes of the ,apostasy4--,external ,causes ,considered4 ,causes of the apostasy1 external and internal4--,persecution as an external cause4--,judaism and ,paganism arrayed against the ,church4--,judaistic persecution4--,predictions of ,judaistic opposition4--,fulfillment of the same4--,destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,causes of the ,apostasy4--,external ,causes1 ,continued4 ,pagan persecution4--,roman opposition to ,christianity1 explanation of4--,number of persecutions by the ,romans4--,persecution under ,nero4--,under ,domitian4--,under ,trajan4--,under ,marcus ,aurelius4--,later persecutions4--,persecutions under ,diocletian4--,extent of the ,diocletian persecution4--,diocletian boast that ,christianity was extinct4--,the ,church taken under state protection by ,constantine the ,great4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,causes of the ,apostasy4--,internal ,causes4 ,diverse effect of persecution4--,imprudent zeal of some4--,return to idolatry by others4--,libels attesting individual apostasy4--,sad condition of the ,church in third century4--,testimony as to conditions of apostasy at this period4--,decline of the ,church antedates the conversion of ,constantine4--,departure from ,christianity4--,specific causes of the growing apostasy4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,internal ,causes4--,continued4 ,first specific cause3 ,the corrupting of the simple principles of the gospel by the admixture of the so-called philosophic systems of the times4--,judaistic perversions4--,admixture of ,gnosticism with ,christianity4--,gnosticism unsatisfying4--,new platonics4--,doctrine of the ,logos4--,the ,world4--,sibellianism4--,arianism4--,th e ,council of ,nice and its denunciation of ,arianism4--,the ,nicene ,creed4--,the ,creed of ,athanasius4--,perverted view of life4--,disregard for truth4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,internal ,causes4--,continued4 ,second specific cause3 ,unauthorized additions to the ceremonies of the ,church1 and the introduction of vital changes in essential ordinances4--,simplicity of early form of worship ridiculed4-- ,formalism and superstition increase4--,adoration of images1 etc4-- ,changes in baptismal ordinance4--,time of its administration restricted4--,ministrations of the exorcist introduced4--,immersion substituted by sprinkling4--,infant baptism introduced4--,changes in the sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper4--,fallacy of transubstantiation4--,adoration of the host4--,proof of apostate condition of the ,church4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,internal ,causes4--,continued4 ,third specific cause3 ,unauthorized changes in church organization and government4--,early form of church government4--,equality of the bishops4--,origin of synods or church councils4--,bishops of ,rome claimed supremacy4--,title of ,pope assumed4--,secular authority asserted by the ,pope4--,indulgences or pardons4--,infamous doctrine of supererogation4--,the traffic in indulgences4--,tetzel the papal agent4--,copy of an indulgence4--,the sin of blasphemy4-- ,scripture-reading forbidden to the people4--,draper's arraignment of the papacy4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,results of the ,apostasy4--,its ,sequel4 ,revolts against the ,church of ,rome4--,john ,wickliffe in ,england4-- ,john ,huss and ,jerome of ,prague4--,the ,reformation inaugurated4-- ,martin ,luther1 his revolt2 his excommunication2 his defense at ,worms4--,the ,protestants4--,zwingle and ,calvin4--,the ,inquisition4-- ,zeal of the reformers4--,rise of the ,church of ,england4--,divine over-ruling in the events of the ,reformation4--,the ,mother ,church apostate4--,fallacy of assuming human origin of divine authority4-- ,priestly orders of ,church of ,england declared invalid by ,mother ,church4--,the apostasy admitted and affirmed4--,wesley's testimony4--,declaration by ,church of ,england4--,divine declaration of the apostasy4--,the sequel4--,the ,revelator's vision of the ,restoration4--,the ,church re-established in the nineteenth century4 ,,copyright by ,,james ,e4 ,,talmage4 #aiji4 ,the ,great ,apostasy4 ,,chapter ,i4 9999,introduction3 ,the ,establishment of the ,church of ,christ99994 #a4 ,a belief common to all sects and churches professing ,christianity is that ,jesus ,christ1 the ,savior and ,redeemer of the human race1 established ,his ,church upon the earth by personal ministration in the meridian of time4 ,ecclesiastical history1 as distinguished from secular history1 deals with the experiences of the ,church from the time of its establishment4 ,the conditions under which the ,church was founded first claim our attention4 #b4 ,at the beginning of the ,christian era1 the ,jews1 in common with most other nations1 were subjects of the ,roman empire4--7,see ,note #a1 end of chapter47 ,they were allowed a considerable degree of liberty in maintaining their religious observances and national customs generally1 but their status was far from that of a free and independent people4 #c4 ,the period was one of comparative peace1--a time marked by fewer wars and less dissension than the empire had known for many years4 ,these conditions were favorable for the mission of the ,christ1 and for the founding of ,his ,church on earth4 #d4 ,the religious systems extant at the time of ,christ's earthly ministry may be classified in a general way as ,jewish and ,pagan1 with a minor system--the ,samaritan--which was essentially a mixture of the other two4 ,the children of ,israel alone proclaimed the existence of the true and living ,god2 they alone looked forward to the advent of the ,messiah1 whom mistakenly they awaited as a prospective conqueror coming to crush the enemies of their nation4 ,all other nations1 tongues1 and peoples bowed to pagan deities1 and their worship comprised naught but the sensual rites of heathen idolatry4 ,paganism--7,see ,note #b1 end of chapter47 was a religion of form and ceremony1 based on polytheism--a belief in the existence of a multitude of gods1 which deities were subject to all the vices and passions of humanity1 while distinguished by immunity from death4 ,morality and virtue were unknown as elements of heathen service2 and the dominant idea in pagan worship was that of propitiating the gods1 in the hope of averting their anger and purchasing their favor4 #e4 ,the ,israelites1 or ,jews1 as they were collectively known1 thus stood apart among the nations as proud possessors of superior knowledge1 with a lineage and a literature1 with a priestly organization and a system of laws1 that separated and distinguished them as a people at once peculiar and exclusive4 ,while the ,jews regarded their idolatrous neighbors with abhorrence and contempt1 they in turn were treated with derision as fanatics and inferiors4 #f4 ,but the ,jews1 while thus distinguished as a people from the rest of the world1 were by no means a united people2 on the contrary1 they were divided among themselves on matters of religious profession and practice4 ,in the first place1 there was a deadly enmity between the ,jews proper and the ,samaritans4 ,these latter were a mixed people inhabiting a distinct province mostly between ,judea and ,galilee1 largely made up of ,assyrian colonists who had intermarried with the ,jews4 ,while affirming their belief in the ,jehovah of the ,old ,testament1 they practiced many rites belonging to the paganism they claimed to have forsaken1 and were regarded by the ,jews proper as unorthodox and reprobate4 #g4 ,then the ,jews themselves were divided into many contending sects and parties1 among which the principal were the ,pharisees and the ,sadducees2 and beside these we read of ,essenes1 ,galileans1 ,herodians1 etc4 #h4 ,the ,jews were living under the ,law of ,moses1 the outward observance of which was enforced by priestly rule1 while the spirit of the law was very generally ignored by priest and people alike4 ,that the ,mosaic law was given as a preparation for something greater was afterward affirmed by ,paul1 in his epistle to the saints at ,galatia3 ,wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto ,christ4--7,galatians #c3bd47 ,and the fact that a higher law was to supersede the lower is abundantly shown in the ,savior's own teachings3 ,ye have heard that it was said by them of old time1 ,thou shalt not kill2 and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment3 ,but ,i say unto you1 that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment3 99 99 99 ,ye have heard that it was said by them of old time1 ,thou shalt not commit adultery3 ,but ,i say unto you that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart4 99 99 99 ,again1 ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time1 ,thou shalt not forswear thyself1 but shall perform unto the ,lord thine oaths3 ,but ,i say unto you1 swear not at all4 99 99 99 ,ye have heard that it hath been said1 ,an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth3 ,but ,i say unto you1 that ye resist not evil4 99 99 99 ,ye have heard that it hath been said1 ,thou shalt love thy neighbor1 and hate thine enemy4 ,but ,i say unto you1 ,love your enemies1 bless them that curse you1 do good to them that hate you1 and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you4--7,matthew #e3ba-dd2 read the entire chapter47 #i4 ,these teachings1 based on love1 so different from the spirit of retaliation to which they had been accustomed under the law1 caused great surprise among the people2 yet in affirmation of the fact that the law was not to be ignored1 and could only be superseded by its fulfillment1 the ,master said3 ,think not that ,i am come to destroy the law1 or the prophets3 ,i am not come to destroy but to fulfill4 ,for verily ,i say unto you1 ,till heaven and earth pass1 one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law1 till all be fulfilled4-- 7,matt4 #e3ag1 #ah47 #aj4 ,it is very evident the ,master had come with a greater doctrine than was then known1 and that the teachings of the day were insufficient4 ,for ,i say unto you1 that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and ,pharisees1 ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven4--7,verse #bj47 #aa4 ,jesus ,himself was strict in complying with all rightful requirements under the law2 but ,he refused to recognize an observance of the letter alone1 however rigidly required1 as a substitute for compliance with the spirit of the ,mosaic injunction4 #ab4 ,the excellent teachings and precepts of true morality inculcated by the ,christ prepared the minds of those who believed ,his words for the introduction of the gospel in its purity1 and for the establishment of the ,church of ,christ as an earthly organization4 #ac4 ,from among the disciples who followed ,him1 some of whom had been honored by preliminary calls1 ,he chose twelve men1 whom ,he ordained to the apostleship3--,and ,he ordained twelve1 that they should be with ,him1 and that ,he might send them forth to preach4--7,mark #c3ad47 ,again3 ,and when it was day1 he called unto him his disciples3 and of them he chose twelve whom also he named apostles4--7,luke #f3ac2 compare ,matt4 #aj3a1 #b47 ,the twelve special witnesses of ,him and ,his work were sent out to preach in the several cities of the ,jews4 ,on this1 their first mission1 they were instructed to confine their ministrations to the house of ,israel1 and the burden of their message was ,the kingdom of heaven is at hand4--7,matt4 #aj3g2 study the entire chapter47 ,they were told to use the power with which they had been invested by ordination1 in preaching1 in healing the sick1 in raising the dead even1 and in subduing evil spirits2 the ,master's admonition was1 ,freely ye have received1 freely give4 ,they were to travel without money or provisions1 relying upon a higher power to supply their needs through the agency of those to whom they would offer the message of truth2 and they were warned of the possible hardships awaiting them and of the persecution which sooner or later would surely befall them4 #ad4 ,at a later date ,christ called others to the work of the ministry1 and sent them out in pairs to precede ,him and prepare the people for ,his coming4 ,thus we read of the seventy who were instructed in terms almost identical with those of the apostolic commission4--7,luke #aj2 compare with ,matt4 #aj47 ,that their investiture was one of authority and power and no mere form is shown by the success attending their administrations2 for1 when they returned they reported triumphantly1 ,lord1 even the devils are subject to us through thy name4--7,luke #aj3ag47 #ae4 ,the specific commission given unto the apostles at the time of their ordination was afterward emphasized4 ,they were the subjects of the particularly solemn ordinance spoken of as the washing of feet1 so necessary that in reply to ,peter's objection the ,lord said3 ,if ,i wash thee not1 thou hast no part with me4--7,john #ac3d-i47 ,and unto the eleven who had remained faithful1 the ,risen ,lord delivered ,his parting instructions1 immediately before the ascension3 ,go ye into all the world1 and preach the gospel to every creature4 ,after our ,lord's departure the apostles entered upon the ministry with vigor3 ,and they went forth1 and preached everywhere1 the ,lord working with them1 and confirming the word with signs following4--7,mark #af3ad-aj2 compare ,matt4 #bh3ai1 #bj47 #af4 ,these scriptures indicate the authority of the apostles to administer the affairs of the ,church after the ascension of the ,resurrected ,messiah4 ,that ,peter1 the senior member of the apostolic council1 was given a position of presidency1 appears from the ,savior's special admonition and charge on the shores of the ,tiberian sea4-- 7,john #ba3ae-ag47 #ag4 ,that the apostles realized that though the ,master had gone ,he had left with them authority and command to build up the ,church as an established organization1 is abundantly proved by scripture4 ,they first proceeded to fill the vacancy in the presiding council or quorum of twelve1 a vacancy occasioned by the apostasy and death of ,judas ,iscariot2 and the mode of procedure in this official act is instructive4 ,the installation of a new apostle was not determined by the eleven alone2 we read that the disciples 7or members of the ,church7 were gathered together--about a hundred and twenty in number4 ,to them ,peter presented the matter requiring action1 and emphasized the fact that the man to be chosen must be one who had personal knowledge and testimony of the ,lord's ministry1 and who was therefore qualified to speak as a special witness of the ,christ1 which qualification is the distinguishing feature of the apostleship4 ,wherefore1 said ,peter1 of these men which have companied with us all the time that the ,lord ,jesus went in and out among us1 beginning from the baptism of ,john1 unto that same day that he was taken up from us1 must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection4--7,acts #a3ba1 #bb2 read verses #ae-bf inclusive47 ,we are further informed that two men were nominated1 and that the divine power was invoked to show whether either1 and if so1 which1 was the ,lord's choice4 ,then the votes were cast and the lot fell upon ,matthias2 and he was numbered with the eleven apostles4 #ah4 ,it is evident that the apostles considered their council or quorum as definitely organized with a membership limit of twelve2 and that the work of the ,church required that the organization be made complete4 ,nevertheless1 we read of none others subsequently chosen to fill vacancies in the council of twelve4 ,paul1 who previous to his conversion was known as ,saul of ,tarsus1 received a special manifestation1 in which he heard the voice of the ,risen ,lord declaring ,i am ,jesus whom thou persecutest1--7,acts #i3e2 read verses #a-bb7 and thereby he became a special witness of the ,lord ,jesus1 and as such was in truth an apostle1 though we have no definite scriptural record that he was ever made a member of the council of twelve4 ,as showing the importance of ordination to office under the hands of duly constituted authorities1 we have the instance of ,paul's ordination4 ,though he had conversed with the ,resurrected ,jesus1 though he had been the subject of a special manifestation of divine power in the restoration of his sight1 he had nevertheless to be baptized2 and later he was commissioned for the work of the ministry by the authoritative imposition of hands4--7,acts #ac3a-c47 #ai4 ,another instance of official action in choosing and setting apart men to special office in the ,church arose soon after the ordination of ,matthias4 ,it appears that one feature of the ,church organization in early apostolic days was a common ownership of material things1 distribution being made according to need4 ,as the members increased1 it was found impracticable for the apostles to devote the necessary attention and time to these temporal matters1 so they called upon the members to select seven men of honest report1 whom the apostles would appoint to take special charge of these affairs4 ,these men were set apart by prayer and by the laying on of hands4--7,acts #f3a-g47 ,the instance is instructive as showing that the apostles realized their possession of authority to direct in the affairs of the ,church and that they observed with strict fidelity the principle of common consent in the administration of their high office4 ,they exercised their priestly powers in the spirit of love1 and with due regard to the rights of the people over whom they were placed to preside4 #bj4 ,under the administration of the apostles1 and others who labored by their direction in positions of lesser authority1 the ,church grew in numbers and in influence4--7,see ,note #c1 end of chapter47 ,for ten or twelve years after the ascension of ,christ1 ,jerusalem remained the headquarters of the ,church1 but branches1 or1 as designated in the scriptural record1 separate churches1 were established in the outlying provinces4 ,as such branches were organized1 bishops1 deacons1 and other officers were chosen1 and doubtless ordained by authority1 to minister in local affairs4--7,see ,philip4 #a3a2 compare ,i ,tim4 #c3a1b1h1aj47 #ba4 ,that the commission of the ,lord ,jesus to the apostles1 instructing them to preach the gospel widely1 was executed with promptness and zeal1 is evident from the rapid growth of the ,church in the early apostolic times4--7,acts #f3g2 #ab3bd2 #ai3bj47 ,paul1 writing about ,a4 ,d4 #fd--;approximately thirty years after the ascension--declares that the gospel had already been carried to every nation--preached to every creature under heaven1--7,col4 #a3bc2 compare verse #f7 by which expression the apostle doubtless means that the gospel message had been so generally proclaimed1 that all who would might learn of it4 #bb4 ,details as to the organization of the ,church in apostolic days are not given with great fulness4 ,as already shown1 the presiding authority was vested in the twelve apostles2 and furthermore1 the special calling of the seventies has received attention2 but beside these there were evangelists1 pastors1 and teachers2--7,eph4 #d3aa7 and in addition1 high priests1--7,heb4 #e3a-e7 elders1--7,acts #ad3bc2 #be3f2 ,i ,peter #e3a7 bishops1--7,i ,tim4 #c3a2 ,titus #a3g7 etc4 ,the purpose of these several offices is explained by ,paul to be3--,for the perfecting of the saints1 for the work of the ministry1 for the edifying of the body of ,christ4--7,eph4 #d3ab2 read also verses #ac-af47 ,the ,church with its graded offices and its spiritual gifts has been aptly compared to a perfect body with its separate organs and its individual members1 each necessary to the welfare of the whole1 yet none independent of the rest4 ,as in the human organism so in the ,church of ,christ1 no one with propriety can say to another1 ,i have no need of thee4--7,see ,i ,cor4 #ab4 ,see note #d1 end of chapter47 9999,the ,church of ,christ on the ,western ,hemisphere99994 #bc4 ,we have seen1 on the evidence of the ,jewish scriptures1 how the ,church was established and made strong in ,asia and ,europe in and immediately following the meridian of time4 ,the scriptures cited are such as appeal to all earnest ,christians2 the authority is that of the ,new ,testament4 ,we have now to consider the establishment of the ,church amongst those who constituted another division of the house of ,israel--a people inhabiting what is now known as the ,american continent4 #bd4 ,for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with the ,nephite scriptures published to the world as the ,book of ,mormon1 a brief historical summary is here presented4--7,see ,note #e1 end of chapter47 ,in the year #fjj ,b4 ,c41 in the reign of ,king ,zedekiah1 a small colony was led from ,jerusalem by an inspired prophet named ,lehi4 ,these people were brought by divine assistance to the shores of the ,arabian ,sea1 where they constructed a vessel in which they crossed the great waters to the western coast of ,south ,america4 ,they landed #eij ,b4 ,c4 ,the people were soon divided into two parties1 led respectively by ,nephi and ,laman1 sons of ,lehi2 and these factions grew into the opposing nations known in history as ,nephites and ,lamanites4 ,the former developed while the latter retrograded in the arts of civilization4 ,nephite prophets predicted the earthly advent of the ,messiah1 and foretold ,his ministry1 crucifixion1 and resurrection4 #be4 ,the record states that the ,messiah appeared in person among the ,nephites on the western continent4 ,this was subsequent to ,his ascension from the ,mount of ,olives4 ,a foreshadowing of this great event was given by ,christ in a declaration made while yet ,he lived on earth4 ,comparing ,himself to the good shepherd who giveth his life for the sheep1 ,he said3 ,and other sheep ,i have1 which are not of this fold3 them also ,i must bring1 and they shall hear my voice1 and there shall be one fold1 and one shepherd4--7,john #aj3af2 read verses #a-ah inclusive4 ,compare ,,iii ,nephi #ae3ba47 #bf4 ,according to the ,nephite record1 certain predicted signs of the ,savior's death had come to pass4 ,destructive earthquakes and other dread convulsions of nature had taken place in the west1 while the supreme tragedy was being enacted on ,calvary4 ,the people of the land ,bountiful1 comprising the northern portion of ,south ,america1 were still marveling over the great convulsions that had terrified them a few weeks earlier1 and on a certain occasion1 were gathered together discussing the matter1 when they heard a voice as from the heavens saying3 ,behold my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased1 in whom ,i have glorified my name3 hear ye him4--7,,iii ,nephi #aa3g2 read the entire chapter47 ,looking up1 they beheld a man descending4 ,he was clothed in a white robe1 and as ,he reached the earth ,he said3 ,behold1 ,i am ,jesus ,christ1 whom the prophets testified shall come into the world4 99 99 99 ,arise and come forth unto me1 that ye may thrust your hands into my side1 and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet1 that ye may know that ,i am the ,god of ,israel1 and the ,god of the whole earth1 and have been slain for the sins of the world4--7,verses #aj3ad47 #bg4 ,having thus declared ,himself1 ,christ proceeded to instruct the people in the plan of the gospel as ,he had preached it1 and in the constitution of the ,church as ,he had established it in the east4 ,he visited the ,nephite people on subsequent occasions1 taught them many of the precepts previously given to the ,jews2 emphasized the doctrine of baptism and other ordinances essential to salvation2 instituted the sacrament in commemoration of ,his atoning death2 chose and commissioned twelve apostles1 on whom ,he conferred authority in the ,church2 explained the importance of designating the organization by its proper name--the ,church of ,christ2 and announced the fulfilment of the law of ,moses and the fact that it was thenceforth superseded by the gospel embodied within the ,church as established by ,himself4 ,in plan of organization1 in doctrine and precept1 and in prescribed ordinances1 the ,church of ,christ in the west was the counterpart of the ,church in ,palestine4 --- #bh4 ,thus in the meridian of time the ,church of ,god was founded on both sides of the earth4 ,in its pristine simplicity and beauty it exhibited the majesty of a divine institution4 ,it is now our saddening duty to consider the decline of spiritual power within the ,church1 and the eventual apostasy of the ,church itself4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,conditions at the ,beginning of the ,christian ,era4 ,at the birth of ,christ this amazing federation of the world into one great monarchy had been finally achieved4 ,augustus1 at ,rome1 was the sole power to which all nations looked4 99 99 99 ,no prince1 no king1 no potentate of any name could break the calm which such a universal dominion secured4 99 99 99 ,it was in such a unique era that ,jesus ,christ was born4 ,the whole earth lay hushed in profound peace4 ,all lands lay freely open to the message of mercy and love which ,he came to announce4 ,nor was the social and moral condition of the world at large1 at the birth of ,christ1 less fitting for ,his advent than the political4 ,the prize of universal power struggled for through sixty years of plots and desolating civil wars1 had been won at last by ,augustus4 ,sulla and ,marius1 ,pompey and ,caesar1 had led their legions against each other1 alike in ,italy and the provinces1 and had drenched the earth with blood4 ,augustus himself had reached the throne only after thirteen years of war1 which involved regions wide apart4 ,the world was exhausted by the prolonged agony of such a strife2 it sighed for repose4 7,cunningham ,geikie1 ,the ,life and ,works of ,christ1 ,new ,york1 #ahid2 vol4 #a1 p4 #be47 ,the ,roman empire1 at the birth of ,christ1 was less agitated by wars and turmoils than it had been for many years before4 ,for though ,i cannot assent to the opinion of those who1 following the account of ,orosius1 maintain that the temple of ,janus was then shut1 and that wars and discords absolutely ceased throughout the world1 yet it is certain that the period in which our ,savior descended upon earth may be justly styled the 'pacific age1' if we compare it with the preceding times4 ,and indeed the tranquillity that then reigned was necessary to enable the ministers of ,christ to execute with success their sublime commission to the human race4 7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,i1 ,part ,i2 ch4 #a3d74 #b4 ,paganism at the ,beginning of the ,christian ,era4 ,every nation then had its respective gods1 over which presided one more excellent than the rest2 yet in such a manner that this supreme deity was himself controlled by the rigid empire of the fates1 or what the philosophers called 'external necessity4' ,the gods of the east were different from those of the ,gauls1 the ,germans1 and the other northern nations4 ,the ,grecian divinities differed widely from those of the ,egyptians1 who deified plants1 animals1 and a great variety of the productions both of nature and art4 ,each people also had their own particular manner of worshipping and appeasing their respective deities1 entirely different from the sacred rites of other countries4 99 99 99 ,one thing1 indeed1 which at first sight appears very remarkable1 is1 that this variety of religions and of gods neither produced wars nor dissensions among the different nations1 the ,egyptians excepted4 ,nor is it perhaps necessary to except even them1 since their wars undertaken for their gods cannot be looked upon with propriety as wholly of a religious nature4 ,each nation suffered its neighbors to follow their own method of worship1 to adore their own gods1 to enjoy their own rites and ceremonies1 and discovered no sort of displeasure at their diversity of sentiments in religious matters4 ,there is1 however1 little wonderful in this spirit of mutual toleration1 when we consider that they all looked upon the world as one great empire1 divided into various provinces1 over every one of which a certain order of divinities presided2 and that therefore none could behold with contempt the gods of other nations1 or force strangers to pay homage to theirs4 ,the ,romans exercised this toleration1 in the amplest manner4 ,for1 though they would not allow any changes to be made in the religions that were publicly professed in the empire1 nor any new form of worship to be openly introduced1 yet they granted to their citizens a full liberty of observing in private the sacred rites of other nations1 and of honoring foreign deities 7whose worship contained nothing inconsistent with the interests and laws of the republic7 with feasts1 temples1 consecrated groves and such like testimonies of homage and respect4 7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,i1 ,part ,i2 ch4 #a3g-h47 #c4 ,rapid ,growth of the ,church4 ,eusebius1 who wrote in the early part of the fourth century1 speaking of the first decade after the ,savior's ascension1 says3 ,thus1 then1 under a celestial influence1 and co-operation1 the doctrine of the ,savior1 like the rays of the sun1 quickly irradiated the whole world4 ,presently1 in accordance with divine prophecy1 the sound of ,his inspired evangelists and apostles had gone throughout all the earth1 and their words to the ends of the world4 ,throughout every city and village1 like a replenished barn floor1 churches were rapidly abounding and filled with members from every people4 ,those who1 in consequence of the delusions that had descended to them from their ancestors1 had been fettered by the ancient disease of idolatrous superstition1 were now liberated by the power of ,christ1 through the teachings and miracles of ,his messengers4 7,eusebius1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,book ,i1 ch4 #c47 #d4 ,divine ,instrumentality in the ,apostolic ,ministry4 ,when we consider the rapid progress of ,christianity among the ,gentile nations1 and the poor and feeble instruments by which this great and amazing event was immediately effected1 we naturally have recourse to an omnipotent and invisible hand1 as its true and proper cause4 ,for1 unless we suppose here a divine interposition1 how was it possible that men1 destitute of all human aid1 without credit or riches1 learning1 or eloquence1 could1 in so short a time1 persuade a considerable part of mankind to abandon the religion of their ancestors8 ,how was it possible1 that an handful of apostles1 who1 as fishermen and publicans1 must have been contemned by their own nation1 and as ,jews must have been odious to all others1 could engage the learned and mighty1 as well as the simple and those of low degree1 to forsake their favorite prejudices1 and to embrace a new religion which was an enemy to their corrupt passions8 ,and1 indeed1 there were undoubted marks of a celestial power perpetually attending their ministry4 ,their very language1 an incredible energy1 an amazing power of sending light into the understanding and conviction into the heart4 7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,i1 ,part #a1 ch4 #d3h47 #e4 ,nephites and ,lamanites4 ,the progenitors of the ,nephite nation were led from ,jerusalem #fjj ,b4 ,c41 by ,lehi1 a ,jewish prophet of the tribe of ,manasseh4 ,his immediate family1 at the time of their departure from ,jerusalem1 comprised his wife ,sariah1 and their sons ,laman1 ,lemuel1 ,sam1 and ,nephi2 at a later stage of the history1 daughters are mentioned1 but whether any of these were born before the family exodus we are not told4 ,beside his own family1 the colony of ,lehi included ,zoram and ,ishmael1 the latter an ,israelite of the tribe of ,ephraim4 ,ishmael1 with his family1 joined ,lehi in the wilderness2 and his descendants were numbered with the nation of whom we are speaking4 ,the company journeyed somewhat east of south1 keeping near the borders of the ,red ,sea2 then changing their course to the eastward1 crossed the peninsula of ,arabia2 and there1 on the shores of the ,arabian ,sea1 built and provisioned a vessel in which they committed themselves to ,divine care upon the waters4 ,their voyage carried them eastward across the ,indian ,ocean1 then over the south ,pacific ,ocean to the western coast of ,south ,america1 whereon they landed 7#eij ,b4 ,c47 99 99 99 ,the people established themselves on what to them was the land of promise2 many children were born1 and in the course of a few generations a numerous posterity held possession of the land4 ,after the death of ,lehi1 a division occurred1 some of the people accepting as their leader ,nephi1 who had been duly appointed to the prophetic office2 while the rest proclaimed ,laman1 the eldest of ,lehi's sons1 as their chief4 ,henceforth the divided people were known as ,nephites and ,lamanites respectively4 ,at times they observed toward each other fairly friendly relations2 but generally they were opposed1 the ,lamanites manifesting implacable hatred and hostility toward their ,nephite kindred4 ,the ,nephites advanced in the arts of civilization1 built large cities1 and established prosperous commonwealths2 yet they often fell into transgression2 and the ,lord chastened them by making their foes victorious4 ,they spread northward1 occupying the northern part of ,south ,america2 then1 crossing the ,isthmus1 they extended their domain over the southern1 central1 and eastern portions of what is now the ,united ,states of ,america4 ,the ,lamanites1 while increasing in numbers1 fell under the curse of darkness2 they became dark in skin and benighted in spirit1 forgot the ,god of their fathers1 lived a wild nomadic life1 and degenerated into the fallen state in which the ,american ,indians1--their lineal descendants1--were found by those who re-discovered the western continent in later times4 7,the ,author1 ,articles of ,faith1 ,lect4 #ad3g1 #h47 ,,chapter ,,ii4 9999,the ,apostasy ,predicted99994 #a4 ,in proceeding with our present inquiry we accept as demonstrated facts the establishment of the ,church of ,christ under the ,savior's personal administration and the rapid growth of the ,church in the early period of the apostolic ministry4 #b4 ,a question of the utmost importance is3 ,has the ,church of ,christ1 thus authoritatively established1 maintained an organized existence upon the earth from the apostolic age to the present8 ,other questions are suggested by the first4 ,if the ,church has continued as an earthly organization1 where lies the proof or evidence of legitimate succession in priestly authority1 and which among the multitude of contending sects or churches of the present day is the actual possessor of the holy priesthood originally committed to the ,church by the ,christ1 its founder8 #c4 ,again1 have the spiritual gifts and graces by which the early ,church was characterized and distinguished been manifest on earth through the centuries that have passed since the meridian of time2 and if so1 in which of the numerous churches of these modern times do we find such signs following the professed believers8--7,see ,mark #af3ag47 #d4 ,we affirm that with the passing of the so-called apostolic age the ,church gradually drifted into a condition of apostasy1 whereby succession in the priesthood was broken2 and that the ,church1 as an earthly organization operating under divine direction and having authority to officiate in spiritual ordinances1 ceased to exist4 #e4 ,if therefore the ,church of ,christ is to be found upon the earth to-day it must have been re-established by divine authority2 and the holy priesthood must have been restored to the world from which it was lost by the apostasy of the ,primitive ,church4--7,see ,note #a1 end of chapter47 #f4 ,we affirm that the great apostasy was foretold by the ,savior ,himself while ,he lived as a ,man among men1 and by ,his inspired prophets both before and after the period of ,his earthly probation4 ,and further1 we affirm that a rational interpretation of history demonstrates the fact of this great and general apostasy4 #g4 ,before we take up in detail the specific predictions referred to1 and the evidence of their dread fulfilment1 we may profitably devote brief attention to certain general considerations4 #h4 ,respecting the foreknowledge of ,god1 let it not be said that divine omniscience is of itself a determining cause whereby events are inevitably brought to pass4 ,a mortal father who knows the weaknesses and frailties of his son may by reason of that knowledge sorrowfully predict the calamities and sufferings awaiting his wayward boy4 ,he may foresee in that son's future a forfeiture of blessings that could have been won1 loss of position1 self-respect1 reputation and honor2 even the dark shadows of a felon's cell and the sight of a drunkard's grave may appear in the saddening visions of that fond father's soul2 yet1 convinced by experience of the impossibility of bringing about that son's reform1 he foresees the dread developments of the future1 and he finds but sorrow and anguish in his knowledge4 ,can it be said that the father's foreknowledge is a cause of the son's sinful life8 ,the son1 perchance1 has reached his maturity2 he is the master of his own destiny2 a free agent unto himself4 ,the father is powerless to control by force or to direct by arbitrary command2 and while he would gladly make any effort or sacrifice to save his son from the fate impending1 he fears for what seems to be an awful certainty4 ,but surely that thoughtful1 prayerful1 loving parent does not contribute to the son's waywardness because of his knowledge4 ,to reason otherwise would be to say that a neglectful father1 who takes not the trouble to study the nature and character of his son1 who shuts his eyes to sinful tendencies1 and rests in careless indifference as to the probable future1 will by his very heartlessness be benefiting his child1 because his lack of forethought cannot operate as a contributory cause to dereliction4 #i4 ,our ,heavenly ,father has a full knowledge of the nature and dispositions of each of ,his children1 a knowledge gained by long observation and experience in the past eternity of our primeval childhood2 a knowledge compared with which that gained by earthly parents through mortal experience with their children is infinitesimally small4 ,by reason of that surpassing knowledge1 ,god reads the future of child and children1 of men individually and of men collectively as communities and nations2 ,he knows what each will do under given conditions1 and sees the end from the beginning4 ,his foreknowledge is based on intelligence and reason2 ,he foresees the future as a state which naturally and surely will be2 not as one which must be because ,he has arbitrarily willed that it shall be4 #aj4 ,but1 it may be argued that in the illustrative instance given above--that of the earthly parent and the wayward son1--the father had not the power to change the sad course of sin whereby his son is hastening to ignominy and destruction2 while the omnipotent ,father can save if ,he will4 ,in reply this is to be said3 ,the ,father of souls has endowed ,his children with the divine birthright of free agency2 ,he does not and will not control them by arbitrary force2 ,he impels no man toward sin2 ,he compels none to righteousness4 ,unto man has been given freedom to act for himself2 and1 associated with this independence1 is the fact of strict responsibility