material from the ,google ,books        
project47                  ,the         
,scriptures ,able to ,make ,us ,wise    
,unto ,salvation               ,the     
,scriptures ,able ,to ,make ,us ,wise   
,unto ,salvation2                       
,or ,the                         ,bible 
,a ,sufficient ,creed4                  
,by                        ,f4 ,h4      
,,berrick1 ,,lowell1 ,,mass4            
,hartford3                      ,calhoun
 ,brothers ,steam ,press4               
#ahec4     ,there is no work1 of human  
production1 that contains such a variety
 of principles1 which1 when viewed as a 
whole1 make such a complete system as   
the ,bible4 ,it is the great fund of    
knowledge4 ,it reveals to us the mystery
 of creation4 ,there we learn the       
character of ,god3--,his attributes and 
perfection--,his justice and mercy4     
,there we learn the history of          
man--created as he was in the image of  
,him who rules the universe2 endowed    
with intellectual powers1 and moral     

capacity1 perfect and upright--a        
candidate for immortality4 ,restrained  
by one command1 yet acting with a free1 
unbiased will1 we see him transcend the 
law of ,god1 we hear the sentence fall  
from the lips of his ,maker1--,dust thou
 art1 and unto dust shalt thou return4  
,but will ,he leave him to his own      
inevitable fate8 ,will it be an eternal 
sleep8 ,shall that dust never be        
reorganized8 ,will ,satan triumph over  
the ,eternal ,jehovah8 ,we look6 ,we    
listen66 ,we hear the announcement1 ,i  
have found a ransom4 ,there we see the  
plan of ,god developed1 counteracting   
the influence of ,his rival1 ,satan4    
,there we see men of the meanest        
condition1 the smallest capacity in the 
eye of the world1 inspired by the spirit
 of ,him who fills immensity with ,his  
presence2 revealing the fact of man's   
salvation1 through a crucified ,saviour4
 ,there we behold the most sublime      
truths--the most comprehensive          
sentiments2 principles more             

philosophical than those of             
,pythagoras--of more moral worth1 than  
those of ,socrates4 ,there we see       
shepherds1 announcing the birth of the  
,son of ,god1 and listening to that     
enraptured strain1 ,glory to ,god in the
 highest1 peace on earth1 good will to  
men4 ,there we see the ,fisherman called
 to leave his net1 commissioned to cure 
all manner of diseases1 and to preach   
the ,gospel1 which is the power of ,god 
unto salvation1 to every one that       
believeth4 ,there we admire the purest  
morality in the world4 ,the ,bible      
accounts for the evils entailed upon the
 posterity of ,adam2 it presents a plan1
 which1 if believed1 will ultimately    
free us from all the maladies consequent
 on the fall4 ,there we read of the     
wonderful conception of the ,son of     
,god--,his birth--,his miracles4 ,the   
fulfillment of the many predictions1    
connected with ,his first ,advent2 the  
circumstances attending ,his death1 when
 ,he made his soul an offering for sin2 

,his resurrection1 ,his ascension1 ,his 
intercession1 ,his second coming1 the   
judgment of the world1 the resurrection 
of the dead1 the translation of the     
saints1 the destruction of the wicked1  
the establishment of the everlasting    
kingdom1 the restitution of all things1 
which ,god hath spoken by the mouth of  
all ,his holy prophets1 since the world 
began4  ,the above are some of the items
 contained in this wonderful book--the  
,bible4 ,and who can wonder at the      
remark of ,paul to ,timothy1 ,they 7the 
,scriptures7 are able to make thee wise 
unto salvation8 ,all ,scripture1 says   
the apostle1 given by inspiration of    
,god1 is profitable for doctrine1 for   
reproof1 for correction1 for instruction
 in righteousness2 that the man of ,god 
may be perfect1--thoroughly furnished   
unto all good works4 ,instead of looking
 to commentaries1 or depending on what  
the ,fathers of the ,church have said   
for doctrine1 or making creeds for our  
own use2 we are to search the           

,scriptures--relying on what has been   
spoken by the ,saviour and the          
,prophets1 and the apostles of the ,lord
 ,jesus ,christ1 as the only doctrine   
able to make us wise unto salvation4    
,but the apostle goes further1 and      
declares1 that the ,scriptures are      
profitable for reproof2 they are able to
 convince men of the truth1 and to      
confound those who would deny it4 ,says 
,charles ,beecher1--,this specification1
 viz3 for reproof1 fairly covers the    
whole ground of the prevention or       
extirpation of error4 ,in familiar      
language1 the keeping the ,church pure  
from heresy4 ,that this is the force of 
the term ,elenychon1 will be perceived  
by any one who will compare the ,new    
,testament usage on this word1 and its  
parent verb4 ,the ,bible will not only  
teach truth2 it will kill error4 ,it may
 not kill every thing that you and ,i   
may consider error4 ,it certainly will1 
when used rightly1 extirpate what ,god  
regards as such2 and1 be it remembered1 

that ,he alone is to pass that sentence4
 ,that the ,bible will have this effect1
 follows of course from the first       
specification1 viz3 for doctrine2 for   
truth and error cannot exist together3  
they are as fire and water4 ,the more   
truth is taught1 the more error dies4   
,this also follows1 because the ,word of
 ,god is constructed with direct        
reference to the cardinal errors of the 
human mind1 by a divine reasoner1 with  
such tremendous ability1 that those     
errors cannot live under a conscientious
 study of that word4 ,this also follows1
 because the ,scriptures are            
self-interpreting1 self-rectifying1     
self-vindicating4 ,and the sure way of  
testing an error claiming scriptural    
support1 is1 call it to the spot where  
it claims parentage1 and call in the    
rest of the ,scripture to testify4 ,in  
this way1 erroneous interpretations must
 die1 and do die4 ,and if there be any  
interpretation that will not die so1    
then in ,god's name let it live6 ,how   

