patriarchs and prophets-第2章

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PRAY　THE　FATHER；　AND　HE　SHALL　GIVE　YOU　ANOTHER　COMFORTER；　。　。　。　EVEN　THE
SPIRIT　OF　TRUTH。〃　JOHN　14：16；　17。　〃BUT　THE　COMFORTER；　WHICH　IS　THE　HOLY
GHOST；　WHOM　THE　FATHER　WILL　SEND　IN　MY　NAME；　HE　SHALL　TEACH　YOU　ALL　THINGS。〃
VERSE　26。　〃HOWBEIT　WHEN　HE；　THE　SPIRIT　OF　TRUTH；　IS　COME；　HE　WILL　GUIDE
　　　　　　　　
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YOU　INTO　ALL　TRUTH。〃　CHAPTER　16：13。　AND　AFTER　CHRIST　HAD　RISEN　FROM　THE
DEAD；　HE　SAID　TO　THE　DISCIPLES；　〃BEHOLD；　I　SEND　THE　PROMISE　OF　MY　FATHER
UPON　YOU：　BUT　TARRY　YE　IN　THE　CITY　OF　JERUSALEM；　UNTIL　YE　BE　ENDUED　WITH
POWER　FROM　ON　HIGH。〃　LUKE　24：49。

ON　THE　DAY　OF　PENTECOST　THE　DISCIPLES　WERE　THUS　ENDUED　WITH　POWER　FROM　ON
HIGH。　BUT　THIS　PROMISE　OF　CHRIST'S　WAS　NOT；　ANY　MORE　THAN　THE　PROPHECY　OF
JOEL；　CONFINED　TO　THAT　OCCASION。　FOR　HE　GAVE　THEM　THE　SAME　PROMISE　IN
ANOTHER　FORM　BY　ASSURING　THEM　THAT　HE　WOULD　BE　WITH　THEM　ALWAYS；　EVEN　TO　THE
END　OF　THE　WORLD。　MATTHEW　28：20。　MARK　TELLS　US　IN　WHAT　SENSE　AND　WHAT　MANNER
THE　LORD　WAS　TO　BE　WITH　THEM。　HE　SAYS；　〃AND　THEY　WENT　FORTH；　AND　PREACHED
EVERYWHERE；　THE　LORD　WORKING　WITH　THEM；　AND　CONFIRMING　THE　WORD　WITH　SIGNS
FOLLOWING。〃　MARK　16：20。　AND　PETER；　ON　THE　DAY　OF　PENTECOST；　TESTIFIED
CONCERNING　THE　PERPETUITY　OF　THIS　OPERATION　OF　THE　SPIRIT　WHICH　THEY　HAD
WITNESSED。　WHEN　THE　CONVICTED　JEWS　SAID　UNTO　THE　APOSTLES；　〃WHAT　SHALL　WE
DO？〃　PETER　ANSWERED；　〃REPENT；　AND　BE　BAPTIZED　EVERY　ONE　OF　YOU　IN　THE　NAME
OF　JESUS　CHRIST　FOR　THE　REMISSION　OF　SINS；　AND　YE　SHALL　RECEIVE　THE　GIFT　OF
THE　HOLY　GHOST。　FOR　THE　PROMISE　IS　UNTO　YOU；　AND　TO　YOUR　CHILDREN；　AND　TO
ALL　THAT　ARE　AFAR　OFF；　EVEN　AS　MANY　AS　THE　LORD　OUR　GOD　SHALL　CALL。〃　ACTS
2：37…39。　THIS　CERTAINLY　PROVIDES　FOR　THE　OPERATION　OF　THE　HOLY　SPIRIT　IN　THE
CHURCH；　EVEN　IN　ITS　SPECIAL　MANIFESTATIONS；　TO　ALL　COMING　TIME；　AS　LONG　AS
MERCY　SHALL　INVITE　MEN　TO　ACCEPT　THE　PARDONING　LOVE　OF　CHRIST。

