principle which operated against Christianity from its origin. St. Paul writes, "the mystery of iniquity doth already work," and he declared that it will work until "that Wicked be revealed." From the very first, the principle began to operate, and it is against this that St. Paul argues in writing to the Corinthian Church. There was already contention with regard to the effect of water-baptism. Some of the baptized said they were of Paul; some of Apollos; some of Cephas; some of Christ. They began to dispute about the effect of water-baptism from the hands of one or other of the disciples. St. Paul enquiringly asks, "Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul ?" And, he adds, "I thank God I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius." Men began already to look to the hands that administered the rite rather than to the God to whom that rite introduced them. They began already to enthrone man and to dethrone Christ. This principle of evil worked until it established "that Wicked," the Man of Sin, "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." The principle evinced itself at first, and it is repeatedly alluded to by the holy penmen. Its progression, and its full embodiment, are unfolded in the Revelation. If we consider the state of the world at the period when Christianity was introduced, we shall not be surprised that a priestly principle should find admission. Superstition pervaded the whole mass, not excluding the Jews, and priestly influence everywhere obtained. In such an age, when the mass of men were utterly ignorant about spiritual things, it is not to be wondered at that Christianity should have run into a false ecclesiastical form. When men were passing out of heathenism, and a ceremonial law, into a higher, and purer, and more spiritual form of worship, it is not surprising that they should carry with them many old notions. It would have been infinitely surprising, and the effect of miracle, if they had not. God in Christ worked miracles to evidence His presence when on earth, but this was an unusual, not the usual mode of His operations. All things in nature move by an order of progression, and humanity, as part of nature, is not permitted to depart therefrom. The priestly principle having long existed, though foreign to Christianity, found admission thereto. That it can continue therein is an utter impossibility. Priestly tyranny may for a little time longer continue to chain down humanity, but rise it must, in spite of the fearful opposition of man's enmity to God. Now that, by the will of God, knowledge has increased; facilities of intercourse are afforded; the press teeming with the unfolding of previously hidden truths; God's holy word multiplied into numberless copies, and distributed over the earth in nearly every language: it is impossible that the Antichrist, the Harlot, the False One, the Polluted, should much longer shroud herself under some of the habiliments of the beloved Zion. As many now do, so shortly. will all men, in spite of the great efforts now making to prevent such a consummation, discover that the Antichrist is not a body foreign to Christianity, but the false ecclesiastical system which propounds a scheme of priestly tyranny that exalts Priestcraft and dishonours God. H. WOOLDRIDGE, STEAM PRINTING OFFICES, WINCHESTER. |