and the assurance of individual accountability4 ,in the judgment with which we shall be judged1 all the conditions and circumstances of our lives shall be considered4 ,the inborn tendencies due to heredity1 the effect of environment whether conducive to good or evil1 the wholesome teachings of youth1 or the absence of good instruction--these and all other contributory elements must be taken into account in the rendering of a just verdict as to the soul's guilt or innocence4 ,nevertheless1 the divine wisdom makes plain what will be the result with given conditions operating on known natures and dispositions of men2 while every individual is free to choose good or evil within the limits of the many conditions existing and operative44--7,see ,note #b1 end of chapter47 #aa4 ,another matter worthy of thought in the present connection is this3 ,is the fact of the great apostasy1--the virtual overthrow and destruction of the ,church established by ,jesus ,christ1--to be regarded as an instance of failure in the ,lord's plans8 ,is it a case of defeat in which ,satan was victor over ,christ8 ,consider the following4 ,what mortal has yet measured the standard by which ,omniscience gages success or failure8 ,who dares affirm that what man hails as triumph or deplores as defeat will be so accounted when tested by the principles of eternal reckoning8 #ab4 ,the history of the world abounds with instances of the temporary triumph of evil1 of justice seemingly miscarried1 of divine plans for the time being frustrated1 of ,god's purposes opposed and their consummation delayed4 #ac4 ,we read of the ,lord's covenant with ,israel8 ,unto ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob ,he declared that their descendants should be a people chosen for ,his special service among the nations4 ,through that lineage the ,savior of mankind was to be born2 in the posterity of ,abraham all nations of the earth were to be blessed4 ,blessings beyond the heart of man to conceive1 beyond the mind of man to comprehend1 were promised on condition of loyal allegiance to ,him who proclaimed ,himself their ,god and their ,king4 ,moreover the ,lord predicted calamity and suffering1 and individual affliction and national disgrace1 if ,israel departed from the service of ,jehovah and yielded to the enticements of their heathen neighbors who knew not ,god4 ,think you that the ,lord was ignorant of the course ,his people would choose8 ,did ,he fail to foresee that ,israel would follow the evil way1 forfeiting the blessings and reaping the harvest of sorrow8 ,jehovah's plans failed not1 though the realization of the blessings so abundantly promised has been long delayed4 ,equally forceful with the prediction of calamity in case of sin1 was the promise of eventual restoration to favor4 ,the dispersion of ,israel already accomplished1 was to be followed by the gathering of ,israel now in progress4--7,see the ,author's ,articles of ,faith1 lectures #ag and #ah47 #ad4 ,what would have been the world's verdict as to the success or failure of the mission of the ,christ1 had a vote been taken at the time of the crucifixion8 ,seemingly ,his enemies had triumphed2 ,he who proclaimed ,himself the ,messiah1 the ,son of ,god1 the resurrection and the life1 over whom death could not prevail1 had suffered the fate of malefactors1 and ,his body was in the tomb4 ,but the verdict of the centuries1 which is the verdict of the eternities to come1 acclaims that failure as the greatest triumph of the ages1 the victory of victories4 #ae4 ,even so with the ,church4 ,for a season the powers of evil triumphed1 and the spirit of apostasy ruled4 ,but beyond the darkness of the spiritual night the glorious dawn of the restoration was seen in prophetic vision1 and both the night with its horrors1 and the awakening day with its splendor1 were foreseen and foretold4 #af4 ,in our study of the predictions of the apostasy as embodied in scripture and of their realization as attested by later history1 we shall recognize two distinct phases or stages of the progressive falling away as follows3 7#a7 ,apostasy from the ,church2 and 7#b7 ,the apostasy of the ,church4 #ag4 ,in the first stage we have to deal with the forsaking of the truth and severance from the ,church by individuals1 at times few1 at other times many4 ,such conditions can scarcely be considered otherwise than as natural and inevitable4 ,history fails to present any example of great undertakings upon which multitudes enter with enthusiasm1 and from which many do not desert4 ,unless such cases of individual abandonment are so numerous as to show the operation of some vital cause of disaffection1 we would not need the authority of divine prediction and inspired prophecy to explain the occurrence4 ,we find1 however1 that apostasy from the ,primitive ,church was widespread and general1 and that the causes leading to such a condition were of vital significance4 #ah4 ,in the second of the two stages already specified we are confronted with conditions of far greater import than those attending individual secession from the ,church2 for here we find the ,church sinking to the degraded level of a human institution1 with plan of organization and mode of operation foreign to the constitution of the original1 without priesthood or authority to officiate in spiritual ordinances1 and devoid of the gifts and graces with which the ,savior endowed ,his ,church at the time of its establishment4 ,in short1 we find the ,church itself apostate1 boasting of temporal power1 making its own laws1 teaching its own dogmas1 preserving only a form of godliness1 while denying the power thereof4--7,see ,,ii ,tim4 #c3a-f47 9999,specific ,predictions of the ,apostasy99994 #ai4 ,the ,lord foresaw the great and general departure from the principles of righteousness1 and from the beginning knew that men would set up their own forms of worship1 wrongfully claiming divine authority for the same4 ,through the mouths of ,his chosen prophets ,he has repeatedly predicted the inevitable event4--7,see note #c1 end of chapter47 #bj4 ,among the prophecies antedating the birth of ,christ the following may be noted4 ,isaiah beheld in vision the condition of the earth in the era of spiritual darkness1 a period in which all classes would be involved in a general condition of unrighteousness1 a time when the world of mankind would be in a helpless and practically hopeless condition4 ,he pictures the earth mourning and languishing in desolation and assigns the reason for the sad condition as follows3 ,the earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof2 because they have transgressed the laws1 changed the ordinance1 broken the everlasting covenant4--7,isaiah #bd3e2 read verses #a to #f inclusive47 #ba4 ,it may be thought that this prophecy has reference to a violation of the law of ,moses under which ancient ,israel lived4 ,let it be remembered1 however1 that the ,mosaic law is nowhere called an everlasting covenant4 ,the covenant between the ,lord and ,abraham antedated the giving of the law by four hundred and thirty years1 and1 as pointed out by ,paul1--7,galatians #c3ag2 read the entire chapter47 ,in his epistle to the ,galatians1 whom he designates as foolish because of their confusing the law of ,moses and the gospel of ,christ1 the law could not nullify the earlier covenant the fulfillment of which could come only through ,christ4 ,the law1 by which the inspired apostle plainly means the ,mosaic statutes1 was but a preparation for the faith1 by which latter expression the gospel as revealed by ,christ is clearly intended4 ,but before faith came1 says ,paul1 we were kept under the law1 shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed4 ,wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto ,christ1 that we might be justified by faith4 ,but after that faith is come1 we are no longer under a schoolmaster4 ,for ye are the children of ,god by faith in ,christ ,jesus4 ,for as many of you as have been baptized into ,christ have put on ,christ4 ,there is neither ,jew nor ,greek1 there is neither bond nor free1 there is neither male nor female3 for ye are all one in ,jesus ,christ4 ,and if ye be ,christ's then are ye ,abraham's seed1 and heirs according to the promise4--7,verses #bc-bi47 #bb4 ,it is evident from the tenor of the entire chapter1 that while the gospel was preached unto ,abraham1 and covenant made with him relating to the coming of the ,messiah through his posterity1 the gospel did not abide with ,israel1 and this because of transgression2--7,verse #ai47 but in lieu thereof the ,mosaic law was instituted as a disciplinary measure1 temporary in character1 destined to be superseded by the gospel of ,christ1 and assuredly not an everlasting covenant4 ,on the other hand1 the blood of ,christ1 through the shedding of which the atoning sacrifice was wrought1 is distinctively called the blood of the everlasting covenant1--7,hebrews #ac3bj47 #bc4 ,it is evident then that ,isaiah's fateful prophecy relating to the breaking of the everlasting covenant could have no reference to a departure from the ,mosaic requirements1 but must refer to a then future condition of apostasy following the establishment of the everlasting covenant4 ,moreover1 part of the great prediction1 referring to the burnings and widespread calamities1--7,see ,isaiah #bd3f47 yet awaits its complete fulfillment4 #bd4 ,another prediction applicable to the period when there should be no ,church of ,christ to be found1 and when1 in consequence there should be lamentation and suffering1 is that of ,amos4 ,behold1 the days come1 saith the ,lord ,god1 that ,i will send a famine in the land1 not a famine of bread1 nor a thirst for water1 but of hearing the words of the ,lord3 ,and they shall wander from sea to sea1 and from the north even to the east1 they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the ,lord1 and shall not find it4--7,amos #h3aa1 #ab47 #be4 ,christ instructed ,his followers in terms at once direct and conclusive1 as to the apostasy then impending4 ,in reply to certain inquiries concerning the signs by which ,his second advent would be heralded1 ,he said3 ,take heed that no man deceive you4 ,for many shall come in my name1 saying1 ,i am ,christ2 and shall deceive many4--7,matt4 #bd3d1 #e47 ,then ,he told of approaching wars and political disturbances1 and added3 ,and then shall many be offended1 and shall betray one another1 and shall hate one another4 ,and many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many4 ,and because iniquity shall abound1 the love of many shall wax cold4 ,but he that shall endure unto the end1 the same shall be saved4--7,verses #aj-ac4 ,see note #d1 end of chapter47 #bf4 ,further specifying the conditions incident to the growing apostasy1 ,christ declared to ,his disciples3 ,then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted1 and shall kill you3 and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake4--7,verse #i47 ,and again3 ,then if any man shall say unto you1 ,lo1 here is ,christ1 or there2 believe it not4 ,for there shall arise false ,christs1 and false prophets1 and shall shew great signs and wonders2 insomuch that if it were possible1 they shall deceive the very elect4 ,behold1 ,i have told you before4 ,wherefore if they shall say unto you1 ,behold1 he is in the desert2 go not forth2 behold1 he is in the secret chambers2 believe it not4--7,verses #bc-bf47 #bg4 ,after the departure of ,christ from earth ,his apostles continued to warn the people of the darkness to come4 ,in that memorable address to the elders of ,ephesus1 when1 as he told them1 they were looking upon his face for the last time1 ,paul reminded his hearers of the instructions he had previously given them1 and then charged them with this solemn warning3 ,for ,i know this1 that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you1 not sparing the flock4 ,also of your own selves shall men arise1 speaking perverse things1 to draw away disciples after them4--7,acts #bj3bi1 #cj2 read verses #ag to #ca incl47 #bh4 ,not only would outsiders ingratiate themselves with the saints for purposes of selfish gain1--wolves entering in1 and not sparing the flock1--but schisms and divisions were imminent2 and these dissensions were to come through some then present1--men who would aspire to leadership1 and who would set up their own doctrines1 thus drawing disciples away from the ,church and unto themselves4 #bi4 ,the same apostle warns ,timothy of the approaching apostasy1 and refers to some of the erroneous teachings that would be impressed upon misguided people1--teachings which he calls doctrines of devils4 ,he admonishes ,timothy to put the brethren in remembrance of these things1 as is becoming in a good minister of ,christ1 nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine4 ,note the inspired prediction3 ,now the ,spirit speaketh expressly1 that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith1 giving heed to seducing spirits1 and doctrines of devils2 speaking lies in hypocrisy2 having their conscience seared with a hot iron2 forbidding to marry1 and commanding to abstain from meats1 which ,god hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth4--7,i ,tim4 #d3a-c4 ,see ,note #e1 end of chapter47 #cj4 ,in a second epistle to his beloved ,timothy1 while laboring under the premonition that his martyrdom was near at hand1 ,paul urges zeal and energy in the preaching of the gospel2 for the shadows of the apostasy were gathering about the ,church4 ,his admonition is pathetic in its earnestness3 ,i charge thee therefore1 before ,god1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom2 ,preach the word2 be instant in season1 out of season2 reprove1 rebuke1 exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine4 ,for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine2 but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers1 having itching ears2 and they shall turn away their ears from the truth1 and shall be turned unto fables4--7,,ii ,tim4 #d3a-d47 #ca4 ,in addressing the ,thessalonian saints1 ,paul warns them against the error strongly advocated by some that the day of ,christ's second advent was then near at hand4 ,it appears that deception was being practiced1 and that even forgery was suspected1 for the apostle instructs the people that they be not deceived by word nor by letter as from us4 ,the admonition is forceful3 ,now we beseech you1 brethren1 by the coming of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and by our gathering together unto ,him1 ,that ye be not soon shaken in mind1 or be troubled1 neither by spirit1 nor by word1 nor by letter as from us1 as that the day of ,christ is at hand4 ,let no man deceive you by any means3 for that day shall not come1 except there come a falling away first1 and that man of sin be revealed1 the son of perdition2 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called ,god1 or that is worshiped2 so that he as ,god sitteth in the temple of ,god1 shewing himself that he is ,god4--7,,ii ,thess4 #a3b-ad47 ,we shall see how painfully literal has been the fulfilment of this prophecy in the blasphemous assumptions of the apostate church1 centuries later4 #cb4 ,the ,apostle ,peter prophesied in language so plain that none may fail to comprehend1 concerning the heresies that would be preached as doctrine in the period of the apostasy2 and he reminds the people that there were false teachers in olden times1 even as there would be in times then future3 ,but there were false prophets also among the people1 even as there shall be false teachers among you1 who privily shall bring in damnable heresies1 even denying the ,lord that bought them1 and bring upon themselves swift destruction4 ,and many shall follow their pernicious ways2 by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of4 ,and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you3 whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not1 and their damnation slumbereth not4--7,,ii ,peter #b3a-c4 ,read the entire chapter1 noting the description of conditions existing in the world today47 #cc4 ,jude1 the brother of ,james1 in his general epistle to the saints1 reminds them of earlier warnings3 ,but1 beloved1 remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 ,how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time1 who should walk after their own ungodly lusts4--7,jude #ag1 #ah47 #cd4 ,john1 who is called the ,revelator1 saw in vision the state of the world in the days then future4 ,describing the spirit of unrighteousness as a hideous beast1 and its author1 ,satan1 as the dragon1 he says3 ,and they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast3 and they worshiped the beast1 saying1 ,who is like unto the beast8 who is able to make war with him8 99 99 99 ,and he opened his mouth in blasphemy against ,god1 to blaspheme his name1 and his tabernacle1 and them that dwell in heaven4 ,and it was given unto him to make war with the saints1 and to overcome them3 and power was given him over all kindreds1 and tongues1 and nations4 ,and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him1 whose names are not written in the book of life of the ,lamb slain from the foundation of the world4 ,if any man have an ear1 let him hear4--7,rev4 #ac3d1f-i47 #ce4 ,note another prophecy based on the vision of ,john the ,revelator4 ,again referring to latter-day conditions he declares3 ,and ,i saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth1 and to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 ,saying with a loud voice1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him2 for the hour of his judgment is come3 and worship him that made heaven1 and earth1 and the sea1 and the fountains of water4--7,rev4 #ad3f1 #g47 #cf4 ,while it is true that the scripture last quoted does not specifically predict the apostasy1 the breaking up of the ,church is treated as an event actually accomplished4 ,the ,revelator looked beyond the period of disruption and saw the brighter day of the restoration of the gospel1--a re-establishment of the ,church through the ministry of an angel4 ,it is illogical to assume that the gospel was to be brought to earth by a heavenly messenger if that gospel was still extant upon the earth4 ,equally unreasonable is it to say that a restoration or re-establishment of the ,church of ,christ would be necessary or possible had the ,church continued with rightful succession of priesthood and power4 ,if the gospel had to be brought again from the heavens1 the gospel must have been taken from the earth4 ,thus the prophecy of a restoration is proof of an apostasy general and complete4 9999,apostasy on the ,western ,hemisphere ,predicted99994 #cg4 ,in the preceding chapter it was shown that the ,church of ,christ was established by the ,risen ,lord among the ,nephites of the western world4 ,it was foreseen that the powers of evil would be permitted to prevail in the west as in the east4 ,consider the fateful words of the prophet ,alma addressed to his son ,helaman3 ,behold1 ,i perceive that this very people1 the ,nephites1 according to the spirit of revelation which is in me1 in four hundred years from the time that ,jesus ,christ shall manifest himself unto them1 shall dwindle in unbelief2 ,yea1 and then shall they see wars and pestilence1 yea1 famines and bloodshed1 even until the people of ,nephi shall become extinct2 ,yea1 and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief1 and fall into the works of darkness1 and lasciviousness1 and all manner of iniquities2 yea1 ,i say unto you1 that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge2 yea1 ,i say unto you1 that from that day1 even the fourth generation shall not pass away1 before this great iniquity shall come4--7,alma #de3aj-ab47 #ch4 ,an earlier prophecy relating to the degradation of the surviving remnant of ,lehi's descendants1 was uttered by ,nephi1 as a result of a revelation communicated to him through angelic visitation4 ,he thus describes his vision of the future3 ,i beheld and saw that the seed of my brethren did contend against my seed1 according to the word of the angel2 and because of the pride of my seed1 and the temptations of the devil1 ,i beheld that the seed of my brethren did overpower the people of my seed4 ,and it came to pass that ,i beheld and saw the people of the seed of my brethren1 that they had overcome my seed2 and they went forth in multitudes upon the face of the land4 ,and ,i saw them gathered together in multitudes2 and ,i saw wars and rumors of wars among them2 and in wars and rumors of wars1 ,i saw many generations pass away4 ,and the angel said unto me1 ,behold these shall dwindle in unbelief4 ,and it came to pass that ,i beheld after they had dwindled in unbelief1 they became a dark1 and loathsome1 and filthy people1 full of idleness and all manner of abominations4--7,i ,nephi #ab3ai-bc4 ,for other ,book of ,mormon predictions of spiritual decline on the western continent1 see ,,ii ,nephi #bg3a2 read also ,,ii ,nephi #bf3ai-bb1 and chapter #bi47 ,the degraded state of the ,north ,american ,indians1--descendants of a prophet-father--is a striking realization of this prophetic declaration4 #ci4 ,the scriptures cited are sufficient to show that widespread apostasy from the ,church was foreseen2 that the corruption of the ,church itself was likewise foreknown2 and that on both hemispheres a general apostasy was foretold4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,church1 ,primitive and ,restored4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints declares by its name a distinction from the ,primitive ,church as established by ,christ and ,his early apostles4 ,the essential designation of the restored ,church is the ,church of ,jesus ,christ2 its authorized name is the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 the final phrase being added to distinguish the ,church as established in the present dispensation from the ,church as organized by the ,savior during the period of ,his earthly ministry4 ,this distinction is shown in one of our ,articles of ,faith3 ,we 7the ,church of today7 believe in the same organization that existed in the ,primitive ,church4 #b4 ,man's ,free ,agency4 ,the teachings of the restored ,church respecting individual freedom of action are thus summarized3 ,the ,church holds and teaches as a strictly scriptural doctrine1 that man has inherited among the inalienable rights conferred upon him by his divine ,father1 absolute freedom to choose the good or the evil in life as he may elect4 ,this right cannot be guarded with more jealous care than is bestowed upon it by ,god ,himself2 for in all ,his dealings with man1 ,he has left the mortal creature free to choose and to act1 with no semblance of compulsion or restraint1 beyond the influences of paternal counsel and loving direction4 ,true1 ,he has given commandments1 and has established statutes1 with promises of blessings for compliance and dire penalties for infraction2 but in the choice of these1 ,god's children are untrammeled4 ,in this respect1 man is no less free than are the angels and the ,gods1 except as he has fettered himself with the bonds of sin1 and forfeited his power of will and force of soul4 ,the individual has a full measure of liberty to violate the laws of health1 the requirements of nature1 and the commandments of ,god in matters both temporal and spiritual1 as he has to obey all such2 in the one case he brings upon himself the sure penalties that belong to the broken law2 as in the other he inherits the specific blessings and the added freedom that attend a law-abiding life4 ,obedience to law is the habit of the free man2 'tis the transgressor who fears the law1 for he brings upon himself deprivation and restraint1 not because of the law1 which would have protected him in his freedom1 but because of his rejection of law4 ,the predominant attribute of justice1 recognized as part of ,divine nature1 forbids the thought that man should receive promises of reward for righteousness1 and threats of punishment of evil deeds1 if he possessed no power of independent action4 ,it is no more a part of ,god's plan to compel men to work righteousness1 than it is ,his purpose to permit evil powers to force ,his children into sin4 ,in the days of ,eden1 the first man had placed before him commandment and law1 with an explanation of the penalty which would follow a violation of that law4 ,no law could have been given him in righteousness1 had he not been free to act for himself4 ',nevertheless1 thou mayest choose for thyself1 for it is given unto thee2 but remember that ,i forbid it1' said the ,lord ,god to ,adam4 ,concerning ,his dealings with the first patriarch of the race1 ,god has declared in this day1 ',behold ,i gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself4' 7,the ,author1 ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #c3a1 #b47 #c4 ,the ,testimony of ,prophecy to the ,apostasy4 ,what is prophecy but history reversed8 ,nothing4 ,prophecy is a record of things before they transpire4 ,history is a record of them after they have occurred2 and of the two prophecy is more to be trusted for its accuracy than history3 for the reason that it has for its source the unerring inspiration of ,almighty ,god2 while history1--except in the case of inspired historians--is colored by the favor or prejudice of the writer1 depends for its exactness upon the point of view from which he looks upon the events2 and is likely to be marred in a thousand ways by the influences surrounding him1--party considerations1 national interest or prejudice2 supposed influence upon present conditions and future prospects--all these things may interfere with history2 but prophecy is free from such influences4 ,historians are self-constituted1 or appointed by men2 but prophets are chosen of ,god4 ,selected by divine wisdom1 and illuminated by that ,spirit which shows things that are to come1 prophets have revealed to them so much of the future as ,god would have men to know1 and the inspired writers record it for the enlightenment or warning of mankind1 without the coloring or distortion so liable to mar the work of the historian4 ,thus ,moses recorded what the history of ,israel would be on condition of their obedience to ,god3 and what it would be if they were disobedient4 ,israel was disobedient1 and historians have exhausted their art in attempts to tell of their disobedience and suffering2 but neither in vividness nor accuracy do the histories compare with the prophecy4 ,so with the prophecy of ,daniel in respect to the rise and succession of the great political powers that should dominate the earth1 and the final triumph of the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,so with well-nigh all of the prophecies4--7,b4 ,h4 ,roberts1 ,a ,new ,witness for ,god1 pp4 #aac1 #aad47 #d4 ,christ's ,prediction of the ,apostasy4 ,the forceful prophecy1 couched in terms of vivid description1 uttered by our ,lord in response to inquiries by ,his disciples1 has been the subject of diverse opinion and varied comment1 particularly as regard the time to which the prediction refers4 ,as recorded in the twenty-fourth chapter of ,matthew1 a significant sign of the progress of events to precede the second coming of ,christ was stated as follows3 ,and this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations2 and then shall the end come4 7,verse #ad47 ,it is claimed by many that the end referred to in the passage quoted is not necessarily the close of the final dispensation1 not what is commonly spoken of as the end of the world1 but the closing up of the gospel dispensation then current2 and in support of this interpretation it is urged that following the utterance quoted ,christ proceeded to predict the calamities then awaiting ,jerusalem4 ,that during the period covered by the earthly ministry of the apostles1 the gospel was preached in all the civilized nations of the ,eastern hemisphere1 is evident alike from scripture and from the uncanonical writings of repute relating to that period4 ,paul speaks of the ,gospel as having been carried in his day to the world1 and as having been preached to every creature under heaven 7see ,colos4 #a3f1 #bc2 compare ,romans #aj3ah2 see also ,note #c1 following chapter ,i of this work1 page #ae47 ,in ,joseph ,smith's version of the twenty-fourth chapter of ,matthew the paragraph relating to the preaching of the gospel in all the world as one of the signs specified by ,jesus ,christ1 is transposed so as to apply more directly to the modern or last dispensation4 7,see ,pearl of ,great ,price1 ,writings of ,joseph ,smith1 #a47 ,the scripture under consideration has direct application to the conditions characteristic of present times--the period now current and immediately precedent to the second advent of the ,christ4 ,this fact1 however1 does not necessarily nullify its application to the earlier period as well4 ,history repeats itself in many instances in this1 the dispensation of the fulness of times2 indeed1 the very name is expressive of a summarizing or gathering together of things past1 and this involves recurrence of earlier conditions and re-enactment of laws4 ,the prediction of world-wide evangelization is not the only instance of a general prophecy having more than a single limited horizon of fulfillment4 ,in the apostolic period the gospel was carried to all nations known to the ,lord's ministers2 a similar work is in progress today1 on a scale greatly exceeding that of the past1 for the world1 as measured by human occupancy1 is vastly greater than of old4 #e4 ,scriptures ,relating to the ,apostasy4 ,that the application of the scriptures cited in the text is proof of the predicted apostasy is not peculiar to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints1 is shown by the fact that these predictions are similarly interpreted by theologians of other churches4 ,thus1 in his ,bible ,commentary1 ,dr4 ,adam ,clarke annotates ,paul's admonition to ,timothy as below4 ,first note the passage3 ,now the ,spirit speaketh expressly1 that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith1 giving heed to seducing spirits1 and doctrines of devils2 speaking lies in hypocrisy2 etc4 ,dr4 ,clarke says3 ,in the latter times3 ,this does not necessarily imply the last ages of the world2 but any times consequent 7subsequent7 to those in which the church then lived4 ,depart from the faith3 ,they will apostatize from the faith1 i4 e4 from ,christianity1 renouncing the whole system in effect by bringing in doctrines which render its essential truths null and void2 or denying and denouncing such doctrines as are essential to ,christianity as a system of salvation4 ,a man may hold all the truths of ,christianity1 and yet render them of none effect1 by holding other doctrines1 which counteract their influence2 or he may apostatize by denying some essential doctrine1 though he bring in nothing heterodox4 ,speaking lies in hypocrisy3 ,persons pretending not only to divine inspiration1 but also to extraordinary degrees of holiness1 self-denial1 mortification1 etc41 in order to credit the lies and false doctrines which they taught4 ,multitudes of lies were framed concerning miracles wrought by the relics of departed saints as they were termed4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 9999,early ,stages of the ,apostasy99994 #a4 ,as shown in the preceding chapter a general apostasy from the ,primitive ,church was both foreseen and foretold4 ,prophets who lived centuries before the time of ,christ predicted the great event1 as did also the ,savior ,himself and the apostles who continued the work of the ministry after ,his resurrection and ascension4 ,we are now to inquire as to the fulfillment of these predictions4 #b4 ,evidence that the apostasy occurred as had been predicted is found in the sacred scriptures and in the records of history other than scriptural4 ,from certain utterances of the early-day apostles it is made plain to us that the great falling away had begun even while those apostles were living4 ,the preaching of false doctrines and the rise of unauthorized teachers were referred to as conditions then actually existing in the ,church1 and not as remote developments of the distant future4--7,see ,note #a1 end of chapter47 #c4 ,scarcely had the gospel seed been committed to the soil before the enemy came1 and by night sowed tares amongst the wheat2 and so intimate was the growth of the two that any attempt to forcibly uproot the weeds would have threatened the life of the grain4--7,study the parable of wheat and tares1 ,matt4 #ac3bd-cj4 ,see ,note #b1 end of chapter47 #d4 ,paul recognized the fact that the people amongst whom he labored were losing the faith they had professed1 and were becoming victims of the deception practiced by false teachers4 ,in his letter to the churches of ,galatia he wrote3 ,i marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of ,christ unto another gospel3 ,which is not another2 but there be some that trouble you1 and would pervert the gospel of ,christ4 ,and then1 to emphasize the sin of those who thus sought to pervert the gospel of ,christ1 he continued3 ,but though we1 or an angel from heaven1 preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you1 let him be accursed4 ,as we said before1 so say ,i now again1 ,if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received1 let him be accursed4--7,galatians #a3f-i2 read the entire chapter4 ,see ,note #c1 end of chapter47 #e4 ,the context of the passages just quoted shows the nature of the error into which the churches of ,galatia were in danger of falling4 ,they were embroiled in a discussion as to whether they were bound by certain requirements of the law of ,moses1 notably that respecting circumcision4 ,the apostle instructs them to the effect that the gospel of ,christ was superior to the law2 and that moreover1 they were inconsistent in contending for one item of the law and neglecting the rest4 ,we have here indication of the effort so persisted in even by those who had joined the ,church1 to modify and change the simple requirements of the gospel by introducing the elements of ,judaism4 ,it must be remembered that even among the apostles some difference of opinion had existed as to the necessity of circumcision2 but this had been settled by their prayerful efforts to learn the ,lord's will in the matter2 and those who sought to foment dissension on this or any other matter of authoritative doctrine were declared to be enemies to the ,church1 seeking to pervert the gospel of ,christ4 #f4 ,in his second epistle to the church of the ,thessalonians ,paul declares that the spirit of iniquity was then already operative4 ,after predicting the rise of the apostate church1 with its blasphemous assumptions of power1 as a condition antecedent to the second coming of ,christ1 the apostle continued as follows3 ,for the mystery of iniquity doth already work3 only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way4 ,and then shall that ,wicked be revealed1 whom the ,lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth1 and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming4--7,,ii ,thess4 #b3g1 #h47 #g4 ,the seemingly obscure expression1 he who now letteth will let1 may be more readily understood by remembering that in the older style of ,english let had the meaning of restrain or hinder4--7,an example of this old-time use of the verb let is found in ,shakespeare4 ,hamlet is made to say1 ,unhand me1 gentlemen4 ,by heaven ,i'll make a ghost of him who lets me1 i4 e41 of him who restrains or hinders me47 ,the passage therefore may be understood as a declaration that the spirit of iniquity was already active though restrained or hindered for a time2 and that later even this restraint would be removed and the evil one would be in power4 ,in the ,revised ,version of the ,new ,testament this passage is rendered thus3--lawlessness doth already work3 only there is one that restraineth now1 until he be taken out of the way4 #h4 ,just who or what is referred to as exercising a restraint on the powers of iniquity at that time has given rise to discussion4 ,some writers hold that the presence of the apostles operated in this way1 while others believe that the restraining power of the ,roman government is referred to4 ,it is known that the ,roman policy was to discountenance religious contention1 and to allow a large measure of liberty in forms of worship as long as the gods of ,rome were not maligned nor their shrines dishonored4 ,as ,roman supremacy declined the mystery of iniquity embodied in the apostate church operated practically without restraint4 #i4 ,the expression mystery of iniquity as used by ,paul is significant4--7,see ,note #a1 end of chapter47 ,prominent among the early perverters of the ,christian faith were those who assailed its simplicity and lack of exclusiveness4 ,this simplicity was so different from the mysteries of ,judaism and the mysterious rites of heathen idolatry as to be disappointing to many2 and the earliest changes in the ,christian form of worship were marked by the introduction of mystic ceremonies4 #aj4 ,paul's zeal as a missionary and a proselyter is abundantly shown in scripture2 he was equally zealous in seeking to maintain the faith of those who had accepted the truth4 ,the ,pauline epistles abound in admonitions and pleadings against the increasing influence of false doctrines1 and in expressions of sorrow over the growth of apostasy in the ,church4 ,his words addressed to ,timothy are both emphatic and pathetic4 ,hold fast the form of sound words1 which thou hast heard of me1 in faith and love which is in ,christ ,jesus4 ,that good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the ,holy ,ghost1 which dwelleth in us4 ,this thou knowest1 that all they which are in ,asia be turned away from me4--7,,ii ,timothy #a3ac-ae2 italics introduced2 compare #d3aj1 #af47 #aa4 ,an excellent summary of important utterances by the ,apostle ,paul relating to the beginning of the apostasy as a fact in the early apostolic age1 has been made by one of the latter-day apostles1 ,orson ,pratt4 ,he writes as follows3 ,the great apostasy of the ,christian ,church commenced in the first century2 while there were yet inspired apostles and prophets in their midst2 hence ,paul1 just previous to his martyrdom1 enumerates a great number who had 'made shipwreck of their faith1' and 'turned aside unto vain jangling2' teaching 'that the resurrection was already past1' 'giving heed to fables and endless genealogies1' 'doubting about questions and strifes of words whereof came envyings1 railings1 evil surmisings1 perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth1 supposing that gain is godliness4' ,this apostasy had become so general that ,paul declares to ,timothy1 'that all they which are in ,asia be turned away from me2' and again he says1 'at my first answer no man stood with me1 but all men forsook me2' he further says that 'there are many unruly1 and vain talkers and deceivers1 teaching things which they ought not1 for filthy lucre's sake4' ,these apostates1 no doubt1 pretended to be very righteous2 for1 says the apostle1 'they profess that they know ,god2 but in works they deny him1 being abominable1 and disobedient1 and unto every good work reprobate4' #ab4 ,jude admonished the saints to be on their guard against men who were in the service of ,satan seeking to corrupt the ,church4 ,addressing himself to them that