foolish it is for a class of persons to 
get together in conference capacity1 and
 resolve what is and what is not truth6 
,it is assuming that which does not     
belong to any man1 or body of men2 it is
 a relic of the ,roman ,church1--an     
usurpation of the ,mother of harlots1   
and abominations of the earth4 ,and     
notwithstanding this power has been     
crippled1 at least in a political sense1
 yet1 some of her relatives 7harlots7   
are following in the footsteps of their 
illustrious predecessor1 as the         
following will show3      ,resolved1    
,that the peculiarities of that theory  
denominated     ,millerism1 together    
with all of its modifications1 are      
contrary to     the standards of the    
,church1 and as such1 we are pledged to 
banish     them away4  ,there is nothing
 said about its being contrary to the   
,bible1 but1 contrary to the standards  
of the ,church4 ,this1 as one writer    
remarks1 savors a little of the little  
horn4  ,for ,correction4--,this relates 

to church discipline1 and church        
government4 ,there is not1 says ,charles
 ,beecher1 an offence against ,christ1  
nor against the cause of ,christ1       
whether in the church simple1 or        
aggregate1 which cannot be brought to   
conviction just as far1 by the use of   
the ,bible alone1 as ,god ever intended 
to have it convicted2 and if there be an
 offence which cannot be thus convicted1
 it is not an offence against ,christ1  
but against a human figment1 and such an
 offence--let it be committed4 ,if the  
,bible is a sufficient rule of faith and
 practice1 every thing used as a        
substitute is an innovation4 ,we have no
 right to make any tests2 all that are  
necessary to salvation1 may be found in 
the ,bible4  ,all creeds1 from the      
,thirty-nine ,articles down to the most 
simple1 as used by ,adventists1 are     
wrong4 ,not that they contain no truth2 
but the principle is wrong4 ,it is the  
same in every instance4 ,a person1 to   
join the ,church of ,england1 must      

approve of its creed2--and it is the    
same with some ,adventists1 as the      
following from one of our model         
,churches will show3  ,,any ,,person    
,,or ,,persons ,,wishing ,,to ,,become  
,,members ,,of ,,this ,,church1         
,,approving ,,its ,,declaration ,,of    
,,faith ,,as ,,recorded ,,in ,,the      
,,church-,,book1 ,,will ,,make ,,such   
,,wish ,,known ,,to ,,the ,,committee   
,,or ,,deacon4  ,now1 this is an iron   
bedstead1 sure enough4 ,mark6 there is  
nothing said about the ,bible1 but      
approving the declaration of faith1 as  
recorded in the ,church-book4 ,where in 
the ,bible is there any thing of this   
kind8 ,luke tells us1 in ,acts1 that the
 ,lord added to the ,church anciently2  
and those added by any other than the   
,lord1 must be tares4 ,and again1 if    
this idea of connecting persons with    
this human machinery1 is a part of the  
gospel1 why then is there not something 
in the ,bible to support it8 ,the       
example of ,philip is against it4 ,look 

for a moment to this circumstance4 ,the 
angel says to ,philip1 ,arise1 and go   
toward the south1 unto the way that     
goeth down from ,jerusalem1 unto ,gaza1 
which is desert4 ,he obeys the command1 
and as he moves toward ,gaza1 he        
overtakes or meets with the ,egyptian   
,eunuch4 ,the ,spirit says1 ,join       
thyself to the chariot4 ,he did so1 and 
after listening a few moments1 he       
inquires1 ,understandest thou what thou 
readest8 ,how can ,i1 except some man   
should guide me8 was the reply4 ,then   
,philip began to preach to him ,jesus4  
,and as they went on their way1 the     
,ethiopian inquires1 ,what doth hinder  
me to be baptized8 ,and ,philip said1   
,if thou believest with all thy heart1  
thou mayest4 ,he replies1 ,i believe    
that ,jesus ,christ is the ,son of ,god4
 ,this was the test4 ,the chariot is    
commanded to stand still2 they went down
 both into the water1 and ,philip       
baptized him4 ,and when they were come  
out of the water1 before1 as we may     

conclude1 he had time to enter his name 
on a ,church-book1 the ,spirit of the   
,lord caught away ,philip1 and the      
eunuch saw him no more4 ,there is       
nothing said about his joining the      
,church after he believed2 from the fact
 that1 by obedience to ,god1 he already 
belonged to it4 ,he had entered in by   
the door 7,christ71 and all who climb up
 some other way are thieves and robbers4
 ,but it may be said that we must have  
something of this kind1 because         
circumstances demand it4 ,but this can  
be no argument in favor of it2 for1 if  
it had been necessary1 the apostles     
would have informed us of it4  ,the     
apostle1 in his charge to the ,elders of
 the ,church at ,ephesus1 scans the     
entire dispensation4 ,it is as follows3 
,take heed unto yourselves1 and to all  
the flock over the which the ,holy      
,ghost has made you overseers1 to feed  
the ,church of ,god1 which ,he hath     
purchased with ,his own blood4 ,for ,i  
know this1 that after my departing1     

shall grievous wolves come in among you1
 not sparing the flock4 ,also of your   
own selves shall men arise1 speaking    
perverse things1 to draw away disciples 
after them4 ,therefore1 watch1 and      
remember1 that by the space of three    
years1 ,i ceased not to warn every one  
night and day with tears4 ,and now1     
brethren1 ,i commend you to ,god1 and to
 the word of ,his grace1 which is able  
to build you up1 and to give you an     
inheritance among them which are        
sanctified4 ,one part of this charge is 
addressed to the ministry4 ,take heed   
unto thyself--or yourselves2 see that   
the life of ,god remains1 and the work  
of ,god prospers in thine own soul4     
,take heed that thy words be seasoned   
with grace4 ,let thy conversation be    
upright1 godly1 sincere1 as becometh the
 ,gospel4 ,it should be without         
covetousness3 ,desire nothing more than 
what ,god has given you1 and especially1
 covet nothing which the ,divine        
,providence has given to another man2   

