Union Of Church And StateIllustration.Paul And Silas In Prison. "These men, being Jews, ... teach customs, which are not lawful for us ... to observe, being Romans." Acts 16:20, 21.1. What was already at work in the church in Paul's day?“Forthe mystery of iniquitydoth already work.”2 Thess. 2:7.2. What class of men did he say would arise in the church?“For I know this, that after my departing shallgrievous wolvesenter in among you, not sparing the flock.Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”Acts 20:29, 30.3. Through what experience was the church to pass, and what was to develop in the church, before Christ's second coming?“Let no man deceive you by any means: forthat day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”2 Thess. 2:3.4. In what was shown the first tangible evidence of this“falling away”from the truth of God?The adoption of heathen rites and customs in the church.Note.—“The bishops augmented the number of religious rites in the Christian worship, by way of accommodation to the infirmities and[pg 485]prejudices, both of Jews and heathen, in order to facilitate their conversion to Christianity.... For this purpose, they gave the name ofmysteriesto the institutions of the gospel, and decorated particularly the holy sacrament with that solemn title. They used in that sacred institution, as also in that of baptism, several of the terms employed in the heathen mysteries, and proceeded so far, at length, as even to adopt some of the rites and of the ceremonies of which those renowned mysteries consisted.”—Mosheim's“Ecclesiastical History”(Maclaine's translation), cent. 2, part 2, chap. 4, pars. 2-5.5. How early was this tendency manifested?“This imitation began in the eastern provinces; but, after the time of Adrian [emperor 117-138a.d.], who first introduced the mysteries among the Latins, it was followed by the Christians who dwelt in the western parts of the empire.”—Id., par. 5.6. What has been one great characteristic of the Papacy?A union of church and state, or the religious power dominating the civil power to further its ends.7. When was the union of church and state formed from which the Papacy grew?During the reign of Constantine, 313-337a.d.8. What was the character and the work of many of the bishops at that time?“Worldly-minded bishops, instead of caring for the salvation of their flocks, were often but too much inclined to travel about, andentangle themselves in worldly concerns.”—Neander's“History of the Christian Religion and Church”(Torrey's translation), Vol. II, page 16.9. What did the bishops determine to do?“This theocratical theory was already the prevailing one in the time of Constantine; and ... the bishops voluntarily made themselves dependent on him by their disputes,and by their determination to make use of the power of the state for the furtherance of their aims.”—Id., page 132.Note.—The“theocratical theory”was that of a government administered by God through the church, particularly through the church bishops.10. What was the date of Constantine's famous Sunday law?a.d.321.11. When and by whom was the Council of Nice convened?By the emperor Constantine, 325a.d.12. Under what authority were its decrees published?[pg 486]“The decrees ... were published under theimperial authority, and thus obtained a political importance.”—Id., page 133.13. What was one principal object in calling this council?“The question relating tothe observance of Easter, which was agitated in the time of Anicetus and Polycarp, and afterward in that of Victor, was still undecided. It was one of the principal reasons for convoking the Council of Nice, being the most important subject to be considered after the Arian controversy.”“It appears that the churches of Syria and Mesopotamia continued to follow the custom of the Jews, and celebrated Easter onthe fourteenth day of the moon, whether falling on Sunday or not. All the other churches observed that solemnityon Sunday only, namely; those of Rome, Italy, Africa, Lydia, Egypt, Spain, Gaul, and Britain; and all Greece, Asia, and Pontus.”—Boyle's“Historical View of the Council of Nice,”page 23, edition 1836.14. How was the matter finally decided?“Easter day was fixed on the Sundayimmediately following the full moon which was nearest after the vernal equinox.”—Id., page 24.15. What was decreed by the Council of Laodicea,a.d.364?That Christians should keep the Sunday, and that if they persisted in resting on the Sabbath,“they shall be shut out from Christ.”See Hefele's“History of the Councils of the Church,”Vol. II, page 316.16. What imperial law was issued ina.d.386?“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by Constantine were more vigorously enforced; and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—Neander's“Church History,”Vol. II, page 300.17. What petition was made to the emperor by a church convention of bishops ina.d.401?“That the public shows might be transferred from the Christian Sunday and from the feast-days to some other days of the week.”—Ib.Note.—The desired law was secured in 425a.d.See pages444,489.18. What was the object of the church bishops in securing these Sunday laws?“That the day might be devoted with less interruption to[pg 487]the purposes of devotion.”“That the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—Id., pages 297, 301.19. How was the“devotion”of the“faithful”disturbed?“Church teachers ... were, in truth, often forced to complain thatin such competitions the theater was vastly more frequented than the church.”—Id., page 300.20. What does Neander say of the securing of these laws?“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.”—Id., page 301.Note.—In this way, more perhaps than in any other, church and state were united. In this way the church gained control of the civil power, which she later used as a means of carrying on most bitter and extensive persecutions. In this way she denied Christ and the power of godliness.21. When the church had received help from the state to this extent, what more did she demand?That the civil power should be exerted to compel men to serve God as the church should dictate.22. What did Augustine, the father of this theocratical or church-and-state theory, teach concerning it?“Who doubts but what it is better to be led to God by instruction than by fear of punishment or affliction? But because the former, who will be guided only by instruction, are better, the others are still not to be neglected.... Many, like bad servants, must often be reclaimed to their Master by the rod of temporal suffering, ere they can attain to this highest stage of religious development.”—Id., pages 214, 215.23. What is Neander's conclusion regarding this theory?“It was by Augustine, then, that a theory was proposed and founded, which, tempered though it was, in its practical application, by his own pious, philanthropic spirit, nevertheless contained the germ of that whole system of spiritual despotism, of intolerance and persecution, which ended in the tribunals of the Inquisition.”“He did not give precedence to the question, What isright? over the question, What isexpedient? But a theory which overlooks these distinctions leaves room for any despotism which would make holy ends a pretext for the use of unholy means.”—Id., pages 217, 249, 250.Note.—It was thus that the union of church and state was formed, out of which was developed“the beast,”or Papacy, of the Apocalypse, which made“war with the saints”and overcame them. A like course cannot fail to produce like results today. Dr. Philip Schaff, in his work on“Church and State,”page 11, well says:“Secular power has proved a satanic gift to the church, and ecclesiastical power has proved an engine of tyranny in the hands of the state.”[pg 488]Sabbath LegislationIllustration.Christ Reproving The Pharisees. "For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8.1. Who made the Sabbath?“In six daysthe Lordmade heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, andrested the seventh day; whereforethe Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”Ex. 20:11.2. To whom does the Sabbath belong?“The seventh day is the Sabbath ofthe Lord thy God.”Verse 10.3. To whom, then, should its observance be rendered?“Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, andto God the things that are God's.”Mark 12:17.Note.—When men make Sabbath laws, therefore, they require Sabbath observance to be rendered to thegovernment, or, presumably, by indirection, to Godthrough the government, which amounts to the same thing.4. In religious things, to whom alone are we accountable?“So then every one of us shall give account of himselfto God.”Rom. 14:12.Note.—But when men make compulsory Sabbath laws, they make men accountable to thegovernmentfor Sabbath observance.5. How does God command us to keep the Sabbath day?“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep itholy.”Ex. 20:8.6. What does He indicate as one of its purposes?“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the[pg 489]Sabbath of rest,an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.”Lev. 23:3.7. Seeing, then, that the Sabbath isholy, is to bekept holy, and is a day forholy convocations, what must be its character?It must bereligious.8. What, then, must be the nature of all Sabbath legislation?It isreligious legislation.9. When the state enacts religious laws, what is effected?A union of church and state.10. What has always been the result of religious legislation, or a union of church and state?Religious intolerance and persecution.11. What was Constantine's Sunday law of March 7, 321?“Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun; but let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty, attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by heaven.”—Corpus Juris Civilis Cod., lib. 3, tit. 12, 3.12. What further imperial legislation in behalf of Sunday observance was issued in 386?“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by the emperor Constantine were more rigorously enforced, and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—Neander's“Church History,”Vol. II, page 300, edition 1852.13. At the instance of church bishops, what still further law was secured under Theodosius the Younger, in 425?“In the year 425, the exhibition of spectacles on Sunday and on the principal feast-days of the Christians was forbidden, in order that the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—Id., pages 300, 301.14. What does the historian say of this legislation?“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.... But had it not been for that confusion of spiritual and secular interests, had it not been for the vast number of mereoutward conversionsthus brought about, she would have needed no such help.”—Id., page 301.[pg 490]15. What did Charlemagne's Sunday law of 800 require?“We decree ... that servile works should not be done on the Lord's day, ... that is, that neither should men do field work, either in cultivating the vineyards or by plowing in the fields, by cutting or drying hay, or by placing a fence, or by making clearings in the woods or felling trees or working on stones or constructing houses or working in the garden; neither should they come together to decide public matters nor be engaged in the hunt.... Women may not do any textile work nor cut out clothes nor sew nor make garments.... But let them come together from all sides to church to the solemnities of the mass, and let them praise God for all things which he does for us on that day.”—“Historical Chronicles of Germany,”Sec. 2, Vol. I, 22 General admonition, 789, M. Martio 23, page 61, par. 81.16. How does the Sunday law of Charles II, of 1676, read?“For the better observation and keeping holy the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday: be it enacted ... that all the laws enacted and in force concerning the observation of the day, and repairing to the church thereon, be carefully put in execution; and that all and every person and persons whatsoever shall on every Lord's day apply themselves to the observation of the same, by exercising themselves thereon in the duties of piety and true religion, publicly and privately.”—“Revised Statutes of England From 1235-1685a.d.”(London, 1870), pages 779, 780; cited in“A Critical History of Sunday Legislation,”by A. H. Lewis, D. D., pages 108, 109.17. What did the first Sunday law enacted in America, that of Virginia, in 1610, require?“Every man and woman shall repair in the morning to the divine service and sermons preached upon the Sabbath day, and in the afternoon to divine service, and catechizing, upon pain for the first fault tolose their provision and the allowance for the whole week following; for the second, tolose the said allowance and also be whipped; and for the third tosuffer death.”—Articles, Laws, and Orders, Divine, Politique, and Martial, for the Colony in Virginia: first established by Sir Thomas Gates, Knight, Lieutenant-General, the 24th of May, 1610.Notes.—These are the original Sunday laws, after which all the Sunday laws of Europe and America have been modeled. Church attendance is not generally required by the Sunday laws of the present day, nor was it required, in terms, by the earliest Sunday laws; but that is and ever has been the chief object of all Sunday legislation from Constantine's time on, and it is as much out of place today as it ever was.[pg 491]Who Persecute And WhyIllustration.The Stoning Of Stephen. "Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." John 16:2.1. Because Jesus had not kept the Sabbath according to their ideas, what did the Jews do?“Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.”John 5:16.2. What kind of fast is most acceptable to God?“Is not this the fast that I have chosen?to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”Isa. 58:6.Note.—This is what Jesus did. He, the Author and Lord of the Sabbath, in addition to attending and taking part in religious services (Luke 4:16), went about doing good, healing the sick, relieving the oppressed, and restoring the impotent, lame, and blind, on the Sabbath day. But this, while in perfect accord with the law of God, the great law of love, was contrary to the traditions and perverted ideas of the Jews respecting the Sabbath. Hence they persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him.3. Why did Cain kill Abel?“For this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew[pg 493]he him?Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”1 John 3:11, 12.Note.—The following comment upon this passage by M. de Chesnais, a Catholic priest of New Zealand, is well put:“If you would read the Word of God, you would find that from the beginning all good people were persecuted because they were good. Abel was slain by his brother because he was good, and Cain could not endure the sight of him.”—Kaikoura (New Zealand) Star, April 10, 1884.Illustration.The Fiery Furnace. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." Dan. 3:17.4. Commenting upon the treatment of Isaac, the son of Sarah, by Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, what principle does the apostle Paul lay down?