every admixture of error with it. How is the fine gold become dim! All that was necessary to bless, ennoble, and save mankind, He communicated to his Apostles, who, having announced it to their cotemporaries, left it upon record for the instruction and salvation of all who might believe and obey it in after ages of the world. Any assumption of apostolical succession, therefore, is founded in ignorance, self-conceit, and the love of filthy lucre. All who believe and obey the gospel are the successors of the Apostles. And what more do we want?

The knowledge of Jehovah, in the first instance, was conveyed to the mind of man by Himself. Subsequently He wrote his law on tables of stone. And his inspired servants reverently followed so glorious an example. They were commanded to speak His communications to the people to whom they were sent, and then to write them in a book for the faith and guidance of that age regarding such dispensation of His will. In these last days God hath spoken to us by his Son; and it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and the Apostles, to place on record in a permanent form, that which alone embodies an exhibition of divine philanthropy towards man. So perfect and harmonious is the system thus recorded, and so admirably adapted to the high purposes for which it was designed, that it prompts us to the exercise of gratitude and faith. "If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, he shall be accursed when the Lord comes."

In these last days many are to run to and fro, that knowledge might be increased. "As I live," saith Jehovah, "The whole earth shall be filled with my glory." We live in days of controversy and investigation. Few things seem yet to be settled among men, but all things are settled with God. Sin and its consequences cast no shade over his divine mind. He possesses within himself the attributes needful for the removal and final destruction of evil, and in His own good time He will graciously accomplish it, to the admiration of His intelligent universe. To assist humbly in enlightening the mind, and elevating the character, of man-to testify the truth, and take a decided stand against evil, in whatever form it may present itself-are the objects we contemplate in issuing this periodical. Anticipating the ultimate triumph of the gospel, we again renew our exertions for diffusing abroad its truths.

Nottingham, December, 1850.

J. W.

JANUARY, 1851.

THE

British Millennial Barbinger.

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

"Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matthew xvi. 18.)

success.

CHRISTIANITY is built upon the Rock of Ages. Its foundation can never be moved. The political and social earthquakes which shake other governments, and often-times lay their proud superstructures in ruins, cannot disturb that temple, beneath which are the everlasting arms. It was erected under circumstances, apparently the most unwise and forbidding for its The building rose at the expense of the lives of its founder and chief architects. The shrieks of dying myriads, and the horrid din of persecution, surrounded and threatened to overwhelm its builders. Judaism and Paganism, sustained by the strong arm of a civil power that had crushed the world beneath its iron tread, and by the stronger power of religious prejudices fostered for ages, sought to stifle Christianity in its birth; but He that sitteth in the heavens laughed at their furious rage, and by the most signal vengeance, destroyed the murderers and burnt up their city, and overthrew the Pagan religion with the empire that sustained it. This is the miracle of revolutions. That twelve obscure men called by Jesus, almost as obscure as themselves, of a nation the most unsocial and bigoted, without any experimental knowledge of human nature, without money, should in less than forty years originate and propagate a religion opposed to the established and legalized views and habits of ages-alike opposed to the religion and the irreligion of the times-opposed to the learning and folly, at war with the most heated prejudices at home and abroad-is truly the miracle of history. Death to themselves, and destruction to their cause, in all human calculation, would seem inevitable. But they were successful, and the lasting monuments of their success reach to our own time, written all over with inscriptions of victory. Feeble were the instruments employed for its propagation-unable to command the genius, learning, or eloquence of human wisdom, its divinity was every where manifested, its advocates were made supernaturally powerful to the pulling down of the strong holds ; and strains of knowledge and eloquence which have captivated millions, have been called forth through all the periods of its eventful history, to do homage to its triumphs. By the demonstration of the truth it was at first

shown to be an emanation from the throne of God, a stream from the fountain of light, perfection, and joy. But when the church was established the mightiest efforts of genius were commanded for its service, the boundless stores of learning were laid at its feet, the sweetest flowers of taste and the richest streams of eloquence, were poured forth at the foot of the cross, and all were consecrated for the use of the heaven-descended virgin. We rejoice in this victory-but we rejoice more that without these, without human resources, without the wisdom of this world, without its wealth, without its powers-nay, in opposition to these, the Christian religion was published, successfully published to the ends of the earth. We rejoice also to remember, that like a pure and crystal stream it has quietly and rapidly glided down from age to age, from land to land, occasionally over many mountainous obstructions, down many fearful precipices, and through many dark and calamitous ravines, dispersing, throughout its varied and majestic course, the choicest and most fertilizing blessings; nor will it cease its onward flow until again it shall have visited the whole earth. Other streams have also flowed; at times, like boisterous torrents, they have rushed from mountains of superstition and barbarism, and have threatened to swallow it and the fair field of its fertilization, in the corruption of accumulating ages. Hell and hell's sovereign have been arrayed against it from its nativity till now, but their powerful agencies by the wisdom from above have often proved their own destruction, whilst from the veins of the martyrs new streams have issued forth to swell the broad river of life.

