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which was the curse and ruin of Israelthe desire of imitating the
practices and courting the friendship of the ungodly。 〃Thou didst trust in
thine own beauty； and playedst the harlot because of thy renown。〃 Ezekiel
16：14； 15。
Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome's example of iniquitous
connection with 〃the kings of the earth〃the state churches； by their
relation to secular governments； and other denominations； by seeking the
favor of the world。 And the term 〃Babylon〃confusionmay be appropriately
applied to these bodies； all professing to derive their doctrines from the
Bible； yet divided into almost innumerable sects； with widely conflicting
creeds and theories。
Besides a sinful union with the world； the churches that separated from Rome
present other of her characteristics。
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A Roman Catholic work argues that 〃if the Church of Rome were ever guilty of
idolatry in relation to the saints； her daughter； the Church of England；
stands guilty of the same； which has ten churches dedicated to Mary for one
dedicated to Christ。〃Richard Challoner； The Catholic Christian Instructed；
Preface； pages 21； 22。
And Dr。 Hopkins； in 〃A Treatise on the Millennium；〃 declares： 〃There is no
reason to consider the antichristian spirit and practices to be confined to
that which is now called the Church of Rome。 The Protestant churches have
much of antichrist in them； and are far from being wholly reformed from 。 。
。 corruptions and wickedness。〃Samuel Hopkins； Works； vol。 2； p。 328。
Concerning the separation of the Presbyterian Church from Rome； Dr。 Guthrie
writes： 〃Three hundred years ago； our church； with an open Bible on her
banner； and this motto； 'Search the Scriptures；' on her scroll； marched out
from the gates of Rome。〃 Then he asks the significant question： 〃Did they
come clean out of Babylon？〃Thomas Guthrie； The Gospel in Ezekiel； page
237。
〃The Church of England；〃 says Spurgeon； 〃seems to be eaten through and
through with sacramentarianism； but nonconformity appears to be almost as
badly riddled with philosophical infidelity。 Those of whom we thought better
things are turning aside one by one from the fundamentals of the faith。
Through and through； I believe； the very heart of England is honeycombed
with a damnable infidelity which dares still go into the pulpit and call
itself Christian。〃
What was the origin of the great apostasy？ How did the church first depart
from the simplicity of the gospel？ By conforming to the practices of
paganism； to facilitate the acceptance of Christianity by the heathen。 The
apostle Paul declared； even in his day； 〃The mystery of iniquity doth
already work。〃 2 Thessalonians 2：7。 During the lives of the apostles the
church remained comparatively pure。 But 〃toward the latter end of the second
century most of the churches assumed a new form； the first simplicity
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disappeared； and insensibly； as the old disciples retired to their graves；
their children； along with new converts； 。 。 。 came forward and new…modeled
the cause。〃Robert Robinson； Ecclesiastical Researches； ch。 6； par。 17； p。
51。 To secure converts； the exalted standard of the Christian faith was
lowered； and as the result 〃a pagan flood； flowing into the church； carried
with it its customs； practices； and idols。〃 Gavazzi； Lectures； page 278。
As the Christian religion secured the favor and support of secular rulers；
it was nominally accepted by multitudes； but while in appearance Christians；
many 〃remained in substance pagans； especially worshiping in secret their
idols。〃Ibid。； page 278。
Has not the same process been repeated in nearly every church calling itself
Protestant？ As the founders； those who possessed the true spirit of reform；
pass away； their descendants come forward and 〃new…model the cause。〃 While
blindly clinging to the creed of their fathers and refusing to accept any
truth in advance of what they saw； the children of the reformers depart
widely from their example of humility； self…denial； and renunciation of the
world。 Thus 〃the first simplicity disappears。〃 A worldly flood； flowing into
the church； carries 〃with it its customs； practices； and idols。〃
Alas； to what a fearful extent is that friendship of the world which is
〃enmity with God；〃 now cherished among the professed followers of Christ！
How widely have the popular churches throughout Christendom departed from
the Bible standard of humility； self…denial； simplicity； and godliness！ Said
John Wesley； in speaking of the right use of money： 〃Do not waste any part
of so precious a talent； merely in gratifying the desire of the eye； by
superfluous or expensive apparel； or by needless ornaments。 Waste no part of
it in curiously adorning your houses； in superfluous or expensive furniture；
in costly pictures； painting； gilding。 。 。 。 Lay out nothing to gratify the
pride of life； to gain the admiration or praise of men。 。 。 。 'So long as
thou doest well unto thyself； men will speak good of thee。' So long as thou
art 'clothed in purple and fine linen；' and farest 'sumptuously
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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
st