“But as then,he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.”Gal. 4:29.5. What other instances of persecution mentioned in the Bible, demonstrate the correctness of this principle?a.Esau, who sold his birthright, persecuted Jacob, who vowed his loyalty to God. Gen. 25:29-34; 27:41; 32:6.b.The wayward and envious sons of Jacob persecuted Joseph, who feared God. Genesis 37; Acts 7:9.c.The idolatrous Egyptians persecuted the Hebrews, who worshiped the true God. Exodus 1 and 5.d.The Hebrew who did his neighbor wrong thrust Moses, as mediator, aside. Ex. 2:13, 14; Acts 7:26, 27.e.Saul, who disobeyed God, persecuted David, who feared God. 1 Samuel 15, 19, 24.f.Israel, in their apostasy, persecuted Elijah and Jeremiah, who were prophets of God. 1 Kings 19:9, 10; Jer. 36:20-23; 38:1-6.g.Nebuchadnezzar, while an idolater, persecuted the three Hebrew captives for refusing to worship idols. Daniel 3.h.The envious and idolatrous princes under Darius, persecuted Daniel for daring to pray to the God of heaven. Daniel 6.i.The murderers of Christ persecuted the apostles for preaching Christ. Acts 4 and 5.j.Paul, before his conversion, persecuted the church of God. Acts 8:1; 9:1, 2; 22:4, 5, 20; 26:9-11; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:12, 13.Note.—The history of all the religious persecutions since Bible times is but a repetition of this same story,—the wicked persecute the righteous. And thus it will continue to be until the conflict between good and evil is ended.6. Who does Paul say shall suffer persecution?[pg 494]“Yea, andall that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”2 Tim. 3:12.7. What is essential to extensive religious persecution?Ecclesiastical control of the civil power, or a union of church and state.8. Since persecution is invariably wrong, and the persecutor is generally in the wrong on religious subjects, what must be true of persecuting governments?They likewise must be in the wrong.Notes.—“There are many who do not seem to be sensible that all violence in religion is irreligious, and that, whoever is wrong, the persecutor cannot be right.”—Thomas Clarke.“Have not almost all the governments in the world always been in the wrong on religious subjects?”—Macaulay.“Do not the Scriptures clearly show that they who persecute are generally in the wrong, and they who suffer persecution in the right,—that the majority has always been on the side of falsehood, and the minority only on the side of truth?”—Luther.“Religion was intended to bring peace on earth and good will towards men, and whatever tends to hatred and persecution, however correct in the letter, must be utterly wrong in the spirit.”—Henry Varnum.God never forces the will or the conscience; but, in order to bring men under sin, Satan resorts to force. To accomplish his purpose, he works through religious and secular rulers, influencing them to enact and enforce human laws in defiance of the law of God.9. Under what terrible deception did Christ say men would persecute His followers?“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, thatwhosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”John 16:1, 2.10. Who is the original murderer?“Ye are of your fatherthe devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”John 8:44.11. When James and John wished to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans who did not receive Christ, what did Christ say to them?“He turned, and rebuked them, and said,Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”Luke 9:55, 56.[pg 495]Notes.—Some of the reasons given in justification of persecution may be noted in the following quotations:—“The state cannot afford to permit religious liberty. We hear a great deal about religious tolerance, but we are only tolerant in so far as we are not interested. A person may be tolerant toward a religion if he is not religious.... Intolerance means fervor and zeal. The best the state can do is to establish a limited religious liberty; but beyond a certain degree of tolerance the state cannot afford to admit the doctrine.”—Monsignor Russell (Catholic), quoted in Washington Post, May 5, 1910.“The church has persecuted. Only a tyro in church history will deny that.... We have always defended the persecution of the Huguenots, and the Spanish Inquisition. When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it.... But will the Catholic Church give bond that she will not persecute at all? Will she guarantee absolute freedom and equality of all churches and all faiths? The Catholic Church gives no bonds for her good behavior.”—Editorial in Western Watchman (Catholic), of St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 24, 1908.“The Inquisition was a very merciful tribunal; I repeat it, almost a compassionate tribunal.... A man was only allowed to be racked once, which no one can deny was a most wonderful leniency in those times.”—Catholic Mirror, official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, Aug. 29, 1896.“We confess that the Roman Catholic Church is intolerant; that is to say, that it uses all the means in its power for the extirpation of error and sin; but this intolerance is the logical and necessary consequence of her infallibility.She alone has the right to be intolerant, because she alone has the truth.The church tolerates heretics where she is obliged to do so, but she hates them mortally, and employs all her force to secure their annihilation.”—Shepherd of the Valley (St. Louis, Mo.), 1876.This erroneous position has been well refuted by Lord Macaulay in the following words:“The doctrine which, from the very first origin of religious dissensions, has been held by all bigots of all sects, when condensed into few words and stripped of rhetorical disguise, is simply this: I am in the right, and you are in the wrong. When you are the stronger, you ought to tolerate me; for it is your duty to tolerate truth. But when I am the stronger, I shall persecute you; for it is my duty to persecute error.”—Essay on“Sir James Mackintosh.”Benjamin Franklin well said:“When religion is good it will take care of itself; when it is not able to take care of itself, and God does not see fit to take care of it, so that it has to appeal to the civil power for support, it is evidence to my mind that its cause is a bad one.”—Letter to Dr. Price.John Wesley gave the following Christian advice:“Condemn no man for not thinking as you think. Let every one enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own judgment, since every man must give an account of himself to God. Abhor every approach, in any kind or degree, to the spirit of persecution. If you cannot reason nor persuade a man into the truth, never attempt to force a man into it. If love will not compel him to come, leave him to God, the Judge of all.”12. What does Christ say of those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake?“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner[pg 496]of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”Matt. 5:10-12. See Rev. 2:10; 6:9-11.“In the furnace God may prove thee,Thence to bring thee forth more bright;But He can never cease to love thee;Thou art precious in His sight:God is with thee,—God, thine everlasting light.”13. What divine precepts received and obeyed would do way with all oppression and persecution?“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”Matt. 22:39.“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”Matt. 7:12.14. What does love not do?“Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”Rom. 13:10.The Bigot's CreedBelieve as I believe—no more, no less;That I am right, and no one else, confess;Feel as I feel, think only as I think;Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;Look as I look, do always as I do;And, only then, I'll fellowship with you.That I am right, and always right, I know,Because my own convictions tell me so;And to be right is simply this: to beEntirely and in all respects like me.To deviate a jot, or to beginTo question, doubt, or hesitate, is sin.Let sink the drowning man, if he'll not swimUpon the plank that I throw out to him;Let starve the famishing, if he'll not eatMy kind and quantity of bread and meat;Let freeze the naked, too, if he'll not beSupplied with garments such as made for me.'Twere better that the sick should die than live,Unless they take the medicine I give;'Twere better sinners perish than refuseTo be conformed to my peculiar views;'Twere better that the world stood still than moveIn any way that I do not approve.
Union Of Church And StateIllustration.Paul And Silas In Prison. "These men, being Jews, ... teach customs, which are not lawful for us ... to observe, being Romans." Acts 16:20, 21.1. What was already at work in the church in Paul's day?“Forthe mystery of iniquitydoth already work.”2 Thess. 2:7.2. What class of men did he say would arise in the church?“For I know this, that after my departing shallgrievous wolvesenter in among you, not sparing the flock.Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”Acts 20:29, 30.3. Through what experience was the church to pass, and what was to develop in the church, before Christ's second coming?“Let no man deceive you by any means: forthat day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”2 Thess. 2:3.4. In what was shown the first tangible evidence of this“falling away”from the truth of God?The adoption of heathen rites and customs in the church.Note.—“The bishops augmented the number of religious rites in the Christian worship, by way of accommodation to the infirmities and[pg 485]prejudices, both of Jews and heathen, in order to facilitate their conversion to Christianity.... For this purpose, they gave the name ofmysteriesto the institutions of the gospel, and decorated particularly the holy sacrament with that solemn title. They used in that sacred institution, as also in that of baptism, several of the terms employed in the heathen mysteries, and proceeded so far, at length, as even to adopt some of the rites and of the ceremonies of which those renowned mysteries consisted.”—Mosheim's“Ecclesiastical History”(Maclaine's translation), cent. 2, part 2, chap. 4, pars. 2-5.5. How early was this tendency manifested?“This imitation began in the eastern provinces; but, after the time of Adrian [emperor 117-138a.d.], who first introduced the mysteries among the Latins, it was followed by the Christians who dwelt in the western parts of the empire.”—Id., par. 5.6. What has been one great characteristic of the Papacy?A union of church and state, or the religious power dominating the civil power to further its ends.7. When was the union of church and state formed from which the Papacy grew?During the reign of Constantine, 313-337a.d.8. What was the character and the work of many of the bishops at that time?“Worldly-minded bishops, instead of caring for the salvation of their flocks, were often but too much inclined to travel about, andentangle themselves in worldly concerns.”—Neander's“History of the Christian Religion and Church”(Torrey's translation), Vol. II, page 16.9. What did the bishops determine to do?“This theocratical theory was already the prevailing one in the time of Constantine; and ... the bishops voluntarily made themselves dependent on him by their disputes,and by their determination to make use of the power of the state for the furtherance of their aims.”—Id., page 132.Note.—The“theocratical theory”was that of a government administered by God through the church, particularly through the church bishops.10. What was the date of Constantine's famous Sunday law?a.d.321.11. When and by whom was the Council of Nice convened?By the emperor Constantine, 325a.d.12. Under what authority were its decrees published?[pg 486]“The decrees ... were published under theimperial authority, and thus obtained a political importance.”—Id., page 133.13. What was one principal object in calling this council?“The question relating tothe observance of Easter, which was agitated in the time of Anicetus and Polycarp, and afterward in that of Victor, was still undecided. It was one of the principal reasons for convoking the Council of Nice, being the most important subject to be considered after the Arian controversy.”“It appears that the churches of Syria and Mesopotamia continued to follow the custom of the Jews, and celebrated Easter onthe fourteenth day of the moon, whether falling on Sunday or not. All the other churches observed that solemnityon Sunday only, namely; those of Rome, Italy, Africa, Lydia, Egypt, Spain, Gaul, and Britain; and all Greece, Asia, and Pontus.”—Boyle's“Historical View of the Council of Nice,”page 23, edition 1836.14. How was the matter finally decided?“Easter day was fixed on the Sundayimmediately following the full moon which was nearest after the vernal equinox.”—Id., page 24.15. What was decreed by the Council of Laodicea,a.d.364?That Christians should keep the Sunday, and that if they persisted in resting on the Sabbath,“they shall be shut out from Christ.”See Hefele's“History of the Councils of the Church,”Vol. II, page 316.16. What imperial law was issued ina.d.386?“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by Constantine were more vigorously enforced; and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—Neander's“Church History,”Vol. II, page 300.17. What petition was made to the emperor by a church convention of bishops ina.d.401?“That the public shows might be transferred from the Christian Sunday and from the feast-days to some other days of the week.”—Ib.Note.—The desired law was secured in 425a.d.See pages444,489.18. What was the object of the church bishops in securing these Sunday laws?“That the day might be devoted with less interruption to[pg 487]the purposes of devotion.”“That the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—Id., pages 297, 301.19. How was the“devotion”of the“faithful”disturbed?“Church teachers ... were, in truth, often forced to complain thatin such competitions the theater was vastly more frequented than the church.”—Id., page 300.20. What does Neander say of the securing of these laws?“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.”—Id., page 301.Note.—In this way, more perhaps than in any other, church and state were united. In this way the church gained control of the civil power, which she later used as a means of carrying on most bitter and extensive persecutions. In this way she denied Christ and the power of godliness.21. When the church had received help from the state to this extent, what more did she demand?That the civil power should be exerted to compel men to serve God as the church should dictate.22. What did Augustine, the father of this theocratical or church-and-state theory, teach concerning it?“Who doubts but what it is better to be led to God by instruction than by fear of punishment or affliction? But because the former, who will be guided only by instruction, are better, the others are still not to be neglected.... Many, like bad servants, must often be reclaimed to their Master by the rod of temporal suffering, ere they can attain to this highest stage of religious development.”—Id., pages 214, 215.23. What is Neander's conclusion regarding this theory?“It was by Augustine, then, that a theory was proposed and founded, which, tempered though it was, in its practical application, by his own pious, philanthropic spirit, nevertheless contained the germ of that whole system of spiritual despotism, of intolerance and persecution, which ended in the tribunals of the Inquisition.”“He did not give precedence to the question, What isright? over the question, What isexpedient? But a theory which overlooks these distinctions leaves room for any despotism which would make holy ends a pretext for the use of unholy means.”—Id., pages 217, 249, 250.Note.—It was thus that the union of church and state was formed, out of which was developed“the beast,”or Papacy, of the Apocalypse, which made“war with the saints”and overcame them. A like course cannot fail to produce like results today. Dr. Philip Schaff, in his work on“Church and State,”page 11, well says:“Secular power has proved a satanic gift to the church, and ecclesiastical power has proved an engine of tyranny in the hands of the state.”[pg 488]Sabbath LegislationIllustration.Christ Reproving The Pharisees. "For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8.1. Who made the Sabbath?