The Captivity of the Republic
WHAT WILL BE THE RESULTS?
It is worth serious inquiry as to what will be the effect upon the churches, of their taking the government of the United States into their hands, as they have done. CAR 65.1
When we find what will be the effect upon the churches, it can easily be seen what the effect will be upon the State. And seeing the effect on both Church and State, it will be easy to know what the effect will be upon society as a whole. CAR 65.2
Nor is this at all difficult. The results of this procedure have already begun to appear in such measure as to present a perfectly safe criterion. The outcome may be known without any theorizing at all. All that is necessary is candidly to consider facts as they stand before the people at the present moment. CAR 65.3
The manner in which the churches succeeded in getting the government into their hands-this in itself contains a volume of instruction as to what the effect will be upon those churches. The resolution that was sent up to Congress from the “evangelical” churches in all parts of the country, after prescribing what Congress should do with respect to the World’s Fair, runs as follows:— CAR 65.4
“Resolved, That we do hereby pledge ourselves and each other, that we will from this time henceforth refuse to vote for, or support for any office or position of trust, any member of Congress, either senator or representative, who shall vote for any further aid of any kind for the World’s Fair, except on conditions named in these resolutions.” CAR 65.5
As all now know these threats succeeded, and both Senate and House yielded to this demand rather than to risk the threatened loss of votes and jeopardize their “coming back again.” It is likewise known that those who thus secured this legislation have repeatedly announced since, that this demonstrates that they can have anything they want, if they will only stand together in demanding it, and that they do intend to make such demands for further favors and further subjection of the government. CAR 65.6
Now in view of these facts, here are some questions worthy of the candid attention of every honest church member in the land. If those who are already in Congress will thus play into the hands of the churches in order to “come back” there, then will not those who want to go there play likewise into the hands of the churches in order to get there? When, from this universal advertising, it is understood that the churches hold within their gift the offices and places of trust of the nation, then will not these same churches become the chiefest objects of the courtship and solicitation of the office-seekers of land, and especially of the most unprincipled ones? Everybody knows that the only fair answer that can be made to these questions is, Yes, they will. CAR 66.1
Then, in order to make their courtship and solicitation for office most effectual, these men will become church members themselves. And having joined the church for political purposes, they will use their membership for political purposes. And, so far as they are concerned, the churches will be but so many political clubs and coteries to be “worked” for all that can be made out of them. This is not theory, nor is it far-fetched; it is the plainly stated calculation of the leaders of the Sunday-law movement. For years it has been one of the standing principles of the National Woman’s Christian Temperance Union that “now, when it is a question of preserving the Sabbath itself, and guarding the homes which are the sanctuaries of Christ’s gospel, we women believe that no day is too good, no place too consecrated, for the declaration of principles and the determining of votes.” 9 And in an editorial notice of a Sunday-law meeting in New York city, the Examiner (Baptist) said:— CAR 66.2
“Congress may change its mind; the present is no time for jubilation; but is (and we beg pardon for the phrase) a time for wire-pulling and hard fighting.” CAR 67.1
Now, when it is so openly and so brazenly announced by those who are occupying the leading positions in the churches, that their “holy day” and their sacred places shall be turned into political hustings, and that they will devote themselves to “wire-pulling and hard fighting”—when these take the lead in this, is it not inevitable that the office-seekers who would court their influence and votes will do the same thing? In fact, what else are these declarations of theirs but an open bid for such procedure on the part of just such classes as those? CAR 67.2
Nor is political favor the only bid which these same churches hold out for the purpose of securing Sunday observance. The churches have financial as well as political gain at their disposal. In congratulating himself and his followers upon the success of their threatening efforts upon Congress, the President of the American Sabbath Union exclaimed:— CAR 67.3
“The form of the law is happy. It gives a premium of $2,500,000 on doing right. It proves in a concrete way that ‘godliness hath great gain.’ “ CAR 67.4
As these churches have it in their power thus to put a money premium upon doing the will of the Church, it is self-evident that in the nature of things they will speedily secure large accessions to their numbers in such “right” doing. When the Church is enabled thus to prove so readily in a concrete way, to her own satisfaction, that “godliness hath great gain,” it is inevitable that there will be speedily added to her numbers those who will be able to prove just as readily to their own satisfaction that “gain is godliness.” And the deduction of these latter will be just as true and as honest as is this boast that the Church has already made. CAR 67.5
Neither have they stopped with this attempt upon Congress and the World’s Fair Directory. They are applying the principle in general practice. Witness the financial bargain-to give their moral and financial support-which the representatives of the churches of Englewood, Chicago, made with the Marlowe Theater to secure Sunday observance by the theater. The following from the Chicago Daily News Sept. 2, 1892 gives the facts in this case:— CAR 68.1
