the great controversy-第78部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


art　'clothed　in　purple　and　fine　linen；'　and　farest　'sumptuously

386

every　day；'　no　doubt　many　will　applaud　thy　elegance　of　taste；　thy　generosity
and　hospitality。　But　do　not　buy　their　applause　so　dear。　Rather　be　content
with　the　honor　that　cometh　from　God。〃Wesley；　Works；　Sermon　50；　〃The　Use　of
Money。〃　But　in　many　churches　of　our　time　such　teaching　is　disregarded。

A　profession　of　religion　has　become　popular　with　the　world。　Rulers；
politicians；　lawyers；　doctors；　merchants；　join　the　church　as　a　means　of
securing　the　respect　and　confidence　of　society；　and　advancing　their　own
worldly　interests。　Thus　they　seek　to　cover　all　their　unrighteous
transactions　under　a　profession　of　Christianity。　The　various　religious
bodies；　re…enforced　by　the　wealth　and　influence　of　these　baptized
worldlings；　make　a　still　higher　bid　for　popularity　and　patronage。　Splendid
churches；　embellished　in　the　most　extravagant　manner；　are　erected　on　popular
avenues。　The　worshipers　array　themselves　in　costly　and　fashionable　attire。　A
high　salary　is　paid　for　a　talented　minister　to　entertain　and　attract　the
people。　His　sermons　must　not　touch　popular　sins；　but　be　made　smooth　and
pleasing　for　fashionable　ears。　Thus　fashionable　sinners　are　enrolled　on　the
church　records；　and　fashionable　sins　are　concealed　under　a　pretense　of
godliness。

Commenting　on　the　present　attitude　of　professed　Christians　toward　the　world；
a　leading　secular　journal　says：　〃Insensibly　the　church　has　yielded　to　the
spirit　of　the　age；　and　adapted　its　forms　of　worship　to　modern　wants。〃　〃All
things；　indeed；　that　help　to　make　religion　attractive；　the　church　now
employs　as　its　instruments。〃　And　a　writer　in　the　New　York　Independent　speaks
thus　concerning　Methodism　as　it　is：　〃The　line　of　separation　between　the
godly　and　the　irreligious　fades　out　into　a　kind　of　penumbra；　and　zealous　men
on　both　sides　are　toiling　to　obliterate　all　difference　between　their　modes
of　action　and　enjoyment。〃　〃The　popularity　of　religion　tends　vastly　to
increase　the　number　of　those　who　would　secure　its　benefits　without　squarely
meeting　its　duties。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　387


Says　Howard　Crosby：　〃It　is　a　matter　of　deep　concern　that　we　find　Christ's
church　so　little　fulfilling　the　designs　of　its　Lord。　Just　as　the　ancient
Jews　let　a　familiar　intercourse　with　the　idolatrous　nations　steal　away　their
hearts　from　God；　。　。　。　so　the　church　of　Jesus　now　is；　by　its　false
partnerships　with　an　unbelieving　world；　giving　up　the　divine　methods　of　its
true　life；　and　yielding　itself　to　the　pernicious；　though　often　plausible；
habits　of　a　Christless　society；　using　the　arguments　and　reaching　the
conclusions　which　are　foreign　to　the　revelation　of　God；　and　directly
antagonistic　to　all　growth　in　grace。〃The　Healthy　Christian：　An　Appeal　to
the　Church；　pages　141；　142。

In　this　tide　of　worldliness　and　pleasure　seeking；　self…denial　and
self…sacrifice　for　Christ's　sake　are　almost　wholly　lost。　〃Some　of　the　men
and　women　now　in　active　life　in　our　churches　were　educated；　when　children；
to　make　sacrifices　in　order　to　be　able　to　give　or　do　something　for　Christ。〃
But　〃if　funds　are　wanted　now；　。　。　。　nobody　must　be　called　on　to　give。　Oh；
no！　have　a　fair；　tableau；　mock　trial；　antiquarian　supper；　or　something　to
eatanything　to　amuse　the　people。〃

