Perhaps the little paper so entitled and just received scarce calls for notice; especially as edification is here desired, not controversy. But it is sad to see truth trampled in the streets, and one thing of moment perverted to undermine another still more momentous.
The writer of the pamphlet, “On the Formation of Churches” (originally in French) urged the responsibility of the Christian to keep the unity of the Spirit, and none the less because of its actual state of ruin. Indeed anything else is but ecclesiastical antinomianism. The truth of what the church of God is binds the members here below as long as the relationship of Christ's body exists. And scripture has fully provided for those who desire fidelity to the Lord and obedience of His word in such abnormal circumstances. Nor can we complain of lack of power for this, if we know the Holy Ghost since Pentecost abides forever.
Wholly opposed to these sound principles is the pretending to restore, as at the beginning, or perhaps even in a novel and arbitrary way; which presumption the tract in question censures. But most of all did it direct and encourage saints in assembling to the Lord's name and doing His revealed will in liberty and lowliness, as we await His coming.
To deny that either God's house or Christ's body remains is unbelieving ignorance; and Matt. 18 in its central portion seems a singular choice of strange scripture on which to base such an insinuation. The truth is that the presence of the Lord in the midst survives all failure, and is His gracious assurance if but two or three were gathered to His name. It is precisely the maintenance of holy discipline, as an inalienable duty in the darkest day of self-willed scattering, which gives occasion to this resource above all price. No doubt it widens out in ver. 20 as a general promise to any and every purpose for which His own might be assembled according to His word; but this is clear gain.
Nor is it intelligent to seek this enfeebling of the truth by speaking of “the second temple “: an expression of Rabbinical unbelief. Scripture, on the contrary, is careful, as we may see in Haggai, to maintain in faith the unity of God's house. “Who is among you that saw this house in her first glory? And how do ye see it now?” (ch. 2: 3.) It is “Jehovah's house” while “waste” (1: 9), no less than when “magnifical.” Hence even in the grand future “I will fill this house with glory” (2: 7).
Nor does ver. 9 really modify, still less contradict, its unity; for as the Revisers rightly render (as was known well before they were born), the true force is, “The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former.” So it stands in the oldest version of all, the Septuagint, to say nothing of others. Here Jerome led or followed others astray, as in not a few instances. There is really no legitimate doubt that it is Jehovah's house all through, and neither a first, a second, nor a third.
How much more solid is the tenure of God's house now, where an eternal redemption is the ground, and the Holy Spirit came down in person as never before save for the Lord Jesus! Granted that the house is in ruins, and that those err deeply who deny it and feel it not; but faith owns and acts on it, and can only do so aright as guided by a spiritual understanding of the written word bearing on it. Still more evidently is this true of the body of Christ, which is a distinctively heavenly relationship to the glorified Head. It is a “strange doctrine” ("theology” we may leave) to say it was formed in our Lord's resurrection, though impossible without His resurrection and His cross. Eph. 4 does not teach so, as it is said; still less John 20, which does not even touch anything about the body as such. Christ set on high above all God gave to be Head over all things to the church; but the saints on earth were in fact united by the Holy Ghost sent down at Pentecost and not before (see 1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13)).
The old perversion of Rev. 2; 3 should be relegated to Rome and the fathers from whence it came. Impossible that God could sanction congregational independency in the Apocalypse against the truth of unity uniform elsewhere. In the introduction to a prophecy other objects were before the Spirit which have been thus misunderstood by not a few parties. As well might it be argued, as many do, from “the angels” there, to destroy the divine system of Christ's gifts, and even plurality of elders, by a bishop or a “minister.”
The railing of the close God will look to, if His children be indifferent. It is to be hoped that but few professors of the Lord's name on earth could descend so low in the blindness of ill-feeling. No man is infallible; but the translator thus recklessly assailed contributed to present the Scriptures in English, French, and German beyond any man that ever lived; and no wonder, as he had adequate power, commanding knowledge of all helps, and spiritual acumen unequaled. And when one adds to this, who the detractor is, and on what ground of assumed qualifications he takes his stand, it might provoke a smile, if it were not rather a call for tears.