are sanctified by ,god the ,father1 and preserved in ,jesus ,christ1 he said3 ,it was needful for me to write unto you1 and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints4 ,for there are certain men crept in unawares1 who were before of old ordained to this condemnation1 ungodly men1 turning the grace of our ,god into lasciviousness1 and denying the only ,lord ,god1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4--7,jude #c1 #d4 ,see ,note #e1 end of chapter47 ,it is plain that ,jude considered the faith which was once delivered unto the saints as in danger2 and he urges the faithful to contend for it and openly defend it4 ,he reminds the saints that they had been told there should be mockers in the last time1 who should walk after their own ungodly lusts2 and adds ,these be they who separate themselves1 sensual1 having not the ,spirit4--7,verses #ah1 #ai47 ,clearly he is referring to the apostates of such time1 who1 because of sensual appetites and lustful desires1 have separated themselves from the ,church4 #ac4 ,during the banishment of ,john the ,revelator on the ,isle of ,patmos1 when nearly all the apostles had been taken from the earth1 many of them having suffered martyrdom1 the apostasy was so widespread that only seven churches1 i4 e41 branches of the ,church1 remained in such condition as to be considered deserving of the special communication ,john was instructed to give4 ,in a marvelous vision he beheld the seven churches typified by seven golden candlesticks1 with seven stars representing the presiding officers of the several churches2 and in the midst of the golden candlesticks1 with the stars in his hand1 stood one like unto the ,son of ,man4 #ad4 ,the church at ,ephesus was approved for its good works1 specifically for its rejection of the ,nicolaitean heresies2 nevertheless reproof was administered for disaffection and neglect1 thus3--thou hast left thy first love4 ,remember therefore from whence thou art fallen1 and repent1 and do the first works2 or else ,i will come unto thee quickly1 and will remove thy candlestick out of his place1 except thou repent4--7,rev4 #b3d1e47 #ae4 ,to the church at ,pergamos ,john was commanded to write1 denouncing the false doctrines of certain sects and teachers1 which thing ,i hate1 said the ,lord4--7,see verses #ab-af47 ,the church of the ,laodiceans was denounced as lukewarm1 neither hot nor cold1 and as priding itself as rich and not in need1 whereas it was in reality wretched1 and miserable1 and poor1 and blind1 and naked4--7,rev4 #c2 see verses #ad-ba47 #af4 ,the foregoing scriptures are ample as proof that even before the ancient apostles had finished their earthly ministry1 apostasy was growing apace4 ,the testimony of the early ,christian fathers who wrote in the period immediately following the passing of the apostles1 is to the same effect4 ,according to the generally accepted chronology1 the prophetic message of ,john the ,revelator to the churches of ,asia was given in the last years of the first century4--7,probably about ,a4 ,d4 #if2 see ,oxford ,bible1 margin47 #ag4 ,among the historians of that period whose writings are not regarded as canonical or scriptural1 but which are nevertheless accepted as genuine and reliable1 was ,hegesippus1 who flourished nearest the days of the apostles4 ,writing of the conditions marking the close of the first century and the beginning of the second1 ,eusebius cites the testimony of the earlier writer as follows3--,the same author1 ,hegesippus relating the events of the times1 also says1 that the ,church continued until then as a pure and uncorrupt virgin2 whilst if there were any at all that attempted to pervert the sound doctrine of the saving gospel1 they were yet skulking in dark retreats2 but when the sacred choir of apostles became extinct1 and the generation of those that had been privileged to hear their inspired wisdom had passed away1 then also the combinations of impious error arose by the fraud and delusions of false teachers4 ,these also1 as there were none of the apostles left1 henceforth attempted1 without shame to preach their false doctrine against the gospel of truth4 ,such is the statement of ,hegesippus4--7,eusebius1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,book ,,iii1 chapter #cb47 #ah4 ,there can be little doubt that the false teachers referred to in the testimony last cited1 were professed adherents of the ,church1 and not outside opponents1 inasmuch as they were restrained by the influence and authority of the apostles1 and waited the passing of the authorized leaders as an opportunity to corrupt the ,church by evil teachings4 #ai4 ,a later writer1 commenting on the schisms and dissensions by which the ,church was rent in the latter part of the first century--the period immediately following that of the apostolic ministry1 says3 ,it will easily be imagined that unity and peace could not reign long in the ,church1 since it was composed of ,jews and ,gentiles1 who regarded each other with the bitterest aversion4 ,besides1 as the converts to ,christianity could not extirpate radically the prejudices which had been formed in their minds by education1 and confirmed by time1 they brought with them into the bosom of the ,church more or less of the errors of their former religions4 ,thus the seeds of discord and controversy were easily sown1 and could not fail to spring up soon into animosities and dissensions1 which accordingly broke out and divided the ,church4--7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,history1 ,cent4 ,i1 ,part ,,ii2 chap4 #c3aa4 ,see ,note #d1 end of chapter47 #bj4 ,another recognized authority on ecclesiastical history1 and one whose avowed purpose was to present the truth respecting the ,church in its most favorable light1 is ,joseph ,milner1 author of a comprehensive ,history of the ,church of ,christ4 ,he comments on the state of the ,church at the close of the first century in this wise3 ,let us keep in view what that the spirit of the gospel really is4 ,the simple faith of ,christ as the only ,savior of lost sinners1 and the effectual influences of the ,holy ,ghost in recovering souls altogether depraved by sin--these are the leading ideas4 ,when the effusion of the ,holy ,ghost first took place1 these things were taught with power2 and no sentiments which militated against them could be supported for a moment4 ,as1 through the prevalence of human corruption and the crafts of ,satan1 the love of truth was lessened1 heresies and various abuses of the gospel appeared2 and in estimating them we may form some idea of the declension of true religion toward the end of the first century4 ,the same writer continues3 ,yet a gloomy cloud hung over the conclusion of the first century4 ,the first impressions made by the effusion of the ,spirit are generally the strongest and the most decisively distinct from the spirit of the world4 ,but human depravity1 overborne for a time1 arises afresh1 particularly in the next generation4 ,hence the disorders of schism and heresy4 ,their tendency is to destroy the pure work of ,god4--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,i1 ch4 #ae47 #ba4 ,the purpose of this chapter has been that of demonstrating the early beginning of the apostasy1 so soon to become general1 and later1 universal4 ,the specific causes directly contributing to the degradation of the ,church are reserved for future consideration4 9999,the ,growth of ,apostasy on the ,western ,hemisphere99994 #bb4 ,now let us see what was the condition of the ,church established by the ,resurrected ,lord among the descendants of ,lehi on the ,american ,continent4 ,in this undertaking we shall not restrict ourselves to the beginning of the disruption alone4 ,inasmuch as the course of apostasy among the ,nephites was so rapid1 and the period intervening between the establishment of the ,church and the destruction of the nation was so brief1 we shall consider the history of the ,church to its close1 and thus obviate the necessity of recurring to the subject in later chapters4 ,we read that the ,church had prospered until about #bjj ,a4 ,d4 ,then apostasy became general1 as evidence of which note the following3 #bc4 ,and now in this two hundred and first year1 there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride4 99 99 99 ,and they began to be divided into classes1 and they began to build up churches unto themselves1 to get gain1 and began to deny the true ,church of ,christ4 ,and it came to pass that when two hundred and ten years had passed away there were many churches in the land2 yea1 there were many churches which professed to know the ,christ1 and yet they did deny the more parts of his gospel1 insomuch that they did receive all manner of wickedness1 and did administer that which was sacred unto him to whom it had been forbidden1 because of unworthiness4 ,and this church did multiply exceedingly1 because of iniquity1 and because of the power of ,satan1 who did get hold upon their hearts4 ,and again1 there was another church which denied the ,christ2 and they did persecute the true ,church of ,christ because of their humility1 and their belief in ,christ2 and they did despise them because of the many miracles which were wrought among them4--7,,iv ,nephi #a3bd-bi2 read the entire chapter47 #bd4 ,the ,book of ,mormon record is definite in its specifications of the immediate reasons for1 or causes of the great apostasy on the western hemisphere4 ,while the members of the ,church remained faithful to their covenants and obligations1 they as individuals and the ,church as an organization prospered2 and their enemies were unable to prevail against them4 ,with prosperity1 however1 came pride and class distinctions1 the rich dominated the poor1 and earthly gain became the object of life4--7,see ,,iv ,nephi #a3b-g and compare with verses #be1 #bf47 ,secret organizations of evil purpose flourished1--7,verse #db47 the people were divided into two opposing factions1 those who still professed a belief in ,christ being known as ,nephites and their enemies as ,lamanites1 without regard to actual descent or family relationship4 ,with the growth of pride and its attendant sins1 the ,nephites became as wicked as the non-professing ,lamanites2--7,verse #de47 and in their wickedness these people sought each other's destruction4 ,consider the pathos and dire tragedy expressed in the words of ,moroni1 the solitary survivor of a once blessed and mighty nation3 #be4 ,behold1 four hundred years have passed away since the coming of our ,lord and ,savior4 ,and behold1 the ,lamanites have hunted my people1 the ,nephites1 down from city to city1 and from place to place1 even until they are no more2 and great has been their fall2 yea1 great and marvelous is the destruction of my people1 the ,nephites4 ,and behold1 it is the hand of the ,lord which hath done it4 ,and behold also1 the ,lamanites are at war one with another2 and the whole face of this land is one continual round of murder and bloodshed2 and no one knoweth the end of the war4 ,and now behold1 ,i say no more concerning them1 for there are none1 save it be the ,lamanites and robbers that do exist upon the face of the land2 and there are none that do know the true ,god1 save it be the disciples of ,jesus1--7,see ,,iii ,nephi #bh3a-g47 who did tarry in the land until the wickedness of the people was so great1 that the ,lord would not suffer them to remain with the people2 and whether they be upon the face of the land no man knoweth4--7,mormon #h3f-aj47 ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,early ,apostasy ,recognized4 ,the fact of the early beginning of the apostasy is generally recognized by theologians and authorities on biblical interpretation4 ,clarke's commentary on the declaration of ,paul as to the mystery of iniquity then at work 7,see ,,ii ,thess4 #b3g7 is as follows3 ,for the mystery of iniquity doth already work3 ,there is a system of corrupt doctrine which will lead to the general apostasy1 already in existence2 but it is a mystery2 it is as yet hidden2 it dare not show itself because of that which hindereth or withholdeth4 ,but when that which now restraineth is taken out of the way1 then shall that wicked one be revealed2 it will then be manifest who he is and what he is4 #b4 ,early ,dissensions in the ,church4 ,as instances of the disagreements and differences that troubled and disturbed the ,church even in apostolic days ,mosheim says3 ,the first of these controversies1 which was set on foot in the church of ,antioch1 regarded the necessity of observing the law of ,moses1 and its issue is mentioned by ,st4 ,luke in the ,acts of the ,apostles 7chap4 #ae74 ,this controversy was followed by many others1 either with the ,jews who were violently attached to the worship of their ancestors1 or with the votaries of a wild and fanatical sort of philosophy1 or with such as1 mistaking the true genius of the ,christian religion1 abused it monstrously to the encouragement of their vices1 and their indulgence of the appetites and passions4 ,st4 ,paul and the other apostles have in several places of their writings1 mentioned these controversies1 but with such brevity that it is difficult at this distance of time to come at the true state of the question in these various disputes4 ,the most weighty and important of all these controversies was that which certain ,jewish doctors raised at ,rome1 and in other ,christian ,churches concerning the means of justification and acceptance with ,god1 and the method of salvation pointed out in the word of ,god4 ,the apostles1 wherever they exercised their ministry1 had constantly declared all hopes of acceptance and salvation delusive1 except such as were founded on ,jesus the ,redeemer1 and ,his all-sufficient merits2 while the ,jewish doctors maintained the works of the law to be the true efficient cause of the soul's eternal salvation and felicity4 ,this latter sentiment not only led to many other errors extremely prejudicial to ,christianity1 but was also injurious to the glory of the divine ,savior4--7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,i1 ,part ,,ii1 #aa-ab47 #c4 ,unauthorized ,writings in the ,apostolic ,age4 ,paul's reference to another gospel in his epistle to the ,galatians 7#a3f7 suggested to ,dr4 ,adam ,clarke the following commentary on the passage3 ,another gospel3 ,it is certain that in the very earliest ages of the ,christian ,church1 there were several spurious gospels in circulation2 and it was the multitude of these false or inaccurate relations that induced ,st4 ,luke to write his own 7see ,luke #a3a74 ,we have the names of more than seventy of these spurious narratives still on record1 and in ancient writers many fragments of them remain2 these have been collected and published by ,fabricius in his account of the apocryphal books of the ,new ,testament 7#c vols1 #h vo47 ,in some of these gospels the necessity of circumcision and subjection to the ,mosaic law1 in unity with the gospel1 were strongly inculcated4--7,clarke1 ,bible ,commentary47 #d4 ,some ,authorities on ,ecclesiastical ,history4 ,among the authorities cited in the text are those named below4 ,a brief note as to each may be of interest4 ,eusebius3 ,eusebius ,pamphilus1 bishop of ,caesarea in ,palestine4 ,he lived from about #bfj to about #cci ,a4,d41 though there is some uncertainty as to the exact time of his death4 ,he was an eye witness of and a participant in some of the sufferings incident to heathen persecution of the ,christians1 and has been called the ,father of ,church ,history4 ,he was the author of several works1 among them one of the earliest on ,ecclesiastical ,history4 ,the quotations from this work by ,eusebius1 as given in the text1 are from the version translated from the ,greek by ,c4 ,f4 ,cruse4 ,mosheim3 ,dr4 ,j4 ,l4 von ,mosheim1 chancellor of the ,university of ,gottingen2 a ,german writer1 noted for his contributions to church history4 ,he is the author of an exhaustive work on ,ecclesiastical ,history 7#f vols471 dated #agee4 ,the excerpts from ,mosheim's ,ecclesiastical ,history given in the text are taken from the version translated into ,english by ,dr4 ,archibald ,maclaine1 dated #agfd4 ,milner3 ,rev4 ,joseph ,milner4 ,an ,english authority on church history1 and author of a comprehensive ,history of the ,church of ,christ 7#e vols47 from which the excerpts in the text are taken4 #e4 ,commentary on the ,passage from ,jude3--,the passage quoted in the text--,for there are certain men crept in unawares1 who were before of old ordained to this condemnation1 ungodly men4 etc4 7,jude #d71 has given rise to discussion1 the question at issue being as to whether the principles of pre-appointment or fore-ordination is here involved4 ,a hasty and casual reading of the passage may suggest the inference that the ungodly men referred to had been appointed or ordained in the providence of ,god to sow the seeds of discord and dissension in the ,church4 ,a careful study of this scripture shows that no such inference is warranted4 ,the ungodly men who were before of old ordained to this condemnation were men who had already1 i4 e41 previously1 been denounced1 proscribed and condemned for the very heresies which now they were endeavoring to perpetuate in the ,church1 they having crept in unawares1 or in other words1 they having become members of the ,church by false pretenses and profession1 and being able because of their membership1 to spread their false teachings more effectively4 ,dr4 ,adam ,clarke1 in his ,bible ,commentary1 thus treats the passage under consideration3 ,for there are certain men crept in unawares4 ,they have got into the church under specious pretenses1 and when in1 began to sow their bad seed4 ,before of old ordained3 ,such as were long ago proscribed and condemned in the most public manner2 this is the import of the original word in this place1 and there are many examples of this use of it in the ,greek writers4 ,to this condemnation3 ,to a similar punishment to that about to be mentioned4 ,in the sacred writings all such persons1 false doctrines and impure practices have been most openly proscribed and condemned1 and the apostle immediately produces several examples1 viz41 the disobedient ,israelites1 the unfaithful angels1 and the impure inhabitants of ,sodom and ,gomorrah4 ,this is most obviously the apostle's meaning1 and it is as ridiculous as it is absurd1 to look into such words for a decree of reprobation1 etc41 such a doctrine being as far from the apostle's mind as from that of ,him in whose name he wrote4--7,clarke1 ,bible ,commentary1 ,jude #d47 ,in the ,revised ,version of the ,new ,testament the passage is rendered thus3 ,i was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints4 ,for there are certain men crept in privily1 even they who were of old set forth unto this condemnation1 ungodly men1 turning the grace of our ,god into lasciviousness1 and denying our only ,master and ,lord1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 9999,causes of the ,apostasy4--,external ,causes ,considered99994 #a4 ,we are now to consider some of the principal causes contributing to apostasy from the ,primitive ,church and leading later to the apostasy of the ,church as an earthly institution2 and we are to study the manner in which those causes have operated4 #b4 ,in the scriptures before cited as proof of the early beginning of the apostasy1 many of the contributing causes are indicated1 such as the rise of false teachers1 the spread of heretical doctrines1 and the growth of the power of ,satan in general4 ,these may be classed as internal causes1 originating within the ,church itself4 ,in contrast with these there were other conditions operating upon the ,church from without2 and such may be classed as external causes4 ,for convenience in study we shall consider the subject in the following order of treatment3 7#a7 ,external causes2 7#b7 ,internal causes4 9999,external ,causes of the ,great ,apostasy99994 #c4 ,external conditions operating against the ,church1 tending to restrict its development and contributing to its decline may be designated by the general term2 persecution4 ,it is a matter of history1 undisputed and indisputable1 that from the time of its inception to that of its actual cessation1 the ,church established by ,jesus ,christ was the object of bitter persecution1 and the victim of violence4 ,the question as to whether persecution is to be regarded as an element tending to produce apostasy is worthy of present consideration4 ,opposition is not always destructive2 on the contrary it may contribute to growth4 ,persecution may impel to greater zeal1 and thus prove itself a potent factor of advancement4 ,a proverb still in favor declares that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the ,church4 ,but proverbs and adages1 aphorisms and parables1 while true as generalities1 are not always applicable to special conditions4 #d4 ,undoubtedly the persistent persecution to which the early ,church was subjected caused many of its adherents to renounce the faith they had professed and to return to their former allegiances1 whether ,judaistic or pagan4 ,church membership was thus diminished2 but such instances of apostasy from the ,church may be regarded as individual desertions and of comparatively little importance in its effect upon the ,church as a body4 ,the dangers that affrighted some would arouse the determination of others2 the ranks deserted by disaffected weaklings would be replenished by zealous converts4 ,let it be repeated that apostasy from the ,church is insignificant as compared with the apostasy of the church as an institution4 ,persecution as a cause of apostasy has operated indirectly but none the less effectively upon the ,church of ,christ4--7,see ,notes #a and #b1 end of chapter47 #e4 ,we have considered briefly the testimony of early church historians showing that schisms1 contention1 and perversion of doctrine invaded the ,church immediately after the passing of the apostles2 we have seen how wolves had awaited the departure of the shepherds that they might the more effectively worry the flock4 ,it cannot be denied that the early persecutions were directed most particularly against the leaders of the people2 the sharpest shafts were aimed against the officers of the ,church4 ,in the fierce battle between ,christianity and its allied foes--,judaism and heathendom--the strong men who stood for ,christ were the first to fall4 ,and with their fall1 the traitors within the ,church1 the ungodly and the rebellious1 those who had crept in unawares1 and whose sinister purpose it was to pervert the gospel of ,christ1 were relieved of restraint1 and found themselves free to propagate their heresies and to undermine the foundations of the ,church4 ,persecution1 operating from without1 and therefore essentially an external cause1 served to set in motion the enginery of disruption within the ,church1 and therefore must be treated as an effective element contributing to the great apostasy4 #f4 ,a further purpose in introducing here a brief summary of the persecutions of which the early ,church was the victim1 is that of affording a basis of ready comparison between such and the persecutions waged by the apostate church itself in later centuries4 ,we shall find that the sufferings of the ,church in the days of its integrity1 are surpassed by the cruel inflictions perpetrated in the name of ,christ4 ,moreover1 a study of the early persecutions will enable us to contrast the conditions of opposition and poverty with those of ease and affluence as affecting the integrity of the ,church and the devotion of its adherents4 #g4 ,the persecution to which the ,primitive ,church was subjected was two-fold2 viz41 ,judaistic and pagan4 ,it must be remembered that the ,jews were distinguished from all other nations of antiquity by their belief in the existence of a living ,god4 ,the rest of the world before and at the time of ,christ was idolatrous and pagan1 professedly believing in a host of deities1 yet with no recognition of a ,supreme ,being as a living personage4 ,the ,jews were bitter in their opposition to ,christianity1 which they regarded as a rival religion to their own2 and moreover1 they recognized the fact that if ,christianity ever came to be generally accepted as the truth1 their nation would stand convicted of having put to death the ,messiah4 9999,judaistic ,persecution99994 7,see ,note #c1 end of ,chapter47 #h4 ,opposition to ,christianity on the part of those who belonged to the ,house of ,israel was rather ,judaistic than ,jewish4 ,the conflict was between systems1 not between peoples or nations4 ,christ was a ,jew3 ,his apostles were ,jews1 and the disciples who constituted the body of the ,church at its establishment and throughout the early years of its existence were largely ,jews4 ,our ,lord's instructions to the chosen twelve on their first missionary tour restricted their ministry to the ,house of ,israel2--7,see ,matt4 #aj3e1 #f47 and when the time was propitious for extending the privileges of the gospel to the ,gentiles1 a miraculous manifestation was necessary to convince the apostles that such extension was proper4--7,see ,acts1 chapters #aj and #aa47 ,the ,church was at first exclusively and for a long time pre-eminently ,jewish in membership4 ,judaism1 the religious system founded on the law of ,moses1 was the great enemy of ,christianity4 ,when therefore we read of the ,jews opposing the ,church1 we understand that ,judaistic ,jews are meant--defenders of ,judaism as a system1 upholders of the law and enemies of the gospel4 ,with this explanation of the distinction between the ,jews as a people and ,judaism as a system1 we may employ the terms ,jews and ,jewish according to common usage1 keeping in mind1 however1 the true signification of the terms4 #i4 ,judaistic opposition to the ,church was predicted4 ,while ,jesus ministered in the flesh ,he specifically and repeatedly warned the apostles of the persecution they would have to meet4 ,in answering certain inquiries ,christ said to ,peter and others3 ,but take heed to yourselves3 for they shall deliver you up to councils1 and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten3 and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake1 for a testimony against them4--7,mark #ac3i2 compare ,matt4 #aj3af-ah2 #bd3i-ac2 ,luke #ba3ab47 #aj4 ,shortly before ,his betrayal the ,lord repeated the warning with solemn impressiveness1 citing the persecutions to which ,he had been subject1 and declaring that ,his disciples could not escape3 ,if the world hate you1 ye know that it hated me before it hated you4 ,if ye were of the world1 the world would love his own2 but because ye are not of the world1 but ,i have chosen you out of the world1 therefore the world hateth you4 ,remember the word that ,i said unto you1 ,the servant is not greater than his lord4 ,if they have persecuted me1 they will also persecute you4--7,john #ae3ah-bj47 #aa4 ,the extreme of depravity to which the bigoted persecutors would sink is set forth in these further words of the ,savior3 ,they shall put you out of the synagogues3 yea1 the time cometh1 that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth ,god service4 ,and these things will they do unto you1 because they have not known the ,father1 nor me4--7,john #af3b1 #c2 compare #i3bb1 and #ab3db47 #ab4 ,these predictions had speedy and literal fulfilment4 ,from the time of the crucifixion1 ,jewish malignity and hatred were directed against all who professed a belief in the divinity of ,jesus ,christ4 ,in the early stages of their ministry several of the apostles were imprisoned--7,acts #e3ah2 compare #d3c47 and the priestly leaders sought to take their lives4--7,acts #e3cc47 ,stephen was stoned to death because of his testimony2--7,see ,acts #f3h-ae2 #g3ed-fj47 and the persecution against the ,church became general4--7,see ,acts #h3a47 ,james1 the son of ,zebedee1 was slain by order of ,herod1--7,acts #ab3a1 #b47 and ,peter was saved from a similar fate only by a miraculous intervention4--7,verses #c3aj47 ,the scriptural record informs us as to the ultimate fate of but few of the apostles2 and secular history is likewise incomplete4 ,that ,peter would be numbered with the martyrs was made known by the resurrected ,lord4--7,see ,john #ba3ah1 #ai47 ,paul sets forth the fact that the apostles lived in the very shadow of death--7,i ,cor4 #d3i47 and that persecution was their heritage4--7,verses #aa-ac2 see also ,,ii ,cor4 #d3h1 #i2 #f3d1 #e47 #ac4 ,not only did the ,jews wage relentless persecution against those of their number who professed ,christ1 but they sought to stir up opposition on the part of the ,romans1 and to accomplish this end charged that the ,christians were plotting treason against the ,roman government4 ,even during the personal ministry of the early apostles1 persecution of the saints had spread from ,jerusalem1 throughout ,palestine and into the adjacent provinces4 ,in this evil work the ,jews sought to incite their own people living in the outlying parts1 and also to arouse the opposition of the officers and rulers of the ,roman dominions4 ,as evidence of this phase of the persecution1 partly ,jewish and partly pagan1 instigated by ,jews and participated in by others1 the following quotation from ,mosheim may suffice3 #ad4 ,the ,jews who lived out of ,palestine1 in the ,roman provinces1 did not yield to those of ,jerusalem in point of cruelty to the innocent disciples of ,christ4 ,we learn from the history of the ,acts of the ,apostles1 and other records of unquestionable authority1 that they spared no labor1 but zealously seized every occasion of animating the magistrates against the ,christians1 and setting on the multitude to demand their destruction4 ,the high priest of the nation and the ,jews who dwelt in ,palestine were instrumental in inciting the rage of these foreign ,jews against the infant ,church1 by sending messengers to exhort them1 not only to avoid all intercourse with the ,christians1 but also to persecute them in the most vehement manner4 ,for this inhuman order they endeavored to find out the most plausible pretexts2 and therefore1 they gave out that the ,christians were enemies to the ,roman emperor1 since they acknowledged the authority of a certain person whose name was ,jesus1 whom ,pilate had punished capitally as a malefactor by a most righteous sentence1 and on whom1 nevertheless1 they conferred the royal dignity4--7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,i1 ,part ,i1 #e3b47 #ae4 ,in the latter half of the first century1 the scene of ,judaistic persecution of the church had shifted from ,jerusalem to the outlying provinces2 and the cause of this was the general exodus of ,christians from the city whose destruction had been decreed4--7,see ,note #d1 end of chapter47 ,our ,lord's predictions as to the fate of ,jerusalem and ,his warnings to the people--7,see ,luke #ba3e-i1 #bj-bd47 had been very generally heeded4 ,eusebius--7,eusebius1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,book ,,iii1 ch4 #e47 informs us that the body of the ,church had moved from ,jerusalem into the provinces beyond the ,jordan1 and thus largely escaped the calamities of the ,jews who remained4 ,,notes #a4 ,persecution in ,different ,dispensations4 ,it may be argued that1 judging from the history of the re-established ,church in the present dispensation1 may tend to strengthen rather than to weaken the ,church1 and that therefore violent opposition in earlier times cannot be considered a true cause leading to final disruption4 ,in reply it may be said that the present is the dispensation of the fulness of times1--a period in which the ,church shall triumph1 and during which the powers of evil are limited and restrained in their opposition2 whereas the period of the apostasy was one of temporary victory for ,satan4 ,our belief in the eventual triumph of good over evil must not blind us to the fact that evil is frequently allowed a short-lived success1 and a seeming victory4 ,the permanency of the ,latter-day ,church has been not less surely predicted than was the temporary duration of the ,primitive ,church4 ,satan was given power to overcome the saints in former days1 and the persecutions he waged against them and the officers of the ,church contributed to his passing success4 ,it has been decreed that he shall not have power to destroy the ,church in the last dispensation1 and his persecution of the saints today will be futile as a means of bringing about a general apostasy in these latter times4 #b4 ,persecution as a ,possible ,cause of ,apostasy4 ,let it not be a matter of surprise that ,i class those persecutions as among the means through which the church was destroyed4 ,the force of heathen rage was aimed at the leaders and strong men of the body religious2 and being long-continued and relentlessly cruel1 those most steadfast in their adherence to the ,church invariably became its victims4 ,these being stricken down1 it left none but weaklings to contend for the faith1 and made possible those subsequent innovations in the religion of ,jesus which a pagan public sentiment demanded1 and which so completely changed both the spirit and form of the ,christian religion as to subvert it utterly4 ,let me further ask that no one be surprised that violence is permitted to operate in such a case4 ,the idea that the right is always victorious in this world1 that truth is always triumphant and innocence always divinely protected1 are old1 fond fables with which well-meaning men have amused credulous multitudes2 but the stern facts of history and actual experience in life correct the pleasing delusion4 ,do not misunderstand me4 ,i believe in the ultimate victory of the right1 the ultimate triumph of truth1 the final immunity of innocence from violence4 ,these--innocence1 truth and the right--will be at the last more than conquerors2 they will be successful in the war1 but that does not prevent them from losing some battles4 ,it should be remembered always that ,god has given to man his agency2 and that fact implies that one man is as free to act wickedly as another is to do righteousness4 ,cain was as free to murder his brother as that brother was to worship ,god2 and so the pagans and ,jews were as free to persecute and murder the ,christians as the ,christians were to live virtuously and worship ,christ as ,god4 ,the agency of man would not be worth the name if it did not grant liberty to the wicked to fill the cup of their iniquity1 as well as liberty to the virtuous to round out the measure of their righteousness4 ,such perfect liberty or agency ,god has given man2 and it is only so variously modified as not so thwart ,his general purposes4 7,b4 ,h4 ,roberts1 ,a ,new ,witness for ,god1 pp4 #dg1 #dh47 #c4 ,early ,persecutions by the ,jews4 ,the innocence and virtue that distinguished so eminently the lives of ,christ's servants the apostles1 the purity of the doctrine they taught1 were not sufficient to defend them against the virulence and malignity of the ,jews4 ,the priests and rulers of that abandoned people not only loaded with injuries and reproach the apostles of ,jesus and their disciples1 but condemned as many of them as they could to death1 and executed in the most irregular and barbarous manner their decrees4 ,the murder of ,stephen1 of ,james the son of ,zebedee1 and of ,james surnamed the ,just1 bishop of ,jerusalem1 furnished dreadful examples of the truth of what we here advance4 ,this odious malignity of the ,jewish doctors against the heralds of the gospel1 was undoubtedly owing to a secret apprehension that the progress of ,christianity would destroy the credit of ,judaism1 and bring on the ruin of their pompous ceremonies4 ,in a footnote to the foregoing1 references appear as follows4 ,the martyrdom of ,stephen is recorded in the ,acts of the ,apostles #g3ee2 and that of ,james the son of ,zebedee1 ,acts #ab3a1 #b1 and that of ,james the ,just1 bishop of ,jerusalem1 is mentioned by ,josephus in his ,jewish ,antiquities1 book ,,xx1 chap4 #h2 and by ,eusebius in his ,ecclesiastical ,history1 book ,,ii1 chap4 #bc4--7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,i1 ,part ,i1 #e3a47 #d4 ,destruction of ,jerusalem by the ,romans4 ,a rebellious disturbance among the ,jews gave a semblance of excuse for a terrible chastisement to be visited upon them by their ,roman masters1 which culminated in the destruction of ,jerusalem1 ,a4 ,d4 #ga4 ,the city fell after a six months' siege before the ,roman arms led by ,titus1 son of the ,emperor ,vespasian4 ,josephus1 the famous historian1 to whom we owe most of our knowledge as to the details of the struggle1 was himself a resident in ,galilee and was carried to ,rome among the captives4 ,from his record we learn that nearly a million ,jews lost their lives through the famine incident to the siege2 many more were sold into slavery1 and uncounted numbers were forced into exile4 ,the city was utterly destroyed1 and the site upon which the temple had stood was plowed up by the ,romans in their search for treasure4 ,thus literally were the words of ,christ fulfilled1 ,there shall not be left here one stone upon another1 that shall not be thrown down4--7,matt4 #bd3a1 #b2 see also ,luke #ai3dd47 7,the ,author1 ,the ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #ag3ah47 ,,chapter ,v4 9999,causes of ,apostasy4--,external ,causes1 ,continued99994 #a4 ,as already pointed out1 it is convenient to study the causes leading to the great apostasy as belonging to two classes1 external and internal1 or 7#a7 causes due to conditions operating against the ,church from without2 and 7#b7 causes arising from dissension and heresy within the ,church itself4 ,we have summarized external causes under the general term persecution2 and we have drawn a distinction between ,judaistic and pagan persecution waged against the ,church4 ,having dealt with the opposition suffered by the early ,christians at the hands of the ,jews or through ,jewish instigation1 we have now to consider the persecution brought upon the believers in ,christ by pagan nations4 9999,pagan ,persecution99994 #b4 ,the term pagan as here used may be taken as a synonym of heathen1 and is to be understood as referring to persons or peoples who did not believe in the existence of the living ,god1 and whose worship was essentially idolatrous4 ,the motives impelling non-believing ,jews to oppose the establishment and spread of ,christianity may readily be understood1 in view of the fact that the religion taught by ,christ appeared as a rival of ,judaism1 and that the growth and spread of one meant the decline if not the extinction of the other4 ,the immediate motive leading to bitter and widespread persecution of the ,christians by heathen peoples is not so easy to perceive1 since there was no uniform system of idolatrous worship in any single nation1 but a vast diversity of deities and cults of idolatry1 to no one of which was ,christianity opposed more than to all4 ,yet we find the worshipers of idols forgetting their own differences and uniting in opposition to the gospel of peace1--in persecution waged with incredible ferocity and indescribable cruelty4--7,see ,note #a1 end of chapter47 #c4 ,unfortunately1 historians differ widely in their records of persecution of ,christians1 according to the point of view from which each writer wrote4 ,thus1 in a general way1 ,christian authors have given extreme accounts of the sufferings to