“In six daysthe Lordmade heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, andrested the seventh day; whereforethe Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”Ex. 20:11.2. To whom does the Sabbath belong?“The seventh day is the Sabbath ofthe Lord thy God.”Verse 10.3. To whom, then, should its observance be rendered?“Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, andto God the things that are God's.”Mark 12:17.Note.—When men make Sabbath laws, therefore, they require Sabbath observance to be rendered to thegovernment, or, presumably, by indirection, to Godthrough the government, which amounts to the same thing.4. In religious things, to whom alone are we accountable?“So then every one of us shall give account of himselfto God.”Rom. 14:12.Note.—But when men make compulsory Sabbath laws, they make men accountable to thegovernmentfor Sabbath observance.5. How does God command us to keep the Sabbath day?“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep itholy.”Ex. 20:8.6. What does He indicate as one of its purposes?“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the[pg 489]Sabbath of rest,an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.”Lev. 23:3.7. Seeing, then, that the Sabbath isholy, is to bekept holy, and is a day forholy convocations, what must be its character?It must bereligious.8. What, then, must be the nature of all Sabbath legislation?It isreligious legislation.9. When the state enacts religious laws, what is effected?A union of church and state.10. What has always been the result of religious legislation, or a union of church and state?Religious intolerance and persecution.11. What was Constantine's Sunday law of March 7, 321?“Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun; but let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty, attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by heaven.”—Corpus Juris Civilis Cod., lib. 3, tit. 12, 3.12. What further imperial legislation in behalf of Sunday observance was issued in 386?“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by the emperor Constantine were more rigorously enforced, and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—Neander's“Church History,”Vol. II, page 300, edition 1852.13. At the instance of church bishops, what still further law was secured under Theodosius the Younger, in 425?“In the year 425, the exhibition of spectacles on Sunday and on the principal feast-days of the Christians was forbidden, in order that the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—Id., pages 300, 301.14. What does the historian say of this legislation?“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.... But had it not been for that confusion of spiritual and secular interests, had it not been for the vast number of mereoutward conversionsthus brought about, she would have needed no such help.”—Id., page 301.[pg 490]15. What did Charlemagne's Sunday law of 800 require?“We decree ... that servile works should not be done on the Lord's day, ... that is, that neither should men do field work, either in cultivating the vineyards or by plowing in the fields, by cutting or drying hay, or by placing a fence, or by making clearings in the woods or felling trees or working on stones or constructing houses or working in the garden; neither should they come together to decide public matters nor be engaged in the hunt.... Women may not do any textile work nor cut out clothes nor sew nor make garments.... But let them come together from all sides to church to the solemnities of the mass, and let them praise God for all things which he does for us on that day.”—“Historical Chronicles of Germany,”Sec. 2, Vol. I, 22 General admonition, 789, M. Martio 23, page 61, par. 81.16. How does the Sunday law of Charles II, of 1676, read?“For the better observation and keeping holy the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday: be it enacted ... that all the laws enacted and in force concerning the observation of the day, and repairing to the church thereon, be carefully put in execution; and that all and every person and persons whatsoever shall on every Lord's day apply themselves to the observation of the same, by exercising themselves thereon in the duties of piety and true religion, publicly and privately.”—“Revised Statutes of England From 1235-1685a.d.”(London, 1870), pages 779, 780; cited in“A Critical History of Sunday Legislation,”by A. H. Lewis, D. D., pages 108, 109.17. What did the first Sunday law enacted in America, that of Virginia, in 1610, require?“Every man and woman shall repair in the morning to the divine service and sermons preached upon the Sabbath day, and in the afternoon to divine service, and catechizing, upon pain for the first fault tolose their provision and the allowance for the whole week following; for the second, tolose the said allowance and also be whipped; and for the third tosuffer death.”—Articles, Laws, and Orders, Divine, Politique, and Martial, for the Colony in Virginia: first established by Sir Thomas Gates, Knight, Lieutenant-General, the 24th of May, 1610.Notes.—These are the original Sunday laws, after which all the Sunday laws of Europe and America have been modeled. Church attendance is not generally required by the Sunday laws of the present day, nor was it required, in terms, by the earliest Sunday laws; but that is and ever has been the chief object of all Sunday legislation from Constantine's time on, and it is as much out of place today as it ever was.[pg 491]Who Persecute And WhyIllustration.The Stoning Of Stephen. "Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." John 16:2.1. Because Jesus had not kept the Sabbath according to their ideas, what did the Jews do?“Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.”John 5:16.2. What kind of fast is most acceptable to God?“Is not this the fast that I have chosen?to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”Isa. 58:6.Note.—This is what Jesus did. He, the Author and Lord of the Sabbath, in addition to attending and taking part in religious services (Luke 4:16), went about doing good, healing the sick, relieving the oppressed, and restoring the impotent, lame, and blind, on the Sabbath day. But this, while in perfect accord with the law of God, the great law of love, was contrary to the traditions and perverted ideas of the Jews respecting the Sabbath. Hence they persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him.3. Why did Cain kill Abel?“For this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew[pg 493]he him?Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”1 John 3:11, 12.Note.—The following comment upon this passage by M. de Chesnais, a Catholic priest of New Zealand, is well put:“If you would read the Word of God, you would find that from the beginning all good people were persecuted because they were good. Abel was slain by his brother because he was good, and Cain could not endure the sight of him.”—Kaikoura (New Zealand) Star, April 10, 1884.Illustration.The Fiery Furnace. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." Dan. 3:17.4. Commenting upon the treatment of Isaac, the son of Sarah, by Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, what principle does the apostle Paul lay down?“But as then,he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.”Gal. 4:29.5. What other instances of persecution mentioned in the Bible, demonstrate the correctness of this principle?a.Esau, who sold his birthright, persecuted Jacob, who vowed his loyalty to God. Gen. 25:29-34; 27:41; 32:6.b.The wayward and envious sons of Jacob persecuted Joseph, who feared God. Genesis 37; Acts 7:9.c.The idolatrous Egyptians persecuted the Hebrews, who worshiped the true God. Exodus 1 and 5.d.The Hebrew who did his neighbor wrong thrust Moses, as mediator, aside. Ex. 2:13, 14; Acts 7:26, 27.e.Saul, who disobeyed God, persecuted David, who feared God. 1 Samuel 15, 19, 24.f.Israel, in their apostasy, persecuted Elijah and Jeremiah, who were prophets of God. 1 Kings 19:9, 10; Jer. 36:20-23; 38:1-6.g.Nebuchadnezzar, while an idolater, persecuted the three Hebrew captives for refusing to worship idols. Daniel 3.h.The envious and idolatrous princes under Darius, persecuted Daniel for daring to pray to the God of heaven. Daniel 6.i.The murderers of Christ persecuted the apostles for preaching Christ. Acts 4 and 5.j.Paul, before his conversion, persecuted the church of God. Acts 8:1; 9:1, 2; 22:4, 5, 20; 26:9-11; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:12, 13.Note.—The history of all the religious persecutions since Bible times is but a repetition of this same story,—the wicked persecute the righteous. And thus it will continue to be until the conflict between good and evil is ended.6. Who does Paul say shall suffer persecution?[pg 494]“Yea, andall that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”2 Tim. 3:12.7. What is essential to extensive religious persecution?Ecclesiastical control of the civil power, or a union of church and state.8. Since persecution is invariably wrong, and the persecutor is generally in the wrong on religious subjects, what must be true of persecuting governments?They likewise must be in the wrong.Notes.—“There are many who do not seem to be sensible that all violence in religion is irreligious, and that, whoever is wrong, the persecutor cannot be right.”—Thomas Clarke.“Have not almost all the governments in the world always been in the wrong on religious subjects?”—Macaulay.“Do not the Scriptures clearly show that they who persecute are generally in the wrong, and they who suffer persecution in the right,—that the majority has always been on the side of falsehood, and the minority only on the side of truth?”—Luther.“Religion was intended to bring peace on earth and good will towards men, and whatever tends to hatred and persecution, however correct in the letter, must be utterly wrong in the spirit.”—Henry Varnum.God never forces the will or the conscience; but, in order to bring men under sin, Satan resorts to force. To accomplish his purpose, he works through religious and secular rulers, influencing them to enact and enforce human laws in defiance of the law of God.9. Under what terrible deception did Christ say men would persecute His followers?“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, thatwhosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”John 16:1, 2.10. Who is the original murderer?“Ye are of your fatherthe devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”John 8:44.11. When James and John wished to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans who did not receive Christ, what did Christ say to them?“He turned, and rebuked them, and said,Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”Luke 9:55, 56.[pg 495]Notes.—Some of the reasons given in justification of persecution may be noted in the following quotations:—“The state cannot afford to permit religious liberty. We hear a great deal about religious tolerance, but we are only tolerant in so far as we are not interested. A person may be tolerant toward a religion if he is not religious.... Intolerance means fervor and zeal. The best the state can do is to establish a limited religious liberty; but beyond a certain degree of tolerance the state cannot afford to admit the doctrine.”—Monsignor Russell (Catholic), quoted in Washington Post, May 5, 1910.“The church has persecuted. Only a tyro in church history will deny that.... We have always defended the persecution of the Huguenots, and the Spanish Inquisition. When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it.... But will the Catholic Church give bond that she will not persecute at all? Will she guarantee absolute freedom and equality of all churches and all faiths? The Catholic Church gives no bonds for her good behavior.”—Editorial in Western Watchman (Catholic), of St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 24, 1908.“The Inquisition was a very merciful tribunal; I repeat it, almost a compassionate tribunal.... A man was only allowed to be racked once, which no one can deny was a most wonderful leniency in those times.”—Catholic Mirror, official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, Aug. 29, 1896.“We confess that the Roman Catholic Church is intolerant; that is to say, that it uses all the means in its power for the extirpation of error and sin; but this intolerance is the logical and necessary consequence of her infallibility.She alone has the right to be intolerant, because she alone has the truth.The church tolerates heretics where she is obliged to do so, but she hates them mortally, and employs all her force to secure their annihilation.”—Shepherd of the Valley (St. Louis, Mo.), 1876.This erroneous position has been well refuted by Lord Macaulay in the following words:“The doctrine which, from the very first origin of religious dissensions, has been held by all bigots of all sects, when condensed into few words and stripped of rhetorical disguise, is simply this: I am in the right, and you are in the wrong. When you are the stronger, you ought to tolerate me; for it is your duty to tolerate truth. But when I am the stronger, I shall persecute you; for it is my duty to persecute error.”—Essay on“Sir James Mackintosh.”Benjamin Franklin well said:“When religion is good it will take care of itself; when it is not able to take care of itself, and God does not see fit to take care of it, so that it has to appeal to the civil power for support, it is evidence to my mind that its cause is a bad one.”—Letter to Dr. Price.John Wesley gave the following Christian advice:“Condemn no man for not thinking as you think. Let every one enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own judgment, since every man must give an account of himself to God. Abhor every approach, in any kind or degree, to the spirit of persecution. If you cannot reason nor persuade a man into the truth, never attempt to force a man into it. If love will not compel him to come, leave him to God, the Judge of all.”12. What does Christ say of those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake?“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner[pg 496]of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”Matt. 5:10-12. See Rev. 2:10; 6:9-11.“In the furnace God may prove thee,Thence to bring thee forth more bright;But He can never cease to love thee;Thou art precious in His sight:God is with thee,—God, thine everlasting light.”13. What divine precepts received and obeyed would do way with all oppression and persecution?“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”Matt. 22:39.“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”Matt. 7:12.14. What does love not do?“Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”Rom. 13:10.The Bigot's CreedBelieve as I believe—no more, no less;That I am right, and no one else, confess;Feel as I feel, think only as I think;Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;Look as I look, do always as I do;And, only then, I'll fellowship with you.That I am right, and always right, I know,Because my own convictions tell me so;And to be right is simply this: to beEntirely and in all respects like me.To deviate a jot, or to beginTo question, doubt, or hesitate, is sin.Let sink the drowning man, if he'll not swimUpon the plank that I throw out to him;Let starve the famishing, if he'll not eatMy kind and quantity of bread and meat;Let freeze the naked, too, if he'll not beSupplied with garments such as made for me.'Twere better that the sick should die than live,Unless they take the medicine I give;'Twere better sinners perish than refuseTo be conformed to my peculiar views;'Twere better that the world stood still than moveIn any way that I do not approve.