for this is the spirit of robbery4      
,subdue that insatiable desire for      
secular gain2 bring it into subjection  
to the will of ,christ2 be content with 
such things as ye have2 for ,he 7the    
,lord7 hath said1 ,i will never leave   
thee nor forsake thee4 ,the man of ,god 
must not be a brawler1 but quiet and    
peaceable4 ,he must be no striker1 not  
quarrelsome2 not a persecutor of those  
who may differ from him2 for1 to indulge
 in such a spirit1 is to give our       
profession the lie4 ,he must be apt to  
teach4 ,study1 says the apostle1 to show
 thyself approved unto ,god1 a workman  
that needeth not to be ashamed1 rightly 
dividing the word of truth4 ,he must be 
careful to teach the whole word of ,god1
 regardless of the commandments1        
doctrine and traditions of men4 ,in a   
word1 he must be an example of believers
 in word1 in conversation1 in charity1  
in spirit1 in faith1 and in purity4 ,and
 thus1 in keeping himself by the        
assistance of ,god's grace1 he is       

prepared1 in the second place1 to take  
heed unto the flock1 over the which the 
,holy ,ghost hath made him an overseer2 
to feed the ,church of ,god4 ,mark6 the 
man of ,god is to feed the ,church--not 
to legislate4 ,he is to give them 7the  
,church7 their portion of meat in due   
season4  ,the apostle anticipated the   
fact1 that a class would arise1 which he
 denominates wolves1 not sparing the    
flock4 ,one characteristic feature of   
this class would be1 a disposition to   
lord it over ,god's heritage4 ,the seed 
had already been sown4 ,some had become 
carnal4 ,there was a ,diatrephes1 who   
loved to have the preminence1 viz43 lord
 it over ,god's heritage4 ,and there has
 been many of these ,diatrepheses1 clear
 down to the present time4 ,look at the 
,bishops of ,jerusalem1 ,antioch1 ,rome1
 ,constantinople1 c41 striving for the  
mastery2 till finally the ,bishop of    
,rome succeeded1 trampling under foot   
all others1 and then rearing a mighty   
fabric1 and taking his seat in the      

temple of ,god1 showing himself that he 
was ,god4 ,but we must remember that    
this was not done in one year1 or one   
century4 ,it was like the leaven in the 
measure of meal--a gradual work4 ,the   
deviation was so small at the first1 as 
not to be noticed4 ,the professed       
,church were imperceptibly assimilated  
into the same spirit2 like priest1 like 
people4 ,like the car loosed from the   
train on a downward grade3--at first it 
moves so gently1 no fears are           
entertained--how little will it take to 
stop it1 is the feeling that pervades   
the mind of the passengers2 each one    
feels secure4 ,it gathers strength--its 
velocity increases--the brakes are      
applied2 but it is too late6 ,in turning
 a curve1 the track spreads1 and both   
car and passengers are precipitated into
 the gulf below4 ,how completely this   
illustration covers the ground6 ,the    
professed ,church1 becoming cold in her 
affections1 indulging a self-confident  
spirit1 disconnecting herself by her    

legislative acts from the ,great ,head  
of the ,church2 went back1 step by step1
 till finally she fell into the yawning 
gulf of apostacy1 ,the making of an     
authoritative creed1 to which the clergy
 were compelled to subscribe1 was the   
first step2 the absolute prohibition of 
the ,bible to the people1 was the last  
step4 ,the difference between1 was only 
the growth of the principle4 ,for the   
right to dictate what a man shall find  
in the ,scripture1 and the right to     
dictate that he shall find nothing1 are 
one4 ,making creeds is the first step in
 apostacy2 yea1 more1 it is evidence    
that the person or persons are already  
backsliden4  ,it may be remarked1 that  
those who make creeds are honest4 ,true3
 but no more so than those ,bishops who 
met at the ,council of ,nice1 ,a4,d4    
#cbe1 and fully settled the doctrine    
taught in the word of ,god1 banished    
,arius into ,illyria1 and compelled his 
followers to subscribe4 ,honesty is no  
evidence that the thing is right4 ,the  

,inquisition was honest in delivering   
over her victims to the civil arm2 yet1 
who but a ,catholic would approve of    
such ,god-hating work8 ,it may be       
remarked that1 there is a difference    
between the synods of ,nice1 ,chalcedon1
 c41 and those of the present time4     
,true2 but what is the difference8 ,ans4
 ,the same as between the ,anaconda of  
,ceylon1 and the smallest serpent that  
crawls the earth4 ,the former has power 
to destroy a person in a moment2 the    
latter1 not having the power1 yet       
possessing the disposition1 shows1 by   
running out his little forked tongue1   
what he would do if he could4  ,the     
apostolic churches1 during the whole of 
the first century1 had no creed but the 
,bible4 ,and to urge creed-making as    
necessary because of a change of        
circumstances1 is to insult ,god1 and it
 is an imposition on ,jesus ,christ4    
,the ,lord knew all about the adverse   
circumstances1 the fiery trials through 
which the ,church must pass4 ,he told   

the disciples1 that in the world they   
should have tribulation4 ,verily1       
verily1 ,i say unto you that ye shall   
weep and lament4 ,in this language1 ,he 
scans the history of the ,church1 clear 
to the end4 ,but nothing like authority 
or lenity is given for creeds1 or any of
 this human machinery4 ,the ,apostle    
,paul informs the ,church1 that men     
would arise1 speaking perverse things1  
to draw away disciples after them4 ,and 
if ever an opportunity offered itself to
 instruct the ,church in relation to    
this matter1 it was at this time4 ,but  
not a single word is said from which we 
can gather any thing of this kind4 ,it  
is as follows3 ,and now1 brethren1 ,i   
commend you to ,god1 and to the word of 
his grace1 which is able to build you   
up4 ,no intimation here of creeds or    
compacts4 ,and if men will not stand    
without this miserable man-made stuff1  
the quicker they fall1 the better4  ,but
 it is not only so with creeds1 but     
every organization and compact1 separate

