To the Editor of the Times & Seasons

Sir,-As many of our very pious folks of the present day have rediculed [ridiculed] the idea of establishing a church by revelation, and loudly proclaimed against the principle, as being no longer needed, alleging that the canon of Scripture was full, and proving that God can never speak again to man without annihilating all pure religion from the face of the earth, but they have merly [merely] exposed their own folly, for it must be well known to every man, who has not spent all his time in herding his father's hogs, that the church had become corrupt and abominable, that their spurious systems were staggering and confusion prevailed among them. Well did the prophet exclaim-They are drunk, but not with wine! they stagger, but not with strong drink!

I purpose, by your permission, to show the gradual decline of truth and Godliness, and the rise and progress of anti-Christ, in a short sketch of the church, from the time of the apostles to the present time, showing the absolute necessity of the gospel being revealed from heaven again in the last days. It is very difficult, it is true, to come at any thing in the shape of church history, that can be relied on, as it has been mostly handed down to us by religious bigots, who have sacrificed truth for party purposes.-But by comparing all in our reach, we may then cast a line and come at something near the truth.

It would be needless for me to say any thing of the church in the days of the Lord, for no one will doubt but he established a perfect order-nothing superfluous, nor lacking ought.-And as soon as this system became changed or modified it was no longer the church of Jesus Christ, else he had not established a perfect order: for if it was perfect it could not be improved, if any thing taken from it it could not be perfect, and therefore could not accomplish the object intended.

Through the instrumentality of the apostles the gospel made rapid strides; till persecutions broke out on every hand. The first general persecution commenced in the year 64, by Nero, in which multitudes suffered the most cruel deaths that men, fitted out as demons, could invent. A second general persecution broke out about the year 74, under Domitian. Forty thousand christians were put to death, and the church almost extirpated, and John banished to the Isle of Patmos. Even at this early age the most abominable doctrines were propagated, which called forth the threat of the Almighty upon them, except they repented. And the church, in those days was divided into two parties, viz: the Docetæ and the Ebionites. The former denied the supreme divinity of Christ, and also that the Son of God had any proper humanity, and asserted that he died on the cross in appearance only. The latter asserted that Jesus Christ was a mere man, though of a most excellent character. They both denied atonement by his blood, and expected salvation by their own works. Among the former were the Nicolaitans, whom Christ mentioned to John with utter abhorrence. They had many disgusting peculiarities; allowed a community of wives, and indulged their sensual appetites without restraint. The Ebionites considered that salvation came by observing the law of Moses, and thus called forth Paul's strong appeal, whether salvation was of works, or of grace.

The history of the church from this time to the end of the fourth century, is one of gradual and deep declension, though vast numbers were added to them, and they passed through serious persecutions. In the second century Montanus made his appearance, who pretended that he was the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, whom Jesus promised to send. He had many followers in Asia and Africa, and added new precepts, requiring seclusion from the world. Numbers of rites and ceremonies were introduced into the church: and they began to modify their religion so as to please the Jews and heathens; and adopted forms and ceremonies from their religions, temples, altars, and days of fasting.-Peculiarities of dress, and splendid ceremonies were multiplied in abundance; and military rites and phrases were introduced into the church in this century.

In the third century Origen introduced a new mode of explaining the scriptures, (now known as the spiritualizing system) the mystical sense which he put on the word of God was wild and enthusiastic. He made a great division in the church, became very popular with philosophers and men of wild and visionary notions, and was honored by the courts. He introduced the practice of selecting a single text as the subject of a discourse. Though he suffered martyrdom, few men brought in more corruptions than Origen.