which the ,church and its adherents individually were subjected2 while non-,christian historians have sought to lessen and minimize the extent and severity of the cruelties practiced against the ,christians4 ,there are facts1 however1 which neither party denies1 and to which both give place in their separate records4 ,to make a fair interpretation of these facts1 drawing just and true inferences therefrom1 should be our purpose4 #d4 ,among pagan persecutors of the ,church1 the ,roman empire is the principal aggressor4 ,this may appear strange in view of the general tolerance exercised by ,rome toward her tributary peoples2 indeed1 the real cause of ,roman opposition to ,christianity has given rise to many conjectures4 ,it is probable that intolerant zeal on the part of the ,christians themselves had much to do with their unpopularity among heathen nations4 ,this subject is conservatively summed up by ,mosheim as follows3 #e4 ,a very natural curiosity calls us to inquire1 how it happened that the ,romans1 who were troublesome to no nation on account of their religion1 and who suffered even the ,jews to live under their own laws1 and follow their own methods of worship1 treated the ,christians alone with such severity4 ,this important question seems still more difficult to be solved1 when we consider1 that the excellent nature of the ,christian religion1 and its admirable tendency to promote both the public welfare of the state1 and the private felicity of the individual1 entitled it1 in a singular manner1 to the favor and protection of the reigning powers4 ,one of the principal reasons of the severity with which the ,romans persecuted the ,christians1 notwithstanding these considerations1 seems to have been the abhorrence and contempt with which the latter regarded the religion of the empire1 which was so intimately connected with the form1 and indeed1 with the very essence of its political constitution4 ,for1 though the ,romans gave an unlimited toleration to all religions which had nothing in their tenets dangerous to the commonwealth1 yet they would not permit that of their ancestors1 which was established by the laws of the state1 to be turned into derision nor the people to be drawn away from their attachment to it4 ,these1 however1 were the two things which the ,christians were charged with1 and that justly1 though to their honor4 ,they dared to ridicule the absurdities of the pagan superstition1 and they were ardent and assiduous in gaining proselytes to the truth4 ,nor did they only attack the religion of ,rome1 but also all the different shapes and forms under which superstition appeared in the various countries where they exercised their ministry4 ,from this the ,romans concluded1 that the ,christian sect was not only insupportably daring and arrogant1 but1 moreover1 an enemy to the public tranquillity1 and every way proper to excite civil wars and commotions in the empire4 ,it is probably on this account that ,tacitus reproaches them with the odious character of haters of mankind1 and styles the religion of ,jesus as destructive superstition2 and that ,suetonious speaks of the ,christians and their doctrine in terms of the same kind4 #f4 ,another circumstance that irritated the ,romans against the ,christians1 was the simplicity of their worship1 which resembled in nothing the sacred rites of any other people4 ,the ,christians had neither sacrifices1 nor temples1 nor images1 nor oracles1 nor sacerdotal orders2 and this was sufficient to bring upon them the reproaches of an ignorant multitude1 who imagined that there could be no religion without these4--7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 #a1 ,part #a1 ch4 #e3f1 #g47 #g4 ,persecution of the ,church by ,roman authority may be said to have begun in the reign of ,nero 7,a4 ,d4 #fd7 and to have continued to the close of ,diocletian's reign 7,a4 ,d4 #cje47 ,within this range of time there were many periods of diminished severity1 if not of comparative tranquillity2 nevertheless1 the ,church was the object of heathen oppression for about two and a half centuries4 ,attempts have been made by ,christian writers to segregate the persecutions into ten distinct and separate onslaughts2 and some profess to find a mystic relation between the ten persecutions thus classified1 and the ten plagues of ,egypt1 as also an analogy with the ten horns mentioned by ,john the ,revelator4--7,see ,rev4 #ag3ad47 ,as a matter of fact attested by history1 the number of persecutions of unusual severity was less than ten2 while the total of all1 including local and restricted assaults1 would be much greater4--7,see ,note #b1 end of chapter47 #h4 ,persecution under ,nero4 ,the first extended and notable persecution of ,christians under the official edict of a ,roman emperor was that instigated by ,nero1 ,a4 ,d4 #fd4 ,as students of history know1 this monarch is remembered mostly for his crimes4 ,during the latter part of his infamous reign1 a large section of the city of ,rome was destroyed by fire4 ,he was suspected by some of being responsible for the disaster2 and1 fearing the resentment of the infuriated people1 he sought to implicate the unpopular and much-maligned ,christians as the incendiaries1 and by torture tried to force a confession from them4 ,as to what followed the foul accusation1 let us consider the words of a non-,christian writer1 ,tacitus1 whose integrity as a historian is held in esteem4 #i4 ,with this view1 he 7,nero7 inflicted the most exquisite tortures on those men who1 under the vulgar appellation of ,christians1 were already branded with deserved infamy4 ,they derived their name and origin from ,christ1 who1 in the reign of ,tiberius had suffered death by the sentence of the procurator ,pontius ,pilate4 ,for a while this dire superstition was checked but it again burst forth2 and not only spread itself over ,judea1 the first seat of this mischievous sect1 but was even introduced into ,rome1 the common asylum which receives and protects whatever is impure1 whatever is atrocious4 ,the confessions of those that were seized discovered a great multitude of their accomplices1 and they were all convicted1 not so much for the crime of setting fire to the city1 as for their hatred of human kind4 ,they died in torments1 and their torments were embittered by insults and derision4 ,some were nailed on crosses2 others sewn up in the skins of wild beasts and exposed to the fury of dogs2 others1 again1 smeared over with combustible materials1 were used as torches to illuminate the darkness of the night4 ,the gardens of ,nero were destined for the melancholy spectacle1 which was accompanied with a horse-race1 and honored with the presence of the emperor1 who mingled with the populace in the dress and attitude of a charioteer4 ,the guilt of the ,christians deserved indeed the most exemplary punishments1 but the public abhorrence was changed into commiseration1 from the opinion that those unhappy wretches were sacrificed1 not so much to the public welfare as to the cruelty of a jealous tyrant4--7,tacitus1 ,annals1 ,book #ae1 ch4 #dd47 #aj4 ,there is some disagreement among historians as to whether the ,neronian persecution is to be regarded as a local infliction1 practically confined to the city of ,rome1 or as general throughout the provinces4--7,see ,note #c1 end of chapter47 ,the consensus of opinion favors the belief that the provinces followed the example of the metropolis1 and that the persecution was common throughout the ,church4 #aa4 ,this1 the first persecution by ,roman edict1 practically ended with the death of the tyrant ,nero1 ,a4 ,d4 #fh4 ,according to tradition handed down from the early ,christian writers1 the ,apostles ,paul and ,peter suffered martyrdom at ,rome1 the former by beheading1 the latter by crucifixion1 during this persecution2 and it is further stated that ,peter's wife was put to death shortly before her husband2 but the tradition is neither confirmed nor disproved by authentic record4 #ab4 ,persecution under ,domitian4 ,the second officially appointed persecution under ,roman authority began #ic or #id ,a4 ,d4 in the reign of ,domitian4 ,both ,christians and ,jews came under this prince's displeasure1 because they refused to reverence the statues he had erected as objects of adoration4 ,a further cause for his special animosity against ,christians1 as affirmed by early writers1 is as follows4 ,the emperor was persuaded that he was in danger of losing his throne1 in view of a reputed prediction that from the family to which ,jesus belonged there would arise one who would weaken if not overthrow the power of ,rome4 ,with this as his ostensible excuse1 this wicked ruler waged terrible destruction on an innocent people4 ,happily1 the persecution thus started was of but few years duration4 ,mosheim and others aver that the end of the persecution was caused by the emperor's untimely death2 though ,eusebius1 who wrote in the fourth century1 quotes an earlier writer as declaring that ,domitian had the living descendants of the ,savior's family brought before him1 and that after questioning them he became convinced that he was in no danger from them2 and thereupon dismissed them with contempt and ordered the persecution to cease4 ,it is believed that while the edict of ,domitian was in force the ,apostle ,john suffered banishment to the isle of ,patmos4 #ac4 ,persecution under ,trajan4 ,what is known in ecclesiastical history as the third persecution of the ,christian ,church took place in the reign of ,trajan1 who occupied the imperial throne from #ih to #aag ,a4 ,d4 ,he was and is regarded as one of the best of the ,roman emperors1 yet he sanctioned violent persecution of the ,christians owing to their inflexible obstinacy in refusing to sacrifice to ,roman gods4 ,history has preserved to us a very important letter asking instructions from the emperor1 by the younger ,pliny1 who was governor of ,pontus1 and the emperor's reply thereto4 ,this correspondence is instructive as showing the extent to which ,christianity had spread at that time1 and the way in which believers were treated by the officers of the state4 #ad4 ,pliny inquired of the emperor as to the policy to be pursued in dealing with the ,christians within his jurisdiction4 ,were young and old1 tender and robust1 to be treated alike1 or should punishment be graded8 ,should opportunity be given the accused to recant1 or was the fact that they had once professed ,christianity to be considered an unpardonable offense8 ,were those convicted as ,christians to be punished for their religion alone1 or only for specific offenses resulting from their membership in the ,christian ,church8 ,after propounding such queries the governor proceeded to report to the emperor what he had done in the absence of definite instructions4 ,in reply the emperor directed that the ,christians were not to be hunted nor sought after vindictively1 but if accused and brought before the judgment seat1 and if then they refused to denounce their faith1 they were to be put to death4--7,see ,note #d1 end of chapter47 #ae4 ,persecution under ,marcus ,aurelius4 ,marcus ,aurelius reigned from #afa to #ahj ,a4 ,d4 ,he was noted as one who sought the greatest good of his people2 yet under his government the ,christians suffered added cruelties4 ,persecution was most severe in ,gaul 7now ,france47 ,among those who met the martyr's fate at that time1 were ,polycarp1 bishop of ,smyrna1 and ,justin ,martyr1 known in history as the philosopher4 ,with reference to the seeming anomaly that even the best of rulers permitted and even prosecuted vigorous opposition to ,christian devotees1 as exemplified by the acts of this emperor1 a modern writer has said3 ,it should be noted that the persecution of the ,christians under the pagan emperors sprung from political rather than religious motives1 and that is why we find the names of the best emperors1 as well as those of the worst1 in the list of persecutors4 ,it was believed that the welfare of the state was bound up with the careful performance of the rites of the national worship2 and hence1 while the ,roman rulers were usually very tolerant allowing all forms of worship among their subjects1 still they required that men of every faith should at least recognize the ,roman gods1 and burn incense before their statues4 ,this the ,christians steadily refused to do4 ,their neglect of the service of the temple1 it was believed1 angered the gods1 and endangered the safety of the state1 bringing upon it drought1 pestilence1 and every disaster4 ,this was the main reason of their persecution by the pagan emperors4--7,general ,history by ,p4 ,v4 ,n4 ,myers1 edition of #ahhi1 p4 #cbb47 #af4 ,later ,persecutions4 ,with occasional periods of partial cessation1 the ,christian believers continued to suffer at the hands of heathen opponents throughout the second and third centuries4 ,a violent persecution marked the reign of ,severus 7#aic-baa ,a4 ,d47 in the first decade of the third century2 another characterized the reign of ,maximin 7#bce-bch ,a4 ,d47 ,a period of unusual severity in persecution and suffering befell the ,christians during the short reign of ,decius known also as ,decius ,trajan 7#bai-bea ,a4 ,d47 ,the persecution under ,decius is designated in ecclesiastical history as the seventh persecution of the ,christian ,church4 ,others followed in rapid succession4 ,some of these periods of specific oppression we pass over and come to the consideration of the #ag4 ,diocletian ,persecution1 which is spoken of as the tenth1 and happily the last4 ,diocletian reigned from #bhd to #cje ,a4 ,d4 ,at first he was very tolerant toward ,christian belief and practice2 indeed it is of record that his wife and daughter were ,christians1 though in some sense1 secretly4 ,later1 however1 he turned against the ,church and undertook to bring about a total suppression of the ,christian religion4 ,to this end he ordered a general destruction of ,christian books1 and decreed the penalty of death against all who kept such works in their possession4 #ah4 ,fire broke out twice in the royal palace at ,nicomedia1 and on each occasion the incendiary act was charged against the ,christians with terrible results4 ,four separate edicts1 each surpassing in vehemence the earlier decrees1 were issued against the believers2 and for a period of ten years they were the victims of unrestrained rapine1 spoliation and torture4 ,at the end of the decade of terror the ,church was in a scattered and seemingly in a hopeless condition4 ,sacred records had been burnt2 places of worship had been razed to the ground2 thousands of ,christians had been put to death2 and every possible effort had been made to destroy the ,church and abolish ,christianity from the earth4 ,descriptions of the horrible extremes to which brutality was carried are sickening to the soul4 ,a single example must suffice4 ,eusebius1 referring to the persecutions in ,egypt1 says3 ,and such too was the severity of the struggle which was endured by the ,egyptians1 who wrestled gloriously for the faith at ,tyre4 ,thousands1 both men1 and women and children1 despising the present life for the sake of our ,savior's doctrine1 submitted to death in various shapes4 ,some1 after being tortured with scrappings and the rack1 and the most dreadful scourgings1 and other innumerable agonies which one might shudder to hear1 were finally committed to the flames2 and some plunged and drowned in the sea1 others voluntarily offering their own heads to their executioners1 others dying in the midst of their torments1 some wasted away by famine1 and others again fixed to the cross4 ,some1 indeed1 were executed as malefactors usually were2 others1 more cruelly1 were nailed with the head downwards1 and kept alive until they were destroyed by starving on the cross itself4--7,eusebius1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,book #h1 ch4 #h47 #ai4 ,a modern writer1 whose tendency ever was to minimize the extent of ,christian persecution1 is ,edward ,gibbon4 ,his account of the conditions prevailing during this period of ,diocletian outrage is as follows3 ,the magistrates were commanded to employ every method of severity which might reclaim them from their odious superstition1 and oblige them to return to the established worship of the gods4 ,this rigorous order was extended1 by a subsequent edict1 to the whole body of ,christians1 who were exposed to a violent and general persecution4 ,instead of those salutary restraints which had required the direct and solemn testimony of an accuser1 it became the duty as well as the interest of the imperial officers to discover1 to pursue1 and to torment the most obnoxious among the faithful4 ,heavy penalties were denounced against all who should presume to save a proscribed sectary from the just indignation of the gods and of the emperors4--7,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 ch4 ,,xvi47 #bj4 ,so general was the ,diocletian persecution1 and so destructive its effect1 that at its cessation the ,christian ,church was thought to be forever extinct4 ,monuments were raised to commemorate the emperor's zeal as a persecutor1 notably two pillars erected in ,spain4 ,on one of them is an inscription extolling the mighty ,diocletian ,for having extinguished the name of ,christians who brought the ,republic to ruin4 ,a second pillar commemorates the reign of ,diocletian1 and honors the imperator for having everywhere abolished the superstition of ,christ2 for having extended the worship of the gods4 ,a medal struck in honor of ,diocletian bears the inscription ,the name of ,christian being extinguished4--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,iv1 ch4 #a3ch47 ,to the fallacy of these assumptions subsequent events testify4 #ba4 ,the ,diocletian oppression was the last of the great persecutions brought by pagan ,rome against ,christianity as a whole4 ,a stupendous change1 amounting to a revolution1 now appears in the affairs of the ,church4 ,constantine1 known in history as ,constantine the ,great1 became emperor of ,rome ,a4 ,d4 #cjf1 and reigned #ca years4 ,early in his reign he espoused the hitherto unpopular cause of the ,christians1 and took the ,church under official protection4 ,a legend gained currency that the emperor's conversion was due to a supernatural manifestation1 whereby he saw a luminous cross appear in the heavens with the inscription1 ,by this sign1 conquer4 ,the genuineness of this alleged manifestation is doubtful1 and the evidence of history is against it4 ,the incident is here mentioned to show the means devised to make ,christianity popular at the time4 #bb4 ,it is held by many judicious historians that ,constantine's so-called conversion was rather a matter of policy than a sincere acceptance of the truth of ,christianity4 ,the emperor himself remained a catechumen1 that is1 an unbaptized believer1 until shortly before his death1 when he became a member by baptism4 ,but1 whatever his motives may have been1 he made ,christianity the religion of state1 issuing an official decree to this effect in #cac4 ,he made the cross the royal standard2 and the ,roman legions now for the first time marched beneath the emblem of ,christianity4 7,myers47 #bc4 ,immediately following the change there was a great competition for church preferment4 ,the office of a bishop came to be more highly esteemed than the rank of a general4 ,the emperor himself was the real head of the ,church4 ,it became unpopular and decidedly disadvantageous in a material sense to be known as a non-,christian4 ,pagan temples were transformed into churches1 and heathen idols were demolished4 ,we read that twelve thousand men and a proportionate number of women and children were baptized into the ,church of ,rome alone within a single year4 ,constantine removed the capital of the empire from ,rome to ,byzantium1 which city he re-named after himself1 ,constantinople4 ,this1 the present capital of ,turkey1 became headquarters of the state ,church4 #bd4 ,how empty and vain appears the ,diocletian boast that ,christianity was forever extinguished6 ,yet how different was the ,church under the patronage of ,constantine from the ,church as established by ,christ and as built up by ,his apostles6 ,the ,church had already become apostate as judged by the standard of its original constitution4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,cause of ,pagan ,opposition to ,christianity4 ,the whole body of ,christians unanimously refused to hold any communion with the gods of ,rome1 of the empire1 and of mankind4 ,it was in vain that the oppressed believer asserted the inalienable rights of conscience and private judgment4 ,though his situation might excite the pity1 his arguments could never reach the understanding1 either of the philosophic or of the believing part of the pagan world4 ,to their apprehensions1 it was no less a matter of surprise that any individuals should entertain scruples against complying with the established mode of worship1 than if they had conceived a sudden abhorrence to the manners1 the dress1 or the language of their native country4 ,the surprise of the pagans was soon succeeded by resentment2 and the most pious of men were exposed to the unjust but dangerous imputation of impiety4 ,malice and prejudice concurred in representing the ,christians as a society of atheists1 who1 by the most daring attack on the religious constitution of the empire1 had merited the severest animadversion of the civil magistrate4 ,they had separated themselves 7they gloried in the confession7 from every mode of superstition which was received in any part of the globe by the various temper of polytheism2 but it was not altogether so evident what deity or what form of worship they had substituted to the gods and temples of antiquity4 ,the pure and sublime idea which they entertained of the ,supreme ,being escaped the gross conception of the pagan multitude1 who were at a loss to discover a spiritual and solitary ,god1 that was neither represented under any corporeal figures or visible symbol1 nor was adored with the accustomed pomp of libations and festivals1 of altars and sacrifices4 7,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 chap4 ,,xvi47 #b4 ,as to the ,number of ,persecutions by the ,romans4 ,the ,romans are said to have pursued the ,christians with the utmost violence in ten persecutions1 but this number is not verified by the ancient history of the church4 ,for if1 by these persecutions1 such only are meant as were singularly severe and universal throughout the empire1 then it is certain that these amount not to the number above mentioned4 ,and1 if we take the provincial and less remarkable persecutions into the account1 they far exceed it4 ,in the fifth century1 certain ,christians 7were7 led by some passages of the holy scriptures and by one especially in the ,revelations 7,rev4 #ag3ad71 to imagine that the church was to suffer ten calamities of a most grievous nature4 ,to this notion1 therefore1 they endeavored1 though not all in the same way1 to accommodate the language of history1 even against the testimony of those ancient records1 from whence alone history can speak with authority4 7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,i1 ,part ,i2 ch4 #e3d47 ,speaking on the same subject1 ,gibbon says3 ,as often as any occasional severities were exercised in the different parts of the empire1 the primitive ,christians lamented and perhaps magnified their own sufferings2 but the celebrated number of ten persecutions has been determined by the ecclesiastical writers of the fifth century1 who possessed a more distinct view of the prosperous or adverse fortunes of the church from the age of ,nero to that of ,diocletian4 ,the ingenious parallels of the ten plagues of ,egypt and of the ten horns of the ,apocalypse first suggested this calculation of their minds2 and in their application of the faith of prophecy to the truth of history they were careful to select those reigns which were indeed the most hostile to the ,christian cause4 7,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 ch4 ,,xvi47 #c4 ,extent of the ,neronian ,persecution4 ,learned men are not entirely agreed concerning the extent of this persecution under ,nero4 ,some confine it to the city of ,rome1 while others represent it as having raged throughout the whole empire4 ,the latter opinion1 which is also the most ancient1 is undoubtedly to be preferred2 as it is certain that the laws enacted against the ,christians were enacted against the whole body1 and not against particular churches1 and were consequently in force in the remotest provinces4 7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,i4 ,part ,i1 #e3ad47 #d4 ,correspondence ,between ,pliny and ,trajan4 ,the inquiry of the younger ,pliny1 governor of ,pontus1 addressed to ,trajan1 emperor of ,rome1 and the imperial reply thereto1 are of such interest as to be worthy of reproduction in full4 ,the version here given is that of ,milner as appears in his ,history of the ,church of ,christ1 edition of #ahaj1 ,cent4 ,,ii1 ch4 #a4 ,pliny to ,trajan1 ,emperor3 ,health4--,it is my usual custom1 ,sir1 to refer all things1 of which ,i harbor any doubts1 to you4 ,for who can better direct my judgment in its hesitation1 or instruct my understanding in its ignorance8 ,i never had the fortune to be present at any examination of ,christians1 before ,i came into this province4 ,i am therefore at a loss to determine what is the usual object either of inquiry or of punishment1 and to what length either of them is to be carried4 ,it has also been with me a question very problematical1--whether any distinction should be made between the young and the old1 the tender and the robust2--whether any room should be given for repentance1 or the guilt of ,christianity once incurred is not to be expiated by the most unequivocal retraction2-- whether the name itself1 abstracted from any flagitiousness of conduct1 or the crimes connected with the name1 be the object of punishment4 ,in the meantime1 this has been my method1 with respect to those who were brought before me as ,christians4 ,i asked them whether they were ,christians3 if they pleaded guilty1 ,i interrogated then twice afresh with a menace of capital punishment4 ,in case of obstinate perseverance ,i ordered them to be executed4 ,for of this ,i had no doubt1 whatever was the nature of their religion1 that a sudden and obstinate inflexibility called for the vengeance of the magistrate4 ,some were infected with the same madness1 whom1 on account of their privilege of citizenship1 ,i reserved to be sent to ,rome1 to be referred to your tribunal4 ,in the course of this business1 informations pouring in1 as is usual when they are encouraged1 more cases occurred4 ,an anonymous libel was exhibited1 with a catalogue of names of persons1 who yet declared that they were not ,christians then1 nor ever had been2 and they repeated after me an invocation of the gods and of your image1 which1 for this purpose1 ,i had ordered to be brought with the images of the deities4 ,they performed sacred rites with wine and frankincense1 and execrated ,christ1--none of which things ,i am told a real ,christian can ever be compelled to do4 ,on this account ,i dismissed them4 ,others named by an informer1 first affirmed1 and then denied the charge of ,christianity2 declaring that they had been ,christians1 but had ceased to be so some three years ago1 others even longer1 some even twenty years ago4 ,all of them worshiped your image1 and the statues of the gods1 and also execrated ,christ4 ,and this was the account which they gave of the nature of the religion they had once professed1 whether it deserves the name of crime or error1--namely--that they were accustomed on a stated day to meet before daylight1 and to repeat among themselves a hymn to ,christ as to a god1 and to bind themselves by an oath1 with an obligation of not committing any wickedness2--but on the contrary1 of abstaining from thefts1 robberies1 and adulteries2--also of not violating their promise or denying a pledge2--after which it was their custom to separate1 and to meet again at a promiscuous harmless meal1 from which last practice they however desisted1 after the publication of my edict1 in which1 agreeably to your order1 ,i forbade any societies of that sort4 ,on which account ,i judged it the more necessary to inquire1 by torture1 from two females1 who were said to be deaconesses1 what is the real truth4 ,but nothing could ,i collect except a depraved and excessive superstition4 ,deferring1 therefore1 any further investigation1 ,i determined to consult you4 ,for the number of culprits is so great as to call for serious consultation4 ,many persons are informed against of every age and of both sexes2 and more still will be in the same situation4 ,the contagion of the superstition hath spread not only through cities1 but even villages and the country4 ,not that ,i think it impossible to check and correct it4 ,the success of my endeavors hitherto forbids such desponding thoughts2 for the temples1 almost once desolate1 begin to be frequented1 and the sacred solemnities1 which had long been intermitted1 are now attended afresh2 and the sacrificial victims are now sold everywhere1 which once could scarcely find a purchaser4 ,whence ,i conclude that many might be reclaimed were the hope of impunity1 on repentance1 absolutely confirmed4 ,the emperor's reply follows3 ,trajan to ,pliny3 ,you have done perfectly right1 my dear ,pliny1 in the inquiry which you have made concerning ,christians4 ,for truly no one general rule can be laid down1 which will apply itself to all cases4 ,these people must not be sought after4 ,if they are brought before you and convicted1 let them be capitally punished1 yet with this restriction1 that if any one renounce ,christianity1 and evidence his sincerity by supplicating our gods1 however suspected he may be for the past1 he shall obtain pardon for the future1 on his repentance4 ,but anonymous libels in no case ought to be attended to2 for the precedent would be of the worst sort1 and perfectly incongruous to the maxims of my government4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 9999,causes of the ,apostasy4--,internal ,causes99994 #a4 ,the cruel persecution to which the adherents of ,christianity and the ,church as an organized body were subjected during the first three centuries of our era have been treated as external causes1 contributing at least indirectly to the general apostasy4 ,details of ,judaistic and heathen opposition have been given with sufficient fulness to show that the unpopular ,church had a troubled existence1 and that such of its members as remained faithful to the tenets and principles of the gospel were martyrs in spirit if not in fact4 #b4 ,as would naturally be expected1 the immediate effect of persistent persecution on those who professed a belief in the divinity of the ,lord ,jesus was diverse and varied2 indeed it ranged from unrestrained enthusiasm expressed in frenzied clamoring for martyrdom1 to ready and abject apostasy with ostentatious display of devotion in idolatrous service4 #c4 ,many of the ,christian devotees developed a zeal amounting to mania1 and1 disregarding all prudence and discretion1 gloried in the prospect of winning the martyr's crown4 ,some who had been left unassailed felt themselves aggrieved1 and became their own accusers2 while others openly committed acts of aggression with intent to bring resentment upon themselves4--7,see ,note #a1 end of chapter47 ,these extravagances were doubtless encouraged by the excessive veneration accorded the memories and the bodily remains of those who had fallen as victims in the cause4 ,the reverential respect so rendered developed later into the impious practice of martyr worship4 #d4 ,commenting on the imprudent enthusiasm of the early ,christians1 ,gibbon says3 ,the ,christians sometimes supplied by their voluntary declaration the want of an accuser1 rudely disturbed the public service of paganism1 and1 rushing in crowds round the tribunal of the magistrates1 called upon them to pronounce and to inflict the sentence of the law4 ,the behavior of the ,christians was too remarkable to escape the notice of the ancient philosophers2 but they seem to have received it with much less admiration than astonishment4 ,incapable of conceiving the motives which sometimes transported the fortitude of believers beyond the bounds of prudence and reason1 they treated such an eagerness to die as the strange result of obstinate despair1 of stupid insensibility or of superstitious frenzy4--7,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 ch4 ,,xvi47 #e4 ,but there is another side to the picture4 ,while imprudent zealots invited dangers from which they might have remained exempt1 others1 affrighted at the possibility of being included among the victims1 voluntarily deserted the ,church and returned to heathen allegiances4 ,milner1 speaking of conditions existing in the third century1 and incorporating the words of ,cyprian1 bishop of ,carthage1 who lived at the time of the incident described1 says3 ,vast numbers lapsed into idolatry immediately4 ,even before men were accused as ,christians1 many ran to the forum and sacrificed to the gods as they were ordered2 and the crowds of apostates were so great1 that the magistrates wished to delay numbers of them till the next day1 but they were importuned by the wretched suppliants to be allowed to prove themselves heathens that very night4--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,iii1 ch4 #h47 #f4 ,in connection with this individual apostasy of ,church members under the pressure of persecution1 there arose among the provincial governors a practice of selling certificates or libels as these documents were called1 which attested that the persons therein mentioned had complied with the laws and sacrificed to the ,roman deities4 ,by producing these false declarations1 the opulent and timid ,christians were enabled to silence the malice of an informer1 and to reconcile1 in some measure1 their safety with their religion4-- 7,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 ch4 ,,xvi47 ,a modification of this practice of quasi-apostasy consisted in procuring testimonials from persons of standing certifying that the holders had abjured the gospel2 these documents were presented to the heathen magistrates1 and they1 on receipt of a specified fee1 granted exemption from the requirement of sacrificing to the pagan gods4--7,see ,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,iii1 ch4 #i47 ,as a result of these practices1 whereby under favorable circumstances the wealthy could purchase immunity from persecution1 and at the same time maintain a semblance of standing in the ,church1 much dissension arose1 the question being as to whether those who had thus shown their weakness could ever be received again into communion with the ,church4 #g4 ,persecution at most was but an indirect cause of the decline of ,christianity and the perversion of the saving principles of the gospel of ,christ4 ,the greater and more immediate dangers threatening the ,church must be sought within the body itself4 ,indeed1 the pressure of opposition from without served to restrain the bubbling springs of internal dissension1 and actually delayed the more destructive eruptions of schism and heresy4--7,see ,note #b1 end of chapter47 ,a general review of the history of the ,church down to the end of the third century shows that the periods of comparative peace were periods of weakness and decline in spiritual earnestness1 and that with the return of persecution came an awakening and a renewal in ,christian devotion4 ,devout leaders of the people were not backward in declaring that each recurring period of persecution was a time of natural and necessary chastisement for the sin and corruption that had gained headway within the ,church4--7,see ,note #c1 end of chapter47 #h4 ,as to the condition of the ,church in the middle of the third century1 ,cyprian1 the bishop of ,carthage1 thus speaks3 ,if the cause of our miseries be investigated1 the cure of the wound may be found4 ,the ,lord would have his family to be tried4 ,and because long peace had corrupted the discipline divinely revealed to us1 the heavenly chastisement hath raised up our faith1 which had lain almost dormant3 and when1 by our sins1 we have deserved to suffer still more1 the merciful ,lord so moderated all things1 that the whole scene rather deserves the name of a trial than a persecution4 ,each had been bent on improving his patrimony2 and had forgotten what believers had done under the apostles1 and what they ought always to do3--they were brooding over the arts of amassing wealth3--the pastors and the deacons each forgot their duty3 ,works of mercy were neglected1 and discipline was at the lowest ebb4--,luxury and effeminacy prevailed3 ,meretricious arts in dress were cultivated3 ,frauds and deceit were practiced among brethren4--,christians could unite themselves in matrimony with unbelievers2 could swear not only without reverence1 but even without veracity4 ,with haughty asperity they despised their ecclesiastical superiors3 ,they railed against one another with outrageous acrimony1 and conducted quarrels with determined malice3--,even many bishops1 who ought to be guides and patterns to the rest1 neglecting the peculiar duties of their stations1 gave themselves up to secular pursuits3--,they deserted their places of residence and their flocks3 ,they traveled through distant provinces in quest of pleasure and gain2 gave no assistance to the needy brethren2 but were insatiable in their thirst of money3--,they possessed estates by fraud and multiplied usury4 ,what have we not deserved to suffer for such conduct8 ,even the divine word hath foretold us what we might expect4--',if his children forsake my law1 and walk not in my judgments1 ,i will visit their offenses with the rod1 and their sin with scourges4' ,these things had been denounced and foretold1 but in vain4 ,our sins had brought our affairs to that pass1 that because we had despised the ,lord's directions1 we were obliged to undergo a correction of our multiplied evils and a trial of our faith by severe remedies4--7,as quoted by ,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,iii1 ch4 #h47 #i4 ,milner1 who quotes approvingly the severe arraignment of the ,church in the third century as given above1 cannot be charged with bias against ,christian institutions1 inasmuch as his declared purpose in presenting to the world an additional ,history of the ,church of ,christ was to give due attention to certain phases of the subject slighted or neglected by earlier authors1 and notably to emphasize the piety1 not the wickedness1 of the professed followers of ,christ4 ,this author1 avowedly friendly to the ,church and her votaries1 admits the growing depravity of the ,christian sects1 and declares that toward the end of the third century the effect of the ,pentecostal outpouring of the ,holy ,spirit had become exhausted1 and that there remained little proof of any close relationship between ,christ and the ,church4 #aj4 ,note his summary of conditions3 ,the era of its actual declension must be dated in the pacific part of ,diocletian's reign4 ,during this whole century the work of ,god1 in purity and power1 had been tending to decay4 ,the connection with philosophers was one of the principal causes4 ,outward peace and secular advantages