 from the word of ,god1 is of the flesh4
 ,but as there are many reasons urged in
 favor of creeds and compacts1 we may   
perhaps now1 as well as any time1 call  
them upon the stand in this connection4 
,and--  #ast1 ,it is said they had      
churches in the apostles' day4 ,true2   
but the term ,church1 as ,adam ,clark   
says1 simply means an assembly or       
congregation1 the nature of which is to 
be understood from connecting           
circumstances4 ,wherever the believers  
assembled1 there was a ,church4 ,hence  
we read of a ,church at ,ephesus1       
,corinth1 c4 ,sometimes the term ,church
 includes the entire company of         
believers in every age of the world1 as 
may be seen by looking at the following 
passages3 ,eph4 i4 #bb2 v4 #bd1 #be1    
#bg2 ,col4 i4 #ah1 #bd2 ,acts xii4 #bh4 
,hence the remark1 that they had        
churches in the apostles' days1 is no   
argument in favor of the present        
existing compacts4 ,there is no         
intimation that they had articles drawn 

up on paper1 to which they subscribed4  
,we go further3--,there is no evidence  
that they had a record of names2 and1   
however innocent this may seem to be1 we
 regard it an innovation4 ,but1  #b;d1  
,it may be remarked that1 by being      
banded together1 we can watch over each 
other4 ,but we can watch over each other
 without these bands2 and if we are     
living and acting in the fear of ,god1  
we shall love each other sufficiently   
well to reprove1 rebuke1 and exhort with
 all long-suffering and doctrine4 ,and  
in this way1 we shall lift up the hands 
that hang down1 and the feeble knees2   
and1 making straight paths for our feet1
 that which is lame will not be turned  
out of the way4 ,this is a duty we owe  
to all the ,church2 and were it not for 
these sectarian pens1 we could speak the
 truth to all the ,church4 ,we could    
watch over each other in love--the only 
true bond of union4 ,and thus1 in loving
 ,god with all our hearts1 and speaking 
the truth in love1 we shall grow up into

 ,christ1 from whom the whole body fitly
 joined together1 and compact by that   
which every joint supplieth1 according  
to the effectual working in the measure 
of every part1 maketh increase of the   
body unto the edifying of itself in     
love4  #c;d1 ,it keeps out wicked       
men4--,this is a most palpable          
falsehood4 ,the history of all the past 
is against it4 ,the ,church1 in every   
age since the apostles' time1 hath been 
troubled with wicked men4 ,the ,saviour 
taught ,his disciples that1 the wheat   
and the tares should grow together until
 the harvest4 ,and ,he whose penetrating
 glance could trace its progress through
 the succession of ages1 by this        
significant parable1 in which ,he       
represented its condition1 7,matt4 #ac17
 and proclaimed1 that it would consist1 
according to its earthly composition1 of
 a mixture of true and false members2   
,he reserved the public sifting and     
separation of this mass of men1 so      
different in their dispositions from    

each other1 to his final judgment alone4
 ,he has blamed that hasty and          
intemperate zeal of man1 which1 while it
 would separate the tares and the good  
seed before the proper season comes1 is 
apt to pull up the hidden seed of the   
wheat with the tares4 ,a great majority 
of the professed ,church1 at the present
 time1 notwithstanding their            
organizations1 are as corrupt as was the
 ,church in the dark ages4 ,but1  #dth1 
,it keeps out heresies4--,if this be so1
 why did not the apostles keep out      
heresy8 ,for we are told by some1 at the
 present time1 that they had creeds and 
compacts8 ,there were some in the       
apostles' time who believed in          
circumcision4 ,he1 the apostle1 inquires
 of the ,galatians1 ,who hath bewitched 
you1 that ye should not obey the truth8 
,in writing his fifteenth chapter to the
 ,corinthians1 he inquires1 ,now1 if    
,christ be preached that ,he rose from  
the dead1 how say some among you there  
is no resurrection of the dead8 ,these  

were fatal errors4 ,again1 we inquire1  
,if1 by being organized1 the ,church can
 keep out heresy1 why has not the       
,church kept it out8 ,there never was a 
time when there was so much heresy1     
corruption1 and wickedness as at        
present4 ,hundreds of professed         
,christians deny the personal coming of 
,christ3 they teach that persons1 when  
they die1 go immediately to heaven2 that
 people have immortal souls2 that the   
spirits of men1 after they are dead1    
return to this world2 and that they are 
peeping1 rapping1 and muttering1 which1 
by the way1 is a legitimate fruit of the
 ,immortal soul theory2--a counterpart  
of that lie of ,satan--,,thou ,,shalt   
,,not ,,surely ,,die4 ,these1 together  
with the idea that heresy may be kept   
out by human machinery1 are some of the 
leading errors of the age4 ,but1  #eth1 
,the ministry is supported4--,i am      
thinking this is about the main thing1  
after all4 ,the loaves and fishes1 with 
the great mass1 are the thing4 ,did not 

the ,apostle ,peter anticipate the fact 
that such a class of persons would      
arise1 when he exhorted the elders to   
take the oversight1 not by constraint1  
but willingly2 not for filthy lucre1 but
 of a ready mind8 ,the question with the
 great mass is not1 where can ,i do the 
most good8--but1 where can ,i get the   
best pay8 ,the loudest call1 is where   
there is the most money4 ,these facts   
are so well known1 as not to require any
 thing but common observation to        
demonstrate their truthfulness4 ,but1   
#fth1 ,to know who ,,we are4--,satan's  
course1 from the commencement1 has been 
a most artful and cunning one3 it has   
been the very business of his existence1
 when he could not get people to        
renounce the truth altogether1 to make  
them believe it possible to improve a   
plan which ,god1 in ,his infinite       
wisdom1 has devised for the welfare of  
mankind4  ,the ,jews 7as their history  
assures us7 at first were willing to be 
directed by the ,almighty2 but by and   

by1 they thought themselves capable of  
legislating3 and being puffed up in     
their minds1 and having their foolish   
hearts darkened1 they rejected the      
,lord2 and then coming to               
,samuel1--,their plea--,o how specious1 
how reasonable6--,behold thou art old1  
and thy sons walk not in thy ways2 now  
make us a king1 to judge us like other  
nations4 ,they entertained fears1       
undoubtedly1 that after ,samuel's death1
 which was approaching1 they should be  
puzzled to know ,,who ,,we ,,are4 ,this 
very idea led ,david to number the      
people1 contrary to the command of      
,jehovah4 ,and how often it has been    
done since that time1 to gratify a      
foolish heart1 and a vain ambition6     
,would it not have sounded curious      
enough to have heard ,paul say to       
,timothy1 ,timothy1 we must ascertain1  
who ,,we are8 ,and would not the young  
disciple1 if it was possible for him to 
fathom it1 7for it is a vague term7     
replied by saying1 ,you told the        

