Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/275

 claims to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, etc., they held to this honor which the kings of earth had come to attach to Christianity. And thus the Reformers fell into the same error, and exercised the authority of rnonarchs in appoint- ing and sanctioning governments and kings, and denomi- nating such "Christian kingdoms, 1 ' or kingdoms of Christ. So we hear much to-day of that strange enigma, t( 27te Christian World" ~ an enigma indeed, when viewed in the light of the true principles of the Gospel. Our Lord said of his disciples, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world," And Paul exhorts us, saying, "Be not conformed to 'this world." -John 17:16; Rom. 12:2,

God never approved of calling these kingdoms by the name of Christ. Deceived by the Church nominal, these nations are sailing under false colors, claiming to be what they are not. Their only title, aside from the vote of the people, is in God's limited grant, spoken to Nebuchadnez- zar until he come whose right the dominion is.'

The claim that these imperfe<5l kingdoms, with their im- perfect laws and often selfish and vicious rulers, are the "kingdoms of our Lord and his Anointed " is a gross libel upon the true Kingdom of Christ, before which they must shortly fall, and upon its "Prince of Peace" and righteous rulers* Jsa. 33: i-

Another serious injury resulting from that error is that the attention of the children of God has thereby been attra<Sled away from the promised heavenly kingdom; and they have been led to an improper recognition of and intimacy with earthly kingdoms, and; to almost fruitless attempts to en- graft upon these wild, worldly stocks the graces and morals Of Christianity, to the megle& of the gospel concerning the true Kingdom and the hopes centering in it. - Under this deception, some are at present very solicitous that the ncwae of God should be incorporated into the Constitution

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