Union Of Church And StateIllustration.Paul And Silas In Prison. "These men, being Jews, ... teach customs, which are not lawful for us ... to observe, being Romans." Acts 16:20, 21.1. What was already at work in the church in Paul's day?“Forthe mystery of iniquitydoth already work.”2 Thess. 2:7.2. What class of men did he say would arise in the church?“For I know this, that after my departing shallgrievous wolvesenter in among you, not sparing the flock.Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”Acts 20:29, 30.3. Through what experience was the church to pass, and what was to develop in the church, before Christ's second coming?“Let no man deceive you by any means: forthat day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”2 Thess. 2:3.4. In what was shown the first tangible evidence of this“falling away”from the truth of God?The adoption of heathen rites and customs in the church.Note.—“The bishops augmented the number of religious rites in the Christian worship, by way of accommodation to the infirmities and[pg 485]prejudices, both of Jews and heathen, in order to facilitate their conversion to Christianity.... For this purpose, they gave the name ofmysteriesto the institutions of the gospel, and decorated particularly the holy sacrament with that solemn title. They used in that sacred institution, as also in that of baptism, several of the terms employed in the heathen mysteries, and proceeded so far, at length, as even to adopt some of the rites and of the ceremonies of which those renowned mysteries consisted.”—Mosheim's“Ecclesiastical History”(Maclaine's translation), cent. 2, part 2, chap. 4, pars. 2-5.5. How early was this tendency manifested?“This imitation began in the eastern provinces; but, after the time of Adrian [emperor 117-138a.d.], who first introduced the mysteries among the Latins, it was followed by the Christians who dwelt in the western parts of the empire.”—Id., par. 5.6. What has been one great characteristic of the Papacy?A union of church and state, or the religious power dominating the civil power to further its ends.7. When was the union of church and state formed from which the Papacy grew?During the reign of Constantine, 313-337a.d.8. What was the character and the work of many of the bishops at that time?“Worldly-minded bishops, instead of caring for the salvation of their flocks, were often but too much inclined to travel about, andentangle themselves in worldly concerns.”—Neander's“History of the Christian Religion and Church”(Torrey's translation), Vol. II, page 16.9. What did the bishops determine to do?“This theocratical theory was already the prevailing one in the time of Constantine; and ... the bishops voluntarily made themselves dependent on him by their disputes,and by their determination to make use of the power of the state for the furtherance of their aims.”—Id., page 132.Note.—The“theocratical theory”was that of a government administered by God through the church, particularly through the church bishops.10. What was the date of Constantine's famous Sunday law?a.d.321.11. When and by whom was the Council of Nice convened?By the emperor Constantine, 325a.d.12. Under what authority were its decrees published?[pg 486]“The decrees ... were published under theimperial authority, and thus obtained a political importance.”—Id., page 133.13. What was one principal object in calling this council?“The question relating tothe observance of Easter, which was agitated in the time of Anicetus and Polycarp, and afterward in that of Victor, was still undecided. It was one of the principal reasons for convoking the Council of Nice, being the most important subject to be considered after the Arian controversy.”“It appears that the churches of Syria and Mesopotamia continued to follow the custom of the Jews, and celebrated Easter onthe fourteenth day of the moon, whether falling on Sunday or not. All the other churches observed that solemnityon Sunday only, namely; those of Rome, Italy, Africa, Lydia, Egypt, Spain, Gaul, and Britain; and all Greece, Asia, and Pontus.”—Boyle's“Historical View of the Council of Nice,”page 23, edition 1836.14. How was the matter finally decided?“Easter day was fixed on the Sundayimmediately following the full moon which was nearest after the vernal equinox.”—Id., page 24.15. What was decreed by the Council of Laodicea,a.d.364?That Christians should keep the Sunday, and that if they persisted in resting on the Sabbath,“they shall be shut out from Christ.”See Hefele's“History of the Councils of the Church,”Vol. II, page 316.16. What imperial law was issued ina.d.386?“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by Constantine were more vigorously enforced; and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—Neander's“Church History,”Vol. II, page 300.17. What petition was made to the emperor by a church convention of bishops ina.d.401?“That the public shows might be transferred from the Christian Sunday and from the feast-days to some other days of the week.”—Ib.Note.—The desired law was secured in 425a.d.See pages444,489.18. What was the object of the church bishops in securing these Sunday laws?“That the day might be devoted with less interruption to[pg 487]the purposes of devotion.”“That the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—Id., pages 297, 301.19. How was the“devotion”of the“faithful”disturbed?“Church teachers ... were, in truth, often forced to complain thatin such competitions the theater was vastly more frequented than the church.”—Id., page 300.20. What does Neander say of the securing of these laws?“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.”—Id., page 301.Note.—In this way, more perhaps than in any other, church and state were united. In this way the church gained control of the civil power, which she later used as a means of carrying on most bitter and extensive persecutions. In this way she denied Christ and the power of godliness.21. When the church had received help from the state to this extent, what more did she demand?That the civil power should be exerted to compel men to serve God as the church should dictate.22. What did Augustine, the father of this theocratical or church-and-state theory, teach concerning it?“Who doubts but what it is better to be led to God by instruction than by fear of punishment or affliction? But because the former, who will be guided only by instruction, are better, the others are still not to be neglected.... Many, like bad servants, must often be reclaimed to their Master by the rod of temporal suffering, ere they can attain to this highest stage of religious development.”—Id., pages 214, 215.23. What is Neander's conclusion regarding this theory?“It was by Augustine, then, that a theory was proposed and founded, which, tempered though it was, in its practical application, by his own pious, philanthropic spirit, nevertheless contained the germ of that whole system of spiritual despotism, of intolerance and persecution, which ended in the tribunals of the Inquisition.”“He did not give precedence to the question, What isright? over the question, What isexpedient? But a theory which overlooks these distinctions leaves room for any despotism which would make holy ends a pretext for the use of unholy means.”—Id., pages 217, 249, 250.Note.—It was thus that the union of church and state was formed, out of which was developed“the beast,”or Papacy, of the Apocalypse, which made“war with the saints”and overcame them. A like course cannot fail to produce like results today. Dr. Philip Schaff, in his work on“Church and State,”page 11, well says:“Secular power has proved a satanic gift to the church, and ecclesiastical power has proved an engine of tyranny in the hands of the state.”[pg 488]Sabbath LegislationIllustration.Christ Reproving The Pharisees. "For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8.1. Who made the Sabbath?“In six daysthe Lordmade heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, andrested the seventh day; whereforethe Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”Ex. 20:11.2. To whom does the Sabbath belong?“The seventh day is the Sabbath ofthe Lord thy God.”Verse 10.3. To whom, then, should its observance be rendered?“Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, andto God the things that are God's.”Mark 12:17.Note.—When men make Sabbath laws, therefore, they require Sabbath observance to be rendered to thegovernment, or, presumably, by indirection, to Godthrough the government, which amounts to the same thing.4. In religious things, to whom alone are we accountable?“So then every one of us shall give account of himselfto God.”Rom. 14:12.Note.—But when men make compulsory Sabbath laws, they make men accountable to thegovernmentfor Sabbath observance.5. How does God command us to keep the Sabbath day?“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep itholy.”Ex. 20:8.6. What does He indicate as one of its purposes?“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the[pg 489]Sabbath of rest,an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.”Lev. 23:3.7. Seeing, then, that the Sabbath isholy, is to bekept holy, and is a day forholy convocations, what must be its character?It must bereligious.8. What, then, must be the nature of all Sabbath legislation?It isreligious legislation.9. When the state enacts religious laws, what is effected?A union of church and state.10. What has always been the result of religious legislation, or a union of church and state?Religious intolerance and persecution.11. What was Constantine's Sunday law of March 7, 321?“Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun; but let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty, attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by heaven.”—Corpus Juris Civilis Cod., lib. 3, tit. 12, 3.12. What further imperial legislation in behalf of Sunday observance was issued in 386?“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by the emperor Constantine were more rigorously enforced, and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—Neander's“Church History,”Vol. II, page 300, edition 1852.13. At the instance of church bishops, what still further law was secured under Theodosius the Younger, in 425?“In the year 425, the exhibition of spectacles on Sunday and on the principal feast-days of the Christians was forbidden, in order that the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—Id., pages 300, 301.14. What does the historian say of this legislation?“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.... But had it not been for that confusion of spiritual and secular interests, had it not been for the vast number of mereoutward conversionsthus brought about, she would have needed no such help.”—Id., page 301.[pg 490]15. What did Charlemagne's Sunday law of 800 require?“We decree ... that servile works should not be done on the Lord's day, ... that is, that neither should men do field work, either in cultivating the vineyards or by plowing in the fields, by cutting or drying hay, or by placing a fence, or by making clearings in the woods or felling trees or working on stones or constructing houses or working in the garden; neither should they come together to decide public matters nor be engaged in the hunt.... Women may not do any textile work nor cut out clothes nor sew nor make garments.... But let them come together from all sides to church to the solemnities of the mass, and let them praise God for all things which he does for us on that day.”—“Historical Chronicles of Germany,”Sec. 2, Vol. I, 22 General admonition, 789, M. Martio 23, page 61, par. 81.16. How does the Sunday law of Charles II, of 1676, read?“For the better observation and keeping holy the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday: be it enacted ... that all the laws enacted and in force concerning the observation of the day, and repairing to the church thereon, be carefully put in execution; and that all and every person and persons whatsoever shall on every Lord's day apply themselves to the observation of the same, by exercising themselves thereon in the duties of piety and true religion, publicly and privately.”—“Revised Statutes of England From 1235-1685a.d.”(London, 1870), pages 779, 780; cited in“A Critical History of Sunday Legislation,”by A. H. Lewis, D. D., pages 108, 109.17. What did the first Sunday law enacted in America, that of Virginia, in 1610, require?“Every man and woman shall repair in the morning to the divine service and sermons preached upon the Sabbath day, and in the afternoon to divine service, and catechizing, upon pain for the first fault tolose their provision and the allowance for the whole week following; for the second, tolose the said allowance and also be whipped; and for the third tosuffer death.”—Articles, Laws, and Orders, Divine, Politique, and Martial, for the Colony in Virginia: first established by Sir Thomas Gates, Knight, Lieutenant-General, the 24th of May, 1610.Notes.—These are the original Sunday laws, after which all the Sunday laws of Europe and America have been modeled. Church attendance is not generally required by the Sunday laws of the present day, nor was it required, in terms, by the earliest Sunday laws; but that is and ever has been the chief object of all Sunday legislation from Constantine's time on, and it is as much out of place today as it ever was.[pg 491]Who Persecute And WhyIllustration.The Stoning Of Stephen. "Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." John 16:2.1. Because Jesus had not kept the Sabbath according to their ideas, what did the Jews do?“Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.”John 5:16.2. What kind of fast is most acceptable to God?“Is not this the fast that I have chosen?to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”Isa. 58:6.Note.—This is what Jesus did. He, the Author and Lord of the Sabbath, in addition to attending and taking part in religious services (Luke 4:16), went about doing good, healing the sick, relieving the oppressed, and restoring the impotent, lame, and blind, on the Sabbath day. But this, while in perfect accord with the law of God, the great law of love, was contrary to the traditions and perverted ideas of the Jews respecting the Sabbath. Hence they persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him.3. Why did Cain kill Abel?“For this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew[pg 493]he him?Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”1 John 3:11, 12.Note.—The following comment upon this passage by M. de Chesnais, a Catholic priest of New Zealand, is well put:“If you would read the Word of God, you would find that from the beginning all good people were persecuted because they were good. Abel was slain by his brother because he was good, and Cain could not endure the sight of him.”—Kaikoura (New Zealand) Star, April 10, 1884.Illustration.The Fiery Furnace. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." Dan. 3:17.4. Commenting upon the treatment of Isaac, the son of Sarah, by Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, what principle does the apostle Paul lay down?