,phillippians that we were the          
circumcision1 who wanted our names in   
the ,church book8 no2 that we were the  
circumcision1 who want to legislate8 no3
 ,we are the circumcision1 who worship  
,god in the spirit1 and rejoice in      
,christ ,jesus1 and have no confidence  
in the flesh4  ,ye1 says ,christ1 are my
 friends1 if ye do whatsoever ,i command
 you4 ,in order to answer this question 
fully1 we must1 in the first place1     
answer one that comes before it--one    
that is primary1 viz3 ,do we love ,god  
with all our hearts1 and our neighbour  
as ourselves8 ,do we live up to all the 
commands of ,god8 ,are we conformed to  
,his moral image8 ,is it the business of
 our lives to do all that ,god has      
commanded8 ,are we believing all the    
truth1 and living up to all the light we
 have8 ,if so1 ,,we ,,are ,christ's2 and
 being ,christ's1 ,,we ,,are ,abraham's 
seed1 and heirs according to the        
promise4 ,it is not strange that the    
nominal ,church should lose her         

identity4 ,but when we hear ,adventists 
inquire1 ,who we are1 it comes with an  
ill grace4 ,it sounds so silly4 ,what6  
have we been engaged in this glorious   
cause fourteen or fifteen years1 and    
never learnt1 ,who we are8 ,what does   
all this mean8 ,why this effort on the  
part of some to organize1 and bring in  
all the ,advent bands1 and unite them in
 a compact8 ,does this look like a      
confident1 unwavering faith in the      
speedy coming of ,christ8 ,did we not   
deny1 years ago1 this miserable work of 
forming ourselves into a sect8 ,hear the
 ,advent ,shield and ,review1 for ,jan41
 #ahde1 vol4 ,i4 number #b1 page #aih4  
,it speaks the language1 ,i will venture
 to say1 of the great majority of       
,adventists4 ,here it is3  ,,but        
,,adventists ,,have ,,no ,,wish1 ,,no   
,,intention1 ,,no ,,need ,,of           
,,constituting ,,themselves ,,into ,a   
,,distinct ,,body4  ,how is the         
foregoing to be reconciled with the     
efforts of some at the present time1    

unless there has been a mighty change8  
,it may be remarked1 that circumstances 
have driven us to adopt this course4    
,but what are the circumstances8 ,is it 
because of impostors1 or heresy8 ,and do
 we expect to be free from these by     
associating ourselves together in this  
way8 ,we did not feel the need of any   
thing of this kind in forty-two and     
three3 ,our hearts were united in the   
bonds of love2 and if this bond has been
 severed1 instead of fixing up something
 as a substitute--something that is     
contrary to the word of ,god--we should1
 by preaching the simple truth1 remove  
the cause1 and nature 7,grace7 would    
work its own cure4 ,but no2 we must have
 our creeds1 our organizations1 our     
conferences1 and our delegates to those 
conferences4 ,and then1 having          
ascertained1 ,,who ,,we ,,are1 we are   
prepared to act4 ,but act how8 ,why1 we 
can shear off the troublesome thinkers4 
,but it will be remarked that this is   
not the design1 and that it is wrong to 

judge our brethren in this way4 ,but we 
may remark that it is so already--the   
mystery of iniquity doth already work4  
,the very design of organizations1 in   
the common acceptation of that term1 and
 also of creeds1 is to proscribe        
individual liberty2 they are opposed to 
free action4 ,it will not do for a man  
to act in accordance with the           
commission1 ,go ye into all the world1  
and preach the ,gospel to every         
creature4 ,no1 he must preach to our    
party--to our people4 ,to illustrate    
this principle1 we quote the following  
from the life of ,lorenzo ,dow3      ,a 
,preacher from ,america1 whose name is  
,lorenzo ,dow1 travelled     lately in  
,ireland1 without any official          
recommendation from the     ,american   
,conferences1 or any of the rulers in   
that connection1 and     yet professing 
himself a friend of the ,methodists4    
,what judgment is     it expedient for  
this conference to pass concerning the  
conduct of     that man8 ,ans4 ,,we     

,,are ,,most ,,sincere ,,friends ,,to   
,,religious ,,liberty2     but we       
consider ourselves called upon to inform
 the public1 that ,mr4     ,dow has no  
connexion with us1 nor did he receive   
the least     permission or             
encouragement from the conference to    
travel through     ,ireland as one of   
our body1 or as one of our friends2 and 
we are     determined1 that if he       
returns to this country1 none of our    
preaching-houses shall be opened to him 
on any account4 ,again1     letters of  
falsehood and lies1 to set the          
government to sacrifice     an          
individual on the altar of tyranny1     
because he goes so     independent of   
the ,,bishop',s ,,power2 and others will
 7do7 hatch from     the same nest1 c4  
c4444 ,better one suffer than many4 ,if 
he is     innocent1 we must use ,,power1
 and make an example of him4 ,what for8 
,as a warning to others not to dispute  
our power1 which1 if right1     we have 
by ,divine delegation1 to enforce1      