“The Englewood ‘church-and-theater’ fight is for the moment, at least over. CAR 68.2
“A settlement has been arrived at between the contending parties, which is presumably satisfactory to both, though the terms are a little peculiar. CAR 68.3
“The articles of agreement were drawn up at a joint meeting of the theater people and two of the church party,—Alderman Noble and Mr. J. Badenoch, Jr. The discussion commenced last night, and continued to a late hour, and only after prolonged inquiry this morning, was it possible to discover the terms of the settlement. CAR 68.4
“Attorney J. McK. Cleland, president of the Englewood Young Men’s Christian Association, who has hitherto been the fountain-head of information regarding the struggle, was at a loss how to reply when asked what settlement had been arrived at. ‘You would better ask Alderman Noble,’ he said, ‘and talk with Mr. Fenn.’ CAR 68.5
“Alderman Noble could not be found, but Mr. Fenn was in his real estate office at 79 Clark street. CAR 68.6
” ‘I was not one of the sub-committee,’ he said, ‘and am not at liberty to tell you the facts about the agreement. Indeed, there are certain parts which are confidential between the committee and Mr. Miller of the theater. I may say, however, that there will be no evening performance after next Sunday.’ CAR 68.7
” ‘Are you satisfied with the settlement?’ CAR 68.8
” ‘Well, we have got all we wanted.’ CAR 68.9
” ‘At what cost?’ CAR 68.10
” ‘At no cost whatever.’ CAR 68.11
” ‘Then you should be perfectly satisfied.’ CAR 68.12
” ‘Yes,’ said Mr. Fenn, in a rather dubious tone. CAR 69.1
“A visit to Mr. Maher, attorney for the theater proprietor, solved the mystery of the reticence displayed by the president of the Y. M. C. A. CAR 69.2
” ‘What are the terms, Mr. Maher?’ the Daily News man asked, ‘and why this mystery?’ CAR 69.3
“The attorney smiled broadly. ‘There are just two points,’ he said. ‘In the first place there are to be no more Sunday performances after September 4; and secondly, the church people, excepting those who have a fixed and unalterable aversion to all theater-going, are to give their moral and financial support to the Marlowe theater.’ CAR 69.4
” ‘Will they take stock in the theater?’ CAR 69.5
” ‘No, sir; we still propose to own the theater. They will limit their financial support to occupying parquet seats and boxes.’ “ CAR 69.6
Witness also the boycotting combination which the churches of the West Side, in the same city, entered into to secure Sunday observance by the dealers. The following is their preamble and resolution:— CAR 69.7
“Whereas, It is contrary to the laws of Illinois and against the expressed wish of the people of Chicago, propagated through the churches and labor organizations through the agency of the daily press, for the clothing stores to open their doors on the Sabbath-day; and— CAR 69.8
“Whereas, The citizens of the West Side, in mass-meeting assembled, on this Sunday, September 25, do earnestly protest against the continuance of this evil; therefore, be it— CAR 69.9
“Resolved, That it be the sense of this meeting that we, the purchasing public of this, the West Side, do agree not to purchase any goods sold by any store that may keep open its doors on the Sabbath, and do further agree to exert our influence in every way practicable for the closing of stores on the Sabbath.” CAR 69.10
This latter effort speedily bore living fruit, which is significant of the whole line of things which we are here pointing out. CAR 69.11
This boycotting resolution to deal with nobody that opened on Sunday, was passed September 25. On October 11, another meeting of the same kind was held in another part of the city. The announcement and program were printed on a large leaflet which was about half filled with advertisements, among which we find one put up in this style:— CAR 69.12
| MILLINERY FURNITURE CARPETS TRUNKS BAGS ETC., ETC. | A____________ & B____________ CLOTHING, DRY GOODS, HATS, CAPS, BOOTS, SHOES Ladies and Gents’ Furnishing Goods 4_ to 4_ M_____ Avenue. We believe in the closing of shops and stores on Sunday, and have always practiced it. |
| Another one runs thus:— | |
| Pioneer Advocates Of Sunday Closing Z __________ & CO., CLOTHIERS, HATTERS, AND FURNISHERS Northwest Corner _________ and ________ Streets NOT OPEN ON SUNDAY | |
These two advertisements are the veering of the weathervane which show how that desire for the patronage of the Church will inspire and intensify the zeal for Sunday observance and its strict enforcement upon all. CAR 70.1
More than this: we know of an instance wherein, in November, 1892, a money bribe was actually offered by the churches in a certain place, and the proposition was conveyed through a preacher, to secure the closing of a certain institution on Sunday. 10 And in perfect consonance with this, if not actually suggestive of it, the Union Signal, of Oct. 20, 1892, published editorially, from Joseph Cook, the statement that “there is more wealth behind the churches and the respectable portion of society than behind all the opponents” of Sunday closing. The statement is worth reprinting in full, as it is made in the very connection in which we have used it. It is as folows:— CAR 70.2
“In view of the vigor with which the right of petition is exercised by the opponents of Sunday closing [of the World’s Fair], we believe that it should continue to be exercised vigorously by the friends of Sunday observance, especially if there should prove to be the slightest danger of the reversal of the action of Congress. We urge alertness at all points of the compass, for our opponents are not likely to sleep, and portions of the press of the country favor them from obvious mercenary motives. So does the immense wealth behind the saloon. But there is more wealth behind the churches and the respectable portion of society than behind all the opponents. The forces of the churches are in this case substantially united, and are already triumphant in the preliminary contest.” CAR 70.3