“But as then,he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.”Gal. 4:29.5. What other instances of persecution mentioned in the Bible, demonstrate the correctness of this principle?a.Esau, who sold his birthright, persecuted Jacob, who vowed his loyalty to God. Gen. 25:29-34; 27:41; 32:6.b.The wayward and envious sons of Jacob persecuted Joseph, who feared God. Genesis 37; Acts 7:9.c.The idolatrous Egyptians persecuted the Hebrews, who worshiped the true God. Exodus 1 and 5.d.The Hebrew who did his neighbor wrong thrust Moses, as mediator, aside. Ex. 2:13, 14; Acts 7:26, 27.e.Saul, who disobeyed God, persecuted David, who feared God. 1 Samuel 15, 19, 24.f.Israel, in their apostasy, persecuted Elijah and Jeremiah, who were prophets of God. 1 Kings 19:9, 10; Jer. 36:20-23; 38:1-6.g.Nebuchadnezzar, while an idolater, persecuted the three Hebrew captives for refusing to worship idols. Daniel 3.h.The envious and idolatrous princes under Darius, persecuted Daniel for daring to pray to the God of heaven. Daniel 6.i.The murderers of Christ persecuted the apostles for preaching Christ. Acts 4 and 5.j.Paul, before his conversion, persecuted the church of God. Acts 8:1; 9:1, 2; 22:4, 5, 20; 26:9-11; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:12, 13.Note.—The history of all the religious persecutions since Bible times is but a repetition of this same story,—the wicked persecute the righteous. And thus it will continue to be until the conflict between good and evil is ended.6. Who does Paul say shall suffer persecution?[pg 494]“Yea, andall that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”2 Tim. 3:12.7. What is essential to extensive religious persecution?Ecclesiastical control of the civil power, or a union of church and state.8. Since persecution is invariably wrong, and the persecutor is generally in the wrong on religious subjects, what must be true of persecuting governments?They likewise must be in the wrong.Notes.—“There are many who do not seem to be sensible that all violence in religion is irreligious, and that, whoever is wrong, the persecutor cannot be right.”—Thomas Clarke.“Have not almost all the governments in the world always been in the wrong on religious subjects?”—Macaulay.“Do not the Scriptures clearly show that they who persecute are generally in the wrong, and they who suffer persecution in the right,—that the majority has always been on the side of falsehood, and the minority only on the side of truth?”—Luther.“Religion was intended to bring peace on earth and good will towards men, and whatever tends to hatred and persecution, however correct in the letter, must be utterly wrong in the spirit.”—Henry Varnum.God never forces the will or the conscience; but, in order to bring men under sin, Satan resorts to force. To accomplish his purpose, he works through religious and secular rulers, influencing them to enact and enforce human laws in defiance of the law of God.9. Under what terrible deception did Christ say men would persecute His followers?“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, thatwhosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”John 16:1, 2.10. Who is the original murderer?“Ye are of your fatherthe devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”John 8:44.11. When James and John wished to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans who did not receive Christ, what did Christ say to them?“He turned, and rebuked them, and said,Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”Luke 9:55, 56.[pg 495]Notes.—Some of the reasons given in justification of persecution may be noted in the following quotations:—“The state cannot afford to permit religious liberty. We hear a great deal about religious tolerance, but we are only tolerant in so far as we are not interested. A person may be tolerant toward a religion if he is not religious.... Intolerance means fervor and zeal. The best the state can do is to establish a limited religious liberty; but beyond a certain degree of tolerance the state cannot afford to admit the doctrine.”—Monsignor Russell (Catholic), quoted in Washington Post, May 5, 1910.“The church has persecuted. Only a tyro in church history will deny that.... We have always defended the persecution of the Huguenots, and the Spanish Inquisition. When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it.... But will the Catholic Church give bond that she will not persecute at all? Will she guarantee absolute freedom and equality of all churches and all faiths? The Catholic Church gives no bonds for her good behavior.”—Editorial in Western Watchman (Catholic), of St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 24, 1908.“The Inquisition was a very merciful tribunal; I repeat it, almost a compassionate tribunal.... A man was only allowed to be racked once, which no one can deny was a most wonderful leniency in those times.”—Catholic Mirror, official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, Aug. 29, 1896.“We confess that the Roman Catholic Church is intolerant; that is to say, that it uses all the means in its power for the extirpation of error and sin; but this intolerance is the logical and necessary consequence of her infallibility.She alone has the right to be intolerant, because she alone has the truth.The church tolerates heretics where she is obliged to do so, but she hates them mortally, and employs all her force to secure their annihilation.”—Shepherd of the Valley (St. Louis, Mo.), 1876.This erroneous position has been well refuted by Lord Macaulay in the following words:“The doctrine which, from the very first origin of religious dissensions, has been held by all bigots of all sects, when condensed into few words and stripped of rhetorical disguise, is simply this: I am in the right, and you are in the wrong. When you are the stronger, you ought to tolerate me; for it is your duty to tolerate truth. But when I am the stronger, I shall persecute you; for it is my duty to persecute error.”—Essay on“Sir James Mackintosh.”Benjamin Franklin well said:“When religion is good it will take care of itself; when it is not able to take care of itself, and God does not see fit to take care of it, so that it has to appeal to the civil power for support, it is evidence to my mind that its cause is a bad one.”—Letter to Dr. Price.John Wesley gave the following Christian advice:“Condemn no man for not thinking as you think. Let every one enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own judgment, since every man must give an account of himself to God. Abhor every approach, in any kind or degree, to the spirit of persecution. If you cannot reason nor persuade a man into the truth, never attempt to force a man into it. If love will not compel him to come, leave him to God, the Judge of all.”12. What does Christ say of those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake?“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner[pg 496]of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”Matt. 5:10-12. See Rev. 2:10; 6:9-11.“In the furnace God may prove thee,Thence to bring thee forth more bright;But He can never cease to love thee;Thou art precious in His sight:God is with thee,—God, thine everlasting light.”13. What divine precepts received and obeyed would do way with all oppression and persecution?“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”Matt. 22:39.“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”Matt. 7:12.14. What does love not do?“Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”Rom. 13:10.The Bigot's CreedBelieve as I believe—no more, no less;That I am right, and no one else, confess;Feel as I feel, think only as I think;Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;Look as I look, do always as I do;And, only then, I'll fellowship with you.That I am right, and always right, I know,Because my own convictions tell me so;And to be right is simply this: to beEntirely and in all respects like me.To deviate a jot, or to beginTo question, doubt, or hesitate, is sin.Let sink the drowning man, if he'll not swimUpon the plank that I throw out to him;Let starve the famishing, if he'll not eatMy kind and quantity of bread and meat;Let freeze the naked, too, if he'll not beSupplied with garments such as made for me.'Twere better that the sick should die than live,Unless they take the medicine I give;'Twere better sinners perish than refuseTo be conformed to my peculiar views;'Twere better that the world stood still than moveIn any way that I do not approve.
Union Of Church And StateIllustration.Paul And Silas In Prison. "These men, being Jews, ... teach customs, which are not lawful for us ... to observe, being Romans." Acts 16:20, 21.1. What was already at work in the church in Paul's day?“Forthe mystery of iniquitydoth already work.”2 Thess. 2:7.2. What class of men did he say would arise in the church?“For I know this, that after my departing shallgrievous wolvesenter in among you, not sparing the flock.Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”Acts 20:29, 30.3. Through what experience was the church to pass, and what was to develop in the church, before Christ's second coming?“Let no man deceive you by any means: forthat day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”2 Thess. 2:3.4. In what was shown the first tangible evidence of this“falling away”from the truth of God?The adoption of heathen rites and customs in the church.Note.—“The bishops augmented the number of religious rites in the Christian worship, by way of accommodation to the infirmities and[pg 485]prejudices, both of Jews and heathen, in order to facilitate their conversion to Christianity.... For this purpose, they gave the name ofmysteriesto the institutions of the gospel, and decorated particularly the holy sacrament with that solemn title. They used in that sacred institution, as also in that of baptism, several of the terms employed in the heathen mysteries, and proceeded so far, at length, as even to adopt some of the rites and of the ceremonies of which those renowned mysteries consisted.”—Mosheim's“Ecclesiastical History”(Maclaine's translation), cent. 2, part 2, chap. 4, pars. 2-5.5. How early was this tendency manifested?“This imitation began in the eastern provinces; but, after the time of Adrian [emperor 117-138a.d.], who first introduced the mysteries among the Latins, it was followed by the Christians who dwelt in the western parts of the empire.”—Id., par. 5.6. What has been one great characteristic of the Papacy?A union of church and state, or the religious power dominating the civil power to further its ends.7. When was the union of church and state formed from which the Papacy grew?During the reign of Constantine, 313-337a.d.8. What was the character and the work of many of the bishops at that time?“Worldly-minded bishops, instead of caring for the salvation of their flocks, were often but too much inclined to travel about, andentangle themselves in worldly concerns.”—Neander's“History of the Christian Religion and Church”(Torrey's translation), Vol. II, page 16.9. What did the bishops determine to do?“This theocratical theory was already the prevailing one in the time of Constantine; and ... the bishops voluntarily made themselves dependent on him by their disputes,and by their determination to make use of the power of the state for the furtherance of their aims.”—Id., page 132.Note.—The“theocratical theory”was that of a government administered by God through the church, particularly through the church bishops.10. What was the date of Constantine's famous Sunday law?a.d.321.11. When and by whom was the Council of Nice convened?By the emperor Constantine, 325a.d.12. Under what authority were its decrees published?[pg 486]“The decrees ... were published under theimperial authority, and thus obtained a political importance.”—Id., page 133.13. What was one principal object in calling this council?“The question relating tothe observance of Easter, which was agitated in the time of Anicetus and Polycarp, and afterward in that of Victor, was still undecided. It was one of the principal reasons for convoking the Council of Nice, being the most important subject to be considered after the Arian controversy.”“It appears that the churches of Syria and Mesopotamia continued to follow the custom of the Jews, and celebrated Easter onthe fourteenth day of the moon, whether falling on Sunday or not. All the other churches observed that solemnityon Sunday only, namely; those of Rome, Italy, Africa, Lydia, Egypt, Spain, Gaul, and Britain; and all Greece, Asia, and Pontus.”—Boyle's“Historical View of the Council of Nice,”page 23, edition 1836.14. How was the matter finally decided?“Easter day was fixed on the Sundayimmediately following the full moon which was nearest after the vernal equinox.”—Id., page 24.15. What was decreed by the Council of Laodicea,a.d.364?That Christians should keep the Sunday, and that if they persisted in resting on the Sabbath,“they shall be shut out from Christ.”See Hefele's“History of the Councils of the Church,”Vol. II, page 316.16. What imperial law was issued ina.d.386?“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by Constantine were more vigorously enforced; and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—Neander's“Church History,”Vol. II, page 300.17. What petition was made to the emperor by a church convention of bishops ina.d.401?“That the public shows might be transferred from the Christian Sunday and from the feast-days to some other days of the week.”—Ib.Note.—The desired law was secured in 425a.d.See pages444,489.18. What was the object of the church bishops in securing these Sunday laws?“That the day might be devoted with less interruption to[pg 487]the purposes of devotion.”“That the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—Id., pages 297, 301.19. How was the“devotion”of the“faithful”disturbed?“Church teachers ... were, in truth, often forced to complain thatin such competitions the theater was vastly more frequented than the church.”—Id., page 300.20. What does Neander say of the securing of these laws?“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.”—Id., page 301.Note.—In this way, more perhaps than in any other, church and state were united. In this way the church gained control of the civil power, which she later used as a means of carrying on most bitter and extensive persecutions. In this way she denied Christ and the power of godliness.21. When the church had received help from the state to this extent, what more did she demand?That the civil power should be exerted to compel men to serve God as the church should dictate.22. What did Augustine, the father of this theocratical or church-and-state theory, teach concerning it?“Who doubts but what it is better to be led to God by instruction than by fear of punishment or affliction? But because the former, who will be guided only by instruction, are better, the others are still not to be neglected.... Many, like bad servants, must often be reclaimed to their Master by the rod of temporal suffering, ere they can attain to this highest stage of religious development.”—Id., pages 214, 215.23. What is Neander's conclusion regarding this theory?“It was by Augustine, then, that a theory was proposed and founded, which, tempered though it was, in its practical application, by his own pious, philanthropic spirit, nevertheless contained the germ of that whole system of spiritual despotism, of intolerance and persecution, which ended in the tribunals of the Inquisition.”“He did not give precedence to the question, What isright? over the question, What isexpedient? But a theory which overlooks these distinctions leaves room for any despotism which would make holy ends a pretext for the use of unholy means.”—Id., pages 217, 249, 250.Note.—It was thus that the union of church and state was formed, out of which was developed“the beast,”or Papacy, of the Apocalypse, which made“war with the saints”and overcame them. A like course cannot fail to produce like results today. Dr. Philip Schaff, in his work on“Church and State,”page 11, well says:“Secular power has proved a satanic gift to the church, and ecclesiastical power has proved an engine of tyranny in the hands of the state.”
Illustration.Paul And Silas In Prison. "These men, being Jews, ... teach customs, which are not lawful for us ... to observe, being Romans." Acts 16:20, 21.