',,moral ,,discipline6'  ,the question  
is not1 what does ,christ require8--but1
 what says the bishop8 ,now1 we would   
say nothing1 but for the fact1 that the 
same principle is developing itself in  
our own ranks4 ,this miserable creed    
system is now exerting upon ,adventists 
an unsuspected1 but tremendous power    
against the liberty of the gospel4  ,it 
is stealthily creeping upon us4 ,may    
,god unscale our eyes1 before we get    
entangled in the meshes of the net of   
the ,devil6 ,it is true1 each           
denomination says1 we inflict no        
penalty2 we only decline to receive into
 our ranks one who does not agree with  
us4 ,and this is so specious1 it sounds 
so reasonable1 that it might deceive the
 very elect4 ,but it is the most        
consummate stroke of infernal craft1 and
 doubly distilled ,jesuitism4 ,it is    
like ,rome handing over the victims of  
the ,inquisition to the civil arm1      
charging it to do them no harm1 and then
 piously lauding her own lamb-like      

disposition4 ,it is true1 the           
denominations do not do the candidate   
any harm2 they only leave him to his    
inevitable fate4 ,but it may be         
remarked1 that it is of no use to say   
any thing about it2 and should the      
individual lift his warning voice       
against it1 he is accused of having a   
hard spirit--of opposing somebody4 ,but 
we wish it distinctly understood1 that  
we are not at war with persons1 but     
principles2 not with men1 but measures4 
,we wrestle not against flesh and blood1
 but against principalities1 against    
powers1 against the rulers of the       
darkness of this world1 against         
spiritual wickedness in high places4 ,we
 are opposed to these religious         
combinations1 because we believe they   
are opposed to ,god and ,his cause4  ,to
 give this idea more perfectly1 we      
submit the following extract from the   
pen of ,br4 ,j4 ,v4 ,h4 7,advent        
,herald1 ,september #ah1 #ahdd17 headed1
 ,,apostolic ,,example ,,for ,,our      

,,course4      ,and he went into the    
synagogue1 and spake boldly for the     
space of     three months1 disputing and
 persuading the things concerning the   
kingdom of ,god4 ,but when divers were  
hardened and ,,believed ,,not1     ,,but
 ,,spake ,,evil ,,of ,,that ,,way       
,,before ,,the ,,multitude1 he departed 
from     them1 and ,,separated the      
disciples1 disputing daily in the school
 of     one ,tyrannus4--,acts xix4 #h1  
#i4 ,it was not until divers were       
hardened1 and spake evil of that way    
7the ,lord's coming7 before     the     
multitude1 that the brethren were moved 
to come out1 and     separate from the  
,churches4 ,they could not endure this  
evil     speaking of the evil servant4  
,and the ,churches that could     pursue
 this course of oppression and evil     
speaking towards     those who were     
looking for the blessed hope1 were to   
them none other     than the ,,daughters
 of ,,mystic ,,babylon4 ,,they ,,so     
,,proclaimed ,,them1 ,,and     ,,came   

,,into ,,the ,,liberty ,,of ,,the       
,,gospel4 ,and though we may not be all 
agreed as to what constitutes ,babylon1 
we are agreed in the     ,,instant and  
,,final ,,separation from all who oppose
 the doctrine of     the coming and     
kingdom of ,god at hand4 ,we believe it 
to be a case     of ,,life and ,,death4 
,it is ,,death to remain connected with 
those     bodies that speak lightly of1 
or oppose1 the coming of the ,lord4     
,it is ,,life to come out from ,,all    
,,human ,,tradition1 and stand upon     
the word of ,god1 and look daily for the
 appearance of the ,lord4 ,we           
therefore now say to ,,all who are in   
,,any ,,way entangled in the     yoke of
 bondage1 ,come out from among them1 and
 be ye separate1     saith the ,lord1   
and touch not the unclean thing1 and ,i 
will receive     you1 and will be a     
,father unto you1 and ye shall be my    
sons and     daughters1 saith the ,lord 
,almighty4--#b ,cor4 vi4 #ag1 #ah4      
,,amen and ,,amen4  #b;d1 ,these creeds 

and compacts are opposed to free speech4
 ,one great object of creeds is a union 
of sentiment4 ,hence1 when a man joins  
any one of the various denominations1   
the creed is presented1 or the question 
asked1 do you believe so and so8 ,should
 he dissent in some particulars1 yet    
being an influential or wealthy person1 
he may join by promising he will not    
agitate the points of difference4 ,but  
let us look at another case4 ,here is a 
minister--and1 by the way1 there has    
been many of them--who embraces the     
truth of the ,lord's speedy coming2 it  
is as fire shut up in his bones2 he     
comes with the joyful intelligence      
before his congregation1 and in the     
fulness of his soul he preaches that    
truth1 which is the power of ,god unto  
salvation to every one that believeth2  
and in less than one week he is waited  
upon by the bishop1 or the committee1 or
 peradventure1 he receives a line       
through the office1 informing him he    
must desist1 for it is contrary to the  

standards of the ,church1 and as such1  
we 7,elders1 ,bishops and ,deacons7 are 
pledged to banish it away4 ,if he       
persists1 he must be admonished4 ,if he 
continues to act the part of a man and a
 ,christian1 turn him out--yes1 shear   
off the troublesome thinkers1 and sing  
stagnant hallelujahs4  ,but we may come 
nearer home4 ,how often we hear it      
remarked1 ,don't say any thing about the
 sonship of ,christ--the sleep of the   
dead--the destruction of the wicked2    
for1 if you do1 you will hurt somebody's
 feelings6 ,yes2 we have men among us   
who have declared1 that these questions 
shall not be preached in their pulpits4 
,but the question may be asked1 ,have we
 not a right to say what shall1 and what
 shall not1 be preached in our pulpits8 
and shall we not use our utmost         
endeavors to keep the ,church pure8     
,well1 now1 this looks very reasonable1 
and were it not for the history of the  
past1 we might regard it as being very  
innocent4 ,but we look to the council of