Yet more than this: they are actually coddling the saloons to secure Sunday observance by them. The Michigan Sabbath Watchman (local organ of the American Sabbath Union) for October, 1892, reprinted an article from the American Sabbath Union (the national organ of the association of that name), entitled, “The Rochester Experiment,” in which the Sunday observing saloon is flatly declared to be “reputable” and even of “good repute.” It seems to be a report in the paper, from Rochester, New York, giving a flattering account of the progress of Sunday observance by the saloons. The article is long, and we can present only a few extracts. Here is one:— CAR 71.1
“If liquor sellers can make as much, or nearly as much, by working six days as they can in seven, they will be foolish to deny themselves that extra day of rest.” CAR 71.2
And here is another:— CAR 71.3
“A more important and controlling consideration is that the liquor closing movement is an effort to place this business under the protection of law instead of making it contraband, as the opposite policy has done. It is incredible that reputable men, as the large proportion of liquor sellers are, shall prefer voluntarily to place themselves under the ban of legal as well as popular disapproval.” CAR 71.4
And here is yet another, and stronger, too:— CAR 71.5
“The effect of Sunday closing has been to sharply discriminate the reputable from the disreputable saloon, and certainly to the advantage of the former. How many of the reputable liquor sellers would wish to weaken the good repute of their establishments for the paltry patronage that disregard of their license obligations might secure?” CAR 71.6
True, he states that “there is considerably more liquor sold Saturday night and used at home on Sunday than before the saloons were closed on that day.” Nevertheless he declares, “It is better every way for these customers to get their supplies the day before, and keep their business closed.” CAR 72.1
And all these things are being done by the leaders and managers of the churches in the United States-and professed Protestant churches at that. How much worse could they do if they made no pretensions to religion at all? But when these things are all being done, not only by professed religionists, but by the very ones who set themselves forth as the representatives of Christianity itself, how infinitely worse it is than if done by persons making no pretensions to religion! CAR 72.2
This is where the opposers of Sunday laws and Sunday observance are at a disadvantage. These Sunday-law workers can, and do, and will, employ measures and resort to means that no man of any principle would ever think of. 11 They will literally stop at nothing. With them the end justifies any and every means. The observance of Sunday, however secured, sanctifies every possible means that can be employed to secure it. This is evident from the facts which we have here set down-and that they are facts is patent to the whole people of the United States. CAR 72.3
How exactly do these declarations and actions of these churches fulfill the prophecy that was spoken concerning them long ago-that they, as fallen Babylon, would “become the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird!” Revelation 18:2. That hold is now prepared: That cage is set. Its doors are open. And she is to-day holding forth the luring baits that will inevitably draw into her, every foul spirit and every unclean and hateful bird. And how much longer can the Christians stay in these churches and under these leaders and managers, without being partakers of their sins? There are Christians in these churches who are sighing and crying because of the evil and the abominations that are being wrought in them and by the managers of them. And to these now God sends the call, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4. There is but another step to take before her sins shall reach unto heaven, and God shall remember her iniquities. Revelation 18:2, 5. CAR 72.4
There is another scripture that describes the whole situation and system of things as it exists to-day. It is 2 Timothy 3:1-5, and runs as follows:— CAR 73.1
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.” CAR 73.2
Think of it! a list of nineteen such dark iniquities as these, and all carried on by people having a form of godliness, a people making pretensions to Christianity! And, horrible to tell, they “shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived.” Verse 13. And the things which are to accomplish it are being done before the eyes of the people to-day. Is it not high time that whosoever would fear God should “from such turn away”? May heaven help the people to see. CAR 73.3
In the Scriptures the Christian’s relationship to Christ is described under the symbol of the marriage tie: “Ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.” Romans 7:4. “I have espoused you to one husband.” 2 Corinthians 11:2. And the individual Christian is in this represented as having been espoused “as a chaste virgin to Christ.” CAR 73.4
Such individuals gathered into fellowship form the Church of Christ: And the relationship to Christ of such collection of individuals is also described under the symbol of the marriage tie: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave himself for it.... So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church.... For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church.” Ephesians 5:25-32. CAR 74.1