Paul And Silas In Prison. "These men, being Jews, ... teach customs, which are not lawful for us ... to observe, being Romans." Acts 16:20, 21.
1. What was already at work in the church in Paul's day?
“Forthe mystery of iniquitydoth already work.”2 Thess. 2:7.
2. What class of men did he say would arise in the church?
“For I know this, that after my departing shallgrievous wolvesenter in among you, not sparing the flock.Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”Acts 20:29, 30.
3. Through what experience was the church to pass, and what was to develop in the church, before Christ's second coming?
“Let no man deceive you by any means: forthat day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”2 Thess. 2:3.
4. In what was shown the first tangible evidence of this“falling away”from the truth of God?
The adoption of heathen rites and customs in the church.
Note.—“The bishops augmented the number of religious rites in the Christian worship, by way of accommodation to the infirmities and[pg 485]prejudices, both of Jews and heathen, in order to facilitate their conversion to Christianity.... For this purpose, they gave the name ofmysteriesto the institutions of the gospel, and decorated particularly the holy sacrament with that solemn title. They used in that sacred institution, as also in that of baptism, several of the terms employed in the heathen mysteries, and proceeded so far, at length, as even to adopt some of the rites and of the ceremonies of which those renowned mysteries consisted.”—Mosheim's“Ecclesiastical History”(Maclaine's translation), cent. 2, part 2, chap. 4, pars. 2-5.
5. How early was this tendency manifested?
“This imitation began in the eastern provinces; but, after the time of Adrian [emperor 117-138a.d.], who first introduced the mysteries among the Latins, it was followed by the Christians who dwelt in the western parts of the empire.”—Id., par. 5.
6. What has been one great characteristic of the Papacy?
A union of church and state, or the religious power dominating the civil power to further its ends.
7. When was the union of church and state formed from which the Papacy grew?
During the reign of Constantine, 313-337a.d.
8. What was the character and the work of many of the bishops at that time?
“Worldly-minded bishops, instead of caring for the salvation of their flocks, were often but too much inclined to travel about, andentangle themselves in worldly concerns.”—Neander's“History of the Christian Religion and Church”(Torrey's translation), Vol. II, page 16.
9. What did the bishops determine to do?
“This theocratical theory was already the prevailing one in the time of Constantine; and ... the bishops voluntarily made themselves dependent on him by their disputes,and by their determination to make use of the power of the state for the furtherance of their aims.”—Id., page 132.
Note.—The“theocratical theory”was that of a government administered by God through the church, particularly through the church bishops.
10. What was the date of Constantine's famous Sunday law?
a.d.321.
11. When and by whom was the Council of Nice convened?
By the emperor Constantine, 325a.d.
12. Under what authority were its decrees published?
“The decrees ... were published under theimperial authority, and thus obtained a political importance.”—Id., page 133.
13. What was one principal object in calling this council?
“The question relating tothe observance of Easter, which was agitated in the time of Anicetus and Polycarp, and afterward in that of Victor, was still undecided. It was one of the principal reasons for convoking the Council of Nice, being the most important subject to be considered after the Arian controversy.”
“It appears that the churches of Syria and Mesopotamia continued to follow the custom of the Jews, and celebrated Easter onthe fourteenth day of the moon, whether falling on Sunday or not. All the other churches observed that solemnityon Sunday only, namely; those of Rome, Italy, Africa, Lydia, Egypt, Spain, Gaul, and Britain; and all Greece, Asia, and Pontus.”—Boyle's“Historical View of the Council of Nice,”page 23, edition 1836.
14. How was the matter finally decided?
“Easter day was fixed on the Sundayimmediately following the full moon which was nearest after the vernal equinox.”—Id., page 24.
15. What was decreed by the Council of Laodicea,a.d.364?
That Christians should keep the Sunday, and that if they persisted in resting on the Sabbath,“they shall be shut out from Christ.”See Hefele's“History of the Councils of the Church,”Vol. II, page 316.
16. What imperial law was issued ina.d.386?
“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by Constantine were more vigorously enforced; and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—Neander's“Church History,”Vol. II, page 300.
17. What petition was made to the emperor by a church convention of bishops ina.d.401?
“That the public shows might be transferred from the Christian Sunday and from the feast-days to some other days of the week.”—Ib.
Note.—The desired law was secured in 425a.d.See pages444,489.
18. What was the object of the church bishops in securing these Sunday laws?
“That the day might be devoted with less interruption to[pg 487]the purposes of devotion.”“That the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—Id., pages 297, 301.
19. How was the“devotion”of the“faithful”disturbed?
“Church teachers ... were, in truth, often forced to complain thatin such competitions the theater was vastly more frequented than the church.”—Id., page 300.
20. What does Neander say of the securing of these laws?
“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.”—Id., page 301.
Note.—In this way, more perhaps than in any other, church and state were united. In this way the church gained control of the civil power, which she later used as a means of carrying on most bitter and extensive persecutions. In this way she denied Christ and the power of godliness.
21. When the church had received help from the state to this extent, what more did she demand?
That the civil power should be exerted to compel men to serve God as the church should dictate.
22. What did Augustine, the father of this theocratical or church-and-state theory, teach concerning it?
“Who doubts but what it is better to be led to God by instruction than by fear of punishment or affliction? But because the former, who will be guided only by instruction, are better, the others are still not to be neglected.... Many, like bad servants, must often be reclaimed to their Master by the rod of temporal suffering, ere they can attain to this highest stage of religious development.”—Id., pages 214, 215.
23. What is Neander's conclusion regarding this theory?
“It was by Augustine, then, that a theory was proposed and founded, which, tempered though it was, in its practical application, by his own pious, philanthropic spirit, nevertheless contained the germ of that whole system of spiritual despotism, of intolerance and persecution, which ended in the tribunals of the Inquisition.”“He did not give precedence to the question, What isright? over the question, What isexpedient? But a theory which overlooks these distinctions leaves room for any despotism which would make holy ends a pretext for the use of unholy means.”—Id., pages 217, 249, 250.
Note.—It was thus that the union of church and state was formed, out of which was developed“the beast,”or Papacy, of the Apocalypse, which made“war with the saints”and overcame them. A like course cannot fail to produce like results today. Dr. Philip Schaff, in his work on“Church and State,”page 11, well says:“Secular power has proved a satanic gift to the church, and ecclesiastical power has proved an engine of tyranny in the hands of the state.”
Sabbath LegislationIllustration.Christ Reproving The Pharisees. "For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8.1. Who made the Sabbath?“In six daysthe Lordmade heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, andrested the seventh day; whereforethe Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”Ex. 20:11.2. To whom does the Sabbath belong?“The seventh day is the Sabbath ofthe Lord thy God.”Verse 10.3. To whom, then, should its observance be rendered?“Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, andto God the things that are God's.”Mark 12:17.Note.—When men make Sabbath laws, therefore, they require Sabbath observance to be rendered to thegovernment, or, presumably, by indirection, to Godthrough the government, which amounts to the same thing.4. In religious things, to whom alone are we accountable?“So then every one of us shall give account of himselfto God.”Rom. 14:12.Note.—But when men make compulsory Sabbath laws, they make men accountable to thegovernmentfor Sabbath observance.5. How does God command us to keep the Sabbath day?“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep itholy.”Ex. 20:8.6. What does He indicate as one of its purposes?“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the[pg 489]Sabbath of rest,an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.”Lev. 23:3.7. Seeing, then, that the Sabbath isholy, is to bekept holy, and is a day forholy convocations, what must be its character?It must bereligious.8. What, then, must be the nature of all Sabbath legislation?It isreligious legislation.9. When the state enacts religious laws, what is effected?A union of church and state.10. What has always been the result of religious legislation, or a union of church and state?Religious intolerance and persecution.11. What was Constantine's Sunday law of March 7, 321?“Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun; but let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty, attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by heaven.”—Corpus Juris Civilis Cod., lib. 3, tit. 12, 3.12. What further imperial legislation in behalf of Sunday observance was issued in 386?“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by the emperor Constantine were more rigorously enforced, and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—Neander's“Church History,”Vol. II, page 300, edition 1852.13. At the instance of church bishops, what still further law was secured under Theodosius the Younger, in 425?“In the year 425, the exhibition of spectacles on Sunday and on the principal feast-days of the Christians was forbidden, in order that the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—Id., pages 300, 301.14. What does the historian say of this legislation?“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.... But had it not been for that confusion of spiritual and secular interests, had it not been for the vast number of mereoutward conversionsthus brought about, she would have needed no such help.”—Id., page 301.[pg 490]15. What did Charlemagne's Sunday law of 800 require?“We decree ... that servile works should not be done on the Lord's day, ... that is, that neither should men do field work, either in cultivating the vineyards or by plowing in the fields, by cutting or drying hay, or by placing a fence, or by making clearings in the woods or felling trees or working on stones or constructing houses or working in the garden; neither should they come together to decide public matters nor be engaged in the hunt.... Women may not do any textile work nor cut out clothes nor sew nor make garments.... But let them come together from all sides to church to the solemnities of the mass, and let them praise God for all things which he does for us on that day.”—“Historical Chronicles of Germany,”Sec. 2, Vol. I, 22 General admonition, 789, M. Martio 23, page 61, par. 81.16. How does the Sunday law of Charles II, of 1676, read?“For the better observation and keeping holy the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday: be it enacted ... that all the laws enacted and in force concerning the observation of the day, and repairing to the church thereon, be carefully put in execution; and that all and every person and persons whatsoever shall on every Lord's day apply themselves to the observation of the same, by exercising themselves thereon in the duties of piety and true religion, publicly and privately.”—“Revised Statutes of England From 1235-1685a.d.”(London, 1870), pages 779, 780; cited in“A Critical History of Sunday Legislation,”by A. H. Lewis, D. D., pages 108, 109.17. What did the first Sunday law enacted in America, that of Virginia, in 1610, require?“Every man and woman shall repair in the morning to the divine service and sermons preached upon the Sabbath day, and in the afternoon to divine service, and catechizing, upon pain for the first fault tolose their provision and the allowance for the whole week following; for the second, tolose the said allowance and also be whipped; and for the third tosuffer death.”—Articles, Laws, and Orders, Divine, Politique, and Martial, for the Colony in Virginia: first established by Sir Thomas Gates, Knight, Lieutenant-General, the 24th of May, 1610.Notes.—These are the original Sunday laws, after which all the Sunday laws of Europe and America have been modeled. Church attendance is not generally required by the Sunday laws of the present day, nor was it required, in terms, by the earliest Sunday laws; but that is and ever has been the chief object of all Sunday legislation from Constantine's time on, and it is as much out of place today as it ever was.
Illustration.Christ Reproving The Pharisees. "For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8.
Christ Reproving The Pharisees. "For the Son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." Matt. 12:8.
1. Who made the Sabbath?
“In six daysthe Lordmade heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, andrested the seventh day; whereforethe Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”Ex. 20:11.
2. To whom does the Sabbath belong?
“The seventh day is the Sabbath ofthe Lord thy God.”Verse 10.
3. To whom, then, should its observance be rendered?
“Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, andto God the things that are God's.”Mark 12:17.
Note.—When men make Sabbath laws, therefore, they require Sabbath observance to be rendered to thegovernment, or, presumably, by indirection, to Godthrough the government, which amounts to the same thing.
4. In religious things, to whom alone are we accountable?
“So then every one of us shall give account of himselfto God.”Rom. 14:12.
Note.—But when men make compulsory Sabbath laws, they make men accountable to thegovernmentfor Sabbath observance.
5. How does God command us to keep the Sabbath day?
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep itholy.”Ex. 20:8.
6. What does He indicate as one of its purposes?
“Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the[pg 489]Sabbath of rest,an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.”Lev. 23:3.
7. Seeing, then, that the Sabbath isholy, is to bekept holy, and is a day forholy convocations, what must be its character?
It must bereligious.
8. What, then, must be the nature of all Sabbath legislation?
It isreligious legislation.
9. When the state enacts religious laws, what is effected?
A union of church and state.
10. What has always been the result of religious legislation, or a union of church and state?
Religious intolerance and persecution.
11. What was Constantine's Sunday law of March 7, 321?
“Let all the judges and town people, and the occupation of all trades rest on the venerable day of the sun; but let those who are situated in the country, freely and at full liberty, attend to the business of agriculture; because it often happens that no other day is so fit for sowing corn and planting vines; lest the critical moment being let slip, men should lose the commodities granted by heaven.”—Corpus Juris Civilis Cod., lib. 3, tit. 12, 3.