 bishops1 who met ,a4,d4 #cbe3 they     
acted from a conviction1 that it was    
their prerogative to say what should be 
preached3 and by this act1 though honest
 and sincere1 they were the unconscious 
tools1 in the hands of the devil1 of    
begetting a child1 which ultimately     
proved itself to be1 the ,,mother of    
,,harlots and abomination of the earth4 
,may the ,lord help us to be free1 and  
preach our sentiments6 ,for he's a      
freeman whom the truth makes free1 and  
all are slaves beside4 ,but1  #c;d1 ,the
 few act for the whole4--,look to the   
history of the ,christian ,church--the  
,council of ,nice1 ,chalcedon1 c4 ,who  
acted in these conferences8 ,ans4 ,a few
 bishops4 ,they got together2 resolved  
that they were the ,church1 or its      
representatives2 made creeds1 and then  
imposed them on the flock4 ,this has    
been the policy of ,rome2 for hundreds  
of years her ,popes and ,cardinals1     
,bishops and ,priests1 have been        
humbugging the people1 hurling their    

anathemas at a ,luther and a ,cranmer4  
,why is this8 ,ans4 ,because they dared 
to dissent from the decrees of those    
councils4 ,but we do not stop here2 that
 spirit1 or desire to lord it over      
,god's heritage1 which characterized the
 councils of ,rome1 has been transferred
 to the various synods of our time4 ,it 
is often the case1 that a few persons   
get together1 take into consideration   
the wants of the cause1 as they call it1
 reduce them to one or more             
propositions1 and then bring them before
 the meeting4 ,perhaps one of this      
number makes a motion1 and another of   
them seconds it2 it is accepted1 then   
adopted by the votes of ten or a dozen1 
more or less2 half of whom are the very 
persons who concocted it4 ,it is then   
blazoned abroad1 and ,o6 what a bluster6
 ,when the merits of the case are known1
 it reminds one of the fable1 ,the      
mountain laboured1 and brought forth a  
mouse4  #dth1 ,it evinces a want of     
faith and confidence in ,god4--,creeds  

are never talked of1 until persons begin
 to grow cold in their minds4 ,the      
,church1 during the whole of the first  
century1 had no creed but the ,bible2   
but when she departed from the          
simplicity of the ,bible1 and lost her  
faith in ,god1 then she began to        
legislate4--,they 7the church7 felt1 as 
many express themselves at the present  
time1 that we must keep the ,church     
together4 ,yes1 and here was1 and still 
is1 the very trouble3 ,,we ,,must ,,do  
,,it4 ,this is not our work2 it belongs 
to the ,great ,head of the ,church2 and 
if we had faith and confidence in ,god1 
and in ,his word1 we should be willing  
to let ,christ do ,his own work4 ,every 
effort to keep the ,church together by  
making creeds1 is an innovation4--,there
 were divisions in the apostles' day1   
and there have been divisions in every  
age since that time4 ,every effort on   
our part to steady the ,ark1 when such  
effort has not been put forth in        
accordance with the plan of ,god1 has   

been frowned upon by the ,almighty4 ,it 
is often the case that those who seem to
 have so much anxiety1 and manifest so  
much zeal to hold and to build up the   
cause1 as they are pleased to term it1  
are1 when the truth is known1 trying to 
build up themselves4 ,while it is our   
duty to do all we can1 under the        
blessing of ,heaven1 to promote the     
welfare of the cause with which we are  
associated1 we must be careful not to   
indulge a thought that its prosperity   
depends upon our feeble efforts3 for it 
will live1 whether we do or not4 ,christ
 stands at the helm1 and1 if we abide in
 the ship1 we shall be safe4 ,but the   
creed-power1 or organizations1 in the   
common acceptation of the term1 are not 
only opposed to free action--free       
speech--,but1  ,lastly1 ,it is the most 
effective means to destroy souls of any 
thing that was ever brought into        
existence4 ,the professed church to-day 
stands just where the ,jews did eighteen
 hundred years ago2 and the language of 

,christ1 as addressed to the ,pharisees1
 is applicable to the various           
denominations3 ,but woe unto you1       
,scribes and ,pharisees1 hypocrites6 for
 ye shut up the kingdom of ,heaven      
against men3 for ye neither go in       
yourselves1 neither suffer ye them that 
are entering to go in4 ,fine            
meeting-houses1 costly pulpits1 and a   
ministry that will please itching ears1 
are the things with the great mass4     
,they are guilty of turning the ,lord   
out of doors1 for they have rejected    
,his truth4 ,ichabod is written on these
 pleasant palaces4 ,the great majority  
of the ministry are dumb dogs1 lying    
down1 loving to slumber2 yea1 they are  
greedy dogs1 which can never have       
enough1 and they are shepherds that     
cannot understand3 they all look to     
their own way1 every one for his gain   
from his quarter4 ,they are turned unto 
fables4 ,they love the praise of man    
more than the praise of ,god4  ,the     
great mass have corrupted their way2 but

 yet there are a few who are honest1 and
 would believe if they could hear1 and  
they could hear1 if it were not for     
these ,,sectarian ,,pens4 ,they 7the    
few7 are famishing2 they die for lack of
 knowledge4  ,well1 now1 to take one    
step towards adopting a system1 the     
perfection of which leads to such       
damnable results1 must be a departure   
from the simplicity of the truth--a     
recreancy to the cause which1 in the    
end1 will be more baneful than          
beneficial4  ,some of those who want a  
record of names would shudder at the    
idea of being connected with such a     
system as that referred to above2 and   
yet1 in ninety-nine cases out of a      
hundred1 this is the result where the   
first step is taken4 ,we say1 therefore1
 to all1 ,beware of the first step6 ,do 
not give your influence in favor of such
 a wicked system1 lest you be taken in a
 snare6 ,if you are in any of these     
sectarian pens1 leave them at once2 for 
they1 like ,korah1 ,dathan1 and ,abiram1