completed the corruption4 ,ecclesiastical discipline1 which had been too strict1 was now relaxed exceedingly2 bishops and people were in a state of malice4 ,endless quarrels were fomented among contending parties1 and ambition and covetousness had in general gained the ascendency in the ,christian ,church4 99 99 99 ,the faith of ,christ itself appeared now an ordinary business2 and here terminated1 or nearly so1 as far as appears1 the first great effusion of the ,spirit of ,god1 which began at the day of ,pentecost4 ,human depravity effected throughout a general decay of godliness2 and one generation of men elapsed with very slender proofs of the spiritual presence of ,christ with ,his ,church4--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,iii1 ch4 #ag47 #aa4 ,if further evidence be wanted as to the fires of disaffection smoldering within the ,church1 and so easily fanned into destructive flame1 let the testimony of ,eusebius be considered with respect to conditions characterizing the second half of the third century4 ,and1 in weighing his words1 let it be remembered that he had expressly recorded his purpose of writing in defense of the ,church1 and in support of her institutions4 ,he bewails the tranquillity preceding the ,diocletian outbreak1 because of its injurious effect upon both officers and members of the ,church4 ,these are his words3 ,but when by excessive liberty we have sunk into indolence and sloth1 one envying and reviling another in different ways1 and we were almost1 as it were1 on the point of taking up arms against each other1 and were assailing each other with words1 as with darts and spears1 prelates inveighing against prelates1 and people rising up against people1 and hypocrisy and dissimulation had arisen to the greater heights of malignity1 then the divine judgment1 which usually proceeds with a lenient hand1 whilst the multitudes were yet crowding into the ,church1 with gentle and mild visitations began to afflict its episcopacy2 the persecution having begun with those brethren that were in the army4 99 99 99 ,but some that appeared to be our pastors1 deserting the law of piety1 were inflamed against each other with mutual strifes1 accumulating quarrels and threats1 rivalry1 hostility1 and hatred to each other1 only anxious to assert the government as a kind of sovereignty for themselves4--7,eusebius1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,book ,,viii1 ch4 #a4 ,see note #d1 end of chapter47 #ab4 ,as further illustrative of the decline of the ,christian spirit toward the end of the third century1 ,milner quotes the following observation of ,eusebius1 an eye-witness of the conditions described3 ,the heavy hand of ,god's judgment began softly1 by little and little1 to visit us after ,his wonted manner2 99 99 99 but we were not at all moved with ,his hand1 nor took any pains to return to ,god4 ,we heaped sin upon sin1 judging like careless ,epicureans1 that ,god cared not for our sins1 nor would ever visit us on account of them4 ,and our pretended shepherds1 laying aside the rule of godliness1 practiced among themselves contention and division4 ,he adds that the dreadful persecution of ,diocletian was then inflicted on the ,church as a just punishment1 and as the most proper chastisement for their iniquities4--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,iii1 ch4 #ag47 #ac4 ,it will be remembered that the great change whereby the ,church was raised to a place of honor in the state1 occurred in the early part of the fourth century4 ,it is a popular error to assume that the decay of the ,church as a spiritual institution dates from that time4 ,the picture of the ,church declining as to spiritual power in exact proportion to her increase of temporal influence and wealth has appealed to rhetoricians and writers of sensational literature2 but such a picture does not present the truth4 ,the ,church was saturated with the spirit of apostasy long before ,constantine took it under his powerful protection by according it official standing in the state4 ,in support of this statement1 ,i quote again from ,milner1 the avowed friend of the ,church3 ,i know it is common for authors to represent the great declension of ,christianity to have taken place only after its external establishment under ,constantine4 ,but the evidence of history has compelled me to dissent from this view of things4 ,in fact1 we have seen that for a whole generation previous to the ,diocletian persecution1 few marks of superior piety appeared4 ,scarce a luminary of godliness existed2 and it is not common in any age for a great work of the ,spirit of ,god to be exhibited but under the conduct of some remarkable saints1 pastors1 and reformers4 ,this whole period as well as the whole scene of the persecution is very barren in such characters4 99 99 99 ,moral and philosophical and monastical instructions will not effect for men what is to be expected from evangelical doctrine4 ,and if the faith of ,christ was so much declined 7and its decayed state ought to be dated from about the year #bgj71 we need not wonder that such scenes as ,eusebius hints at without any circumstantial details1 took place in the ,christian world4 99 99 99 ,he speaks also of the ambitious spirit of many1 in aspiring to the offices of the ,church1 the ill judged and unlawful ordinations1 the quarrels among confessors themselves1 and the contentions excited by young demagogues in the very relics of the persecuted ,church1 and the multiplied evils which their vices excited among ,christians4 ,how sadly must the ,christian world have declined which could thus conduct itself under the very rod of divine vengeance8 ,yet let not the infidel or the profane world triumph4 ,it was not ,christianity1 but the departure from it1 which brought on these evils4--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,iv1 ch4 #a4 ,the italics are introduced by the present writer4 ,see also ,note #e1 end of chapter47 #ad4 ,the foregoing embodies but a few of the many evidences that could be cited in demonstration of the fact that during the period immediately following the apostolic ministry--the period covered by the persecutions of the ,christians by the heathen nations1--the ,church was undergoing internal deterioration1 and was in a state of increasing perversion4 ,among the more detailed or specific causes of this ever widening departure from the spirit of the gospel of ,christ1 this rapidly growing apostasy1 the following may be considered as important examples3 7#a74 ,the corrupting of the simple principles of the gospel by the admixture of the so-called philosophic systems of the times4 7#b74 ,unauthorized additions to the ceremonies of the ,church1 and the introduction of vital changes in essential ordinances4 7#c74 ,unauthorized changes in ,church organization and government4 #ae4 ,we shall consider in due order each of the three causes here enumerated4 ,it may appear that the conditions set forth in these specifications are more properly to be regarded as effects or results1 than as causes1 incident to the general apostasy1--that they are in the nature of evidences or proofs of a departure from the original constitution of the ,church1 rather than specific causes by which the fact of apostasy is to be explained or accounted for4 ,cause and effect1 however1 are sometimes very intimately associated1 and resulting conditions may furnish the best demonstration of causes in operation4 ,each of the conditions given above as a specific cause of the progressive apostasy was1 at its inception1 an evidence of existing unsoundness1 and an active cause of the graver results that followed4 ,each succeeding manifestation of the spirit of apostasy was at once the result of earlier disaffection1 and the cause of later and more pronounced developments4 ,,notes4 #a4 ,inordinate ,zeal ,manifested by ,some of the ,early ,christians3 ,the sober discretion of the present age will more readily censure than admire1 but can more easily admire than imitate1 the fervor of the first ,christians2 who1 according to the lively expression of ,sulpicius ,severus1 desired martyrdom with more eagerness than his own contemporaries solicited a bishopric4 ,the epistles which ,ignatius composed as he was carried in chains through the cities of ,asia1 breathe sentiments the most repugnant to the ordinary feelings of human nature4 ,he earnestly beseeches the ,romans that when he should be exposed in the amphitheatre1 they would not by their kind but unreasonable intercession1 deprive him of the crown of glory1 and he declares his resolution to provoke and irritate the wild beasts which might be employed as the instruments of his death4 ,some stories are related of the courage of martyrs who actually performed what ,ignatius had intended3 who exasperated the fury of the lions1 pressed the executioner to hasten his office1 cheerfully leaped into the fires which were kindled to consume them1 and discovered a sensation of joy and pleasure in the midst of the most exquisite torture4--7,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 ch4 ,,xvi47 #b4 ,internal ,dissensions ,during ,time of ,peace4 ,as stated in the text1 the early part of ,diocletian's reign--the period immediately preceding the outburst of the last great persecution to which the ,christians were subjected--was a time of comparative freedom from opposition1 and this period was characterized by internal disturbances and dissensions within the ,church4 ,illustrative of the tolerance shown by the emperor before he became hostile to the ,church1 and the accompanying decline of spiritual earnestness among the ,christians themselves1 ,gibbon says3 ,diocletian and his colleagues frequently conferred the most important offices on those persons who avowed their abhorrence of the worship of the gods1 but who had displayed abilities proper for the service of the state4 ,the bishops held an honorable rank in the respective provinces1 and were treated with distinction and respect1 not only by the people1 but by the magistrates themselves4 ,almost in every city the ancient churches were found insufficient to contain the increasing multitudes of proselytes2 and in their place more stately and capacious edifices were erected for the public worship of the faithful4 ,the corruption of manners and principles so forcibly lamented by ,eusebius1 may be considered not only as a consequence1 but as a proof1 of the liberty which the ,christians enjoyed and abused under the reign of ,diocletian4 ,prosperity had relaxed the nerves of discipline4 ,fraud1 envy1 and malice prevailed in every congregation4 ,the presbyters aspired to the episcopal office1 which every day became an object more worthy of their ambition4 ,the bishops who contended with each other for ecclesiastical preeminence1 appeared by their conduct to claim a secular and tyrannical power in the church2 and the lively faith which still distinguished the ,christians from the ,gentiles1 was shown much less in their lives than in their controversial writings4--7,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 ch4 ,,xvi47 #c4 ,the ,effect of ,peace on the ,early ,church4 ,disastrous as the persecutions of the early ,christian centuries were1 still more mischievous to the ,church were those periods of tranquillity which intervened between the outbursts of rage which prompted them4 ,peace may have her victories no less renowned than those of war2 and so1 too1 she has her calamities1 and they are not less destructive than those of war4 ,war may destroy nations1 but ease and luxury mankind corrupt--the body and the mind4 ,especially is peace dangerous to the church4 ,prosperity relaxes the reins of discipline2 people feel less and less the need of a sustaining providence2 but in adversity the spirit of man feels after ,god1 and he is correspondingly more devoted to the service of religion4 ,we shall find the early ,christians no exception to the operation of this influence of repose4 ,whenever it was accorded them1 either through the mercy or the indifference of the emperors1 internal dissensions1 the intrigues of aspiring prelates1 and the rise of heresies1 characterized those periods4--7,b4 ,h4 ,roberts1 ,a ,new ,witness for ,god1 p4 #gj47 #d4 ,schisms and ,heresies in the ,early ,church4 ,eusebius1 whose writings date from the early part of the fourth century1 cites the writings of ,hegesippus1 who lived in the first quarter of the second century1 as follows3 ,the same author ,hegesippus also treats of the beginning of the heresies that arose about this time1 in the following words3 ',but after ,james the ,just had suffered martyrdom1 as our ,lord had for the same reason1 ,simeon1 the son of ,cleophas1 our ,lord's uncle1 was appointed the second bishop of ,jerusalem whom all proposed as the cousin of our ,lord4 ,hence they called the ,church as yet a virgin1 for it was not yet corrupted by vain discourses4 ,thebuthis made a beginning1 secretly to corrupt it on account of his not being made bishop4 ,he was one of those seven sects among the ,jewish people4 ,of these also was ,simeon1 whence sprang the sect of ,simonians2 also ,cleobius1 from whence came the ,cleobians2 also ,dositheus1 the founder of the ,dositheans4 ,from these also sprung the ,gortheonians from ,gortheoeus2 and also ,masbotheans from ,masbothoeus4 ,hence also the ,meandrians1 the ,marcionists1 and ,carpocratians and ,valentinians1 and ,basilidians1 and the ,saturnillians1 every one introducing his own peculiar opinions1 one differing from the other4 ,from these sprung the false ,christs and the false prophets and false apostles1 who divided the unity of the ,church by the introduction of corrupt doctrines against ,god and against ,his ,christ4--7,eusebius1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,book ,,iv1 ch4 #bb47 #e4 ,early ,decline of the ,church3 ,milner1 summing up the conditions attending the ,church at the end of the second century1 says3 ,and here we close the view of the second century1 which1 for the most part exhibited proofs of divine grace1 as strong1 or nearly so1 as the first4 ,we have seen the same unshaken and simple faith of ,jesus1 the same love of ,god and of the brethren2 and--that in which they singularly excelled modern ,christians--the same heavenly spirit and victory over the world4 ,but a dark shade is enveloping these divine glories4 ,the ,spirit of ,god is grieved already by the ambitious intrusions of self-righteous1 argumentative refinements1 and ,pharisaic pride2 and though it be more common to represent the most sensible decay of godliness as commencing a century later1 to me it seems already begun4--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,ii1 ch4 #i47 ,mosheim1 writing of conditions attending the closing years of the third century1 says3 ,the ancient method of ecclesiastical government seemed in general still to subsist1 while1 at the same time1 by imperceptible steps1 it varied from the primitive rule and degenerated toward the form of a religious monarchy4 99 99 99 ,this change in the form of ecclesiastical government was soon followed by a train of vices1 which dishonored the character and authority of those to whom the administration of the ,church was committed4 ,for1 though several yet continued to exhibit to the world illustrative examples of primitive piety and ,christian virtue1 yet many were sunk in luxury and voluptuousness1 puffed up with vanity1 arrogance and ambition1 possessed with a spirit of contention and discord1 and addicted to many other vices that cast an undeserved reproach upon the holy religion of which they were the unworthy professors and ministers4 ,this is testified in such an ample manner by the repeated complaints of many of the most respectable writers of this age1 that truth will not permit us to spread the veil1 which we should otherwise be desirous to cast over such enormities among an order so sacred4 ,the bishops assumed in many places a princely authority1 particularly those who had the greatest number of churches under their inspection1 and who presided over the most opulent assemblies4 ,they appropriated to their evangelical function the splendid ensigns of temporal majesty4 ,a throne1 surrounded with ministers1 exalted above his equals the servant of the meek and humble ,jesus2 and sumptuous garments dazzled the eyes and the minds of the multitude into an ignorant veneration of their arrogated authority4 ,the example of the bishops was ambitiously imitated by the presbyters1 who1 neglecting the sacred duties of their station1 abandoned themselves to the indolence and delicacy of an effeminate and luxurious life4 ,the deacons1 beholding the presbyters deserting thus their functions1 boldly usurped their rights and privileges1 and the effects of a corrupt ambition were spread through every rank of the order sacred4--7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,,iii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #b3c1 #d47 ,,chapter ,,vii4 9999,internal ,causes4--,continued99994 #a4 ,first among the specific causes of disturbance operating within the ,church1 and contributing to its apostasy1 we have named3 ,the corrupting of the simple principles of the gospel by the admixture of the so-called philosophic systems of the times4 #b4 ,the attempted grafting of foreign doctrines on the true vine of the gospel of ,christ was characteristic of the early years of the apostolic period4 ,we read of the sorcerer ,simon1 who professed belief and entered the ,church by baptism1 but who was so devoid of the true spirit of the gospel that he sought to purchase by money the authority and power of the priesthood4--7,see ,acts #h3i1 #ac1 #ah-bd47 ,this man1 though rebuked by ,peter1 and apparently penitent1 continued to trouble the ,church1 by inculcating heresies and winning disciples within the fold4 ,his followers were distinguished as a sect or cult down to the fourth century2 and1 writing at that time1 ,eusebius says of them3 ,these1 after the manner of their founder1 insinuating themselves into the ,church1 like a pestilential and leprous disease1 infected those with the greatest corruption1 into whom they were able to infuse their secret1 irremediable1 and destructive poison4--7,eusebius1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,book ,,ii1 ch4 #a47 ,this ,simon1 known in history as ,simon ,magus1 is referred to by early ,christian writers1 as the founder of heresy1 owing to his persistent attempts to combine ,christianity with ,gnosticism4 ,it is with reference to his proposition to purchase spiritual authority that all traffic in spiritual offices has come to be known as simony4 #c4 ,through the mouth of the ,revelator1 the ,lord reproved certain of the churches for their adoption or toleration of doctrines and practices alien to the gospel4 ,notably is this the case with respect to the ,nicolaitanes1 and the followers of the doctrines of ,balaam4--7,see ,rev4 #b3ae2 compare verse #f2 see also verse #bj4 ,see ,note #a1 end of chapter47 #d4 ,the perversion of true theology thus developed within the ,church is traceable to the introduction of both ,judaistic and pagan fallacies4--7,see ,note #b1 end of chapter47 ,indeed1 at the opening of the ,christian era and for centuries thereafter1 ,judaism was more or less intimately mixed with pagan philosophy1 and contaminated with heathen ceremonies4 ,there were numerous sects and parties1 cults and schools1 each advocating rival theories as to the constitution of the soul1 the essence of sin1 the nature of ,deity1 and a multitude of other mysteries4 ,the ,christians were soon embroiled in endless controversies among themselves4 #e4 ,judaistic converts to ,christianity sought to modify and adapt the tenets of the new faith so as to harmonize them with their inherited love of ,judaism1 and the result was destructive to both4 ,our ,lord had indicated the futility of any such attempts to combine new principle with old systems1 or to patch up the prejudices of the past with fragments of new doctrine4 ,no man1 said ,he1 putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment1 for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment1 and the rent is made worse4 ,neither do men put new wine into old bottles3 else the bottles break1 and the wine runneth out1 and the bottles perish3 but they put new wine into new bottles1 and both are preserved4--7,matt4 #i3af1 #ag47 ,the gospel came as a new revelation1 marking the fulfilment of the law1 it was no mere addendum1 nor was it a simple reenactment of past requirements2 it embodied a new and an everlasting covenant4 ,attempts to patch the ,judaistic robe with the new fabric of the gospel could result in nothing more sightly than a hideous rent4 ,the new wine of the covenant could not be bottled in the time-eaten leathern containers of ,mosaic libations4 ,judaism was belittled and ,christianity perverted by the incongruous association4 #f4 ,among the early and most pernicious adulterations of ,christian doctrine is the introduction of the teachings of the ,gnostics4 ,these self-styled philosophers put forth the boastful claim that they were able to lead the human mind to a full comprehension of the ,supreme ,being1 and a knowledge of the true relationship between ,deity and mortals4 ,they said in effect that a certain being had existed from all eternity1 manifested as a radiant light diffused throughout space1 and this they called the ,pleroma4 ,the eternal nature1 infinitely perfect and infinitely happy1 having dwelt from everlasting in a profound solitude1 and in a blessed tranquillity produced at length from itself1 two minds of a different sex1 which resembled their supreme parent in the most perfect manner4 ,from the prolific union of these two beings1 others arose1 which were also followed by succeeding generations2 so that in process of time a celestial family was formed in the ,pleroma4 ,this divine progeny1 immutable in its nature1 and above the power of mortality1 was called1 by the philosophers1 ,aeon--a term which signifies1 in the ,greek language1 an eternal nature4 ,how many in number these ,aeons were was a point much controverted among the oriental sages4--7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,i1 ,part ,,ii1 #a3g47 #g4 ,then one of the ,aeons1 distinctively called the ,demiurge1 created this world1 and arrogantly asserted dominion over the same1 denying absolutely the authority of the supreme parent4 ,the ,gnostic doctrine declares man to be a union of the body1 which1 being the creation of the ,demiurge1 is essentially evil1 and a spirit1 which1 being derived from ,deity1 is characteristically good4 ,the spirits thus imprisoned in evil bodies will be finally liberated1 and then the power of the ,demiurge will cease1 and the earth will be dissolved into nothingness4 #h4 ,our justification for introducing here this partial summary of ,gnosticism is the fact that early efforts were made to accommodate the tenets of this system to the demands of ,christianity2 and that ,christ and the ,holy ,ghost were declared to belong to the family of ,aeons provided for in this scheme4 ,this led to the extravagant absurdity of denying that ,jesus had a body even while ,he lived as a man2 and that ,his appearance as a corporeal being was a deception of the senses wrought by ,his supernatural power4--7,see ,note #c1 end of chapter47 #i4 ,that the doctrines of the ,gnostics were unsatisfying even to those who professed to believe therein is evident from the many cults and parties that came into existence as subdivisions of the main sect2 and it is interesting to note that in modern times certain free-thinkers have prided themselves in assuming a title expressing the full antithesis of the name ,gnostics1 viz4 ,agnostics4 #aj4 ,the practical effect of the principles of ,gnosticism in the lives of its adherents is strangely diverse4 ,one division of the sect followed a life of austerity1 embracing rigorous self-denial1 and bodily torture1 in the vain belief that the malignant body could thus be subdued1 while the spirit would be given added power and increased freedom4 ,another cult sought to minimize the fundamental difference between right and wrong1 by denying the element of morality in human life2 and these abandoned themselves to the impulses of the passions and the frailties of the bodily nature without restraint1 on the assumption that there was no such relation between body and soul as would cause injury to the latter through bodily indulgences and excesses4 #aa4 ,another sect or school whose doctrines were in a measure amalgamated with those of ,christianity was that of the ,new ,platonics4 ,the ancient sects of ,platonists or ,platonics were allied in some points of doctrine with the ,epicureans1 and were rivals if not opponents of the ,stoics4 ,the early ,platonics held that unorganized matter has existed from all eternity1 and that its organizer1 ,god1 is similarly eternal4 ,as ,god is eternal1 so also ,his will or intelligence is without beginning1 and this eternal intelligence existing as the will or intent of ,deity1 was called the ,logos4 ,such precepts had been taught long before the ,christian era1 and the philosophy professed by some of the contending sects among the ,jews in the time of ,christ had been influenced thereby4 #ab4 ,as the principles of ,christianity became generally known1 certain leaders in the sect of ,platonics found in the new doctrine much to study and admire4 ,by this time1 however1 ,platonism itself had undergone much change1 and the more liberal adherents had formed a new organization and distinguished themselves by the appellation ,new ,platonics4 ,these professed to find in ,jesus ,christ the incarnation of the ,logos1 and accepted with avidity the declaration of ,st4 ,john3 ,in the beginning was the ,word1 and the ,word was with ,god1 and the ,word was ,god4 99 99 99 ,and the ,word was made flesh1 and dwelt among us4--7,john #a3a1 #ad47 ,according to the ,eclectic or ,new ,platonic philosophy1 the ,word referred to by ,st4 ,john was the ,logos described by ,plato4 #ac4 ,the ,platonic conception of the ,godhead as consisting of the ,deity and the ,logos1 was enlarged in accordance with ,christian tenets to embrace three members1 the ,holy ,ghost being the third4 ,thence arose bitter and lasting dissension as to the relative powers of each member of the ,trinity1 particularly the position and authority of the ,logos or ,son4 ,the many disputes incident to the admixture of ,platonic theory with ,christian doctrine continued through the centuries1 and in a sense may be said to trouble the minds of men even in this modern age4 #ad4 ,it is wholly beyond our purpose to classify or describe the hybrid offspring resulting from the unnatural union of pagan philosophy and ,christian truth2 nor shall we attempt to follow in detail the dissensions and quarrels on theological points and questions of doctrine4 ,our purpose is achieved when by statement of fact and citation of authority1 the reality of the apostasy is established4 ,we shall consider therefore only the most important of the dissensions by which the ,church was troubled4--7,see ,note #d1 end of chapter47 #ae4 ,about the middle of the third century1 ,sibellius1 a presbyter or bishop of the church in ,africa1 strongly advocated the doctrine of trinity in unity as characterizing the ,godhead4 ,he claimed that the divine nature of ,christ was no distinct nor personal attribute of the man ,jesus1 but merely a portion of the divine energy1 an emanation from the ,father1 with which the ,son was temporarily endowed2 and that in like manner the ,holy ,ghost was a part of the divine ,father4 ,these views were as vigorously opposed by some as defended by others1 and the disagreement was rife when ,constantine so suddenly changed the status of the ,church1 and brought to its support the power of the state4 ,early in the fourth century the dispute assumed a threatening aspect in a bitter contention between ,alexander1 bishop of ,alexandria1 and ,arius1 one of the subordinate officers of the same church4 ,alexander proclaimed that the ,son was in all respects the equal of the ,father1 and also of the same substance or essence4 ,arius insisted that the ,son had been created by the ,father1 and therefore could not be co-eternal with ,his divine ,parent2 that the ,son was the agent through whom the will of the ,father was executed1 and that for this reason also the ,son was inferior to the ,father both in nature and dignity4 ,in like manner the ,holy ,ghost was inferior to the other members of the ,godhead4 #af4 ,arianism1 as the doctrine came to be known1 was preached with vigor and denounced with energy2 and the dissension thus occasioned threatened to rend the ,church to its foundation4 ,at last the emperor1 ,constantine1 was forced to intervene in an effort to establish peace among his contending churchmen4 ,he summoned a council of church dignitaries which assembled in the year #cbe1 and which is known from its place of session as the ,council of ,nice4 ,this council condemned the doctrine of ,arius1 and pronounced sentence of banishment against its author4 ,what was declared to be the orthodox doctrine of the universal or ,catholic church respecting the ,godhead was promulgated as follows3 #ag4 ,we believe in one ,god1 the ,father1 ,almighty1 the maker of all things visible and invisible2 and in one ,lord1 ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 begotten of the ,father1 only begotten1 7that is7 of the substance of the ,father2 ,god of ,god1 ,light of ,light2 ,very ,god of ,very ,god2 begotten not made2 of the same substance with the ,father1 by whom all things were made1 that are in heaven and that are in earth3 who for us men1 and for our salvation1 descended and was incarnate1 and became man2 suffered and rose again the third day1 ascended into the heavens and will come to judge the living and the dead2 and in the ,holy ,spirit4 ,but those who say there was a time when he the ,son was not1 and that he was not before he was begotten1 and that he was made out of nothing1 or affirm that he is of any other substance or essence1 or that the ,son of ,god was created1 and mutable1 or changeable1 the ,catholic ,church doth pronounce accursed4 #ah4 ,this is the generally accepted version of the ,nicene ,creed as originally promulgated4 ,in form it was somewhat modified1 though left practically unchanged as to essentials1 by the council held at ,constantinople half a century later4 ,what is regarded as a restatement of the ,nicene ,creed has been attributed to ,athanasius1 one of the chief opponents of ,arianism1 though his right to be considered the author is questioned by many and emphatically denied by some authorities on ecclesiastical history4 ,nevertheless1 the statement referred to has found a place in literature as the ,creed of ,athanasius1 and whether rightly or wrongly named it persists as a declaration of belief professed by some ,christian sects today4 ,it has a present place in the prescribed ritual of the ,church of ,england4 ,the ,creed of ,athanasius reads as follows3 #ai4 ,we worship one ,god in ,trinity1 and ,trinity in ,unity1 neither confounding the persons1 nor dividing the substance4 ,for there is one person of the ,father1 another of the ,son1 and another of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,but the ,godhead of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 is all one3 the glory equal1 the majesty co-eternal4 ,such as the ,father is1 such is the ,son2 and such is the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the ,father uncreate1 the ,son uncreate and the ,holy ,ghost uncreate4 ,the ,father incomprehensible1 the ,son incomprehensible and the ,holy ,ghost incomprehensible4 ,the ,father eternal1 the ,son eternal1 the ,holy ,ghost eternal4 ,and yet there are not three eternals2 but one eternal4 ,as also there are not three incomprehensibles1 nor three uncreated2 but one uncreated1 and one incomprehensible4 ,so likewise the ,father is ,almighty1 the ,son ,almighty1 and the ,holy ,ghost ,almighty2 and yet there are not three ,almighties1 but one ,almighty4 ,so the ,father is ,god1 the ,son is ,god1 and the ,holy ,ghost is ,god1 and yet they are not three ,gods but one ,god4 #bj4 ,the ,council of ,nice is known in ecclesiastical history as one of the most famous and important gatherings ever assembled as an official body concerned with church administration4 ,not only was the ,arian dispute disposed of1 so far as ecclesiastical decree could dispose of a question vitally affecting the individual conscience1 but many other subjects of controversy were similarly quieted for the time4 ,thus the long-standing dispute as to the time of celebrating ,easter was settled by vote1 as was also the question agitated by ,novatus and his followers--as to the propriety of re-admitting repentant apostates to the ,church2 and the schism caused by ,meletius1 a bishop of ,upper ,africa1 who had refused to recognize the superior authority of the bishop of ,alexandria4 ,from the number and diversity of the questions brought before the ,nicene ,council for adjudication1 we may safely conclude that the newly enthroned ,church was not characterized by unity of purpose nor harmony of action4 ,however1 compared with the bitter contentions that follow1 the dissensions in the reign of ,constantine were but as the beginnings of trouble4 #ba4 ,the moral effect of the potent spirit of apostasy operating through the first three centuries of the ,church's existence and nourished by the contributions of heathen philosophy1 proved1 as was inevitable1 highly injurious and evil4 ,some of the most pernicious of these effects it becomes our duty to consider4 #bb4 ,perverted ,views of ,life4 ,one of the heresies of early origin and rapid growth in the ,church was the doctrine of antagonism between body and spirit1 whereby the former was regarded as an incubus and a curse4 ,from what has been said this will be recognized as one of the perversions derived from the alliance of ,gnosticism with ,christianity4 ,a result of this grafting in of heathen doctrines was an abundant growth of hermit practices1 by which men sought to weaken1 torture1 and subdue their bodies1 that their spirits or souls might gain greater freedom4 ,many who adopted this unnatural view of human existence retired to the solitude of the desert1 and there spent their time in practices of stern self-denial and in acts of frenzied self-torture4 ,others shut themselves up as voluntary prisoners1 seeking glory in privation and self-imposed penance4 ,it was this unnatural view of life that gave rise to the several orders of recluses1 hermits and monks4 #bc4 ,think you not that the ,savior had such practices in mind1 when1 warning the disciples of the false claims to sanctity that would characterize the times then soon to follow1 ,he said3 ,wherefore if they shall say unto you1 ,behold he 7,christ7 is in the desert2 go not forth3 behold1 he is in the secret chambers2 believe it not4--7,matt4 #bd3bf47 #bd4 ,when the ,church came into the favor of the state under ,constantine in the fourth century1 there sprang up many orders of recluses who maintained that communion with ,god was to be sought by mortifying sense1 by withdrawing the mind from all external objects1 by macerating the body with hunger and labor1 and by a holy sort of indolence1 which confined all the activity of the soul to a lazy contemplation of things spiritual and external4 ,mosheim1 the author just quoted1 continues3 ,the ,christian church would never have been disgraced by this cruel and unsocial enthusiasm1 nor would any have been subjected to those keen torments of mind and body to which it gave rise1 had not many ,christians been unwarily caught by the specious appearance and the pompous sound of that maxim of the ancient philosophy3 ',that in order to the attainment of true felicity and communion with ,god1 it was necessary that the soul should be separated from the body1 even here below2 and that the body was to be macerated and mortified for this purpose4'--7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,iv1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #c3ab1 #ac47 #be4 ,the fruit of this ill-sowing was the growth of numerous orders of monks1 and the maintenance of monasteries4 ,celibacy was taught as a virtue1 and came to be made a requirement of the clergy1 as it is in the ,roman ,catholic church to-day4 ,an unmarried clergy1 deprived of the elevating influences of home life1 fell into many excesses1 and the corruption of the priests has been a theme of reproach throughout the centuries4 ,the ,lord ,god said1 ,it is not good that the man should be alone2 ,i will make him an help meet for him1--7,gen4 #b3ah47 and again1 ,therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother1 and shall cleave unto his wife3 and they shall be one flesh4--7,verse #bd47 ,his inspired apostle proclaimed3 ,neither is the man without the woman1 neither the woman without the man1 in the ,lord4--7,i ,cor4 #aa3aa4 ,compare ,i ,tim4 #d3c47 ,nevertheless an apostate church decrees that its ministers shall be forbidden to follow the law of ,god4 #bf4 ,disregard for ,truth4 ,as early as the fourth century1 certain pernicious doctrines embodying a disregard for truth gained currency in the ,church4 ,thus1 it was taught that it was an act of virtue to deceive and lie1 when by that means the interests of the church might be promoted4--7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,iv1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #c3af47 ,needless to say1 sins other than those of falsehood and deceit were justified when committed in the supposed interests of church advancement1 and crime was condoned under the specious excuse that the end justifies the means4 ,many of the fables and fictitious stories relating to the lives of ,christ and the apostles1 as also the spurious accounts of supernatural visitations and wonderful miracles1 in which the literature of the early centuries abound1 are traceable to this infamous doctrine that lies are acceptable unto ,god if perpetrated in a cause that man calls good4--7,see ,note #e1 end of chapter47 ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,nicolaitanes4 ,this sect is mentioned specifically in the divine communication wherein ,john the ,revelator was instructed to write to the churches of ,asia 7,rev4 #b3f1 #ae72 and the reference proves the abhorrence with which the ,lord regarded the teachings and practices of the cult4 ,the attempt to corrupt ,christianity by the introduction of ,nicolaitan ceremonies was a real danger threatening the ,church4 ,the following extract from ,smith's ,bible ,dictionary is instructive3 ,the sect itself comes before us as presenting the ultimate phase of a great controversy1 which threatened at one time to destroy the unity of the ,church1 and afterward to taint its purity4 ,the controversy itself was inevitable as soon as the ,gentiles were admitted in any large numbers into the ,church of ,christ4 ,were the new converts to be brought into subjugation to the whole ,mosaic law8 ,the apostles and elders at ,jerusalem met the question calmly and wisely4 ,the burden of the ,law was not to be imposed on the ,gentile disciples4 ,they were to abstain1 among other things1 from 'meats offered to idols1' and from 'fornication' 7,acts #ae3bj1 #bi71 and this decree was welcomed as the great charter of the ,church's freedom4 ,strange as the close union of the moral and positive