12. What further imperial legislation in behalf of Sunday observance was issued in 386?
“By a law of the year 386, those older changes effected by the emperor Constantine were more rigorously enforced, and, in general, civil transactions of every kind on Sunday were strictly forbidden.”—Neander's“Church History,”Vol. II, page 300, edition 1852.
13. At the instance of church bishops, what still further law was secured under Theodosius the Younger, in 425?
“In the year 425, the exhibition of spectacles on Sunday and on the principal feast-days of the Christians was forbidden, in order that the devotion of the faithful might be free from all disturbance.”—Id., pages 300, 301.
14. What does the historian say of this legislation?
“In this way the church received help from the state for the furtherance of her ends.... But had it not been for that confusion of spiritual and secular interests, had it not been for the vast number of mereoutward conversionsthus brought about, she would have needed no such help.”—Id., page 301.
15. What did Charlemagne's Sunday law of 800 require?
“We decree ... that servile works should not be done on the Lord's day, ... that is, that neither should men do field work, either in cultivating the vineyards or by plowing in the fields, by cutting or drying hay, or by placing a fence, or by making clearings in the woods or felling trees or working on stones or constructing houses or working in the garden; neither should they come together to decide public matters nor be engaged in the hunt.... Women may not do any textile work nor cut out clothes nor sew nor make garments.... But let them come together from all sides to church to the solemnities of the mass, and let them praise God for all things which he does for us on that day.”—“Historical Chronicles of Germany,”Sec. 2, Vol. I, 22 General admonition, 789, M. Martio 23, page 61, par. 81.
16. How does the Sunday law of Charles II, of 1676, read?
“For the better observation and keeping holy the Lord's day, commonly called Sunday: be it enacted ... that all the laws enacted and in force concerning the observation of the day, and repairing to the church thereon, be carefully put in execution; and that all and every person and persons whatsoever shall on every Lord's day apply themselves to the observation of the same, by exercising themselves thereon in the duties of piety and true religion, publicly and privately.”—“Revised Statutes of England From 1235-1685a.d.”(London, 1870), pages 779, 780; cited in“A Critical History of Sunday Legislation,”by A. H. Lewis, D. D., pages 108, 109.
17. What did the first Sunday law enacted in America, that of Virginia, in 1610, require?
“Every man and woman shall repair in the morning to the divine service and sermons preached upon the Sabbath day, and in the afternoon to divine service, and catechizing, upon pain for the first fault tolose their provision and the allowance for the whole week following; for the second, tolose the said allowance and also be whipped; and for the third tosuffer death.”—Articles, Laws, and Orders, Divine, Politique, and Martial, for the Colony in Virginia: first established by Sir Thomas Gates, Knight, Lieutenant-General, the 24th of May, 1610.
Notes.—These are the original Sunday laws, after which all the Sunday laws of Europe and America have been modeled. Church attendance is not generally required by the Sunday laws of the present day, nor was it required, in terms, by the earliest Sunday laws; but that is and ever has been the chief object of all Sunday legislation from Constantine's time on, and it is as much out of place today as it ever was.
Who Persecute And WhyIllustration.The Stoning Of Stephen. "Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." John 16:2.1. Because Jesus had not kept the Sabbath according to their ideas, what did the Jews do?“Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.”John 5:16.2. What kind of fast is most acceptable to God?“Is not this the fast that I have chosen?to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”Isa. 58:6.Note.—This is what Jesus did. He, the Author and Lord of the Sabbath, in addition to attending and taking part in religious services (Luke 4:16), went about doing good, healing the sick, relieving the oppressed, and restoring the impotent, lame, and blind, on the Sabbath day. But this, while in perfect accord with the law of God, the great law of love, was contrary to the traditions and perverted ideas of the Jews respecting the Sabbath. Hence they persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him.3. Why did Cain kill Abel?“For this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew[pg 493]he him?Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”1 John 3:11, 12.Note.—The following comment upon this passage by M. de Chesnais, a Catholic priest of New Zealand, is well put:“If you would read the Word of God, you would find that from the beginning all good people were persecuted because they were good. Abel was slain by his brother because he was good, and Cain could not endure the sight of him.”—Kaikoura (New Zealand) Star, April 10, 1884.Illustration.The Fiery Furnace. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." Dan. 3:17.4. Commenting upon the treatment of Isaac, the son of Sarah, by Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, what principle does the apostle Paul lay down?“But as then,he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.”Gal. 4:29.5. What other instances of persecution mentioned in the Bible, demonstrate the correctness of this principle?a.Esau, who sold his birthright, persecuted Jacob, who vowed his loyalty to God. Gen. 25:29-34; 27:41; 32:6.b.The wayward and envious sons of Jacob persecuted Joseph, who feared God. Genesis 37; Acts 7:9.c.The idolatrous Egyptians persecuted the Hebrews, who worshiped the true God. Exodus 1 and 5.d.The Hebrew who did his neighbor wrong thrust Moses, as mediator, aside. Ex. 2:13, 14; Acts 7:26, 27.e.Saul, who disobeyed God, persecuted David, who feared God. 1 Samuel 15, 19, 24.f.Israel, in their apostasy, persecuted Elijah and Jeremiah, who were prophets of God. 1 Kings 19:9, 10; Jer. 36:20-23; 38:1-6.g.Nebuchadnezzar, while an idolater, persecuted the three Hebrew captives for refusing to worship idols. Daniel 3.h.The envious and idolatrous princes under Darius, persecuted Daniel for daring to pray to the God of heaven. Daniel 6.i.The murderers of Christ persecuted the apostles for preaching Christ. Acts 4 and 5.j.Paul, before his conversion, persecuted the church of God. Acts 8:1; 9:1, 2; 22:4, 5, 20; 26:9-11; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:12, 13.Note.—The history of all the religious persecutions since Bible times is but a repetition of this same story,—the wicked persecute the righteous. And thus it will continue to be until the conflict between good and evil is ended.6. Who does Paul say shall suffer persecution?[pg 494]“Yea, andall that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”2 Tim. 3:12.7. What is essential to extensive religious persecution?Ecclesiastical control of the civil power, or a union of church and state.8. Since persecution is invariably wrong, and the persecutor is generally in the wrong on religious subjects, what must be true of persecuting governments?They likewise must be in the wrong.Notes.—“There are many who do not seem to be sensible that all violence in religion is irreligious, and that, whoever is wrong, the persecutor cannot be right.”—Thomas Clarke.“Have not almost all the governments in the world always been in the wrong on religious subjects?”—Macaulay.“Do not the Scriptures clearly show that they who persecute are generally in the wrong, and they who suffer persecution in the right,—that the majority has always been on the side of falsehood, and the minority only on the side of truth?”—Luther.“Religion was intended to bring peace on earth and good will towards men, and whatever tends to hatred and persecution, however correct in the letter, must be utterly wrong in the spirit.”—Henry Varnum.God never forces the will or the conscience; but, in order to bring men under sin, Satan resorts to force. To accomplish his purpose, he works through religious and secular rulers, influencing them to enact and enforce human laws in defiance of the law of God.9. Under what terrible deception did Christ say men would persecute His followers?“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, thatwhosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”John 16:1, 2.10. Who is the original murderer?“Ye are of your fatherthe devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”John 8:44.11. When James and John wished to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans who did not receive Christ, what did Christ say to them?“He turned, and rebuked them, and said,Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”Luke 9:55, 56.[pg 495]Notes.—Some of the reasons given in justification of persecution may be noted in the following quotations:—“The state cannot afford to permit religious liberty. We hear a great deal about religious tolerance, but we are only tolerant in so far as we are not interested. A person may be tolerant toward a religion if he is not religious.... Intolerance means fervor and zeal. The best the state can do is to establish a limited religious liberty; but beyond a certain degree of tolerance the state cannot afford to admit the doctrine.”—Monsignor Russell (Catholic), quoted in Washington Post, May 5, 1910.“The church has persecuted. Only a tyro in church history will deny that.... We have always defended the persecution of the Huguenots, and the Spanish Inquisition. When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it.... But will the Catholic Church give bond that she will not persecute at all? Will she guarantee absolute freedom and equality of all churches and all faiths? The Catholic Church gives no bonds for her good behavior.”—Editorial in Western Watchman (Catholic), of St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 24, 1908.“The Inquisition was a very merciful tribunal; I repeat it, almost a compassionate tribunal.... A man was only allowed to be racked once, which no one can deny was a most wonderful leniency in those times.”—Catholic Mirror, official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, Aug. 29, 1896.“We confess that the Roman Catholic Church is intolerant; that is to say, that it uses all the means in its power for the extirpation of error and sin; but this intolerance is the logical and necessary consequence of her infallibility.She alone has the right to be intolerant, because she alone has the truth.The church tolerates heretics where she is obliged to do so, but she hates them mortally, and employs all her force to secure their annihilation.”—Shepherd of the Valley (St. Louis, Mo.), 1876.This erroneous position has been well refuted by Lord Macaulay in the following words:“The doctrine which, from the very first origin of religious dissensions, has been held by all bigots of all sects, when condensed into few words and stripped of rhetorical disguise, is simply this: I am in the right, and you are in the wrong. When you are the stronger, you ought to tolerate me; for it is your duty to tolerate truth. But when I am the stronger, I shall persecute you; for it is my duty to persecute error.”—Essay on“Sir James Mackintosh.”Benjamin Franklin well said:“When religion is good it will take care of itself; when it is not able to take care of itself, and God does not see fit to take care of it, so that it has to appeal to the civil power for support, it is evidence to my mind that its cause is a bad one.”—Letter to Dr. Price.John Wesley gave the following Christian advice:“Condemn no man for not thinking as you think. Let every one enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own judgment, since every man must give an account of himself to God. Abhor every approach, in any kind or degree, to the spirit of persecution. If you cannot reason nor persuade a man into the truth, never attempt to force a man into it. If love will not compel him to come, leave him to God, the Judge of all.”12. What does Christ say of those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake?“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner[pg 496]of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”Matt. 5:10-12. See Rev. 2:10; 6:9-11.“In the furnace God may prove thee,Thence to bring thee forth more bright;But He can never cease to love thee;Thou art precious in His sight:God is with thee,—God, thine everlasting light.”13. What divine precepts received and obeyed would do way with all oppression and persecution?“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”Matt. 22:39.“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”Matt. 7:12.14. What does love not do?“Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”Rom. 13:10.The Bigot's CreedBelieve as I believe—no more, no less;That I am right, and no one else, confess;Feel as I feel, think only as I think;Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;Look as I look, do always as I do;And, only then, I'll fellowship with you.That I am right, and always right, I know,Because my own convictions tell me so;And to be right is simply this: to beEntirely and in all respects like me.To deviate a jot, or to beginTo question, doubt, or hesitate, is sin.Let sink the drowning man, if he'll not swimUpon the plank that I throw out to him;Let starve the famishing, if he'll not eatMy kind and quantity of bread and meat;Let freeze the naked, too, if he'll not beSupplied with garments such as made for me.'Twere better that the sick should die than live,Unless they take the medicine I give;'Twere better sinners perish than refuseTo be conformed to my peculiar views;'Twere better that the world stood still than moveIn any way that I do not approve.
Illustration.The Stoning Of Stephen. "Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." John 16:2.
The Stoning Of Stephen. "Yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service." John 16:2.
1. Because Jesus had not kept the Sabbath according to their ideas, what did the Jews do?
“Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day.”John 5:16.
2. What kind of fast is most acceptable to God?
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen?to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”Isa. 58:6.
Note.—This is what Jesus did. He, the Author and Lord of the Sabbath, in addition to attending and taking part in religious services (Luke 4:16), went about doing good, healing the sick, relieving the oppressed, and restoring the impotent, lame, and blind, on the Sabbath day. But this, while in perfect accord with the law of God, the great law of love, was contrary to the traditions and perverted ideas of the Jews respecting the Sabbath. Hence they persecuted Him, and sought to slay Him.
3. Why did Cain kill Abel?
“For this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew[pg 493]he him?Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”1 John 3:11, 12.
Note.—The following comment upon this passage by M. de Chesnais, a Catholic priest of New Zealand, is well put:“If you would read the Word of God, you would find that from the beginning all good people were persecuted because they were good. Abel was slain by his brother because he was good, and Cain could not endure the sight of him.”—Kaikoura (New Zealand) Star, April 10, 1884.
Illustration.The Fiery Furnace. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." Dan. 3:17.
The Fiery Furnace. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." Dan. 3:17.
4. Commenting upon the treatment of Isaac, the son of Sarah, by Ishmael, the son of the bondwoman, what principle does the apostle Paul lay down?