Governor　Washburn　of　Wisconsin　in　his　annual　message；　January　9；　1873；
declared：　〃Some　law　seems　to　be　required　to　break　up　the　schools　where
gamblers　are　made。　These　are　everywhere。　Even　the　church　（unwittingly；　no
doubt）　is　sometimes　found　doing　the　work　of　the　devil。　Gift　concerts；　gift
enterprises　and　raffles；　sometimes　in　aid　of　religious　or　charitable
objects；　but　often　for　less　worthy　purposes；　lotteries；　prize　packages；
etc。；　are　all　devices　to　obtain　money　without　value　received。　Nothing　is　so
demoralizing　or　intoxicating；　particularly　to　the　young；　as　the　acquisition
of　money　or　property　without　labor。　Respectable　people　engaging　in　these
change　enterprises；　and　easing　their　consciences　with　the　reflection　that
the　money　is　to　go　to　a　good　object；　it　is　not　strange　that　the　youth　of　the
state　should　so　often　fall　into　the　habits　which　the　excitement　of　games　of
hazard　is　almost　certain　to　engender。〃

388


The　spirit　of　worldly　conformity　in　invading　the　churches　throughout
Christendom。　Robert　Atkins；　in　a　sermon　preached　in　London；　draws　a　dark
picture　of　the　spiritual　declension　that　prevails　in　England：　〃The　truly
righteous　are　diminished　from　the　earth；　and　no　man　layeth　it　to　heart。　The
professors　of　religion　of　the　present　day；　in　every　church；　are　lovers　of
the　world；　conformers　to　the　world；　lovers　of　creature　comfort；　and　aspirers
after　respectability。　They　are　called　to　suffer　with　Christ；　but　they　shrink
from　even　reproach。。。。　Apostasy；　apostasy；　apostasy；　is　engraven　on　the　very
front　of　every　church；　and　did　they　know　it；　and　did　they　feel　it；　there
might　be　hope；　but；　alas！　they　cry；　'We　are　rich；　and　increased　in　goods；
and　stand　in　need　of　nothing。'〃　Second　Advent　Library；　tract　No。　39。

The　great　sin　charged　against　Babylon　is　that　she　〃made　all　nations　drink　of
the　wine　of　the　wrath　of　her　fornication。〃　This　cup　of　intoxication　which
she　presents　to　the　world　represents　the　false　doctrines　that　she　has
accepted　as　the　result　of　her　unlawful　connection　with　the　great　ones　of　the
earth。　Friendship　with　the　world　corrupts　her　faith；　and　in　her　turn　she
exerts　a　corrupting　influence　upon　the　world　by　teaching　doctrines　which　are
opposed　to　the　plainest　statements　of　Holy　Writ。

Rome　withheld　the　Bible　from　the　people　and　required　all　men　to　accept　her
teachings　in　its　place。　It　was　the　work　of　the　Reformation　to　restore　to　men
the　word　of　God；　but　is　it　not　too　true　that　in　the　churches　of　our　time　men
are　taught　to　rest　their　faith　upon　their　creed　and　the　teachings　of　their
church　rather　than　on　the　Scriptures？　Said　Charles　Beecher；　speaking　of　the
Protestant　churches：　〃They　shrink　from　any　rude　word　against　creeds　with　the
same　sensitiveness　with　which　those　holy　fathers　would　have　shrunk　from　a
rude　word　against　the　rising　veneration　of　saints　and　martyrs　which　they
were　fostering。　。　。　。　The　Protestant　evangelical　denominations　have　so　tied
up　one　another's　hands；　and　their　own；　that；　between　them　all；　a　man　cannot
become　a　preacher　at　all；　anywhere；　without　accepting　some　book　besides　the

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　389

Bible。。。。　There　is　nothing　imaginary　in　the　statement　that　the　creed　power
is　now　beginning　to　prohibit　the　Bible　as　really　as　Rome　did；　though　in　a
subtler　way。〃Sermon　on　〃The　Bible　a　Sufficient　Creed；〃　delivered　at　Fort
Wayne；　Indiana；　Feb。　22；　1846。