commands may seem to us1 it did not seem so to the synod at ,jerusalem4 ,the two sins were very closely allied1 often even in the closest proximity of time and place4 ,the messages to the churches of ,asia1 and the later ,apostolic ,epistles 7,,ii ,peter1 and ,jude17 indicate that the two evils appeared at that period also in close alliance4 ,the teachers of the ,church branded them with a name that expressed their true character4 ,the men who did and taught such things were followers of ,balaam 7,,ii ,peter #b3ae2 ,jude ,,ii47 ,they1 like the false prophet of ,pethor1 united brave words with evil deeds4 ,in a time of persecution1 when the eating or not eating of things sacrificed to idols was more than ever a crucial test of faithfulness1 they persuaded men more than ever that it was a thing indifferent 7,rev4 #b3ac1 #ad74 ,this was bad enough1 but there was a yet worse evil4 ,mingling themselves in the orgies of idolatrous feasts1 they brought the impurities of those feasts into the meetings of the ,christian ,church4 ,and all this was done1 it must be remembered1 not simply as an indulgence of appetite1 but as part of a system supported by a 'doctrine1' accompanied by the boast of a prophetic illumination 7,,ii ,peter #b3a74 #b4 ,imitation of ,heathen ,mysteries1 and the ,result4 ,the worship of ,god by the early ,christians was decried and ridiculed because of its simplicity and the absence of mystic ceremonies4 ,true1 the zeal of persecutors soon made necessary a prudent secrecy in religious service and worshipping assemblies1 but aside from such necessity1 there was a voluntary effort to feign a secrecy that was uncalled for4 ,on this point ,gibbon remarks as follows3 ,the precautions with which the disciples of ,christ performed the offices of religion were at first dictated by fear and necessity2 but they were continued from choice4 ,by imitating the awful secrecy of the ,eleusinian mysteries1 the ,christians had flattered themselves that they should render their sacred institutions more respectable in the eyes of the pagan world4 ,but the event1 as it often happens to the operations of subtle policy1 deceived their wishes and their expectations4 ,it was concluded that they only concealed what they would have blushed to disclose4 ,their mistaken prudence afforded an opportunity for malice to invent1 and for suspicious credulity to believe1 the horrid tales which described the ,christians as the most wicked of human kind1 who practiced in their dark recesses every abomination that a depraved fancy could suggest1 and who solicited the favor of their unknown ,god by the sacrifice of every moral virtue4 ,there were many who pretended to confess or to relate the ceremonies of this abhorred society4-- 7,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 chap4 ,,xvi47 #c4 ,ebionites and ,gnostics4 ,beside the general design of fixing on a perpetual basis the divine honors of ,christ1 the most ancient and respectable of the ecclesiastical writers have ascribed to the evangelic theologian ,st4 ,john a particular intention to confute two opposing heresies1 which disturbed the peace of the primitive ,church4 ,i4 ,the faith of the ,ebionites1 perhaps of the ,nazarenes1 was gross and imperfect4 ,they revered ,jesus as the greatest of the prophets1 endowed with supernatural virtue and power4 ,they ascribed to ,his person and to ,his future reign all the predictions of the ,hebrew oracles which relate to the spiritual and everlasting kingdom of the promised ,messiah4 ,some of them might confess that ,he was born of a virgin2 but they obstinately rejected the preceding existence and divine perfections of the ,logos1 or ,son of ,god1 which are so clearly defined in the ,gospel of ,st4 ,john4 99 99 99 ,,ii4 ,the ,gnostics1 who were distinguished by the epithet of ,docetes1 deviated into the contrary extreme1 and betrayed the human while they asserted the divine1 nature of ,christ4 ,educated in the school of ,plato1 accustomed to the sublime idea of the ,logos1 they readily conceived that the brightest ,aeon or ,emanation of ,deity1 might assume the outward shape and visible appearance of a mortal2 but they vainly pretended that the imperfections of matter are incompatible with the purity of a celestial substance4 ,while the blood of ,christ yet smoked on ,mount ,calvary1 and the ,docetes invented the impious and extravagant hypothesis that1 instead of issuing from the womb of the ,virgin1 he had descended on the banks of the ,jordan in the form of perfect manhood2 that he had imposed on the senses of ,his enemies and of ,his disciples1 and that the ministers of ,pilate had wasted their impotent rage on an airy phantom1 who seemed to expire on the ,cross1 and1 after three days1 to rise from the dead4--7,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 ch4 ,,xxi47 #d4 ,admixture of ,pagan ,doctrines ,with ,christianity4 ,the following statements by modern writers as to the effect of pagan philosophy on the ,church are worthy of attention4 ,summarizing conditions prevailing in the latter part of the second century1 ,milner says3 ,we have hitherto found it no hard matter to discover1 in the teachers and writers of ,christianity1 the vital doctrines of ,christ4 ,we shall now perceive that the most precious truths of the gospel begin to be less attended to1 and less brought to view4 ,even ,justin ,martyr1 before the period of eclectic corruption1 by his fondness for ,plato1 adulterated the gospel in some degree1 as we have observed particularly in the article of free will4 ,tatian1 his scholar1 went bolder lengths1 and deserved the name of heretic4 ,he dealt largely in the merits of continence and chastity2 and these virtues1 pushed into extravagant excesses1 under the notion of superior purity1 became great engines of self-righteousness and superstition2 obscured men's views of the faith of ,christ1 and darkened the whole face of ,christianity4 ,under the fostering hand of ,ammonius and his followers1 this fictitious holiness disguised under the appearance of eminent sanctity1 was formed into a system2 and it soon began to generate the worst of evils4 99 99 99 ,st4 ,paul's caution against philosophy and vain deceit1 it appears1 was now fatally neglected by the ,christians4 ,false humility1 ',will-worship1' curious and proud refinements1 bodily austerities mixed with high1 self-righteous pretensions1 ignorance of ,christ and of the true life of faith in ,him1 miserably superseded by ceremonies and superstitions1--all these things are divinely delineated in the second chapter to the ,colossians2 and1 so far as words can do it1 the true defense against them is powerfully described and enforced4--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,ii1 ch4 #i47 ,the schisms and commotions that arose in the church1 from a mixture of the oriental and ,egyptian philosophy with the ,christian religion were1 in the second century1 increased by those ,grecian philosophers who embraced the doctrine of ,christ4 ,the ,christian doctrine1 concerning the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost1 and the two natures united in our blessed ,savior1 were by no means reconcilable with the tenets of the sages and doctors of ,greece1 who therefore endeavored to explain them in such a manner as to render them comprehensible4 ,praxeas1 a man of genius and learning1 began to propagate these explications at ,rome1 and was severely persecuted for the errors they contained4 ,he denied any real distinction between the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost2 and maintained that the ,father1 sole ,creator of all things1 had united to ,himself the human nature of ,christ4 ,hence his followers were called ,monarchians1 because of their denying a plurality of persons in the ,deity2 and also ,patropassians1 because1 according to ,tertullian's account1 they believed that the ,father was so intimately united with the man ,christ1 ,his ,son1 that ,he suffered with ,him the anguish of an afflicted life and the torments of an ignominious death4 ,however ready many may have been to embrace this erroneous doctrine1 it does not appear that this sect formed to themselves a separate place of worship1 or removed themselves from the ordinary assemblies of ,christians4--7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,,ii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #e3bj47 #e4 ,spurious ,writings in the ,apostolic ,period4 ,not long after ,christ's ascension into heaven1 several histories of ,his life and doctrines1 full of pious frauds and fabulous wonders1 were composed by persons whose intentions1 perhaps1 were not bad1 but whose writings discovered the greatest superstition and ignorance4 ,nor was this all3 productions appeared which were imposed upon the world by fraudulent men1 as the writings of the holy apostles4 ,these apocryphal and spurious writings must have produced a sad confusion1 and rendered both the history and the doctrine of ,christ uncertain1 had not the rulers of the church used all possible care and diligence in separating the books that were truly apostolical and divine from all that spurious trash4--7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,i1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #b3ag47 ,,chapter ,,viii4 9999,internal ,causes4--,continued99994 #a4 ,as one of the effective causes leading to the apostasy of the ,primitive ,church we have specified3 ,unauthorized additions to the ceremonies of the ,church1 and the introduction of vital changes in essential ordinances4 #b4 ,the ridicule heaped upon the early ,church by the pagans on account of the simplicity of ,christian worship has already received mention4 ,this cause of reproach was none the less emphasized by ,judaistic critics1 to whom rituals and ceremony1 formalism and prescribed rites1 figured as essentials of religion4 ,very early in its history1 the ,church manifested a tendency to supplant the pristine simplicity of its worship by elaborate ceremonies1 patterned after ,judaistic ritual and heathen idolatries4 #c4 ,as to such innovations1 ,mosheim writes as follows1 with reference to conditions existing in the second century3 ,there is no institution so pure and excellent which the corruption and folly of man will not in time alter for the worse1 and load with additions foreign to its nature and original design4 ,such in a particular manner was the fate of ,christianity4 ,in this century many unnecessary rites and ceremonies were added to the ,christian worship1 the introduction of which was extremely offensive to wise and good men4 ,these changes1 while they destroyed the beautiful simplicity of the gospel1 were naturally pleasing to the gross multitude1 who are more delighted with the pomp and splendor of external institutions than with the native charms of rational and solid piety1 and who generally give little attention to any objects but those which strike their outward senses4--7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,ii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #d47 ,the author just cited explains that the bishops of that day increased the ceremonies and sought to give them splendor by way of accommodation to the infirmities and prejudices of both ,jews and heathen4--7,see ,note #a1 end of chapter47 #d4 ,to more effectually reconcile the gospel requirements with ,jewish prejudice1 which still clung to the letter of the ,mosaic law1 the officers of the ,church in the first and second centuries took to themselves the ancient titles2 thus1 bishops styled themselves chief priests1 and deacons1 ,levites4 ,in like manner1 says ,mosheim1 the comparison of the ,christian oblation with the ,jewish victim and sacrifice1 produced a multitude of unnecessary rites1 and was the occasion of introducing that erroneous notion of the eucharist1 which represents it as a real sacrifice1 and not merely as a commemoration of that great offering that was once made upon the cross for the sins of mortals4--7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,ii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #d3d47 #e4 ,in the fourth century we find the ,church still more hopelessly committed to formalism and superstition4 ,the decent respect with which the remains of the early martyrs had been honored degenerated or grew into a superstitious reverence amounting to worship4 ,this practice was allowed in deference to the heathen adoration paid to deified heroes4 ,pilgrimages to the tombs of martyrs became common as an outward form of religious devotion2 and the ashes of martyrs as well as dust and earth brought from places said to have been made holy by some uncommon occurrence were sold as sovereign remedies against disease and as means of protection against the assaults of malignant spirits4 #f4 ,the form of public worship was so changed during the second and third centuries as to bear little resemblance to the simplicity and earnestness of that of the early congregations4 ,philosophic discourses took the place of fervent testimony bearing and the arts of the rhetorician and controversial debater supplanted the true eloquence of religious conviction4 ,applause was allowed and expected as evidence of the preacher's popularity4 ,the burning incense1 at first abhorred by ,christian assemblies because of its pagan origin and heathen significance1 had become common in the ,church before the end of the third century4 #g4 ,in the fourth century the adoration of images1 pictures1 and effigies1 had been given a place in the so-called ,christian worship2 and the practice became general in the century following4 ,an effort to check the abuses arising from this idolatrous practice in the eighth century1 actually led to civil war4--7,see ,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,viii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #c3i1 #aj47 #h4 ,in considering such evidences of pagan ceremonial and superstitious rites taking the place of the simple procedure incident to genuine worship characteristic of the ,church in the days of its integrity1 who can question the solemn and awful fact of actual apostasy8--7,see ,note #b1 end of chapter47 ,but more important yet1 more significant still than mere additions to the ritualistic ceremonial1 are the perversions and changes introduced into the most sacred and essential ordinances of ,christ's ,church4 ,as it is common with ecclesiastical authorities to consider the most essential ordinances of the gospel originally established by ,christ and maintained by ,his apostles1 as comprising baptism and the sacrament of the ,lord's supper1 we shall examine into these alone as examples of the unauthorized alterations now under consideration4 ,in this restriction of our illustrative examples we do not admit that baptism and the sacrament named were the only ordinances characterizing the ,church2 indeed1 there is abundant proof to the contrary4 ,thus1 the authoritative imposition of hands for the bestowal of the ,holy ,ghost in the case of baptized believers was equally essential with baptism itself1--7,see ,acts #h3e-h1 #ab1 #ad-ag2 also #ai3a-g2 see also #b3ch2 ,matt4 #c3aa2 and ,mark #a3h47 and was assuredly regarded as a vital ordinance from the first4--7,see ,matt4 #c3aa47 ,furthermore1 ordination in the priesthood1 whereby men were commissioned by divine authority was indispensable to the maintenance of an organized ,church4 ,the examples selected1 however1 will be sufficient for the purposes of our present inquiry4 9999,the ,ordinance of ,baptism ,changed99994 #i4 ,first1 then1 as to baptism1--in what did the ordinance originally consist1 as to purpose and mode of administration1 and what changes did it undergo in the course of progressive apostasy through which the ,church passed8 ,that baptism is essential to salvation calls for no demonstration here2 this has been generally held by the ,christian ,church in both ancient and modern times4--7,for a concise treatment of this subject1 see the author's ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #f3h-bi47 ,the purpose of baptism was and is the obtaining of a remission of sins2 compliance with the requirement has been from the first the sole means of securing admission to the ,church of ,christ4--7,see ,mark #a3d and ,luke #c3c2 also ,acts #b3ch2 ,i ,peter #c3ba2 and ,acts #bb3af4 ,compare ,,ii ,nephi #ca3ag47 #aj4 ,in the early ,church1 baptism was administered on profession of faith and evidence of repentance1 and was performed by immersion--7,see ,note #c1 end of chapter7 at the hands of one invested with the requisite authority of priesthood4 ,there was no delay in administering the ordinance after the eligibility of the candidate had been shown4 ,as instances we may cite the promptness with which baptism was administered to the believers on that eventful day of ,pentecost2-- 7,acts #b3cg-da7 the baptism administered by ,philip to the ,ethiopian convert immediately following due profession of faith2--7,acts #h3bf-ci7 the undelayed baptism of devout ,cornelius and his family2--7,acts #aj3dg1 #dh7 and the speedy baptism of the converted jailer by ,paul1 his prisoner4--7,acts #af3ca-cc47 #aa4 ,in the second century1 however1 priestly mandate had restricted the baptismal ordinance to the times of the two ,church festivals1 ,easter and ,whitsuntide1 the first being the anniversary of ,christ's resurrection1 and the second the time of ,pentecostal celebration4 ,a long and tedious course of preparation was required of the candidate before his eligibility was admitted2 during this time he was known as a catechumen1 or novice in training4 ,according to some authorities a three years' course of preparation was required in all but exceptional cases4--7,schlegel1 ,book ,,viii1 ch4 #cb47 #ab4 ,during the second century the baptismal symbolism of a new birth was emphasized by many additions to the ordinance2 thus the newly baptized were treated as infants and were fed milk and honey in token of their immaturity4 ,as baptism was construed to be a ceremony of liberation from the slavery of ,satan1 certain formulas used in the freeing of slaves were added4 ,anointing with oil was also made a part of the ceremony4 ,in the third century the simple ordinance of baptism was further encumbered and perverted by the ministrations of an exorcist4 ,this official indulged in menacing and formidable shouts and declamation whereby the demons or evil spirits with which the candidate was supposed to be afflicted were to be driven away4 ,the driving out of this demon was now considered as an essential preparation for baptism1 after the administration of which the candidates returned home1 adorned with crowns1 and arrayed in white garments1 as sacred emblems1--the former of their victory over sin and the world2 the latter of their inward purity and innocence4-- 7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,iii1 part ,,ii1 ch4 #d3d47 ,it is not difficult to see in this superstitious ceremony the evidence of pagan adulteration of the ,christian religion4 ,in the fourth century it became the practice to place salt in the mouth of the newly baptized member1 as a symbol of purification1 and the actual baptism was both preceded and followed by an anointing with oil4 #ac4 ,the form or mode of baptism also underwent a radical change during the first half of the third century1--a change whereby its essential symbolism was destroyed4 ,immersion1--7,see ,note #c1 end of chapter7 typifying death followed by resurrection1 was no longer deemed an essential feature1 and sprinkling with water was allowed in place thereof4 ,no less an authority than ,cyprian1 the learned bishop of ,carthage1 advocated the propriety of sprinkling in lieu of immersion in cases of physical weakness2 and the practice thus started1 later became general4 ,the first instance of record is that of ,novatus1 a heretic who requested baptism when he thought death was near4--7,as to the scriptural doctrine of baptism1 the mode of its administration and the symbolism thereof1 see the author's ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #g47 #ad4 ,not only was the form of the baptismal rite radically changed1 but the application of the ordinance was perverted4 ,the practice of administering baptism to infants was recognized as orthodox in the third century1 and was doubtless of earlier origin4 ,in a prolonged disputation as to whether it was safe to postpone the baptism of infants until the eighth day after birth--in deference to the ,jewish custom of performing circumcision on that day--it was gravely decided that such delay would be dangerous1 as jeopardizing the future well-being of the child should it die before attaining the age of eight days1 and that baptism ought to be administered as soon after birth as possible4--7,see ,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,iii2 ch4 #ac47 ,a more infamous doctrine than that of the condemnation of unbaptized infants can scarcely be imagined1 and a stronger proof of the heresies that had invaded and corrupted the early ,church need not be sought4 ,such a doctrine is foreign to the gospel and to the ,church of ,christ1 and its adoption as an essential tenet is proof of apostasy4--7,for a discussion of infant baptism1 see the author's ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #f4 ,see ,note #d1 end of chapter47 9999,changes in the ,ordinance of the ,sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper99994 #ae4 ,the sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper has been regarded as an essential ordinance from the time of its establishment in the ,church by ,jesus ,christ4 ,yet in spite of its sanctity it has undergone radical alteration both as to its symbolism and its accepted purpose4 ,the sacrament1 as instituted by the ,savior and as administered during the days of the apostolic ministry1 was as simple as it was sacred and solemn4 ,accompanied by the true spirit of the gospel1 its simplicity was sanctifying2 as interpreted by the spirit of apostasy its simplicity became a reproach4 ,hence we find that in the third century1 long sacramental prayers were prescribed1 and much pomp was introduced4 ,vessels of gold and silver were used by such congregations as could afford them1 and this with ostentatious display4 ,nonmembers and members who were in a penitential state were excluded from the sacramental service--in imitation of the exclusiveness accompanying heathen mysteries4 ,disputation and dissension arose as to the proper time of administering the sacrament--morning1 noon1 or evening2 and as to the frequency with which the ordinance should be celebrated4--7,see ,note #e1 end of chapter47 #af4 ,at a later date the doctrine of ,transubstantiation was established as an essential tenet of the ,roman ,church4 ,this briefly summarized1 is to the effect that the species--i4 e41 the bread and wine used in the sacrament--lose their character as mere bread and wine1 and become in fact the flesh and blood of the crucified ,christ4 ,the transmutation is assumed to take place in such a mystical way as to delude the senses2 and so1 though actual flesh and actual blood1 the elements still appear to be bread and wine4 ,this view1 so strongly defended and earnestly reverenced by orthodox members of the ,roman ,church1 is vehemently denounced by others as an absurd tenet1-- 7,milner7 and a monstrous and unnatural doctrine4--7,mosheim47 #ag4 ,there has been much discussion as to the origin of this doctrine1--7,see ,note #f1 end of chapter47 the ,roman ,catholics claiming for it a great antiquity1 while their opponents insist that it was an innovation of the eighth or ninth century4 ,according to ,milner it was openly taught in the ninth century2--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,ix1 ch4 #a47 was formally established as a dogma of the ,church by the ,council of ,placentia ,a4 ,d4 #ajie1--7,the same1 ,cent4 ,,xi1 ch4 #a7 and was made an essential article of creed1 belief in which was required of all by action of the ,roman ecclesiastical court about #aafj4--7,the same1 ,cent4 ,,xiii1 ch4 #a47 ,an official edict of the pope1 ,innocent ,,iii1 confirmed the dogma as a binding tenet and requirement of the ,church in #abae2--7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,xiii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #c3b47 and it remains practically in force in the ,roman ,catholic ,church today4 ,the doctrine was adopted by the ,greek ,church in the seventeenth century4--7,the same4 ,cent4 ,,xvii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #b3c47 #ah4 ,the consecrated emblems1 or host1 being regarded as the actual flesh and blood of ,christ1 were adored as of themselves divine4 ,thus1 a very pernicious practice of idolatry was connected with the reception of this doctrine4 ,men fell down before the consecrated host1 and worshipped it as ,god2 and the novelty1 absurdity1 and impiety of this abomination very much struck the minds of all men who were not dead to a sense of true religion4--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,xiii1 ch4 #a47 ,the elevation of the host1--i4 e41 the presentation of the consecrated emblems before the congregation for adoration1 is a feature of the present day ritual of worship in the ,roman ,catholic ,church4 ,the celebration of the mass is taught to be an actual though mystic sacrifice1 in which the ,son of ,god is daily offered up anew as a constantly recurring atonement for the present sins of the assembled worshippers4 ,a further perversion of the sacrament occurred in the administration of bread alone1 instead of both bread and wine as originally required4 #ai4 ,thus was the plain purpose and assured efficacy of the sacrament hidden beneath a cloud of mystery and ceremonial display4 ,contrast such with the solemn simplicity of the ordinance as instituted by our ,lord1--,he took bread and wine1 blessed them and gave to ,his disciples and said1 ,this do in remembrance of me4--7,luke #bb3ai1 #bj2 compare ,matt4 #bf3bg1 #bh47 ,of the bread ,he said1 ,this is my body2 of the wine1 ,this is my blood2 yet at that time ,his body was unpierced1 ,his blood was unshed4 ,the disciples ate bread1 not flesh of a living man1 and drank wine1 not blood2 and this they were commanded to do in remembrance of ,christ4--7,for a general treatment of the ,sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper1 see the author's ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #i47 ,the perversion of the sacrament is evidence of departure from the spirit of the gospel of ,christ1 and when made an essential dogma of a church is proof of the apostate condition of that church4 #bj4 ,behold1 they have transgressed the laws1 changed the ordinance1 broken the everlasting covenant4--7,see ,isaiah #bd3d-f47 ,,notes4 #a4 ,ceremonies ,added as a ,compromise4 ,both ,jews and heathens were accustomed to a vast variety of pompous and magnificent ceremonies in their religious service4 ,and as they considered these rites as an essential part of religion1 it was but natural that they should behold with indifference1 and even with contempt1 the simplicity of the ,christian worship1 which was destitute of those idle ceremonies that rendered their service so specious and striking4 ,to remove then1 in some measure1 this prejudice against ,christianity1 the bishops thought it necessary to increase the number of rites and ceremonies1 and thus to render the public worship more striking to the outward senses4 ,this addition of external rites was also designed to remove the opprobrious calumnies which the ,jewish and pagan priests cast upon the ,christians on account of the simplicity of their worship1 esteeming them little better than atheists1 because they had no temples1 altars1 victims1 priests1 nor anything of that external pomp in which the vulgar are so prone to place the essence of religion4 ,the rulers of the ,church adopted1 therefore1 certain external ceremonies1 that thus they might captivate the senses of the vulgar1 and be able to refute the reproaches of their adversaries4 7,mosheim1 ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,cent4 ,,ii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #d3b1 #c47 ,a note appended to the foregoing excerpt by the translator1 ,dr4 ,archibald ,maclaine1 reads as follows3 ,a remarkable passage in the life of ,gregory1 surnamed ,thaumaturgus1 i4 e41 the wonder worker1 will illustrate this point in the clearest manner4 ,the passage is as follows3 ',when ,gregory perceived that the ignorant multitude persisted in their idolatry1 on account of the pleasures and sensual gratifications which they enjoyed at the pagan festivals1 he granted them a permission to indulge themselves in the like pleasures1 in celebrating the memory of the holy martyrs1 hoping that in process of time1 they would return of their own accord to a more virtuous and regular course of life4' ,there is no sort of doubt1 but that by this permission1 ,gregory allowed the ,christians to dance1 sport1 and feast at the tombs of the martyrs upon their respective festivals1 and to do everything which the pagans were accustomed to do in their temples during the feasts celebrated in honor of their gods4 ,the ,gregory referred to in the note last quoted flourished about the middle of the third century4 ,he acquired the title ,thaumaturgus from his fame as a worker of miracles1 the genuineness of which achievements is disputed by many authorities4 ,he was bishop of ,new ,caesarea1 and a man of great influence in the ,church4 ,his sanction of ceremonies1 patterned after pagan rites1 was doubtless of far-reaching effect4 #b4 ,church ,ceremonial in the ,fifth ,century4 ,the sublime and simple theology of the primitive ,christians was gradually corrupted1 and the ,monarchy of heaven1 already clouded by metaphysical subtleties1 was degraded by the introduction of a popular mythology1 which tended to restore the reign of polytheism4 ,as the objects of religion were gradually reduced to the standard of the imagination1 the rites and ceremonies were introduced that seemed most powerfully to affect the senses of the vulgar4 ,if1 in the beginning of the fifth century1 ,tertullian or ,lactantius had been suddenly raised from the dead1 to assist at the festival of some popular saint or martyr1 they would have gazed with astonishment and indignation on the profane spectacle1 which had succeeded to the pure and spiritual worship of a ,christian congregation4 ,as soon as the doors of the ,church were thrown open they must have been offended by the smoke of incense1 the perfume of flowers1 and the glare of lamps and tapers1 which diffused1 at noonday1 a gaudy1 superfluous1 and1 in their opinion a sacriligious light4 ,if they approached the balustrade of the altar1 they made their way through the prostrate crowd1 consisting for the most part1 of strangers and pilgrims1 who resorted to the city on the vigil of the feast2 and who already felt the strong intoxication of fanaticism1 and perhaps of wine4 ,their devout kisses were imprinted on the walls and pavements of the sacred edifice2 and their fervent prayers were directed1 whatever might be the language of their church1 to the bones1 the blood1 or the ashes of the saints1 which were usually concealed by a linen or silken veil from the eyes of the vulgar4 ,the ,christians frequented the tombs of the martyrs1 in the hope of obtaining1 from their powerful intercession1 every sort of spiritual1 but more especially of temporal blessings4 99 99 99 ,the same uniform original spirit of superstition might suggest1 in the most distant ages and countries1 the same methods of deceiving the credulity1 and of affecting the services1 of mankind2 but it must ingeniously be confessed that the ministers of the ,catholic ,church imitated the profane model which they were impatient to destroy4 ,the most respectable bishops had persuaded themselves that the ignorant rustics would more cheerfully renounce the superstitions of ,paganism1 if they found some resemblance1 some compensation1 in the bosom of ,christianity4 ,the religion of ,constantine achieved1 in less than a century1 the final conquest of the ,roman empire2 but the victors themselves were insensibly subdued by the arts of their vanquished rivals4--7,gibbon1 ,decline and ,fall of the ,roman ,empire1 ch4 ,,xxviii47 #c4 ,early ,form of ,christian ,baptism4 ,history furnishes ample proof that in the first century after the death of ,christ1 baptism was administered solely by immersion4 ,tertullian thus refers to the immersion ceremony common in his day3 ,there is no difference whether one is washed in a sea or in a pool1 in a river or in a fountain1 in a lake or in a channel2 nor is there any difference between those whom ,john dipped in ,jordan1 and those whom ,peter dipped in the ,tiber4 99 99 99 ,we are immersed in the water4 ,justin ,martyr describes the ceremony as practiced by himself4 ,first describing the preparatory examination of the candidate1 he proceeds3 ,after that they are led by us to where there is water1 and are born again in that kind of new birth by which we ourselves were born again4 ,for in the name of ,god1 the ,father and ,lord of all1 and of ,jesus ,christ1 our ,savior1 and of the ,holy ,spirit1 the immersion in water is performed2 because the ,christ hath also said1 ',except a man be born again1 he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven4' ,bishop ,bennet says concerning the practices of the early ,christians3 ,they led them into the water and laid them down in the water as a man is laid in a grave2 and then they said those words1 ',i baptize 7or wash7 thee in the name of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost2' then they raised them up again1 and clean garments were put on them2 from whence came the phrases of being baptized into ,christ's death1 of being buried with ,him by baptism into death1 of our being risen with ,christ1 and of our putting on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 of putting off the old man1 and putting on the new4 ,that the apostles immersed whom they baptized there is no doubt4 99 99 99 ,and that the ancient church followed their example is very clearly evinced by innumerable testimonies of the fathers4--7,vossius47 ,burying as it were the person baptized in the water1 and raising him out again1 without question was anciently the more usual method4--7,archbishop ,seeker47 ,immersion was the usual method in which baptism was administered in the early ,church4 99 99 99 ,immersion was undoubtedly a common mode of administering baptism1 and was not discontinued when infant baptism prevailed4 99 99 99 ,sprinkling gradually took the place of immersion without any formal renunciation of the latter4--7,canon ,farrar47 #d4 ,historical ,notes on ,infant ,baptism4 ,the baptism of infants1 in the first two centuries after ,christ1 was altogether unknown4 99 99 99 ,the custom of baptizing infants did not begin before the third age after ,christ was born4 ,in the former ages no trace of it appears2 and it was introduced without the command of ,christ4--7,curcullaeus47 ,it is certain that ,christ did not ordain infant baptism4 99 99 99 ,we cannot prove that the apostles ordained infant baptism4 ,from those places where baptism of a whole family is mentioned 7as in ,acts #af3cc2 ,i ,cor4 #a3af7 we can draw no such conclusion1 because the inquiry is still to be made1 whether there were any children in the families of such an age that they were not capable of any intelligent reception of ,christianity2 for this is the only point on which the case turns4 99 99 99 ,as baptism was closely united with a conscious entrance on ,christian communion1 faith and baptism were always connected with one another2 and thus it is in the highest degree probable that baptism was performed only in instances where both could meet together1 and that the practice of infant baptism was unknown at this 7the apostolic7 period4 99 99 99 ,that not till so late a period as 7at least certainly not earlier than7 ,irenaeus1 a trace of infant baptism appears2 and that it first became recognized as an apostolic tradition in the course of the third century1 is evidence rather against than for the admission of its apostolic origin4--7,johann ,neander1 a ,german theologian who flourished in the first half of the nineteenth century47 ,let them therefore come when they are grown up--when they can understand--when they are taught whither they are to come4 ,let them become ,christians when they can know ,christ4--7,tertullian1 one of the ,latin ,christian ,fathers2 he lived from #aej to #bbj ,a4 ,d47 ,tertullian's almost violent opposition to the practice of pedo-baptism is cited by ,neander as a proof that it was then not usually considered an apostolic ordinance2 for in that case he would hardly have ventured to speak so strongly against it4 ,martin ,luther1 writing in the early part of the sixteenth century1 declared3 ,it cannot be proven by the sacred scriptures that infant baptism was instituted by ,christ1 or begun by the first ,christians after the apostles4 ,by tekna the ,apostle understands1 not infants1 but posterity2 in which significance the word occurs in many places of the ,new ,testament 7see among others ,john #h3ci72 whence it appears that the argument which is very commonly taken from this passage for the baptism of infants1 is of no force1 and good for nothing4--7,limborch1 a native of ,holland1 and a theologian of repute2 he lived #afcc-agab47 #e4 ,summary of ,changes in the ,sacrament as an ,ordinance4 ,errors concerning the sacrament1 and its signification1 and the manner of administering it1 grew rapidly in the professed ,christian churches during the early centuries of the ,christian era4 ,as soon as the power of the priesthood had departed1 much disputation arose in matters of ordinance1 and the observance of the sacrament became distorted4 ,theological teachers strove to foster the idea that there was much mystery attending this naturally simple and most impressive ordinance2 that all who were not in full communion with the ,church should be excluded1 not only from participation in the ordinance1 which was justifiable1 but from the privilege of witnessing the service1 lest they profane the mystic rite by their unhallowed presence4 ,then arose the heresy of transubstantiation1--which held that the sacramental emblems by the ceremony of consecration lost their natural character of simple bread and wine1 and became in reality flesh and blood1--actually parts of the crucified body of ,christ4 ,arguments against such dogmas is useless4 ,then followed the veneration of the emblems by the people1 the bread and wine--regarded as part of ,christ's tabernacle1 being elevated in the mass for the adoration of the people2 and later1 the custom of suppressing half of the sacrament was introduced4 ,by the innovation last mentioned1 only the bread was administered1 the dogmatic assertion being that both the body and the blood were represented in some mystical way in one of the 'elements4' ,certain it is1 that ,christ required ,his disciples to both eat and drink in remembrance of ,him4--7,the ,author1 ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #i1 ,note #d47 #f4 ,as to the ,antiquity of the ,doctrine of ,transubstantiation4 ,as stated in the text1 the date of origin of the ,catholic doctrine of transubstantiation has been debated4 ,the following summary is instructive4 ,protestants combatting the ,catholic idea of the real presence of the flesh and blood in the eucharist--transubstantiation-- have