THE CHURCH

Hephzibah—Signifies—My Pleasure, or Delight in Her

My dear Hephzibah:

The perversion of terms and phrases, (especially those which occur in the word of God,) has been a fruitful source of mischief in every age, and has led astray the minds of the unwary, from truth and simplicity, into the labyrinths of error and superstition; until reason itself has been fettered, and common sense insulted.

This remark is awfully true with respect to the word CHURCH, which has been indiscriminately applied to a pile of building—a national establishment—and the antichristian hierarchy: to neither of which can it properly belong, nor is there any countenance given in Scripture to such applications of the term.

The most concise and striking exposition I have yet met with on the word, is in Ephes. 3:15. THE WHOLE FAMILY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH; of whom the first person in the adorable Trinity is the Father—Jesus the elder Brother—and the Holy Spirit the Preceptor; on whom the everlasting love of God is set; for whom all the provision of the covenant of grace is made; and to whom all the riches of eternal glory shall be communicated.

THE CHURCH, in this spiritual sense, includes all that the Father gave to Christ in the counsel of peace, whom Christ took into covenant union with himself, and the Holy Spirit regenerates in the fulness of time. These, and these only, properly speaking, compose the Church of God; but as it is the prerogative of God alone to search hearts, we can only judge of the Church of God from its visible appearance, and genuine excellencies.

In all ages of the world, God has had a visible Church on earth, in which his spiritual Church has been included; and though it has existed under various forms, and different dispensations, it has always been, and still is, essentially the same.

In the broadest and most extensive sense, the Church includes all the professed worshippers of the living God; but in the strictest and best sense, it includes those only who worship him in spirit and in truth; and it is necessary to maintain this distinction, because there are many declarations in the scriptures of truth, which cannot otherwise be made to accord.

The Jewish nation was considered the Church; but Paul informs us, that “they are not all Israel which are of Israel” and again, “he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter.” Rom. 2:28, 29.

It is therefore of infinite importance, my dear Hephzibah, that your attention be fixed upon the spiritual Church, the mystical body of Christ, and that you ascertain the fact that you are a living member of it; this will open many otherwise dark passages of scripture to your mind, and lay a firm foundation for your peace and comfort.

The Bible contains a copious history of THE CHURCH, both in its visible form, and its spiritual character, describing it as the object of Jehovah’s perpetual attention and constant care.

When he drowned the world, he preserved his Church in the ark—when he sent a famine over all the land of Canaan, he fed his Church in Egypt —when he punished the Egyptians, the Moabites, and the nations of Canaan, he led his Church through the wilderness, and brought it to the promised land.

We are accustomed to make too much distinction between the old testament Church and the new, or rather, between the old testament dispensation of the Church, and the new, (for God never had but one Church on earth;) its organization has indeed been very different at different times, in different ages, but its constituent parts have always been essentially the same; united to the same head, partakers of the same grace, and recipients of the same spiritual blessings.

The objects of the Father’s love—the purchase of the Redeemer’s blood—the subjects of the Holy Spirit’s grace, have always constituted the real Church of God, and although they have been divided and sub-divided into sects and parties almost innumerable, after all, they are but one family—one body—and shall ultimately be one fold under one shepherd.

The purity and prosperity of the Church have generally corresponded with its distinction from the world, for it appears impossible for spiritual persons to associate with carnal, without receiving some injury; and whenever the Church as a body has joined affinity with the world, or allowed its simplicity to be violated by any connection with worldly aggrandizement, its purity has been tarnished, and its prosperity has been impeded. The whole history of the Church confirms this statement, both in ancient and modern times; and it will be found, that the idolatry of Israel—the innovations of the man of sin—and incompatible with the life of communion with God.

The divine Head of the Church has said, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon;” and in his last prayer on earth for his disciples, he declared they were not of the world, and prayed that they might be kept from the evil.

Under the gospel dispensation, the Church, or the family of God, having grown and increased, has branched out in every direction, and will ultimately fill the whole earth with its glory; each of the branches has its distinct form, and is distinctly organized; but they still receive their sap and nourishment from the same root, and certainly ought to preserve oneness of spirit.

Hence we frequently meet with the word, “Church,” in its plural form in the New Testament, as, the Churches in Judea—the Churches in Syria—the Churches in Asia, &c. all of which were distinctly recognized, and separately organized, yet, they were only so many parts of “the general assembly and Church of the first born, which are written in heaven.” Heb. 12:23.

When we speak of THE CHURCH, we mean the whole redeemed family, of every name and every nation; but when we speak of the Churches, we mean the separate companies of believers distinctly organized, for the purpose of worshipping God, enjoying his ordinances, and holding Christian fellowship.