 are soon to sink into the pit4 ,those  
that are being formed by ,adventists1   
are no better than other denominations4 
,in some respects they are worse4       
,there are men among us1 preaching      
brethren1 whose moral and religious     
characters are unimpeachable--men of    
sterling worth1 and of marked ability2  
yet1 because they view matters somewhat 
different from some others1 or because  
they will not be restricted to preach   
wholly to our party1 they are           
disfellowshipped2 they are whispered to 
be unsafe1 unsound1 heretical6 ,but some
 may say1 that it is of no use to expose
 our brethren2--ah1 to hold our peace   
would be to follow in the same track--to
 adopt the same policy of an apostate   
church4 ,we wish our brethren to know1  
both far and near1 that this is the     
policy of some at the present time4 ,we 
have nothing to say against men1 but    
against their courses and their         
measures4 ,let every ,adventist1 who    
wants to be free1 beware of this human  

machinery--these sectarian pens--this   
last effort of ,satan to destroy souls4 
,we cannot help but exclaim1 in the     
language of a celebrated writer3 ,oh1   
woful day6 ,oh1 unhappy ,church of      
,christ6 ,fast rushing round the fatal  
circle of absorbing ruin6 ,thou sayest1 
',i am rich1 and increased in goods1 and
 have need of nothing2' and knowest not 
that thou art poor1 and miserable1 and  
blind1 and naked6 ,we have said1 and we 
repeat it again1 there is no need of any
 creed but the ,bible3 we have learned  
that it is a sufficient rule of faith   
and practice3 it is the best discipline 
we can have3 and ,i will venture to say 
that1 in ninety-nine cases out of a     
hundred1 all difficulties can be        
settled1 if we follow out the rules     
given by ,christ and ,his apostles4 ,let
 us hear the ,saviour speak3 ,therefore1
 if thou bring thy gift to the altar1   
and there rememberest that thy brother  
hath aught against thee1 leave there thy
 gift before the altar1 and go thy way2 

first be reconciled to thy brother1 and 
then come and offer thy gift4--,matt4 v4
 #bc1 #bd4 ,again1 we read1 ,and when ye
 stand praying1 forgive1 if ye have     
aught against any3 that your ,father    
also which is in heaven may forgive you 
your trespasses4--,mark xi4 #bd4        
,moreover1 if thy brother shall trespass
 against thee1 go and tell him his fault
 between thee and him alone3 if he shall
 hear thee1 thou hast gained thy        
brother4 ,but if he will not hear thee1 
then take with thee one or two more1    
that in the mouth of two or three       
witnesses every word may be established4
 ,and if he shall neglect to hear them1 
tell it unto the ,church2 but if he     
neglect to hear the ,church1 let him be 
unto thee as an heathen man and a       
publican4--,matt4 xviii4 #ae-ag4 ,the   
apostle says1 ,and if any obey not our  
word by this epistle1 note that man1 and
 have no company with him1 that he may  
be ashamed2 yet count him not as an     
enemy1 but admonish him as a            

brother4--#b ,thes4 iii4 #ad1 #ae4  ,the
 above1 together with many more         
scriptures that might be quoted1        
involves the principle on which brethren
 are to settle their difficulties4 ,and 
when the professed ,church of ,god1     
instead of urging the necessity of      
abiding by the above principle1 departs 
from the ,lord1 by appointing committees
 to settle the differences between      
brethren1 they are guilty of the most   
audacious folly4 ,if difficulties cannot
 be settled by this rule1 nothing will  
settle them but the final judgment4  ,we
 say1 then1 in the language of ,beecher1
 ,away with false policy6 ,rally around 
this central principle1 look to the     
,lord1 and you are impregnable4 ,the    
waves of the coming conflict1 which is  
to convulse ,christendom to her centre1 
are beginning to be felt4  ,the deep    
roarings begin to swell beneath us4 ,all
 the old signs fail4 ,god answers no    
more by ,urim and ,thummim1 nor by      
dream1 nor by prophet4 ,men's hearts are

 failing them for fear1 and for looking 
after those things that are coming on   
the earth4 ,thunders mutter in the      
distance2 winds moan across the raging  
bosom of the deep2 all things betide the
 rising of that final storm of ,divine  
indignation1 which shall sweep away the 
vain refuges of lies4 ,when the ,lord   
shall cause ,his glorious voice to be   
heard1 and shall show the lightning down
 ,his arm1 with the indignation of ,his 
anger1 and with the flame of devouring  
fire2 with scattering1 and tempest1 and 
hail-stones2 in that day1 what shall    
save us8 ,for judgment will begin at the
 house of ,god4 ,what shall be our      
defence8 ,put your trust in ,him whose  
eyes are as a flame of fire--on whose   
head are many crowns--who is clothed    
with a vesture dipped in blood--whose   
name is called ,,the ,,word ,,of ,,god6 
,he who is to come down1 and tread upon 
the high places of the earth1 trampling 
,his enemies in the dust1 destroying the
 works of ,satan1 breaking up all these 

compacts which are opposed to ,his      
truth1 establishing his everlasting     
kingdom1 which is not to be left to     
another people1 but which is to break in
 pieces all other kingdoms1 and it shall
 stand for ever4 ,even so1 ,lord ,jesus6
 ,come quickly6--,,amen4  ,f4 ,h4 ,b4   
,,the pure testimony put forth in the   
spirit1               ,cuts like a sharp
 two-edged sword1            ,and       
hypocrites now are most sorely          
tormented1               ,because       
they're condemned by the word4          
,the pure testimony discovers the dross1
           ,while wicked professors make
 light of the cross1           ,and     
,babylon trembles for fear of her loss4 
,a battle is coming between the two     
kingdoms1               ,the armies are 
gathering round2            ,the kings  
of the earth and the lamb that was      
slain1               ,will come to close
 contest ere long2           ,then gird 
on your armor ye saints of the ,lord1   
,and he will direct you by his living   

word1           ,the pure testimony will
 cut like a sword4     ,transcriber's   
,notes3  ,missing or obscured           
punctuation was corrected4              
,typographical errors were silently     
corrected4  ,spelling and hyphenation   
were made consistent when a predominant 
form was found in this book2 otherwise  
it was not changed4  ,text in italics is
 enclosed by underscores 7italics74