course–organizing a sect contented and satisfied that they had all
truth and no error.
Among the more prominent of these later reformations, which
after developing a neglected truth, were themselves laid aside,
because they became proud and sectarian and ceased to carry on
reform, we might cite the following: Presbyterians and
Congregationalists as among the most prominent exponents of the
doctrines of Calvin. The principal value of the doctrines of Calvin
as off-setting Papal errors, were we believe, the teaching of the
necessity of applying rules of holy living to the people, as well as
to the priests; the accountability of each to God direct, and the
greatness, omnipotence and foreknowledge of God, and the
immutability of his promises and plans.
The Baptists represented another long lost sight of doctrine,
and called the attention of the world to how Papacy had changed
the outward form of baptism, from immersion to sprinkling.
A later reform was instituted by a people calling themselves
“Disciples” or “The Christian Church,” organized in 1827. The
leader was Alex. Campbell, and the reform advocated was in
respect to church organization, discipline, creeds, and the
abrogation of all titles for its ministers, etc. Its aim was to be as
much as possible like the Apostolic arrangement, embodying
simplicity and liberty. Its design was good and to some extent
successful, but it ceased to carry forward the reform to liberty of
teaching, and study of the word. Though bound by no written
creed, yet respecting traditions and honors of men, it has also
become a fixed sect which no longer leads in the search for truth,
and the cleansing of the sanctuary from Papal errors, but is like
others, self-satisfied.
While we mention only a few of these reform movements, let
no one understand us as ignoring others; the reform has been
general, and all earnest true Christians have participated in it to
some extent.
But while all these reforms had been for good, and each had
removed some of the musty and worshipped error, yet some
remained until about 1846. Do not misunderstand us; much still
exists, and is still worshipped by God’s children; but there we
think for the first time for nearly 1300 years, a little company of
people got free from all of Papacy’s snares of entangling error–The
sanctuary of truth was cleansed.
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