The Perpetuity of the Church
ARTICLE VI The Church certainly existed in the days of John the Baptist, for he said, "He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom." Matthew said, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."--Matt, xi. 12. If the kingdom or Church was not in existence from the days of John the Baptist, then Matthew was mistaken in what he said about it being in existence from the days of John the Baptist until now; he also was mistaken about the Church suffering violence, and also about the violent taking it by force. The inspired prophet said, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for .ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.--Isa. ix. 6, 7. Unto us, the Church or people of God, a Child is born, a Son is given. John, in the book of Revelation, saw the Church under the law. "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."--Rev, xxi. 2. Again John said, "Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife."---Rev, xxi. 9. John was a minister of God, and he had eyes behind and in front, and he looked behind him and saw the marriage of the Son of God to His wife. "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him; for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready; and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white; for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And He saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God."--Rev. xix. 7, 9. John was evidently writing about the same thing Matthew was when he said, "And while they (the Jews) went to buy, the Bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage; and the door was shut."--Matt, xxv. 10. John said, "And His wife hath made herself ready." Yes, she was attired as a virtuous woman. "The king's daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought gold. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace."--Psa, xlv. 13-15. These scriptures absolutely fulfilled during the personal ministry of the Son of God on earth, which is incontestable evidence of the existence of His Church at that time. He said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."---Matt, xvi. 18. It is just as true now as it was when Jesus said to Peter, "Upon this rock I will build my church." He is still building His Church. "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain."--Psa, cxxvii, i. Christ is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor. i. 24). "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts: she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table."--Prov. ix. 1, 2. This scripture was fulfilled while Christ was on this earth. The gospel table was ;veil furnished by Him. The food was blessed by Him. He did not suffer anyone to go anywhere for food. He took the little they had, told the people that were hungry to sit down upon the grass. All flesh is as grass. We must crucify the flesh. Then will the blessed Christ take the bread and fishes and bless them, and then give them to His ministers that they may feed the hungry children of God; and in the end of this heavenly repast they will have twelve baskets full of fragments to feed others on. "She hath also furnished her table." When Jesus said "Upon this rock I will build my church," He was not making the Church; He had already done that. "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."--Heb. xi. 10. The Son of God is the only man that ever made the woman He married. "For thy Maker is thy Husband."--Isa. liv. 5. The Church of God is the only house that has a living foundation, a living builder, a living head and living material. "To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious."--I Peter ii. 4. The material or members have the same kind of life the builder has. "He that hath the Son hath life."--I John v. 12. "This is the true God, and eternal life." --I John v. 20. "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."--I Peter ii. 5. The house of God, the Church of God, is unlike all other houses; it is a spiritual house. Its life is spiritual; its service is spiritual. "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."--Eph. ii. 20-22. The Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, is still building His Church on the tried and sure foundation He laid in Zion, as He told Peter He would. "From whom the whole (entire) body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."--Eph, iv. 16. The Church of Christ is the only body "fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth." There is not a joint or coupling but what is well supplied "according to the effectual working in the measure of every part." The Church of God is so perfectly builded, as well as systematically arranged and fitly joined together "in the measure of every part" that it "maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." The Church that God set up is here today in all her transcendent beauty and juvenile innocency, vigor and strength. She has passed through all the persecution and bloodshed that her cruel persecutors could invent. In the midst of all the debauchery, corruption, fornication and whoredoms, there have been, and are now, true virtuous men and women, and will be while time lasts. Bad men and women have gotten into the Church, as well as wrong doctrine and practice. The statement has been repeatedly made that no one could trace the Baptist Church back to the apostles. We will see about that further on. Church perpetuity or succession is either a Bible truth or it is not. If the holy scriptures teach Church succession, then there have been churches somewhere ever since the first one. "Unto Him be glory in the Church by Jesus Christ, throughout all ages."--Eph, iii. 21. By this text we prove the Church has been here during the past ages, and when the Husband comes again without sin, it will be for the purpose of taking His bride to glory with Him. In the dark days of popery the servants of God could say, "In the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto thee."--Heb, ii. 12. Christ is the maker, founder and builder of the Church. The Church is His bride. He is her head and life. The Church is His body, and the body cannot be destroyed without destroying the head, which is in heaven. "Death hath no dominion over Him."--Rom. vi. 9. In a few articles I will endeavor to prove that the ,Church (now known as the Primitive Baptist Church of Christ) has existed in every age since the day it was first set up. If it can be proven that the Primitive Baptists originated somewhere this side of the apostles, then they are not Primitive Baptists. If this can be done, I want it done at once. Please do not say it can be done and then refuse to do it.
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