endeavored to prove that this doctrine was not of earlier origin than the eighth century4 ,in this1 however1 the evidence is against them4 ,ignatius1 bishop of ,antioch1 writing early in the second century1 says of certain supposed heretics3 ',they do not admit of eucharists and oblations1 because they do not believe the eucharist to be the flesh of our ,savior ,jesus ,christ1 who suffered for our sins4' 7,epistle of ,ignatius to the ,smyrneans47 ,so ,justin ,martyr1 also writing in the first half of the second century3 ',we do not receive them the bread and the wine as ordinary food or ordinary drink1 but as by the word of ,god1 ,jesus ,christ1 our ,savior1 was made flesh and took upon him both flesh and blood for our salvation1 so also the food which was blessed by the prayer of the word which proceeded from ,him1 and from which our flesh and blood1 by transmutation1 receive nourishment1 is1 we are taught1 both the flesh and blood of that ,jesus who was made flesh4' 7,justin's ,apology to ,emperor ,antoninus47 ,after ,justin's time the testimony of the fathers is abundant4 ,there can be no doubt as to the antiquity of the idea of the real presence of the body and blood of ,jesus in the eucharist2 but that proves--as we said of infant baptism--not that the doctrine is true1 but that soon after the apostles had passed away1 the simplicity of the gospel was corrupted or else entirely departed from4--7,b4 ,h4 ,roberts1 ,outlines of ,ecclesiastical ,history1 p4 #acc47 ,,chapter ,,ix4 9999,internal ,causes4--,continued99994 #a4 ,among the controlling causes leading to the general apostasy of the ,church1 we have specified as third in the series3 ,unauthorized changes in ,church organization and government4 #b4 ,a comparison between the plan of organization on which the ,primitive ,church was founded and the ecclesiastical system which took its place will afford valuable evidence as to the true or apostate condition of the modern ,church4 ,the ,primitive ,church was officered by apostles1 pastors1 high priests1 seventies1 elders1 bishops1 priests1 teachers1 and deacons4--7,see ,luke #f3ac and ,mark #c3ad2 ,eph4 #d3aa2 ,heb4 #e3a-e2 ,luke #aj3a-aa2 ,acts #ad3bc2 #ae3f2 ,i ,peter #e3a2 ,i ,tim4 #c3a2 ,titus #a3ag2 ,rev4 #a3f2 ,acts #ac3a2 ,i ,tim4 #c3h-ab47 ,we have no evidence that the presiding council of the ,church1 comprising the twelve apostles1 was continued beyond the earthly ministry of those who had been ordained to that holy calling during the life of ,christ or soon after ,his ascension4 ,nor is there record of any ordination of individuals to the apostleship1 irrespective of membership in the council of twelve1 beyond those whose calling and ministry are chronicled in the ,new ,testament1 which1 as a historical record1 ends with the first century4 #c4 ,ecclesiastical history other than the holy scriptures informs us1 however1 that wherever a branch1 or church1 was organized1 a bishop or an elder 7presbyter7 was placed in charge4 ,there is no doubt that while the apostles lived1 they were recognized and respected as the presiding authorities of the ,church4 ,as they established branches or churches1 they selected the bishops1 and submitted their nominations to the vote of the members4 ,as already stated1 the principle of self-government1 or common consent1 was respected in apostolic days with a care amounting to sacred duty4 ,we read that the bishops were assisted in their local administration by presbyters and deacons4 #d4 ,after the apostles had gone1 bishops and other officers were nominated by1 or at the instance of1 the existing authorities4 ,the affairs of each church or branch were conducted and regulated by the local officers1 so that a marked equality existed among the several churches1 none exercising or claiming supremacy except as to the deference voluntarily paid to those churches that had been organized by the personal ministry of the apostles4 ,throughout the first and the greater part of the second century1 the ,christian churches were independent of each other2 nor were they joined together by association1 confederacy1 or other bonds but those of charity4 ,each ,christian assembly was a little state1 governed by its own laws1 which were either enacted1 or1 at least1 approved by the society4-- 7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,ii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #b3b47 #e4 ,as with the churches1 so with their bishops1--there was a recognized equality among them4 ,late in the second1 and throughout the third century1 however1 marked distinctions and recognitions of rank arose among the bishops1 those of large and wealthy cities assuming authority and dignity above that accorded by them to the bishops of the country provinces4 ,the bishops of the largest cities or provinces1 took to themselves the distinguishing title of ,metropolitans1--7,see ,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,ii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #b3c2 also ,cent4 ,,iv1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #b3c1 and compare ,cent4 ,i1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #b3ad47 and assumed a power of presidency over the bishops of more limited jurisdiction4 #f4 ,the second century was marked by the custom of holding synods or church councils2 the practice originated among the churches in ,greece1 and thence became general4 ,these councils grew rapidly in power1 so that in the third century we find them legislating for the churches1 and directing by edict and command in matters which formerly had been left to the vote of the people4 ,needless to say that with such assumptions of authority came arrogance and tyranny in the government of the ,church4 ,as the form of church government changed more and more1 many minor orders of clergy or church officers arose2 thus in the third century we read of sub-deacons1 acolytes1 ostiars1 readers1 exorcists1 and copiates4 ,as an instance of the pride of office1 it is worthy of note that a sub-deacon was forbidden to sit in the presence of a deacon without the latter's express consent4 #g4 ,rome1 so long the mistress of the world in secular affairs1 arrogated to herself a pre-eminence in church matters1 and the bishop of ,rome claimed supremacy4 ,it is doubtless true that the church at ,rome was organized by ,peter and ,paul4 ,tradition1 founded on error1 said that the apostle ,peter was the first bishop of ,rome2 and those who successively were acknowledged as bishops of the metropolis claimed to be1 in fact1 lineal successors of the presiding apostle4 ,the high but none the less false claim is made by the ,catholic ,church in this day1 that the present pope is the last lineal successor--not alone to the bishopric but to the apostleship4 #h4 ,the rightful supremacy of the bishops of ,rome1 or ,roman pontiffs as they came to be known1 was early questioned2 and when ,constantine made ,byzantium1 or ,constantinople1 the capital of the empire1 the bishop of ,constantinople claimed equality4 ,the dispute divided the ,church1 and for five hundred years the dissension increased1 until in the ninth century 7#hee ,a4 ,d47 it developed into a great disruption1 in consequence of which the bishop of ,constantinople1 known distinctively as the patriarch1 disavowed all further allegiance to the bishop of ,rome1 otherwise known as the ,roman pontiff4 ,this disruption is marked today by the distinction between ,roman ,catholics4 #i4 ,the election of pontiff1 or bishop of ,rome1 was long left to the vote of the people and clergy2 later the electoral function was vested in the clergy alone2 and in the eleventh century the power was lodged in the college of cardinals1 where it remains vested today4 ,the ,roman pontiffs strove with unremitting zeal to acquire temporal as well as spiritual authority2 and their influence had become so great that in the eleventh century we find them claiming the right to direct princes1 kings1 and emperors in the affairs of the several nations4 ,it was at this1 the early period of their greatest temporal power1 that the pontiffs took the title of pope1 the word meaning literally papa or father1 and applied in the sense of universal parent4 ,the power of the popes was increased during the twelfth century1 and may be said to have reached its height in the thirteenth century4 #aj4 ,not content with assumed supremacy in all church affairs1 the popes carried their insolent pretensions so far as to give themselves out for lords of the universe1 arbiters of the fate of kingdoms and empires1 and supreme rulers over the kings and princes of the earth4--7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,xi1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #b3b47 ,they claimed the right to authorize and direct in the internal affairs of nations1 and to make lawful the rebellion of subjects against their rulers if the latter failed to keep favor with the papal power4 #aa4 ,compare this arrogant and tyrannical church of the world with the ,church of ,christ4 ,unto ,pilate our ,lord declared1 ,my kingdom is not of this world4--7,john #ah3cf47 and on an earlier occasion1 when the people would have proclaimed ,him king with earthly dominion1--7,john #f3ae47 ,he departed from them4 ,yet the ,church that boasts of its divine origin as founded by the ,christ1 who would not be a king1 lifts itself above all kings and rulers1 and proclaims itself the supreme power in the affairs of nations4 #ab4 ,in the fourth century the ,church had promulgated what has been since designated as an infamy1 viz43 that errors in religion1 when maintained and adhered to after proper admonition1 were punishable with civil penalties1 and corporal tortures4--7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,iv1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #c3af47 ,the effect of this unjust rule appeared as more and more atrocious with the passage of the years1 so that in the eleventh century1 and later1 we find the ,church imposing punishment of fine1 imprisonment1 bodily torture1 and even death1 as penalties for infraction of church regulations1 and1 more infamous still1 providing for mitigation or annulment of such sentences on payment of money4 ,this led to the shocking practice of selling indulgences or pardons1 which custom was afterwards carried to the awful extreme of issuing such before the commission of the specific offense1 thus literally offering for sale licenses to sin1 with assurance of temporal and promise of spiritual immunity4 #ac4 ,the granting of indulgences as exemptions from temporal penalties was at first confined to the bishops and their agents1 and the practice dates as an organized traffic from about the middle of the twelfth century4 ,it remained for the popes1 however1 to go to the blasphemous extreme of assuming to remit the penalties of the hereafter on payment of the sums prescribed4 ,their pretended justification of the impious assumption was as horrible as the act itself1 and constitutes the dreadful doctrine of supererogation4 #ad4 ,as formulated in the thirteenth century1 this doctrine was thus set forth3 ,that there actually existed an immense treasure of merit1 composed of the pious deeds and virtuous actions which the saints had performed beyond what was necessary for their own salvation1 and which were therefore applicable to the benefit of others2 that the guardian and dispenser of this precious treasure was the ,roman pontiff1 and that of consequence he was empowered to assign to such as he thought proper a portion of this inexhaustible source of merit1 suitable to their respective guilt1 and sufficient to deliver them from the punishment due to their crimes4--7,as cited by ,mosheim2 see ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,xii1 ,part ,,ii1 ch4 #c3d47 #ae4 ,the doctrine of supererogation is as unreasonable as it is unscriptural and untrue4 ,man's individual responsibility for his acts is as surely a fact as is his agency to act for himself4 ,he will be saved through the merits and by the atoning sacrifice of our ,redeemer and ,lord2 and his claim upon the salvation provided is strictly dependent on his compliance with the principles and ordinances of the gospel as established by ,jesus ,christ4 ,remission of sins and the eventual salvation of the human soul are provided for2 but these gifts of ,god are not to be purchased with money4 ,compare the awful fallacies of supererogation and the blasphemous practice of assuming to remit sins of one man in consideration of the merits of another1 with the declaration of the one and only ,savior of mankind3 ,but ,i say unto you1 that every idle word that men shall speak1 they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment4--7,matt4 #ab3cf47 ,his inspired apostles1 seeing in prophetic vision the day of awful certainty1 solemnly testifies1 ,and ,i saw the dead1 small and great1 stand before ,god2 and the books were opened3 and another book was opened1 which is the book of life3 and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books1 according to their works4 ,and the sea gave up the dead which were in it2 and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them3 and they were judged every man according to their works4--7,rev4 #bj3ab1 #ac4 ,italics intro47 #af4 ,the scriptures proclaim the eternal fact of individual accountability2--7,for a concise treatment of the doctrine of man's responsibility see the author's ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #c47 the ,church in the days of its degeneracy declares that the merit of one may be bought by another and paid for in worldly coin4 ,can such a ,church be in any measure the ,church of ,christ8 #ag4 ,in illustration of the indulgences as sold in ,germany in the sixteenth century1 we have the record of the doings of ,john ,tetzel1 agent of the pope1 who traveled about selling forgiveness of sins4 ,says ,milner3 ,myconius assures us that he himself heard ,tetzel declaim with incredible effrontery concerning the unlimited power of the pope and the efficacy of indulgences4 ,the people believed that the moment any person had paid the money for the indulgence he became certain of his salvation2 and that the souls for whom the indulgences were bought were instantly released out of purgatory4 99 99 99 ,john ,tetzel boasted that he had saved more souls from hell by his indulgences than ,st4 ,peter had converted to ,christianity by his preaching4 ,he assured the purchasers of them1 their crimes1 however enormous1 would be forgiven2 whence it became almost needless for him to bid them dismiss all fears concerning their salvation4 ,for1 remission of sins being fully obtained1 what doubt could there be of salvation8--7,milner1 ,history of the ,church1 ,cent4 ,,xvi1 ch4 #b47 #ah4 ,a copy of an indulgence written by the hand of ,tetzel1 the vendor of popish pardons1 has been preserved to us as follows3 ,may our ,lord1 ,jesus ,christ1 have mercy upon thee and absolve thee by the merits of ,his most holy passion4 ,and ,i1 by ,his authority1 that of ,his ,apostles ,peter and ,paul1 and of the most holy pope granted and committed to me in these parts1 do absolve thee1 first from all ecclesiastical censures1 in whatever manner they have been incurred2 and then from all the sins1 transgressions1 and excesses1 how enormous soever they may be1 even for such as are reserved for the cognizance of the holy see2 and as far as the keys of the holy church extend1 ,i remit to thee all the punishment which thou deservest in purgatory on their account2 and ,i restore thee to the holy sacraments of the church1 to the unity of the faithful1 and to that innocence and purity which thou possessedst at baptism2 so that when thou diest1 the gates of punishment shall be shut1 and the gates of the paradise of delight shall be opened2 and if thou shalt not die at present1 this grace shall remain in full force when thou art at the point of death4 ,in the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost4--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,xvi1 ch4 #b47 #ai4 ,by way of excuse or defense1 it has been claimed for the ,roman ,catholic ,church that a profession of contrition or repentance was required of every applicant for indulgence1 and that the pardon was issued on the basis of such penitence1 and not primarily for money or its equivalent2 but that recipients of indulgences1 at first voluntarily1 and later in compliance with established custom1 made a material offering or donation to the ,church4 ,it is reported1 moreover1 that some of the abuses with which the selling of indulgences had been associated were disapproved by the ,council of ,trent1 about the middle of the sixteenth century4 ,nevertheless1 the dread fact remains that for four hundred years the ,church had claimed for its pope the power to remit all sins1 and that the promise of remission had been sold and bought4--7,see ,note #a1 end of chapter47 #bj4 ,the awful sin of blasphemy consists in taking to one's self the divine prerogatives and powers4 ,here we find the pope of ,rome1 the head of the only church recognized at the time1 assuming to remit the punishment due in the hereafter for sins committed in mortality4 ,a pope assuming to sit in judgment as ,god ,himself6 ,is this not a fulfilment of the dread conditions of apostasy foreseen and foretold as antecedent to the second advent of ,christ8 ,read for yourselves3 ,let no man deceive you by any means3 for that day shall not come1 except there come a falling away first1 and that man of sin be revealed1 the son of perdition2 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called ,god1 or that is worshipped3 so that he as ,god sitteth in the temple of ,god1 shewing himself that he is ,god4--7,thess4 #b3c1 #d4 ,italics introduced4 ,see ,note #d1 end of chapter47 #ba4 ,another abuse perpetrated by the councils through which assemblies the supreme pontiffs exercised their autocratic powers1 is seen in the restrictions placed on the reading and interpretation of scripture4 ,the same ,council of ,trent1 which had disclaimed authority or blame for the acts of church officials regarding the scandalous traffic in indulgences1 prescribed most rigid regulations forbidding the reading of the scriptures by the people4 ,thus3 ,a severe and intolerable law was enacted1 with respect to all interpreters and expositors of the scriptures1 by which they were forbidden to explain the sense of these divine books1 in matters of faith and practice1 in such a manner as to make them speak a different language from that of the church and the ancient doctors4 ,the same law further declared that the church alone 7i4 e41 its ruler1 the ,roman pontiff7 had the right of determining the true meaning and signification of scripture4 ,to fill up the measure of these tyrannical and iniquitous proceedings1 the church of ,rome persisted obstinately in affirming1 though not always with the same imprudence and plainness of speech1 that the holy scriptures were not composed for the use of the multitude1 but only for that of their spiritual teachers2 and1 of consequence1 ordered these divine records to be taken from the people in all places where it was allowed to execute its imperious demands4--7,mosheim1 ,eccl4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,xvi1 ,part ,i1 ch4 #a3be4 ,the italics are introduced by the present writer47 #bb4 ,is it possible that a church teaching such heresies can be the ,church established by ,jesus ,christ8 ,the ,lord ,jesus commanded all3 ,search the scriptures2 for in them ye think ye have eternal life3 and they are they which testify of me4--7,john #e3ci2 compare verse #df2 also ,isaiah #h3bj2 ,luke #af3bi2 and ,acts #ag3aa47 #bc4 ,surely a pall of darkness had fallen upon the earth4 ,the ,church of ,christ had long since ceased to exist4 ,in place of a priesthood conferred by divine authority1 a man-created papacy ruled with the iron hand of tyranny and without regard to moral restraint4 ,in a scholarly work ,dr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,draper gives a list of pontiffs who had stood at the head of the ,church from the middle of the eighth to the middle of the eleventh centuries1 with biographical notes of each4--7,see ,note #c1 end of chapter47 ,and what a picture is there outlined6 ,to win the papal crown no crime was too great1 and for a period of centuries the immoralities of many of the popes and their subordinates are too shocking for detailed description4 ,it may be claimed that the author last cited1 and whose words are given below1 was an avowed opponent of the ,roman ,catholic ,church1 and that1 therefore1 his judgment is prejudiced2 in reply let it be said that the attested facts of history support the dread arraignment4 ,in commenting on the facts set forth1 ,dr4 ,draper says3 #bd4 ,more than a thousand years had elapsed since the birth of our ,savior1 and such was the condition of ,rome4 ,well may the historian shut the annals of those times in disgust4 ,well may the heart of the ,christian sink within him at such a catalogue of hideous crimes4 ,well may we ask1 ,were these the vicegerents of ,god upon earth--these1 who had truly reached the goal beyond which the last effort of human wickedness cannot pass8 ,not until several centuries after these events did public opinion come to the true and philosophical conclusion--the total rejection of the divine claims of the papacy4 ,for a time the evils were attributed to the manner of the pontifical election1 as if they could by any possibility influence the descent of a power which claimed to be supernatural and under the immediate care of ,god4 99 99 99 ,no one can study the development of the ,italian ecclesiastical power without discovering how completely it depended on human agency1 too often on human passion and intrigue2 how completely wanting it was of any mark of the divine construction and care--the offspring of man1 not of ,god1 and therefore bearing upon it the lineaments of human passions1 human virtues1 and human sins4--7,draper1 ,intellectual ,development of ,europe2 ,vol4 #a1 p4 #chb47 #be4 ,by increasing changes and unauthorized alterations in organization and government1 the earthly establishment known as the ,church1 with popes1 cardinals1 abbots1 friars1 monks1 exorcists1 acolytes1 etc41 lost all semblance to the ,church as established by ,christ and maintained by ,his apostles4 ,the ,catholic argument that there has been an uninterrupted succession of authority in the priesthood from the ,apostle ,peter to the present occupant of the papal throne1 is untenable in the light of history1 and unreasonable in the light of fact4 ,authority to speak and act in the name of ,god1 power to officiate in the saving ordinances of the gospel of ,christ1 the high privilege of serving as a duly commissioned ambassador of the court of ,heaven1--these are not to be had as the gifts of princes1 nor are they to be bought for money1 nor can they be won as trophies of the bloody sword4 ,the history of the papacy is the condemnation of the ,church of ,rome4--7,see ,notes #b and #c1 end of chapter47 ,,notes4 #a4 ,the ,roman ,church ,responsible for the ,traffic in ,indulgences4 ,in view of the claim asserted by some defenders of the ,roman ,church1 to the effect that the shameful traffic in indulgences was not sanctioned by the church1 and that the church cannot be held accountable for the excesses to which its subordinates may go in their alleged official acts1 the following remarks by ,milner1 the judicious authority on ,church ,history 7,cent4 ,,xvi1 chap4 #b471 may be of interest3 ,it does not appear that the rulers of the hierarchy ever found the least fault with ,tetzel as exceeding his commission1 till an opposition was openly made to the practice of indulgences4 ,whence it is evident1 that the protestants have not unjustly censured the corruption of the court of ,rome in this respect4 99 99 99 ,the indulgences were farmed to the highest bidders1 and the undertakers employed such deputies to carry on the traffic as they thought most likely to promote their lucrative views4 ,the inferior officers concerned in this commerce were daily seen in public houses enjoying themselves in riot and voluptuousness 7,maimbourg1 p4 #aa74 ,in fine1 whatever the greatest enemy of popery could have wished1 was at that time exhibited with the most undisguised impudence and temerity1 as if on purpose to render that wicked ecclesiastical system infamous before all mankind4 ,the author proceeds to comment on the graded prices by which these indulgences were placed within the pecuniary reach of all classes1 and finds in the wholesale traffic proof of profound ignorance and dire superstition1 and then points out the need of a new gospel dispensation as follows3 ,this1 however1 was the very situation of things which opened the way for the reception of the gospel4 ,but who was to proclaim the gospel in its native beauty and simplicity8 ,the princes1 the bishops1 and the learned men of the times saw all this scandalous traffic respecting the pardon of sins2 but none was found who possessed the knowledge1 the courage1 and the honesty1 necessary to detect the fraud1 and to lay open to mankind the true doctrine of salvation by the remission of sins through ,jesus ,christ4 ,milner finds the inauguration of a new era in the ,reformation during the sixteenth century4 ,it is sufficient for our present purpose to know that he recognized the need of preparation whereby the way would be opened for the reception of the gospel4--7,milner1 ,ch4 ,hist41 ,cent4 ,,xvi1 ch4 #b2 italics introduced47 #b4 ,three ,popes at ,one ,time4 ,one of the severest blows given both the temporal and the spiritual authority of the popes1 was the removal1 in #acji1 through the influence of the ,french king1 ,philip the ,fair1 of the papal chair from ,rome to ,avignon1 in ,provence1 near the frontier of ,france4 ,here it remained for a space of about seventy years1 an era known in church history as the ,babylonian ,captivity4 ,while it was established here1 all the popes were ,french1 and of course all their policies were shaped and controlled by the ,french kings4 99 99 99 ,the discontent awakened among the ,italians by the situation of the papal court at length led to an open rupture between them and the ,french party4 ,in #acgh the opposing factions each elected a pope1 and thus there were two heads of the church1 one at ,avignon and the other at ,rome4 ,the spectacle of two rival popes1 each claiming to be the rightful successor of ,st4 ,peter1 and the sole infallible head of the church1 very naturally led men to question the claims and infallibility of both4 ,it gave the reverence which the world had so generally held for the ,roman ,see a rude shock1 and one from which it never recovered4 ,finally1 in #adji1 a general council of the church assembled at ,pisa1 for the purpose of composing the shameful quarrel4 ,the council deposed both popes1 and elected ,alexander ,v as the supreme head of the church4 ,but matters1 instead of being mended hereby1 were only made worse2 for neither of the deposed pontiffs would lay down his authority in obedience to the demands of the council1 and consequently there were now three popes instead of two4 ,in #adad another council was called1 at ,constance1 for the settlement of the growing dispute4 ,two of the claimants were deposed and one resigned4 ,a new pope was then elected--,pope ,martin ,v4 ,in his person the ,catholic world was again united under a single spiritual head4 ,the schism was outwardly healed1 but the wound had been too deep not to leave permanent marks upon the church4--7,p4 ,v4 ,n4 ,meyers1 ,gen4 ,hist41 pp4 #deg1 #deh4 ,italics introduced47 ,the rupture between the ,french and ,italian factions1 referred to by ,meyers in the quotation given above1 is known in history as the ,great ,schism4 ,it may be regarded as the decisive beginning of decline in the temporal power of the popes4 #c4 ,the ,papacy ,condemns ,itself4 ,the line of succession in the papacy for a limited period as referred to in the text1 is given by ,draper as follows3 ,to some it might seem1 considering the interests of religion alone1 desirable to omit all biographical reference to the popes2 but this cannot be done with justice to the subject4 ,the essential principle of the papacy1 that the ,roman pontiff is the vicar of ,christ upon earth1 necessarily obtrudes his personal relations upon us4 ,how shall we understand his faith unless we see it illustrated in his life8 ,indeed1 the unhappy character of those relations was the inciting cause of the movements in ,germany1 ,france1 and ,england1 ending in the extinction of the papacy as an actual political power1 movements to be understood only through a sufficient knowledge of the private lives and opinions of the popes4 ,it is well1 as far as possible1 to abstain from burdening systems with the imperfections of individuals4 ,in this case they are inseparably interwoven4 ,the signal peculiarity of the papacy is that1 though its history may be imposing1 its biography is infamous4 ,i shall1 however1 forbear to speak of it in this latter respect more than the occasion seems necessarily to require2 shall pass in silence some of those cases which would profoundly shock my religious reader1 and therefore restrict myself to the ages between the middle of the eighth and the middle of the eleventh centuries1 excusing myself to the impartial critic by the apology that these were the ages with which ,i have been chiefly concerned in this chapter4 ,on the death of ,pope ,paul ,i1 who had attained the pontificate ,a4 ,d4 #geg1 the ,duke of ,nepi compelled some bishops to consecrate ,constantine1 one of his brothers1 as pope2 but more legitimate electors subsequently1 ,a4 ,d4 #gfh1 choosing ,stephen ,,iv1 the usurper and his adherents were severely punished2 the eyes of ,constantine were put out2 the tongue of the ,bishop ,theodoras was amputated1 and he was left in a dungeon to expire in the agonies of thirst4 ,the nephews of ,pope ,adrian seized his successor1 ,pope ,leo ,,iii1 ,a4 ,d4 #gi1 in the street1 and1 forcing him into a neighboring church1 attempted to put out his eyes and cut out his tongue2 at a later period1 this pontiff1 trying to suppress a conspiracy to depose him1 ,rome became the scene of rebellion1 murder and conflagration4 ,his successor1 ,stephen ,v1 ,a4 ,d4 #haf1 was ignominiously driven from the city3 his successor1 ,paschal ,i1 was accused of blinding and murdering two ecclesiastics in the ,lateran ,palace2 it was necessary that imperial commissioners should investigate the matter1 but the pope died1 after having exculpated himself by oath before thirty bishops4 ,john ,,viii1 ,a4 ,d4 #hgb1 unable to resist the ,mohammedans1 was compelled to pay them tribute2 the ,bishop of ,naples1 maintaining a secret alliance with them1 received his share of the plunder they collected4 ,him ,john excommunicated1 nor would he give him absolution unless he would betray the chief ,mohammedans and assassinate others himself4 ,there was an ecclesiastical conspiracy to murder the pope2 some of the treasures of the church were seized2 and the gate of ,st4 ,pancrazia was opened with false keys1 to admit the ,saracens into the city4 ,formosus1 who had been engaged in these transactions1 and excommunicated as a conspirator for the murder of ,john1 was subsequently elected pope1 ,a4 ,d4 #hia2 he was succeeded by ,boniface ,,vi1 ,a4 ,d4 #hif1 who had been deposed from the diaconate1 and again from the priesthood1 for his immoral and lewd life4 ,by ,stephen ,,vii1 who followed1 the dead body of ,formosus was taken from the grave1 clothed in the papal habilaments1 propped in a chair1 tried before a council1 and the preposterous and indecent scene completed by cutting off three of the fingers of the corpse and casting it into the ,tiber2 but ,stephen himself was destined to exemplify how low the papacy had fallen3 he was thrown into prison and strangled4 ,in the course of five years1 from ,a4 ,d4 #hif to ,a4 ,d4 #ijj1 five popes were consecrated4 ,leo ,v1 who succeeded in ,a4 ,d4 #ijd1 was in less than two months thrown into prison by ,christopher1 one of his chaplains1 who usurped his place1 and who1 in his turn1 was shortly expelled from ,rome by ,sergius ,,iii1 who1 by the aid of a military force1 seized the pontificate1 ,a4 ,d4 #ije4 ,this man1 according to the testimony of the times1 lived in criminal intercourse with the celebrated prostitute ,theodora1 who1 with her daughters ,marozia and ,theodora1 also prostitutes1 exercised an extraordinary control over him4 ,the love of ,theodora was also shared by ,john ,x3 she gave him first the archbishopric of ,ravenna1 and then translated him to ,rome1 ,a4 ,d4 #iae1 as pope4 ,john was not unsuited to the times2 he organized a confederacy which perhaps prevented ,rome from being captured by the ,saracens1 and the world was astonished and edified by the appearance of this warlike pontiff at the head of his troops4 ,by the love of ,theodora1 as was said1 he had maintained himself in the papacy for fourteen years2 by the intrigues and hatred of her daughter ,marozia he was overthrown4 ,she surprised him in the ,lateran ,palace2 killed his brother ,peter before his face2 threw him into prison1 where he soon died1 smothered1 as was asserted1 with a pillow4 ,after a short interval ,marozia made her own son pope as ,john ,,xi1 ,a4 ,d4 #ica4 ,many affirmed that ,pope ,sergius was his father1 but she herself inclined to attribute him to her husband1 ,alberic1 whose brother ,guido she subsequently married4 ,another of her sons1 ,alberic1 so called from his supposed father1 jealous of his brother ,john1 cast him and their mother ,marozia into prison4 ,after a time ,alberic's son was elected pope1 ,a4 ,d4 #ief2 he assumed the title of ,john ,,xii1 the amorous ,marozia thus having given a son and a grandson to the papacy4 ,john was only nineteen years old when he thus became the head of ,christendom4 ,his reign was characterized by the most shocking immoralities1 so that the ,emperor ,otho ,i was compelled by the ,german clergy to interfere4 ,a synod was summoned for his trial in the ,church of ,st4 ,peter1 before which it appeared that ,john had received bribes for the consecration of bishops2 that he had ordained one who was but ten years old1 and had performed that ceremony over another in a stable2 he was charged with incest with one of his father's concubines1 and with so many adulteries that the ,lateran ,palace had become a brothel2 he put out the eyes of one ecclesiastic1 and castrated another1 both dying in consequence of their injuries2 he was given to drunkenness1 gambling and the invocation of ,jupiter and ,venus4 ,when cited to appear before the council1 he sent word that 'he had gone out hunting2' and to the fathers who remonstrated with him1 he threateningly remarked 'that ,judas1 as well as the other disciples1 received from his ,master the power of binding and loosing1 but that as soon as he proved a traitor to the common cause1 the only power he retained was that of binding his own neck4' ,hereupon he was deposed1 and ,leo ,,viii elected in his stead1 ,a4 ,d4 #ifc2 but subsequently getting the upper hand1 he seized his antagonists1 cut off the hand of one1 the nose1 finger1 tongue of others4 ,his life was eventually brought to an end by the vengeance of a man whose wife he had seduced4 ,after such details it is almost needless to allude to the annals of succeeding popes3 to relate that ,john ,,xiii was strangled in prison2 that ,boniface ,,vii imprisoned ,benedict ,,vii and killed him by starvation2 that ,john ,,xiv was secretly put to death in the dungeons of the ,castle of ,st4 ,angelo2 that the corpse of ,boniface was dragged by the populace through the streets4 ,the sentiment of reverence for the sovereign pontiff1 nay1 even of respect1 had become extinct in ,rome2 throughout ,europe the clergy were so shocked at the state of things1 that1 in their indignation1 they began to look with approbation on the intention of the ,emperor ,otho to take from the ,italians their privilege of appointing the successor of ,st4 ,peter1 and confine it to his own family4 ,but his kinsman ,gregory ,v1 whom he placed on the pontifical throne1 was very soon compelled by the ,romans to fly2 his excommunications and religious thunders were turned into derision by them2 they were too well acquainted with the true nature of those terrors2 they were living behind the scenes4 ,a terrible punishment awaited the ,anti-,pope ,john ,,xvi4 ,otho returned into ,italy1 seized him1 put out his eyes1 cut off his nose and tongue1 and sent him through the streets mounted on an ass1 with his face to the tail1 and a winebladder on his head4 ,it seemed impossible that things could become worse1 yet ,rome had still to see ,benedict ,,ix1 ,a4 ,d4 #ajcc1 a boy of less than twelve years1 raised to the apostolic throne4 ,of this pontiff1 one of his successors1 ,victor ,,iii1 declared that his life was so shameful1 so foul1 so execrable1 that he shuddered to describe it4 ,he ruled like a captain of banditti rather than a prelate4 ,the people at last1 unable to bear his adulteries1 homicides1 and abominations any longer1 rose against him4 ,in despair of maintaining his position1 he put the papacy up at auction4 ,it was bought by a presbyter named ,john1 who became ,gregory ,,vi1 ,a4 ,d4 #ajde4--7;,j4 ,w4 ,draper1 ,intellectual ,development of ,europe1 ,vol4 #a1 ch4 ,,xii1 pp4 #cgh-cha47 #d4 ,commentary on the ,passage from ,,ii ,thess4 #b3c1 #d4 ,it should be remembered that the application of ,paul's declaration as to the apostasy made in the text1 is the one generally made by theologians of ,protestant denominations4 ,it is in no way peculiar to the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,let us read the passage again3 ,let no man deceive you by any means3 for that day the day of ,christ's promised advent shall not come except there come a falling away first1 and that man of sin be revealed1 the son of perdition2 who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called ,god1 or that is worshipped2 so that he as ,god sitteth in the temple of ,god1 shewing himself that he is ,god4 ,in his ,bible ,commentary1 ,dr4 ,adam ,clarke says of this scripture3 ,the general run of ,protestant writers understand the whole as referring to the popes and church of ,rome1 or the whole system of the papacy4 99 99 99 ,bishop ,newton has examined the whole prophecy with his usual skill and judgment4 99 99 99 ,the principal part of modern commentators follow his steps4 ,he applies the whole to the ,romish church3 the apostasy1 its defection from the pure doctrines of ,christianity2 and the 'man of sin1' etc41 the general succession of the popes of ,rome4 ,an abridgment of ,bishop ,newton's interpretation is then added2 this1 in part1 is as follows3 ,for that day shall not come except1 etc4--,the day of ,christ shall not come except there come the apostasy first4 ,the apostasy here described is plainly not of a civil1 but of a religious nature2 not a revolt from the government1 but a defection from the true religion and worship4 99 99 99 ,so that he as ,god sitteth in the temple1 etc4--,by the temple of ,god the apostle could not well mean the temple of ,jerusalem1 because that1 he knew1 would be destroyed within a few years4 ,after the death of ,christ1 the temple of ,jerusalem is never called the temple of ,god2 and if1 at any time1 they make mention of the house or temple of ,god1 they mean the church