“But as then,he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.”Gal. 4:29.
5. What other instances of persecution mentioned in the Bible, demonstrate the correctness of this principle?
a.Esau, who sold his birthright, persecuted Jacob, who vowed his loyalty to God. Gen. 25:29-34; 27:41; 32:6.
b.The wayward and envious sons of Jacob persecuted Joseph, who feared God. Genesis 37; Acts 7:9.
c.The idolatrous Egyptians persecuted the Hebrews, who worshiped the true God. Exodus 1 and 5.
d.The Hebrew who did his neighbor wrong thrust Moses, as mediator, aside. Ex. 2:13, 14; Acts 7:26, 27.
e.Saul, who disobeyed God, persecuted David, who feared God. 1 Samuel 15, 19, 24.
f.Israel, in their apostasy, persecuted Elijah and Jeremiah, who were prophets of God. 1 Kings 19:9, 10; Jer. 36:20-23; 38:1-6.
g.Nebuchadnezzar, while an idolater, persecuted the three Hebrew captives for refusing to worship idols. Daniel 3.
h.The envious and idolatrous princes under Darius, persecuted Daniel for daring to pray to the God of heaven. Daniel 6.
i.The murderers of Christ persecuted the apostles for preaching Christ. Acts 4 and 5.
j.Paul, before his conversion, persecuted the church of God. Acts 8:1; 9:1, 2; 22:4, 5, 20; 26:9-11; Gal. 1:13; 1 Tim. 1:12, 13.
Note.—The history of all the religious persecutions since Bible times is but a repetition of this same story,—the wicked persecute the righteous. And thus it will continue to be until the conflict between good and evil is ended.
6. Who does Paul say shall suffer persecution?
“Yea, andall that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”2 Tim. 3:12.
7. What is essential to extensive religious persecution?
Ecclesiastical control of the civil power, or a union of church and state.
8. Since persecution is invariably wrong, and the persecutor is generally in the wrong on religious subjects, what must be true of persecuting governments?
They likewise must be in the wrong.
Notes.—“There are many who do not seem to be sensible that all violence in religion is irreligious, and that, whoever is wrong, the persecutor cannot be right.”—Thomas Clarke.“Have not almost all the governments in the world always been in the wrong on religious subjects?”—Macaulay.“Do not the Scriptures clearly show that they who persecute are generally in the wrong, and they who suffer persecution in the right,—that the majority has always been on the side of falsehood, and the minority only on the side of truth?”—Luther.“Religion was intended to bring peace on earth and good will towards men, and whatever tends to hatred and persecution, however correct in the letter, must be utterly wrong in the spirit.”—Henry Varnum.God never forces the will or the conscience; but, in order to bring men under sin, Satan resorts to force. To accomplish his purpose, he works through religious and secular rulers, influencing them to enact and enforce human laws in defiance of the law of God.
Notes.—“There are many who do not seem to be sensible that all violence in religion is irreligious, and that, whoever is wrong, the persecutor cannot be right.”—Thomas Clarke.
“Have not almost all the governments in the world always been in the wrong on religious subjects?”—Macaulay.
“Do not the Scriptures clearly show that they who persecute are generally in the wrong, and they who suffer persecution in the right,—that the majority has always been on the side of falsehood, and the minority only on the side of truth?”—Luther.
“Religion was intended to bring peace on earth and good will towards men, and whatever tends to hatred and persecution, however correct in the letter, must be utterly wrong in the spirit.”—Henry Varnum.
God never forces the will or the conscience; but, in order to bring men under sin, Satan resorts to force. To accomplish his purpose, he works through religious and secular rulers, influencing them to enact and enforce human laws in defiance of the law of God.
9. Under what terrible deception did Christ say men would persecute His followers?
“These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, thatwhosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”John 16:1, 2.
10. Who is the original murderer?
“Ye are of your fatherthe devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”John 8:44.
11. When James and John wished to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans who did not receive Christ, what did Christ say to them?
“He turned, and rebuked them, and said,Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.”Luke 9:55, 56.
Notes.—Some of the reasons given in justification of persecution may be noted in the following quotations:—“The state cannot afford to permit religious liberty. We hear a great deal about religious tolerance, but we are only tolerant in so far as we are not interested. A person may be tolerant toward a religion if he is not religious.... Intolerance means fervor and zeal. The best the state can do is to establish a limited religious liberty; but beyond a certain degree of tolerance the state cannot afford to admit the doctrine.”—Monsignor Russell (Catholic), quoted in Washington Post, May 5, 1910.“The church has persecuted. Only a tyro in church history will deny that.... We have always defended the persecution of the Huguenots, and the Spanish Inquisition. When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it.... But will the Catholic Church give bond that she will not persecute at all? Will she guarantee absolute freedom and equality of all churches and all faiths? The Catholic Church gives no bonds for her good behavior.”—Editorial in Western Watchman (Catholic), of St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 24, 1908.“The Inquisition was a very merciful tribunal; I repeat it, almost a compassionate tribunal.... A man was only allowed to be racked once, which no one can deny was a most wonderful leniency in those times.”—Catholic Mirror, official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, Aug. 29, 1896.“We confess that the Roman Catholic Church is intolerant; that is to say, that it uses all the means in its power for the extirpation of error and sin; but this intolerance is the logical and necessary consequence of her infallibility.She alone has the right to be intolerant, because she alone has the truth.The church tolerates heretics where she is obliged to do so, but she hates them mortally, and employs all her force to secure their annihilation.”—Shepherd of the Valley (St. Louis, Mo.), 1876.This erroneous position has been well refuted by Lord Macaulay in the following words:“The doctrine which, from the very first origin of religious dissensions, has been held by all bigots of all sects, when condensed into few words and stripped of rhetorical disguise, is simply this: I am in the right, and you are in the wrong. When you are the stronger, you ought to tolerate me; for it is your duty to tolerate truth. But when I am the stronger, I shall persecute you; for it is my duty to persecute error.”—Essay on“Sir James Mackintosh.”Benjamin Franklin well said:“When religion is good it will take care of itself; when it is not able to take care of itself, and God does not see fit to take care of it, so that it has to appeal to the civil power for support, it is evidence to my mind that its cause is a bad one.”—Letter to Dr. Price.John Wesley gave the following Christian advice:“Condemn no man for not thinking as you think. Let every one enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own judgment, since every man must give an account of himself to God. Abhor every approach, in any kind or degree, to the spirit of persecution. If you cannot reason nor persuade a man into the truth, never attempt to force a man into it. If love will not compel him to come, leave him to God, the Judge of all.”
Notes.—Some of the reasons given in justification of persecution may be noted in the following quotations:—
“The state cannot afford to permit religious liberty. We hear a great deal about religious tolerance, but we are only tolerant in so far as we are not interested. A person may be tolerant toward a religion if he is not religious.... Intolerance means fervor and zeal. The best the state can do is to establish a limited religious liberty; but beyond a certain degree of tolerance the state cannot afford to admit the doctrine.”—Monsignor Russell (Catholic), quoted in Washington Post, May 5, 1910.
“The church has persecuted. Only a tyro in church history will deny that.... We have always defended the persecution of the Huguenots, and the Spanish Inquisition. When she thinks it good to use physical force, she will use it.... But will the Catholic Church give bond that she will not persecute at all? Will she guarantee absolute freedom and equality of all churches and all faiths? The Catholic Church gives no bonds for her good behavior.”—Editorial in Western Watchman (Catholic), of St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 24, 1908.
“The Inquisition was a very merciful tribunal; I repeat it, almost a compassionate tribunal.... A man was only allowed to be racked once, which no one can deny was a most wonderful leniency in those times.”—Catholic Mirror, official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, Aug. 29, 1896.
“We confess that the Roman Catholic Church is intolerant; that is to say, that it uses all the means in its power for the extirpation of error and sin; but this intolerance is the logical and necessary consequence of her infallibility.She alone has the right to be intolerant, because she alone has the truth.The church tolerates heretics where she is obliged to do so, but she hates them mortally, and employs all her force to secure their annihilation.”—Shepherd of the Valley (St. Louis, Mo.), 1876.
This erroneous position has been well refuted by Lord Macaulay in the following words:“The doctrine which, from the very first origin of religious dissensions, has been held by all bigots of all sects, when condensed into few words and stripped of rhetorical disguise, is simply this: I am in the right, and you are in the wrong. When you are the stronger, you ought to tolerate me; for it is your duty to tolerate truth. But when I am the stronger, I shall persecute you; for it is my duty to persecute error.”—Essay on“Sir James Mackintosh.”
Benjamin Franklin well said:“When religion is good it will take care of itself; when it is not able to take care of itself, and God does not see fit to take care of it, so that it has to appeal to the civil power for support, it is evidence to my mind that its cause is a bad one.”—Letter to Dr. Price.
John Wesley gave the following Christian advice:“Condemn no man for not thinking as you think. Let every one enjoy the full and free liberty of thinking for himself. Let every man use his own judgment, since every man must give an account of himself to God. Abhor every approach, in any kind or degree, to the spirit of persecution. If you cannot reason nor persuade a man into the truth, never attempt to force a man into it. If love will not compel him to come, leave him to God, the Judge of all.”
12. What does Christ say of those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake?
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner[pg 496]of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”Matt. 5:10-12. See Rev. 2:10; 6:9-11.
“In the furnace God may prove thee,Thence to bring thee forth more bright;But He can never cease to love thee;Thou art precious in His sight:God is with thee,—God, thine everlasting light.”
“In the furnace God may prove thee,Thence to bring thee forth more bright;But He can never cease to love thee;Thou art precious in His sight:God is with thee,—God, thine everlasting light.”
“In the furnace God may prove thee,
Thence to bring thee forth more bright;
But He can never cease to love thee;
Thou art precious in His sight:
God is with thee,—
God, thine everlasting light.”
13. What divine precepts received and obeyed would do way with all oppression and persecution?
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”Matt. 22:39.“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”Matt. 7:12.
14. What does love not do?
“Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”Rom. 13:10.
The Bigot's CreedBelieve as I believe—no more, no less;That I am right, and no one else, confess;Feel as I feel, think only as I think;Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;Look as I look, do always as I do;And, only then, I'll fellowship with you.That I am right, and always right, I know,Because my own convictions tell me so;And to be right is simply this: to beEntirely and in all respects like me.To deviate a jot, or to beginTo question, doubt, or hesitate, is sin.Let sink the drowning man, if he'll not swimUpon the plank that I throw out to him;Let starve the famishing, if he'll not eatMy kind and quantity of bread and meat;Let freeze the naked, too, if he'll not beSupplied with garments such as made for me.'Twere better that the sick should die than live,Unless they take the medicine I give;'Twere better sinners perish than refuseTo be conformed to my peculiar views;'Twere better that the world stood still than moveIn any way that I do not approve.
The Bigot's Creed
Believe as I believe—no more, no less;That I am right, and no one else, confess;Feel as I feel, think only as I think;Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;Look as I look, do always as I do;And, only then, I'll fellowship with you.
Believe as I believe—no more, no less;
That I am right, and no one else, confess;
Feel as I feel, think only as I think;
Eat what I eat, and drink but what I drink;
Look as I look, do always as I do;
And, only then, I'll fellowship with you.
That I am right, and always right, I know,Because my own convictions tell me so;And to be right is simply this: to beEntirely and in all respects like me.To deviate a jot, or to beginTo question, doubt, or hesitate, is sin.
That I am right, and always right, I know,
Because my own convictions tell me so;
And to be right is simply this: to be
Entirely and in all respects like me.
To deviate a jot, or to begin
To question, doubt, or hesitate, is sin.
Let sink the drowning man, if he'll not swimUpon the plank that I throw out to him;Let starve the famishing, if he'll not eatMy kind and quantity of bread and meat;Let freeze the naked, too, if he'll not beSupplied with garments such as made for me.
Let sink the drowning man, if he'll not swim
Upon the plank that I throw out to him;
Let starve the famishing, if he'll not eat
My kind and quantity of bread and meat;
Let freeze the naked, too, if he'll not be
Supplied with garments such as made for me.
'Twere better that the sick should die than live,Unless they take the medicine I give;'Twere better sinners perish than refuseTo be conformed to my peculiar views;'Twere better that the world stood still than moveIn any way that I do not approve.
'Twere better that the sick should die than live,
Unless they take the medicine I give;
'Twere better sinners perish than refuse
To be conformed to my peculiar views;
'Twere better that the world stood still than move
In any way that I do not approve.