TWENTY…EIGHT　YEARS　LATER　IN　HIS　LETTER　TO　THE　CORINTHIANS；　PAUL　SET　BEFORE
THAT　CHURCH　A　FORMAL　ARGUMENT　ON　THE　QUESTION。　HE　SAYS　（1　CORINTHIANS　12：1）；
〃NOW　CONCERNING　SPIRITUAL　GIFTS；　BRETHREN；　I　WOULD　NOT　HAVE　YOU
IGNORANT〃SO　IMPORTANT　DID　HE　DEEM　IT　THAT　THIS　SUBJECT　SHOULD　BE
UNDERSTOOD　IN　THE　CHRISTIAN　CHURCH。　AFTER　STATING　THAT　THOUGH　THE　SPIRIT　IS
ONE　IT　HAS　DIVERSITIES　OF　OPERATION；　AND　EXPLAINING　WHAT　THOSE　DIVERSITIES
ARE；　HE　INTRODUCES　THE　FIGURE　OF　THE　HUMAN　BODY；　WITH　ITS　VARIOUS　MEMBERS；
TO　SHOW　HOW　THE　CHURCH　IS　CONSTITUTED　WITH　ITS　DIFFERENT　OFFICES　AND　GIFTS。
AND　AS　THE　BODY　HAS　ITS　VARIOUS　MEMBERS；　EACH　HAVING　ITS
　　　　　　　
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PARTICULAR　OFFICE　TO　FILL；　AND　ALL　WORKING　TOGETHER　IN　UNITY　OF　PURPOSE　TO
CONSTITUTE　ONE　HARMONIOUS　WHOLE；　SO　THE　SPIRIT　WAS　TO　OPERATE　THROUGH
VARIOUS　CHANNELS　IN　THE　CHURCH　TO　CONSTITUTE　A　PERFECT　RELIGIOUS　BODY。　PAUL
THEN　CONTINUES　IN　THESE　WORDS：　〃AND　GOD　HATH　SET　SOME　IN　THE　CHURCH；　FIRST
APOSTLES；　SECONDARILY　PROPHETS；　THIRDLY　TEACHERS；　AFTER　THAT　MIRACLES；　THEN
GIFTS　OF　HEALING；　HELPS；　GOVERNMENTS；　DIVERSITIES　OF　TONGUES。〃

THE　DECLARATION　THAT　GOD　HATH　SET　SOME　IN　THE　CHURCH；　ETC。；　IMPLIES
SOMETHING　MORE　THAN　THAT　THE　WAY　WAS　LEFT　OPEN　FOR　THE　GIFTS　TO　APPEAR　IF
CIRCUMSTANCES　SHOULD　CHANCE　TO　FAVOR。　IT　RATHER　SIGNIFIES　THAT　THEY　WERE　TO
BE　PERMANENT　PARTS　OF　THE　TRUE　SPIRITUAL　CONSTITUTION　OF　THE　CHURCH；　AND
THAT　IF　THESE　WERE　NOT　IN　ACTIVE　OPERATION　THE　CHURCH　WOULD　BE　IN　THE
CONDITION　OF　A　HUMAN　BODY；　SOME　OF　WHOSE　MEMBERS　HAD；　THROUGH　ACCIDENT　OR
DISEASE；　BECOME　CRIPPLED　AND　HELPLESS。　HAVING　ONCE　BEEN　SET　IN　THE　CHURCH；
THERE　THESE　GIFTS　MUST　REMAIN　UNTIL　THEY　ARE　FORMALLY　REMOVED。　BUT　THERE　IS
NO　RECORD　THAT　THEY　EVER　HAVE　BEEN　REMOVED。

FIVE　YEARS　LATER　THE　SAME　APOSTLE　WRITES　TO　THE　EPHESIANS　RELATIVE　TO　THE
SAME　GIFTS；　PLAINLY　STATING　THEIR　OBJECT；　AND　THUS　SHOWING　INDIRECTLY　THAT
THEY　MUST　CONTINUE　TILL　THAT　OBJECT　IS　ACCOMPLISHED。　HE　SAYS　（EPHESIANS　4：8；
11…13）：　〃WHEREFORE　HE　SAITH；　WHEN　HE　ASCENDED　UP　ON　HIGH；　HE　LED　CAPTIVITY
CAPTIVE；　AND　GAVE　GIFTS　UNTO　MEN。　。　。　。　AND　HE　GAVE　SOME；　APOSTLES；　AND
SOME；　PROPHETS；　AND　SOME；　EVANGELISTS；　AND　SOME；　PASTORS　AND　TEACHERS；　FOR
THE　PERFECTING　OF　THE　SAINTS；　FOR　THE　WORK　OF　THE　MINISTRY；　FOR　THE　EDIFYING
OF　THE　BODY　OF　CHRIST：　TILL　WE　ALL　COME　IN　THE　UNITY　OF　THE　FAITH；　AND　OF
THE　KNOWLEDGE　OF　THE　SON　OF　GOD；　UNTO　A　PERFECT　MAN；　UNTO　THE　MEASURE　OF　THE
STATURE　OF　THE　FULLNESS　OF　CHRIST。〃

