The Abiding Gift of Prophecy

Corruptions Brought In

Along with these clear prophetic predictions there may well be placed the statement made by Mosheim regarding the corruptions brought into the church during the fourth century: AGP 195.3

“An enormous train of different superstitions were gradually substituted in the place of true religion and genuine piety. This odious revolution was owing to a variety of causes. A ridiculous precipitation in receiving new opinions, a preposterous desire of imitating the pagan rites, and of blending them with the Christian worship.”

“From these facts, which are but small specimens of the state of Christianity at this time, the discerning reader will easily perceive what detriment the church received from the peace and prosperity procured by Constantine, and from the imprudent methods employed to allure the different nations to embrace the gospel.” “An Ecclesiastical History,” Vol. I, Cent. IV, pp. 355, 356. Charlestown: Printed and published by Samuel Etheridge, Jr., 1810.

All this is very greatly deplored by those who established the pure and triumphant apostolic church. One writer puts it: AGP 195.4

“Worship, and that idle propensity, which the generality of mankind have towards gaudy and ostentatious religion, all contributed to establish the reign of superstition upon the ruins of Christianity….” The reins being once let loose to superstition, which knows no bounds, absurd notions, and idle ceremonies multiplied every day…. The virtues that had formerly been ascribed to the heathen temples, to

their lustrations, to the statues of their gods and heroes, were now attributed to Christian churches, to water consecrated by certain forms of prayer, and to the images of holy men.” AGP 196.1