When　faithful　teachers　expound　the　word　of　God；　there　arise　men　of　learning；
ministers　professing　to　understand　the　Scriptures；　who　denounce　sound
doctrine　as　heresy；　and　thus　turn　away　inquirers　after　truth。　Were　it　not
that　the　world　is　hopelessly　intoxicated　with　the　wine　of　Babylon；
multitudes　would　be　convicted　and　converted　by　the　plain；　cutting　truths　of
the　word　of　God。　But　religious　faith　appears　so　confused　and　discordant　that
the　people　know　not　what　to　believe　as　truth。　The　sin　of　the　world's
impenitence　lies　at　the　door　of　the　church。

The　second　angel's　message　of　Revelation　14　was　first　preached　in　the　summer
of　1844；　and　it　then　had　a　more　direct　application　to　the　churches　of　the
United　States；　where　the　warning　of　the　judgment　had　been　most　widely
proclaimed　and　most　generally　rejected；　and　where　the　declension　in　the
churches　had　been　most　rapid。　But　the　message　of　the　second　angel　did　not
reach　its　complete　fulfillment　in
1844。　The　churches　then　experienced　a　moral　fall；　in
consequence　of　their　refusal　of　the　light　of　the　advent　message；　but　that
fall　was　not　complete。　As　they　have　continued　to　reject　the　special　truths
for　this　time　they　have　fallen　lower　and　lower。　Not　yet；　however；　can　it　be
said　that　〃Babylon　is　fallen；。。。　because　she　made　all　nations　drink　of　the
wine　of　the　wrath　of　her　fornication。〃　She　has　not　yet　made　all　nations　do
this。　The　spirit　of　world　conforming　and　indifference　to　the　testing　truths
for　our　time　exists　and　has　been　gaining　ground　in　churches　of　the
Protestant　faith　in　all　the　countries　of　Christendom；　and　these　churches　are
included　in　the　solemn　and　terrible　denunciation　of　the　second　angel。　But
the　work　of　apostasy　has　not　yet　reached　its　culmination。

The　Bible　declares　that　before　the　coming　of　the　Lord；　Satan　will　work　〃with
all　power　and　signs　and　lying　wonders；

390

and　with　all　deceivableness　of　unrighteousness；〃　and　they　that　〃received　not
the　love　of　the　truth；　that　they　might　be　saved；〃　will　be　left　to　receive
〃strong　delusion；　that　they　should　believe　a　lie。〃　2　Thessalonians　2：9…11。
Not　until　this　condition　shall　be　reached；　and　the　union　of　the　church　with
the　world　shall　be　fully　accomplished　throughout　Christendom；　will　the　fall
of　Babylon　be　complete。　The　change　is　a　progressive　one；　and　the　perfect
fulfillment　of　Revelation　14：8　is　yet　future。

Notwithstanding　the　spiritual　darkness　and　alienation　from　God　that　exist　in
the　churches　which　constitute　Babylon；　the　great　body　of　Christ's　true
followers　are　still　to　be　found　in　their　communion。　There　are　many　of　these
who　have　never　seen　the　special　truths　for　this　time。　Not　a　few　are
dissatisfied　with　their　present　condition　and　are　longing　for　clearer　light。
They　look　in　vain　for　the　image　of　Christ　in　the　churches　with　which　they
are　connected。　As　these　bodies　depart　further　and　further　from　the　truth；
and　ally　themselves　more　closely　with　the　world；　the　difference　between　the
two　classes　will　widen；　and　it　will　finally　result　in　separation。　The　time
will　come　when　those　who　love　God　supremely　can　no　longer　remain　in
connection　with　such　as　are　〃lovers　of　pleasures　more　than　lovers　of　God；
having　a　form　of　godliness；　but　denying　the　power　thereof。〃

Revelation　18　points　to　the　time　when；　as　the　result　of　rejecting　the
threefold　warning　of　Revelation　14：6…12；　the　church　will　have　fully　reached
the　condition　foretold　by　the　second　angel；　and　the　people　of　God　still　in
Babylon