THE　CHURCH　DID　NOT　REACH　THE　STATE　OF　UNITY　HERE　CONTEMPLATED；　IN　THE
APOSTOLIC　AGE；　AND　VERY　SOON　AFTER　THAT　AGE；　THE　GLOOM　OF　THE　GREAT
SPIRITUAL　APOSTASY　BEGAN　TO　OVERSHADOW　THE　CHURCH；　AND　CERTAINLY　DURING　THE
STATE　OF　DECLENSION；　THIS　FULLNESS　OF　CHRIST；　AND　UNITY　OF　FAITH；　WAS　NOT
REACHED。　NOR　WILL　IT　BE　REACHED　TILL
　　　　　　　　　
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THE　LAST　MESSAGE　OF　MERCY　SHALL　HAVE　GATHERED　OUT　OF　EVERY　KINDRED　AND
PEOPLE；　EVERY　CLASS　OF　SOCIETY；　AND　EVERY　ORGANIZATION　OF　ERROR；　A　PEOPLE
COMPLETE　IN　ALL　GOSPEL　REFORMS；　WAITING　FOR　THE　COMING　OF　THE　SON　OF　MAN。
AND　TRULY；　IF　EVER　IN　HER　EXPERIENCE　THE　CHURCH　WOULD　NEED　THE　BENEFIT　OF
EVERY　AGENCY　ORDAINED　FOR　HER　COMFORT　AND　GUIDANCE；　ENCOURAGEMENT　AND
PROTECTION；　IT　WOULD　BE　AMID　THE　PERILS　OF　THE　LAST　DAYS；　WHEN　THE　POWERS　OF
EVIL；　WELL…NIGH　PERFECTED　BY　EXPERIENCE　AND　TRAINING　FOR　THEIR　NEFARIOUS
WORK；　WOULD；　BY　THEIR　MASTERPIECES　OF　IMPOSTURE；　DECEIVE　IF　IT　WERE　POSSIBLE
EVEN　THE　ELECT。　VERY　APPROPRIATELY；　THEREFORE；　COME　IN　THE　SPECIAL
PROPHECIES　OF　THE　OUTPOURING　OF　THE　SPIRIT　FOR　THE　BENEFIT　OF　THE　CHURCH　IN
THE　LAST　DAYS。

IT　IS；　HOWEVER；　USUALLY　TAUGHT；　IN　THE　CURRENT　LITERATURE　OF　THE　CHRISTIAN
WORLD；　THAT　THE　GIFTS　OF　THE　SPIRIT　WERE　ONLY　FOR　THE　APOSTOLIC　AGE；　THAT
THEY　WERE　GIVEN　SIMPLY　FOR　THE　PLANTING　OF　THE　GOSPEL；　AND　THAT　THE　GOSPEL
BEING　ONCE　ESTABLISHED；　THE　GIFTS　WERE　NO　LONGER　NEEDED；　AND　CONSEQUENTLY
WERE　SUFFERED　SOON　TO　DISAPPEAR　FROM　THE　CHURCH。　BUT　THE　APOSTLE　PAUL　WARNED
THE　CHRISTIANS　OF　HIS　DAY　THAT　THE　〃MYSTERY　OF　INIQUITY〃　WAS　ALREADY　AT
WORK；　AND　THAT　AFTER　HIS　DEPARTURE；　GRIEVOUS　WOLVES　WOULD　ENTER　IN　AMONG
THEM；　NOT　SPARING　THE　FLOCK；　AND　THAT　ALSO　OF　THEIR　OWN　SELVES　MEN　WOULD
ARISE；　SPEAKING　PERVERSE　THINGS　TO　DRAW　AWAY　DISCIPLES　AFTER　THEM。　ACTS
20：29；　30。　IT　CANNOT　THEREFORE　BE　THAT　THE　GIFTS；　PLACED　IN　THE　CHURCH　TO
GUARD　AGAINST　THESE　VERY　EVILS；　WERE　READY；　WHEN　THAT　TIME　CAME；　TO　PASS
AWAY　AS　HAVING　ACCOMPLISHED　THEIR　OBJECT；　FOR　THEIR　PRESENCE　AND　HELP　WOULD
BE　NEEDED　UNDER　THESE　CONDITIONS　MORE　THAN　WHEN　THE　APOSTLES　THEMSELVES　WERE
ON　THE　STAGE　OF　ACTION。