in general or every particular believer4 ,whoever will consult ,i ,cor4 #c3af1 #ag2 ,,ii ,cor4 #f3af2 ,i ,tim4 #c3ae2 ,rev4 #c3ab1 will want no examples to prove that under the gospel dispensation1 the temple of ,god is the ,church of ,christ2 and the man of sin's sitting implies his ruling and presiding there4 99 99 99 ,upon this survey1 there appears little room to doubt of the general sense and meaning of the passage4 ,the ,thessalonians1 7as we have seen from some expressions in the former epistle17 were alarmed as if the end of the world was at hand4 ,the apostle1 to correct their mistake and dissipate their fears1 assures them that a great apostasy or defection of the ,christians from the true faith and worship must happen before the coming of ,christ4 ,this apostasy1 all the concurrent marks and characters will justify us in charging upon the church of ,rome4 ,the true ,christian worship is the worship of the only true ,god1 through the one only ,mediator1 the man ,jesus ,christ1 and from this worship the church of ,rome has most notoriously departed1 by substituting other mediators1 and invoking and adoring saints and angels2 nothing is apostasy if idolatry be not4 99 99 99 ,if the apostasy be rightly charged upon the church of ,rome1 it follows1 of consequence1 that the 'man of sin' is the pope1 not meaning any pope in particular1 but the pope in general1 as the chief head and supporter of this apostasy4 ,the opinion of ,dr4 ,mac,knight is also cited with approval by ,clarke4 ,in his ,commentary and ,notes--7,vol4 ,,iii1 p4 #ajj1 etc47 ,mac,knight says3 ,as it is said1 the man of sin was to be revealed in his season1 there can be little doubt that the dark ages1 in which all learning was overturned by the irruption of the northern barbarians1 were the season allotted to the man of sin for revealing himself4 ,accordingly we know1 that in these ages1 the corruptions of ,christianity1 and the usurpations of the clergy1 were carried to the greatest height4 ,in short1 the annals of the world cannot produce persons and events to which the things written in this passage can be applied with so much fitness as to the bishops of ,rome4 ,,chapter ,x4 9999,results of the ,apostasy4--,its ,sequel99994 #a4 ,the thoroughly apostate and utterly corrupt condition of the ,church of ,rome as proclaimed by its history down to the end of the fifteenth century1--7,see ,note #a1 end of chapter47 was necessarily accompanied by absence of all spiritual sanctity and power1 whatever may have been the arrogant assumptions of the ,church as to authority in spiritual affairs4 ,revolts against the ,church1 both as rebellion against her tyranny and in protest against her heresies1 were not lacking4 ,the most significant of these anti-church agitations arose in connection with the awakening of intellectual activity which began in the latter part of the fourteenth century4 ,the period from the tenth century onward to the time of the awakening has come to be known as the dark ages--characterized by stagnation in the progress of the useful arts and sciences as well as of fine arts and letters1 and by a general condition of illiteracy and ignorance among the masses4 #b4 ,ignorance is a fertile soil for evil growths1 and the despotic government and doctrinal fallacies of the ,church during this period of darkness were nourished by the ignorance of the times4 ,with the change known in history as the revival of learning came the struggle for freedom from churchly tyranny4 #c4 ,one of the early revolts against the temporal and spiritual despotism of the papal church was that of the ,albigenses in ,france during the thirteenth century4 ,this uprising had been crushed by the papal autocracy with much cruelty and bloodshed4 ,the next notable revolt was that of ,john ,wickliffe in the fourteenth century4 ,wickliffe was a professor in ,oxford university1 ,england4 ,he boldly assailed the evergrowing and greatly abused power of the monks1 and denounced the corruption of the ,church and the prevalence of doctrinal errors4 ,he was particularly emphatic in his opposition to the papal restrictions as to the popular study of the scriptures1 and gave to the world an ,english version of the ,holy ,bible translated from the ,vulgate4 ,in spite of persecution and sentence1 he died a natural death2 but years afterward the ,church insisted on revenge1 and in consequence1 his bones were exhumed and burned1 and the ashes scattered to the winds4 #d4 ,on the continent of ,europe the agitation against the ,church was carried on by ,john ,huss and by ,jerome of ,prague1 both of whom reaped martyrdom as the harvest of their righteous zeal4 ,these instances are cited to show that though the ,church had long been apostate to the core1 there were men ready to sacrifice their lives in what they deemed to be the cause of truth4 #e4 ,conditions existing at the opening of the sixteenth century have been concisely summarized by a modern historian as follows3 ,previous to the opening of the sixteenth century there had been comparatively few--though there had been some1 like the ,albigenses in the south of ,france1 the ,wickliffites1 in ,england1 and the ,hussites1 in ,bohemia--who denied the supreme and infallible authority of the bishop of ,rome in all matters touching religion4 ,speaking in very general manner it would be correct to say that at the close of the fifteenth century all the nations of ,western ,europe professed the faith of the ,latin or ,roman ,catholic ,church and yielded obedience to the ,papal ,see4--7,myers1 ,gen4 ,hist41 p4 #ebj47 9999,the ,reformation99994 #f4 ,the next notable revolt against the papal ,church occurred in the sixteenth century1 and assumed such proportions as to be designated the ,reformation4 ,the movement began in ,germany about #aeag1 when ,martin ,luther1 a monk of the ,augustinian order and an instructor in the ,university of ,wittenberg1 publicly opposed and strongly denounced ,tetzel1 the shameless agent of papal indulgences4 ,luther was conscientious in his conviction that the whole system of church penances and indulgences was contrary to scripture1 reason1 and right4 ,in line with the academic custom of the day--to challenge discussion and debate on disputed questions--,luther wrote his famous ninety-five theses against the practice of granting indulgences1 and a copy of these he nailed to the door of ,wittenberg church1 inviting criticism thereon from all scholars4 ,the news spread1 and the theses were discussed in all the scholastic centers of ,europe4 ,luther then attacked other practices and doctrines of the ,roman ,church1 and the pope1 ,leo ,x1 issued a ,bull or papal decree against him1 demanding an unconditional recantation on pain of excommunication from the ,church4 ,luther publicly burned the pope's document1 and thus declared his open revolt4 ,the sentence of excommunication was pronounced4 #g4 ,we cannot follow here in detail the doings of this bold reformer4 ,suffice it to say1 he was not long left to fight singlehanded4 ,among his able supporters was ,philip ,melancthon1 a professor in ,wittenberg4 ,luther was summoned before a council or ,diet at ,worms in #aeba4 ,there he openly declared for individual freedom of conscience4 ,there is inspiration in his words3 ,i cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the council1 because it is as clear as the day that they have frequently erred and contradicted each other4 ,unless1 therefore1 ,i am convinced by the testimony of scripture1 or by the clearest reasoning--unless ,i am persuaded by means of the passages ,i have quoted1--and unless they thus render my conscience bound by the word of ,god1 ,i cannot and will not retract1 for it is unsafe for a ,christian to speak against his conscience4 ,here ,i stand1 ,i can do no other1 may ,god help me6 ,amen6 #h4 ,the religious controversy spread throughout ,europe4 ,at the ,second ,diet of ,spires 7#aebi7 an edict was issued against the reformers2 to this the representatives of seven ,german principalities and other delegates entered a formal protest1 in consequence of which action the reformers were henceforth known as ,protestants4 ,john1 ,elector of ,saxony1 supported ,luther in his opposition to papal authority1 and undertook the establishment of an independent church1 the constitution and plan of which were prepared at his instance by ,luther and ,melancthon4 ,luther died in #aedf1 but the work of revolution1 if not in truth reformation1 continued to grow4 ,the ,protestants1 however1 soon became divided among themselves1 and broke up into many contending sects4 #i4 ,in ,switzerland1 ,ulrich ,zwingle led in the movement toward reform4 ,he was accused of heresy1 and when placed on trial1 he defended himself on the authority of the ,bible as against papal edict1 and was for the time successful4 ,the contest was bitter1 and in #aeca the ,catholics and ,protestants of the region engaged in actual battle1 in which ,zwingle was slain1 and his body brutally mutilated4 #aj4 ,john ,calvin next appeared as the leader of the ,swiss reformers1 though he was an opponent of many of ,zwingle's doctrines4 ,he exerted great influence as a teacher1 and is known as an extremist in doctrine4 ,he advocated and vehemently defended the tenet of absolute predestination1 thus denying the free agency of man4 ,in ,france1 ,sweden1 ,denmark1 and ,holland1 leaders arose and the ,protestants became strong in their opposition to the ,roman ,church1 though the several divisions were antagonistic to one another on many points of doctrine4 #aa4 ,one effect of this ,protestant uprising was the partial awakening of the ,roman ,church to the need of internal reform1 and an authoritative re-statement of ,catholic principles was attempted4 ,this movement was largely accomplished through the famous ,council of ,trent--7#aede-aefc71 which body disavowed for the ,church the extreme claims made for indulgences and denied responsibility for many of the abuses with which the ,church had been charged4 ,but in connection with the attempted reform came a demand for more implicit obedience to the requirements of the ,church4 #ab4 ,near the end of the fifteenth century1 in the reign of ,ferdinand and ,isabella1 the court of the ,inquisition1 then known as the ,holy ,office1 had been established in ,spain4 ,the prime purpose of this secret tribunal was the detection and punishment of heresy4 ,of this infamous institution as operative in ,spain1 ,myers says3 ,the ,holy ,office1 as the tribunal was styled1 thus became the instrument of the most incredible cruelty4 ,thousands were burned at the stake1 and tens of thousands more condemned to endure penalties scarcely less terrible4 ,queen ,isabella1 in giving her consent to the establishment of the tribunal in her dominions1 was doubtless actuated by the purest religious zeal1 and sincerely believed that in suppressing heresy she was discharging a simple duty1 and rendering ,god good service4 ',in the love of ,christ and ,his ,maid-,mother1' she says1 ',i have caused great misery4 ,i have depopulated towns and districts1 provinces and kingdoms4'--7,myers1 ,gen4 ,hist4 p4 #ejj47 #ac4 ,now1 in the sixteenth century1 in connection with the attempted reform in the doctrines of ,catholicism1 the terrible ,inquisition assumed new vigor and activity1 and heresy was sternly dealt with4 ,consider the following as throwing light on the condition of that time3 ,at this point1 in connection with the persecutions of the ,inquisition1 we should not fail to recall that in the sixteenth century a refusal to conform to the established worship was regarded by all1 by ,protestants as well as ,catholics1 as a species of treason against society and was dealt with accordingly4 ,thus we find ,calvin at ,geneva consenting to the burning of ,servetus 7#aeec7 because he published views that the ,calvinists thought heretical2 and in ,england we see the ,anglican ,protestants waging the most cruel1 bitter1 and persistent persecutions1 not only against the ,catholics but also against all ,protestants that refused to conform to the ,established ,church4--7,myers1 ,gen4 ,hist41 p4 #ebg47 #ad4 ,what shall be said of a ,church that seeks to propagate its faith by such methods8 ,are fire and sword the weapons with which truth fights her battles8 ,are torture and death the arguments of the gospel8 ,however terrible the persecutions to which the early ,church was subjected at the hands of heathen enemies1 the persecutions waged by the apostate church are far more terrible4 ,can such a church by any possibility be the ,church of ,christ8 ,heaven forbid6 #ae4 ,in the revolts we have noted against the ,church of ,rome1 notably in the ,reformation1 the zeal of the reformers led to many fallacies in the doctrines they advocated4 ,luther1 himself1 proclaimed the doctrine of absolute predestination and of justification by faith alone1 thus nullifying belief in the ,god-given rights of free agency1 and impairing the importance of individual effort4--7,see the ,author's ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #e47 ,calvin and others were no less extreme4 ,nevertheless their ministry contributed to the awakening of individual conscience1 and assisted in bringing about a measure of religious freedom of which the world had long been deprived4--7,see note #b1 end of chapter47 9999,rise of the ,church of ,england99994 #af4 ,at the time of ,martin ,luther's revolt against the ,church of ,rome1 ,henry ,,viii reigned in ,england4 ,in common with all other countries of western ,europe1 ,britain was profoundly stirred by the reformation movement4 ,the king openly defended the ,catholic ,church and published a book in opposition to ,luther's claims4 ,this so pleased the pope1 ,leo ,x1 that he conferred upon ,king ,henry the distinguishing title1 ,defender of the ,faith4 ,this took place about #aebb1 and from that time to the present1 ,british sovereigns have proudly borne the title4 #ag4 ,within a few years after his accession to this title of distinction1 we find ,king ,henry among the bitterest enemies of the ,roman ,church1 and the change came about in this wise4 ,henry desired a divorce from his wife1 ,queen ,catherine1 to give him freedom to marry ,anne ,boleyn4 ,the pope hesitated in the matter of granting the divorce1 and ,henry1 becoming impatient1 disregarded the pope's authority and secretly married ,anne ,boleyn4 ,the pope thereupon excommunicated the king from the ,church4 ,the ,english parliament1 following the king's directions1 passed the celebrated ,act of ,supremacy in #aecd4 ,this statute declared an absolute termination of all allegiance to papal authority1 and proclaimed the king as supreme head of the ,church of ,britain4 ,thus originated the ,church of ,england1 without regard for or claim of divine authority1 and without even a semblance of priestly succession4 #ah4 ,at first there was little innovation in doctrine or ritual in the newly formed church4 ,it originated in revolt4 ,later a form of creed and a plan of organization were adopted1 giving the ,church of ,england some distinctive features4 ,during the reigns of ,edward ,,vi1 ,queen ,mary1 and ,queen ,elizabeth1 persecutions between ,catholics and ,protestants were extensive and violent4 ,several non-conformist sects arose1 among them the ,puritans and the ,separatists4 ,these were so persecuted that many of them fled to ,holland as exiles4 ,from among these came the notable colony of the ,pilgrim ,fathers1 who crossed in the ,mayflower to the shores of the then recently-discovered continent1 and established themselves in ,america4 #ai4 ,the thoughtful student cannot fail to see in the progress of the great apostasy and its results the existence of an overruling power1 operating toward eventual good1 however mysterious its methods4 ,the heart-rending persecutions to which the saints were subjected in the early centuries of our era1 the anguish1 the torture1 the bloodshed1 incurred in defense of the testimony of ,christ1 the rise of an apostate church1 blighting the intellect and leading captive the souls of men--all these dread scenes were foreknown to the ,lord4 ,while we cannot say or believe that such exhibitions of human depravity and blasphemy of heart were in accordance with the divine will1 certainly ,god willed to permit full scope to the free agency of man1 in the exercise of which agency some won the martyr's crown1 and others filled the measure of their iniquity to overflowing4 #bj4 ,not less marked is the divine permission in the revolts and rebellions1 in the revolutions and reformations1 that developed in opposition to the darkening influence of the apostate church4 ,wycliffe and ,huss1 ,luther and ,melancthon1 ,zwingle and ,calvin1 ,henry ,,viii in his arrogant assumption of priestly authority1 ,john ,knox in ,scotland1 ,roger ,williams in ,america--these and a host of others builded better than they knew1 in that their efforts laid in part the foundation of the structure of religious freedom and liberty of conscience1--and this in preparation for the restoration of the gospel as had been divinely predicted4 #ba4 ,from the sixteenth century down to the present time1 sects professedly founded on the tenets of ,christianity have multiplied apace4 ,they are now to be numbered by hundreds4 ,on every side the claim has been heard1 ,lo1 here is ,christ1 or ,lo1 there4 ,there are churches named after their place of origin--as the ,church of ,england2 other sects are designated in honor of their famous promoters--as ,lutherans1 ,calvinists1 ,wesleyans2 others are known from some peculiarity of creed or doctrine--as ,methodists1 ,presbyterians1 and ,baptists2 but down to the beginning of the nineteenth century there was no church even claiming name or title as the ,church of ,christ4 ,the only ,church existing at that time venturing to assert authority by succession was the ,catholic ,church1 which as shown was wholly without priesthood or divine commission4 #bb4 ,if the ,mother ,church be without divine authority or spiritual power1 how can her children derive from her the right to officiate in the things of ,god8 ,who dares affirm the absurdity that man can originate for himself a priesthood which ,god shall honor and respect4 ,granted that men may1 can and do1 create among themselves societies1 associations1 sects1 and churches if they choose so to designate their religious organizations2 granted that they may formulate laws1 prescribe rules1 and construct elaborate plans of organization and government1 and that all such laws1 rules and schemes of administration are binding upon those who voluntarily assume membership1--granted all these powers and rights--whence can such human creations derive the authority of the holy ,priesthood1 without which there can be no ,church of ,christ8 ,if the power and authority be1 by any possibility1 of human origin1 there never has been a ,church of ,christ on earth1 and the alleged saving ordinances of the gospel have never been other than empty forms4 #bc4 ,our review of the ,great ,apostasy as presented in this treatise1 does not call for any detailed or critical study of the ,roman ,catholic ,church as it exists in modern times1 nor of any of the numerous ,protestant denominations that have come into existence as dissenting children of the so-called ,mother ,church4 ,the apostasy was complete1 as far as actual loss of priesthood and cessation of spiritual power in the ,church are concerned1 long prior to the sixteenth century revolt1 known in history as the ,reformation4 ,it is instructive to observe1 however1 that the weakness of the ,protestant sects as to any claim to divine appointment and authority1 is recognized by those churches themselves4 ,the ,church of ,england1 which1 as shown1 originated in revolt against the ,roman ,catholic ,church and its pope1 is without foundation of claim to divine authority in its priestly orders1 unless1 indeed1 it dare assert the absurdity that kings and parliaments can create and take unto themselves heavenly authority by enactment of earthly statutes4 #bd4 ,the ,roman ,catholic ,church is at least consistent in its claim that a line of succession in the priesthood has been maintained from the apostolic age to the present1 though the claim is utterly untenable in the light of a rational interpretation of history4 ,but the fact remains that the ,catholic ,church is the only organization venturing to assert the present possession of the holy priesthood by unbroken descent from the apostles of our ,lord4 ,the ,church of ,england1 chief among the ,protestant sects1 and all other dissenting churches1 are by their own admission and by the circumstances of their origin1 man-made institutions1 without a semblance of claim to the powers and authority of the holy priesthood4 #be4 ,as late as #ahif the question of the validity of the priestly orders in the ,church of ,england was officially and openly discussed and considered1 both in ,england and at ,rome4 ,lord ,halifax1 chairman of the ,english ,church ,union1 conferred with the ,vatican authorities to ascertain the possibility of bringing about closer union between the ,roman ,catholic ,church and the ,church of ,england4 ,this involved the question of the recognition of the priestly orders of the ,anglican ,church by the pope and ,church of ,rome4 ,the movement was favored in the interests of unity and peace by the ,english premier1 ,mr4 ,gladstone4 ,the pope1 ,leo ,,xiii1 finally issued a decree refusing to recognize in any degree the authority of the ,anglican orders1 and expressly declaring all claims to priestly authority by the ,church of ,england as absolutely invalid4 #bf4 ,assuredly the ,church of ,rome could take no other action than this and maintain the consistency of its own claim to exclusive possession of the priesthood by descent4 ,assuredly the ,church of ,england would have sought no official recognition of its priestly status by the ,church of ,rome had it any independent claim to the power and authority of the priesthood4 ,the ,roman ,catholic ,church declares that all ,protestant denominations are either apostate organizations1 or institutions of human creation that have never had even a remote connection with the church that claims succession in the priesthood4 ,in short1 the apostate ,mother ,church aggressively proclaims the perfidy of her offspring4 9999,the ,apostasy ,admitted99994 #bg4 ,the fact of the great apostasy is admitted4 ,many theologians who profess a belief in ,christianity have declared the fact4 ,thus we read3 ,we must not expect to see the ,church of ,christ existing in its perfection on the earth4 ,it is not to be found thus perfect1 either in the collected fragments of ,christendom or still less in any one of those fragments4--7,smith's ,dictionary of the ,bible47 #bh4 ,john ,wesley1 who lived from #agjc to #agia ,a4 ,d41 and who ranks as chief among the founders of ,methodism1 comments as follows on the apostasy of the ,christian ,church as evidenced by the early decline of spiritual power and the cessation of the gifts and graces of the ,spirit of ,god within the ,church3 ,it does not appear that these extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,spirit--7,see ,i ,cor41 ch4 #ab47 were common in the ,church for more than two or three centuries4 ,we seldom hear of them after that fatal period when the ,emperor ,constantine called himself a ,christian1 and from a vain imagination of promoting the ,christian cause thereby heaped riches and power and honor upon ,christians in general1 but in particular upon the ,christian clergy4 ,from this time they almost totally ceased1 very few instances of the kind being found4 ,the cause of this was not1 as has been supposed1 because there was no more occasion for them1 because all the world was become ,christians4 ,this is a miserable mistake2 not a twentieth part of it was then nominally ,christians4 ,the real cause of it was that the love of many1 almost all ,christians1 so-called1 was waxed cold4 ,the ,christians had no more of the spirit of ,christ than the other heathens4 ,the ,son of ,man1 when ,he came to examine ,his ,church1 could hardly find faith upon earth4 ,this was the real cause why the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost were no longer to be found in the ,christian church--because the ,christians were turned heathens again1 and only had a dead form left4--7,john ,wesley's ,works4 ,vol4 ,,vii1 #hi3bf-bg4 ,see ,note #c1 end of chapter47 #bi4 ,the ,church of ,england makes official declaration of degeneracy and loss of divine authority in these words3 ,laity and clergy1 learned and unlearned1 all ages1 sects1 and degrees1 have been drowned in abominable idolatry most detested by ,god and damnable to man for eight hundred years and more4--7,church of ,england ',homily on ,perils of ,idolatry1' p4 #c47 ,the ,book of ,homilies1 in which occurs this declaration by the ,church of ,england1 dates from about the middle of the sixteenth century4 ,according to this official statement1 therefore1 the religious world had been utterly apostate for eight centuries prior to the establishment of the ,church of ,england4 ,the fact of a universal apostasy was widely proclaimed1 for the homilies from which the foregoing citation is taken were appointed to be read in churches in lieu of sermons under specified condition4 #cj4 ,the great apostasy was divinely predicted2 its accomplishment is attested by both sacred and secular writ4 #ca4 ,to the faithful ,latter-day ,saint1 a concluding proof of the universal apostasy and of the absolute need of a restoration of ,priesthood from the heavens will be found in the divine reply to the inquiry of the boy prophet1 ,joseph ,smith1 as to which of all the contending sects was right3 ,i was answered that ,i must join none of them1 for they were all wrong2 and the personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in ,his sight2 that those professors were all corrupt2 that 'they draw near to me with their lips1 but their hearts are far from me2 they teach for doctrines the commandments of men1 having a form of godliness1 but they deny the power thereof4'--7,pearl of ,great ,price1 p4 #he1 par4 #ai47 9999,the ,sequel99994 #cb4 ,the sequel of the ,great ,apostasy is the ,restoration of the ,gospel1 marking the inauguration of the ,dispensation of the ,fulness of ,times4 ,this epoch-making event occurred in the early part of the nineteenth century1 when the ,father and the ,son manifested themselves to man1 and when the ,holy ,priesthood with all its powers and authority was again brought to earth4 #cc4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints proclaims to the world this glorious restoration1--at once the consummation of the work of ,god throughout the ages past1 and the final preparation for the second advent of ,jesus1 the ,christ4 ,the ,church affirms that after the long night of spiritual darkness1 the light of heaven has again come2 and that the ,church of ,christ is authoritatively established4 ,the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints stands alone in the declaration that the ,holy ,priesthood is operative upon earth1 not as an inheritance through earthly continuation from the apostolic age1 but as the endowment of a new dispensation1 brought to earth by heavenly ministration4 ,in this restoration1 divinely predicted and divinely achieved1 has been witnessed a realization of the ,revelator's vision3 ,and ,i saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth1 and to every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people1 saying with a loud voice1 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to him2 for the hour of his judgment is come3 and worship him that made heaven1 and earth1 and the sea1 and the fountains of waters4--7,rev4 #ad3f1 #g4 ,for treatment of the ,restoration of the ,gospel see the ,author's ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #aa4 ,see ,notes #d and #e1 end of chapter47 ,,notes4 #a4 ,papist ,testimony to the ,corruption of the ,church4 ,the judicious student of ecclesiastical history will observe that ,i constantly endeavor to draw my proofs from the most unexceptionable sources4 ,for example3 ,to prove the corrupt state of the clergy1 and the abominable practices of the ,roman ,see1 ,i would produce the evidence of ,george of ,saxony1 a most bigoted papist1 whom the ,roman ,catholics always reckon among the most sincere and most active of the holy defenders of their religion4 ,now1 as with them the assertions of ,luther and the other reformers go for nothing but exaggerations1 misrepresentations1 or direct falsehoods1 let them listen at least to this duke1 their steady friend and advocate1 who generally1 in religious concerns1 opposed his relation1 the elector of ,saxony1 and who also entirely approved of ,luther's condemnation at ,worms4 ,this ,george of ,saxony exhibited to the ,diet twelve heads of the grievances which called loudly for reform4 ,two of these are briefly as follows3 #a4 ,indulgences1 which ought to be obtained by prayers1 fastings1 benevolence towards our neighbor1 and other good works1 are sold for money4 ,their value is extolled beyond all decency4 ,the sole object is to gain a deal of money4 ,hence the preachers1 who are bound to set forth truth1 teach men nothing but lies and frauds4 ,they are not only suffered to go on thus1 but are well paid for their fraudulent harangues4 ,the reason is the more conviction they can produce among their hearers1 the more money flows into the chest4 ,rivers of scandalous proceedings arise from this corrupt fountain4 ,the officials of the bishops are equally attentive to scrape money together4 ,they vex the poor with their censures for great crimes1 as whoredom1 adultery1 blasphemy2 but they spare the rich4 ,the clergy commit the very same crimes1 and nobody censures them4 ,faults which ought to be expiated by prayers and fastings are atoned for by money1 in order that the officials may pay large sums to their respective bishops1 and retain a portion of the gain for themselves4 ,neither when a mulct is inflicted1 is it done in a way to stop the commission of the same fault in future1 but rather so that the delinquent understands he may soon do that very thing again1 provided he be but ready to pay4 ,hence1 all the sacraments are sold for money2 and where that is not to be had1 they are absolutely neglected4 #b4 ,another distinct head of the grievances produced by this zealous duke was expressed thus3 ',the scandalous conduct of the clergy is a very fruitful source of the destruction of poor souls4 ,there must be a universal reformation2 and this cannot be better effected than by a general council4 ,it is therefore1 the most earnest wish of us all that such a measure be adopted4'--7,milner1 ,church ,history1 ,cent4 ,,xvi1 ch4 #f4 ,footnote47 #b4 ,extremes ,incident to the ,reformation4 ,what were the reproaches constantly applied to the ,reformation by its enemies8 ,which of its results are thrown in its face1 as it were1 unanswerable8 ,the two principal reproaches are1 first1 the multiplicity of sects1 the excessive license of thought1 the destruction of all spiritual authority1 and the entire dissolution of religious society2 secondly1 tyranny and persecution4 ',you provoke licentiousness1' it has been said to the ,reformers3 'you produce it2 and1 after being the cause of it1 you wish to restrain and repress it4 ,and how do you repress it8 ,by the most harsh and violent means4 ,you take upon yourselves1 too1 to punish heresy1 and that by virtue of an illegitimate authority4'-- ,guizot4 ,the ,sectarian dogma of ,justification by ,faith alone has exercised an influence for evil since the early days of ,christianity4 ,the idea upon which this pernicious doctrine was founded1 was at first associated with that of an absolute predestination1 by which man was foredoomed to destruction1 or to an utterly undeserved salvation4 ,thus1 ,luther taught as follows3 ',the excellent1 infallible1 and sole preparation for grace1 is the eternal election and predestination of ,god4' ',since the fall of man1 free-will is but an idle word4' ',a man who imagines to arrive at grace by doing all that he is able to do1 adds sins to sin1 and is doubly guilty4' ',that man is not justified who performs many works2 but he who without works has much faith in ,christ4' 7,for these and other doctrines of the ,reformation see ,d',aubigne's ',history of the ,reformation1' ,vol4 ,i1 pp4 #hb1 #hc1 #aai1 #abb47 ,in ,milner's ',church ,history' 7,vol4 ,,iv1 p4 #ead7 we read3 ',the point which the reformer ,luther had most at heart in all his labors1 contests and dangers1 was the justification by faith alone4' ,melancthon voices the doctrine of ,luther in these words3 ',man's justification before ,god proceeds from faith alone4 ,this faith enters man's heart by the grace of ,god alone2' and further1 ',as all things which happen1 happen necessarily1 according to the divine predestination1 there is no such thing as liberty in our wills4'--7,d',aubigne1 ,vol4 ,,iii1 p4 #cdj47 ,it is true that ,luther strongly denounced1 and vehemently disclaimed responsibility for1 the excesses to which this teaching gave rise1 yet he was not less vigorous in proclaiming the doctrine4 ,note his words3 ',i1 ,doctor ,martin ,luther1 unworthy herald of the doctrine of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 confess this article1 that faith alone without works justifies before ,god2 and ,i declare that it shall stand and remain forever in despite of the emperor of the ,romans1 the emperor of the ,turks1 the emperor of the ,persians1--in spite of the pope and all the cardinals1 with the bishops1 priests1 monks and nuns1--in spite of kings1 princes and nobles1 and in spite of all the world and of the devils themselves2 and that if they endeavor to fight against this truth they will draw the fires of hell upon their heads4 ,this is the true and holy gospel1 and the declaration of me1 ,doctor ,luther1 according to the teachings of the ,holy ,ghost4'--7,see the ,author's ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture ,v1 ,note #b47 #c4 ,diverse ,views ,concerning ,continuance or ,decline of ,spiritual ,gifts4 ,protestant writers insist that the age of miracles closed with the fourth or fifth century1 and that after that the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost must not be looked for4 ,catholic writers1 on the other hand1 insist that the power to perform miracles has always continued in the ,church2 yet those spiritual manifestations which they describe after the fourth and fifth centuries savor of invention on the part of the priests1 and childish credulity on the part of the people2 or else1 what is claimed to be miraculous falls short of the power and dignity of those spiritual manifestations which the primitive ,church was wont to witness4 ,the virtues and prodigies1 ascribed to the bones and other relics of the martyrs and saints1 are puerile in comparison with the healings by the anointing with oil and the laying on of hands1 speaking in tongues1 interpretations1 prophecies1 revelations1 casting out of devils in the name of ,jesus ,christ2 to say nothing of the gifts of faith1 wisdom1 knowledge1 discerning of spirits1 etc4--common in the ,church in the days of the apostles--7,i ,cor4 #ab3h-aj74 ,nor is there anything in the scriptures or in reason that would lead one to believe that they were to be discontinued4 ,still this plea is made by modern ,christians--explaining the absence of these spiritual powers among them--that the extraordinary gifts of the ,holy ,ghost were only intended to accompany the proclamation of the gospel during the first few centuries1 until the ,church was able to make its way without them1 and they were to be done away4 ,it is sufficient to remark upon this that it is assumption pure and simple1 and stands without warrant either of scripture or right reason2 and proves that men had so far changed the religion of ,jesus ,christ that it became a form of godliness without the power thereof4--7,b4 ,h4 ,roberts1 ,outlines of ,ecclesiastical ,history1 ,part ,,ii1 ,sec4 #e3f-h47 #d4 ,commentary on the ,revelator's ,vision of the ,restoration4 ,it is instructive to inquire into the interpretation given by biblical students to the prophecy voiced by ,john the ,revelator predicting the advent of the angel having the everlasting gospel4 ,dr4 ,clarke offers the following reflections on the passage3 ,and ,i saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven1 having the everlasting gospel3 ,whether this angel means any more than a particular dispensation of providence and grace1 by which the gospel shall be rapidly sent through the whole world2 or whether it means any especial messenger1 order of preachers1 people1 or society of ,christians1 whose professed object it is to send the gospel of the kingdom throughout the earth1 we know not4 ,but the vision seems truly descriptive of a late institution1 entitled ',the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society1' whose object it is to print and circulate the scriptures of the ,old and ,new ,testaments through all the habitable world1 and in all the languages spoken on the face of the earth4--7,clarke1 ,bible ,commentary1 ,rev4 #ad3f47 ,the learned commentator is to be commended for his frank avowal as to uncertainty regarding the precise interpretation of this scripture1 and for the provisional and tentative manner in which he indicates a possible application to the wide distribution of the ,holy ,bible through the efforts of a most worthy and influential society4 ,it is to be noted that ,dr4 ,clarke wrote his famous commentary on the ,bible shortly before the actual restoration of the gospel through angelic agency which resulted in the establishment of the ,church of ,jesus ,christ of ,latter-day ,saints4 ,of necessity his search for the fulfillment of the prediction was unsatisfactory1 and1 indeed1 unsuccessful1 inasmuch as the fulfillment had not then occurred4 ,the commendable work of the ,bible ,society was a preparation for the fulfillment of the momentous prophecy1 but not the fulfillment itself4 #e4 ,restoration of the ,church4 ,in the first ten centuries immediately following the ministry of ,christ1 the authority of the priesthood was lost from among men1 and no human power could restore it4 ,but the ,lord in ,his mercy provided for the re-establishment of ,his ,church in the last days1 and for the last time1 and prophets of olden time foresaw this era of renewed enlightenment1 and sang in joyous tones of its coming4--7,see ,dan4 #b3dd1 #de2 #g3bg2 ,matt4 #bd3ad2 ,rev4 #ad3f-h47 ,this restoration was effected by the ,lord through the prophet1 ,joseph ,smith1 who1 together with ,oliver ,cowdery1 in #ahbi1 received the ,aaronic ,priesthood under the hands of ,john the ,baptist1 and later the ,melchizedek ,priesthood under the hands of the former-day apostles1 ,peter1 ,james and ,john4 ,by the authority thus bestowed1 the ,church has been again organized with all its former completeness1 and mankind once more rejoices in the priceless privileges of the counsels of ,god4 ,the ,latter-day ,saints declare their high claim to the true ,church organization1 similar in all essentials to the organization effected by ,christ among the ,jews2 these people of the last days profess to have the ,priesthood of the ,almighty1 the power to act in the name of ,god1 which power commands respect both on earth and in heaven4--7,the ,author1 ,articles of ,faith1 ,lecture #aa3ab47