In accordance with this idea the Church of Christ is represented in the Scriptures as the purest and fairest of women, leaning upon the arm of her beloved; drawn to him with the drawings of his love; her only thought being of her beloved, to her the chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely, whose banner over her is love, and who would present her to himself “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Such is the Church to Christ; such is Christ to his Church; and such is the relationship between Christ and his Church. CAR 74.2
To such a church as this Christ committed his gospel to be by her made known to every creature. It is only such a church as this that can make known the gospel of Christ. That gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:16. No one can make known that power who does not know that power for himself and in himself. And the Church can make known the power of God only by knowing that power in and for herself. And that power being known only by faith, in the nature of things it is only by abiding faithful to her Lord that the Church could fulfill the work of the gospel committed to her trust. CAR 74.3
Again: The gospel is Christ in men the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27. This is what the Church of Christ is to make known to men. No one can make known Christ in men, who for himself does not know Christ in himself. It pleased God “to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him.” Galatians 1:16. But Christ dwells in men only by faith. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” Ephesians 3:17. It is evident, therefore, that the only way in which the Church can make known Christ in men the hope of glory, is to have, and to know, Christ revealed in herself. And as this is only known by faith, it is evident that it is only by abiding faithful to Christ that she can know Christ in herself or make him known in men. CAR 75.1
Once more: In the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed; and the righteousness of God only. And it is the righteousness of God only which the Church of Christ is to know, and which she is to make known to all the world. This is the ministry of the gospel which is committed to the Church of Christ. This righteousness is known only by faith, and revealed only to faith. “Therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith.” “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” Romans 1:17, and 3:22. As, therefore, this righteousness is known only by faith, and is revealed only to faith, it is plain that it is only by abiding steadfast in faithfulness to Christ that the Church can know or make known the righteousness of God which is revealed in the gospel. CAR 75.2
The sum of all these counts, and of many more that might be given, is simply to demonstrate over and over that it is only by abiding wholly in Christ, by trusting in him entirely, by depending upon him completely, by perfect faithfulness to him, that the Church can be what she must be in order to do what she is established to do. CAR 75.3
Such was the Church of Christ in the beginning. Such is always the Church of Christ indeed. But such neither is nor has been the professed Church of Christ. For there has been an apostasy from Christ and from [original illegible] true Church of Christ. In the apostles’ days the warning was given, “Of your own shelves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:30. And there shall come “a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.... For the mystery of iniquity doth already work.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7. CAR 76.1
The Lord exalted his Church, and clothed her with the beautiful garments of salvation and righteousness, and endued her with the power of God and godliness, before the eyes of all the nations. He made her exceeding beautiful, and she prospered, and her renown went forth to all the world for her beauty; for it was perfect through His comeliness which He had put upon her. But not satisfied with the exaltation which the Lord gave, which could come and remain only through her own humility, a portion of the Church grew haughty and exalted herself. Not content with the beauty of the Lord, which he had put upon her, she prided herself upon her own beauty; and instead of trusting in him for her beauty, she trusted in herself. Not content that God alone should be glorified in her, she glorified herself, and lived deliciously. Then, trusting in herself, priding herself upon her own beauty, magnifying her own merit, and satisfied with her own sufficiency,—this in itself was to put herself in the place of God. Then it was natural enough that she should seek to draw disciples to herself rather than to the Lord. Not only this, but having exalted herself, and magnified herself, and still trusting in herself, it was impossible for her to draw disciples to anybody but herself. Thus came the apostasy. And thus, instead of remaining the Church of Christ in truth, manifesting to the world the mystery of God and of godliness, she became, though still professedly the Church of Christ, only the manifestation to the world of the mystery of self and of selfishness, which is the very mystery of iniquity. CAR 76.2
Pre-eminent in both phases of this career was the Church at Rome. She was pre-eminent in faith, insomuch that her faith was “spoken of throughout the whole world.” Romans 1:8. She was also pre-eminent in apostasy, insomuch that this likewise has been spoken of throughout the whole world, and for nearly eighteen hundred years. As she had been so highly exalted and honored by the Lord, correspondingly low did she fall, and correspondingly dishonored did she become, when she exalted herself. As high as was her privilege while abiding in the faith, so correspondingly low was her degradation in her apostasy. As she had been perfect in beauty through the comeliness which the Lord had put upon her, so she became frightful in the ugliness of her own uncomely self-conscious pride of her own accomplishments, which were only evil. CAR 77.1