WE　FIND　ANOTHER　STATEMENT　IN　PAUL'S　LETTER　TO　THE　CORINTHIAN　CHURCH；　WHICH
SHOWS　THAT　THE　POPULAR　CONCEPTION　OF　THE　TEMPORARY　CONTINUANCE　OF　THE　GIFTS
CANNOT　BE　CORRECT。　IT　IS　HIS　CONTRAST　BETWEEN　THE　PRESENT；　IMPERFECT　STATE；
AND　THE　GLORIOUS；　IMMORTAL　CONDITION　TO　WHICH　THE　CHRISTIAN　WILL　FINALLY
ARRIVE。　1　CORINTHIANS
13。　HE　SAYS　（VERSES　9；　10）。　〃FOR　WE　KNOW　IN　PART；　AND　WE
　　　　　　　　　
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PROPHESY　IN　PART。　BUT　WHEN　THAT　WHICH　IS　PERFECT　IS　COME；　THEN　THAT　WHICH　IS
IN　PART　SHALL　BE　DONE　AWAY。〃　HE　FURTHER　ILLUSTRATES　THIS　PRESENT　STATE　BY
COMPARING　IT　TO　THE　PERIOD　OF　CHILDHOOD　WITH　ITS　WEAKNESS　AND　IMMATURITY　OF
THOUGHT　AND　ACTION；　AND　THE　PERFECT　STATE；　TO　THE　CONDITION　OF　MANHOOD　WITH
ITS　CLEARER　VISION；　MATURITY；　AND　STRENGTH。　AND　HE　CLASSES　THE　GIFTS　AMONG
THOSE　THINGS　WHICH　ARE　NEEDED　IN　THIS　PRESENT；　IMPERFECT　CONDITION；　BUT
WHICH　WE　SHALL　HAVE　NO　OCCASION　FOR　WHEN　THE　PERFECT　STATE　IS　COME。　〃NOW；〃
HE　SAYS　（VERSE　12）；　〃WE　SEE　THROUGH　A　GLASS；　DARKLY；　BUT　THEN　FACE　TO　FACE：
NOW　I　KNOW　IN　PART；　BUT　THEN　SHALL　I　KNOW　EVEN　AS　ALSO　I　AM　KNOWN。〃　THEN　HE
STATES　WHAT　GRACES　ARE　ADAPTED　TO　THE　ETERNAL　STATE；　AND　WILL　THERE　EXIST；
NAMELY；　FAITH；　HOPE；　AND　CHARITY；　OR　LOVE；　〃THESE　THREE；　BUT　THE　GREATEST　OF
THESE　IS　CHARITY。〃

THIS　EXPLAINS　THE　LANGUAGE　OF　VERSE　8：　〃CHARITY　NEVER　FAILETH；〃　THAT　IS；
CHARITY；　THE　HEAVENLY　GRACE　OF　LOVE；　WILL　ENDURE　FOREVER；　IT　IS　THE　CROWNING
GLORY　OF　MAN'S　FUTURE；　IMMORTAL　CONDITION；　BUT　〃WHETHER　THERE　BE　PROPHECIES；
THEY　SHALL　FAIL；〃　THAT　IS；　THE　TIME　WILL　COME　WHEN　PROPHECIES　WILL　BE　NO
LONGER　NEEDED；　AND　THE　GIFT　OF　PROPHECY；　AS　ONE　OF　THE　HELPS　IN　THE　CHURCH；
WILL　NO　LONGER　BE　EXERCISED；　〃WHETHER　THERE　BE　TONGUES；　THEY　SHALL　CEASE；〃
THAT　IS；　THE　GIFT　OF　TONGUES　WILL　NO　LONGER　BE　OF　SERVICE；　〃WHETHER　THERE　BE
KNOWLEDGE；　IT　SHALL　VANISH　AWAY；〃　THAT　IS；　KNOWLEDGE；　NOT　IN　THE　ABSTRACT；
BUT　AS　ONE　OF　THE　SPECIAL　GIFTS　OF　THE　SPIRIT；　WILL　BE　RENDERED　UNNECESSARY
BY　THE　PERFECT　KNOWLEDGE　WITH　WHICH　WE　SHALL　BE　ENDOWED　IN　THE　ETERNAL
WORLD。