Now each of these separate companies of believers is a Church, according to the phraseology of the New Testament, but, it requires the whole of them to make up that CHURCH, which Jesus “purchased with his own blood,” Acts 20:28 and which he will “present to himself, a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” Eph. 5:27. Surely then, the whole of these companies of believers, or distinct Churches, should cherish the warmest affection to each other, and never allow themselves “to bite and devour one another.” Oh! I sigh for the day, when the bitterness of party spirit shall be consumed by the celestial flame of brotherly love.

The offices specified in the New Testament state of the Church are two: the first relates wholly to spiritual things; the other exclusively to temporal things; and though the officers of the Church, are known by various names, such as Bishops, Pastors, Overseers, Presbyters, Elders, Deacons, &c. it appears to me that they all come under the above classification, and that their work is, either the care of souls, and the superintendance of spiritual things; or the management of temporal and pecuniary matters. The officers whose work is spiritual, should “give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” The officers whose work is temporal, are appointed “to serve tables.” Acts 6:2.

The table of the Lord, the table of the pastor, and the table of the poor, are to be provided for, according to the means with which the Church furnishes them, while the care of all the Church cometh upon the Pastor daily, and the prosperity of souls demand his unceasing labors and prayers.

Every member of a church so organized, should consider it his high privilege, and constant duty, to cultivate the spirit of Christian fellowship, “being kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another.” Rom. 12:10. “The strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,” Rom. 15:1; “endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace,” Eph. 4:3; “not forsaking the assembling of themselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another,” Heb. 10:25; and to “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Phil. 1:27.

Attending to these new testament directions, the members of a Christian Church may be of incalculable advantage to each other, and constrain all around to exclaim, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1.

Allow me to conclude this brief sketch of the church of God, by reminding you, my dear Hephzibah, that to belong to the spiritual family of God, is essential to present peace and eternal life—and that to belong to a well-organized company of believers is a high privilege.

That you are a member of the mystical body of Christ, which is the spiritual and universal church, I cannot doubt, while I witness your attachment to his truth—his cause—his people— and himself, connected with your abhorrence of sin, especially in yourself. But I am anxious you should share in all the privileges of the redeemed family, and be introduced to the society of saints on earth, before you go to the society of glorified saints above. “Why should you be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of Christ’s companions?” Sol. Song 1:7.

As I feel persuaded you will associate with them in heaven, I am unwilling you should stroll through the wilderness alone, while different companies of believers are inviting you in the language of Moses, “Come thou with us, and we will do thee good, for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel.” Numb. 10:29.

Choose your own company, even the company to which you feel the greatest attachment, and with which you can anticipate the most extensive soul-profit, exclaiming, “I will go with you, for I have heard that God is with you,” and let not the popular talent of the minister, the polite circle of the congregation, or the worldly advantages which may present themselves to your view, influence your decision. Pure truth alone can feed your soul, and the only suitable companions for heaven-born souls, are those, whose spirituality and devotedness distinguish them from the world.

On the other hand, suffer not the reproach of Christ, the offence of the cross, or the stigma of opprobrious names, to deter you from uniting with that flock with which you can go in and out and find pasture. Beware also of the influence of relative ties; it is indeed lovely to see the family circle surrounding the table of the Lord together, when the members of that family are partakers of the grace of God, but I trust you will have some better reason to assign why you join a society of Christians than that “my father or brother is a member there.” Look out for a company of believers, amidst whom Jesus reigns and shines, carrying on his glorious work, and with whom you feel a holy oneness of soul, with them enroll your name, saying “I will go with you, for I have heard that God is with you,” and having voluntarily united with such a company, consider its interests your own, and suffer no trifle to interrupt your fellowship with your brethren, or grieve the heart of your Pastor, watch over your spirit and conduct, and be ready at all times to sacrifice every thing but conscience, for the prosperity of the church, and the encouragement of its officers.

Praying that all the pleasures of church fellowship, and Christian communion, may be enjoyed by you, I remain, my dear Hephzibah,

Your affectionate fellow member

Of the mystical body of Christ,

Thrice happy people! whom Jehovah loves—
Whom he has chosen—pardon’d—and renew’d:
Maintain your high distinction from the world,
But, let your love as brethren, be preserv’d.
In tribes and families distinctly known,
See Israel onward march. But when encamped—
Or fighting with the common foe, their ark—
Their interest—and their object—are but ONE
So let the gospel churches (marshalled well)
In bands distinct their little banners wave,
And rallying round the standard of the cross
In ONE grand army—FIGHT AND OVERCOME!
The world—the flesh—the Devil join their strength

To wage a cruel war against the saints,
At enmity against their God and King.
Ye soldiers of the cross, unite in love;
Put on your armor, hear your Captain’s voice,
And strive together for the truth of God.
Cursed be the heresy that breaks your ranks,
Or stirs a mutiny in Zion’s camps:
No more let Ephraim envy Judah’s growth,
Nor Judah, Ephraim’s children vex again;
But both engage against Philistine foes,
Till victory is proclaimed, and Israel’s tribes
Triumphant, enter EVERLASTING PEACE.

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