It is gratifying to look back to the day of its origin, when upon the foundation laid in Zion it was built never to be destroyed. Like a tender plant it was planted in the mountain of the heights of Israel (Ezek. xvii. 22-24,) and although pernicious and in some instances deadly weeds have sprung up around it, yet we promise ourselves that we can discover the true vine if by a proper examination of our subject we can learn how, when, and where it was at first divinely planted. Let us, then, in the spirit of candour, seek not only the true foundation, but the means of being built upon it, so that neither the plots or powers of Satan, the rage or malice of men, can prevail against us—no more than against it and its divine founder. inquiry shall be

Our first

Upon this

They con

I. What is the foundation upon which the church is built? question the Roman Catholics have thrown some obscurity. fidently maintain that Christ here teaches that Peter was the rock upon which the church was built. "Their rock is not our rock, our enemies themselves being judges." Petros and petra in the Greek sound much alike, and are similar in signification; and from this truth the Romanists and some Protestants have concluded that our Lord alluded to something in Peter's character and office which would entitle him to the distinguished honor of being called the rock upon which the church was founded. But it should be remembered that though similar in sound and signification, they are not the same. Besides, the very construction of the sentence shows, that

the word te petra (this rock) must refer for its antecedent to something else than the name Petros (Peter) the person spoken to. There are, also, other weighty considerations that preclude the idea that Peter is made the foundation of this spiritual edifice. 1. The words translated "this rock" differ in person, gender, and case from the supposed antecedent Peter, while they agree with the phrase, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God." As, therefore, there are no other antecedents but these, and as by no rule of language can they be made to refer to the former, we establish the negative position that they do not refer to Peter, as well as the affirmative one, that they do refer to the confession that he made. Jesus had elicited the confession-to elicit it was the design of the conversation—and addressing the Apostle in the second person, he speaks of a rock upon which he declares his church shall be indestructibly founded. By the lips of Peter this confession was first pronounced, and as his name afforded a most beautiful and forcible idea, he takes it and very naturally calls it a rock. This, too, accords with the manner of his teaching. His doctrine appears in the costume, not only of the times in which he lived, but also of the immediate circumstances by which he was surrounded. When among vines, he calls himself the true vine, his Father the husbandman, his Apostles the branches. When in the temple, he speaks of the destruction of his own body as of a temple. Finding some of the twelve fishing, he promises to make them fishers of men. While gazing upon the sheep thronging Jerusalem for the sacrifices, says, his sheep hear his voice. So in the case before us. The name of his disciple is stone, and very naturally and beautifully he says, his church is to be built upon a rock, the rock of his Messiahship, so immovably, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

he

The rules of grammar and the very construction of language forbid the adoption of the idea, that the church has been reared upon Peter and his supposed successors.

"Built

But again. The Apostles are unanimous in teaching that Christ himself, and the confession of him, are the rock. "Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. iii. 11.) upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone, in or upon whom the whole building fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple of the Lord" (Eph. ii. 20-21.) He, then, is the rock which supports the spiritual temple in which, and in which alone, we can hope for salvation. Prophets of God fired with the inspiration of the Spirit have borne testimony to his claims-God the Father has signally acknowledged him, and Apostles have been his witnesses to the ends of the earth. Built upon him, we fear not the raging storms of infidelity and division; for though the winds beat and the rains fall in pitiless torrents-though the elements burn with the fires of malice and wrath, yet our rock has not melted. And as the firm granite in the physical universe loses neither its nature nor solidity, so neither is our rock changed, nor the building founded thereon overthrown.

Peter himself bears conclusive testimony upon this subject (1 Pet. ii. 4.) In a letter addressed to the Christians in the dispersion some years after the conversation with Jesus, he says, "To whom (Christ) coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house," &c. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture, "Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." What can be more clear and conclusive? No intimation that himself was the foundation-he ackowledges the superior dignity of his Master, and by a most beautiful imagery, shows the stability and permanent sufficiency of Christ, as well as his power to sustain his people under whatever weight of affliction, persecution, or distress. Christ, then, is the corner-stone, the foundation of the living temple, and all who come to and rest their hopes upon him, will be for ever secure and blessed; "For whosoever believes in him shall never be confounded." Thrice happy those who, as a royal priesthood, a chosen generation, a peculiar people, are now a part of this temple, maintaining the royal dignity of their station by showing forth the excellencies of him who hath builded them together, a temple to his praise.

Once more. This interpretation coincides with the imagery of the Sacred Scriptures. Isaiah speaks of the mountain of the Lord's house, and of Christ as the rock, the corner-stone. Daniel represents his kingdom as a stone cut from the mountains, and filling the whole earth. He is to many a stone of stumbling, a rock of offence; whilst to others he is the rock of their salvation-the foundation of the church of God.

II. We will briefly notice the prophecy in the text: “I will build my church." Isaiah had declared, and Micah had repeated, that in the last days all people should go up to the house of the Lord, learn his ways, and walk in his paths; and in this all the prophets concur, assuring us that at a specific and divinely-appointed time, the first dominion would come to Zion, and the kingdom to the daughter of Jerusalem (Micah iv. 8.) Peter, after his investiture in the Apostolic office, declares that the time specified by the prophets as the "last days," commenced properly with the day of Pentecost. With reference to that day, Messiah had declared that he would bestow the power of his Spirit. The church was spoken of prior to that day as an edifice to be erected, and after the scenes of that day, it is said that the Lord added to the church the saved. The text gives us the distinct promise of Christ-" I will build my church"-and the second of Acts assures us it was built with three thousand additions in one day. The church was to be built upon the truth confessed by Peter-" Thou art the Christ, the Son of God"—and the claims of Jesus to this high character and office were never publicly proclaimed until the day of Pentecost. He was declared the Son of God with power by his resurrection from the dead, and it was not until after this event that his Messiahship was made known by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven.

To the honest inquirer this is an important investigation. Let these facts