NOW；　IF　WE　TAKE　THE　POSITION　THAT　THE　GIFTS　CEASED　WITH　THE　APOSTOLIC　AGE；
BECAUSE　NO　LONGER　NEEDED；　WE　COMMIT　OURSELVES　TO　THE　POSITION　THAT　THE
APOSTOLIC　AGE　WAS　THE　WEAK　AND　CHILDISH　AGE　OF　THE　CHURCH；　WHEN　EVERYTHING
WAS　SEEN　THROUGH　A　GLASS；　DARKLY；　BUT　THE　AGE　THAT　FOLLOWED；　WHEN　GRIEVOUS
WOLVES　WERE　TO　ENTER　IN；　NOT　SPARING　THE　FLOCK；　AND　MEN　WERE　TO　ARISE；　EVEN
IN　THE　CHURCH；　SPEAKING　PERVERSE　THINGS　TO　DRAW　AWAY　DISCIPLES　AFTER　THEM；
WAS　AN　AGE　OF　PERFECT　LIGHT　AND　KNOWLEDGE；　IN　WHICH　THE　IMPERFECT　AND
　　　　　　　　
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CHILDISH　AND　DARKENED　KNOWLEDGE　OF　APOSTOLIC　TIMES　HAD　PASSED　AWAY！　FOR；　BE
IT　REMEMBERED；　THE　GIFTS　CEASE　ONLY　WHEN　A　PERFECT　STATE　IS　REACHED；　AND
BECAUSE　THAT　STATE　IS　REACHED；　WHICH　RENDERS　THEM　NO　LONGER　NECESSARY。　BUT
NO　ONE；　ON　SOBER　THOUGHT；　CAN　FOR　A　MOMENT　SEEK　TO　MAINTAIN　THE　POSITION
THAT　THE　APOSTOLIC　AGE　WAS　INFERIOR　IN　SPIRITUAL　ELEVATION　TO　ANY　AGE　WHICH
HAS　SUCCEEDED　IT。　AND　IF　THE　GIFTS　WERE　NEEDED　THEN；　THEY　CERTAINLY　ARE
NEEDED　NOW。

AMONG　THE　AGENCIES　WHICH　THE　APOSTLE　IN　HIS　LETTERS　TO　BOTH　THE　CORINTHIANS
AND　EPHESIANS　ENUMERATES　AS　〃GIFTS〃　SET　IN　THE　CHURCH；　WE　FIND　〃PASTORS；〃
〃TEACHERS；〃　〃HELPS；〃　AND　〃GOVERNMENTS；〃　AND　ALL　THESE　ARE　ACKNOWLEDGED；　ON
EVERY　HAND；　AS　STILL　CONTINUING　IN　THE　CHURCH。　WHY　NOT；　THEN；　THE　OTHERS
ALSO；　INCLUDING　FAITH；　HEALING；　PROPHECY；　ETC。？　WHO　IS　COMPETENT　TO　DRAW　THE
LINE；　AND　SAY　WHAT　GIFTS　HAVE　BEEN　〃SET　OUT〃　OF　THE　CHURCH；　WHEN　ALL　WERE；
IN　THE　BEGINNING；　EQUALLY　〃SET〃　THEREIN？

REVELATION　12：17　HAS　BEEN　REFERRED　TO　AS　A　PROPHECY　THAT　THE　GIFTS　WOULD　BE
RESTORED　IN　THE　LAST　DAYS。　AN　EXAMINATION　OF　ITS　TESTIMONY　WILL　CONFIRM　THIS
VIEW。　THE　TEXT　SPEAKS　OF　THE　REMNANT　OF　THE　WOMAN'S　SEED。　THE　WOMAN　BEING　A
SYMBOL　OF　THE　CHURCH；　HER　SEED　WOULD　BE　THE　INDIVIDUAL　MEMBERS　COMPOSING　THE
CHURCH　AT　ANY　ONE　TIME；　AND　THE　〃REMNANT〃　OF　HER　SEED　WOULD　BE　THE　LAST
GENERATION　OF　CHRISTIANS；　OR　THOSE　LIVING　ON　THE　EARTH　AT　THE　SECOND　COMING
OF　CHRIST。　THE　TEXT　FURTHER　DECLARES　THAT　THESE　〃KEEP　THE　COMMANDMENTS　OF
GOD；　AND　HAVE　THE　TESTIMONY　OF　JESUS　CHRIST；〃　AND　THE　〃TESTIMONY　OF　JESUS〃
IS　EXPLAINED　IN　CHAPTER　19：10　TO　BE　〃THE　SPIRIT　OF　PROPHECY；〃　WHICH　MUST　BE
UNDERSTOOD　AS　THAT　WHICH　AMONG　THE　GIFTS　IS　CALLED　〃THE　GIFT　OF　PROPHECY。〃　1
CORINTHIANS　12：9；　10。

THE　SETTING　OF　THE　GIFTS　IN　THE　CHURCH　DOES　NOT　IMPLY　THAT　EVERY　INDIVIDUAL
WAS　TO　HAVE　THEM　IN　EXERCISE。　ON　THIS　POINT　THE　APOSTLE　（1　CORINTHIANS
12：29）　SAYS；　〃ARE　ALL　APOSTLES？　ARE　ALL　PROPHETS？　ARE　ALL　TEACHERS？〃　ETC。
THE　IMPLIED　ANSWER　IS　NO；　NOT　AL