The church of Christ sustained its high and

holy character but a little period after the age of the apostles. It, however, was comparatively tolerable till after the middle of the third century; from which period scarcely a vestige of christianity could be found. Cyprian says, that even before the Decian persecution, "long peace had corrupted the discipline. Each had been bent on improving his patrimony, and had forgotten what believers had done under the apostles, and what they ought always to do.-They were brooding over the arts of amassing wealth. The pastors and deacons each forgot their duty. Works of mercy were neglected, and discipline was at its lowest ebb. Luxury and effeminacy prevailed. Meretricious arts in dress were cultivated. Fraud and deceit were practiced among brethren. Christians could unite themselves in matrimony with unbelievers; could swear, not only without reverence but without veracity. Even bishops deserted their places of residence and their flocks. They travelled [traveled] through distant provinces in quest of pleasure and gain, gave no assistance to the needy brethren at home, but were insatiable in their thirst for money. They possessed estates by fraud, and multiplied usury. What have we not deserved to suffer for such conduct?"-An awful persecution followed by Dioclesian, and his successor Maximin Galerius, insomuch [inasmuch] that during the reign of the former, medals were struck off with this inscription, "Nomine Christianorum Deleto." "The name of Christians being extinguished." When suddenly an unexpected and mighty arm was extended towards them in the person of Constantine, who publicly embraced Christianity. He abolished the ancient religion of the Romans, and established the sort of Christianity that then existed. The heathen gods were drawn by cords through the streets for public ridicule and contempt. Their priests were cast out, dispersed and banished. Immense and splendid temples were every where erected, and richly endowed, and the greatest honor put on the professors of christianity. But for all this Constantine was a cruel tyrant and a monstrous villian [villain]. The most of those who were exalted to places of power and trust were engaged in pompous rites and ceremonies, and knew little of the doctrines taught by Christ and his apostles. Their elevation to wealth and power was followed by an amazing increase of luxury and vice. Bishops contending with bishops run to sad extents of debauchery, and the whole mass of people were exceedingly corrupt. Shoals of profligate men, allured by gain or driven by fear pressed into the church, discipline ceased, and superstition reigned without control. The gentile converts to this christianity introduced a round of prayers and procession, by which they had been accustomed to appease their gods; hastily transferred the virtues which had been supposed to christian temples and christian ordinances.-These new converts were easily subjected to the most abominable impositions. Prodigies and miracles, therefore, without number were multiplied. The bones and relics of dead saints performed wonders. Dust and earth brought from Palestine was viewed as a certain and powerful remedy against the violence of wicked spirits; and before the close of the century, the great business of the priests was to impose in ten thousand ways, in the vilest manner, upon the credulity of the ignorant multitude.-Arius now made a great stir, denying the divinity of Christ, and drew vast numbers over to his opinions, and was assisted by Constantine, but suddenly died in the year 336; but his doctrines continued to spread far and wide.

In the sixth century the world was at ease; and superstition had made rapid strides. The ministers were excessively ignorant, and led away themselves by the strangest phantasies [fantasies], deluded and destroyed the people. Strange rites were performed; miracles without number believed, and the most superstitious services rendered to departed souls; images were worshipped. Tombs and grave yards were places to meet departed spirits in multitudes. The doctrine of purgatory had gained strong hold upon the minds of the people. Some starved themselves with a frantic obstinacy; and others erected high pillars and stood on them for years. Simeon, a Syrian, who was one of their leaders, spent thirty seven years of his life upon five pillars, with the idea of getting as near heaven as he could, attracting the admiration of a superstitious world.

The finest monastic order was instituted about the beginning of the fourth century, by a person of the name of Anthony, who sold his possessions and lived a life of the most rigid self-denial, in the wilderness, and such vast numbers followed his example, that if the wilderness was not glad for them, it literally abounded with them. His monastic ragulations [regulations] rapidly spread into Palestine and Syria, and were soon established throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some followed Anthony's instructions, and lived in monasteries, whilst others followed his example, and dwelt alone in the wildest parts of the wilderness.

In the seventh century, two immense powers, the Mohammedan and the Papal, arose, which laid the east and the west in desolation, and finally swallowed up every fragment of the church, if any was yet remaining, for Monachism

had prevailed for two centuries in all parts of the known earth. The monks had increased to an almost incredible number, and their whole business was to defraud and cheat the public. We are told that at the death of St. Martin, 2000 monks accompanied his remains to the grave.

In the thirteenth century, Gregory reduced the monks to four societies; but the Mendicants (established by Innocent III) were the most popular, insomuch [inasmuch], that we are informed it was very common for the laity to request in their last wills, that their bodies might be wrapped in the rags of some monk, and buried among the Mendicants.

Marsh says, in his Ecclesiastical History, "To give a full account of all the operations, corruptions, superstitions, frauds, and enormities of the monks; their bitter animosities and contentions, would require volumes. Their history sickens the heart. To see men under pretence [pretense] of great devotedness to God, leading the most loathsome, filthy lives, sometimes casting off all clothing, and going on all fours, like beasts * * * Their bodies covered with vermin; eating, of choice, the most nauceous [nauseous] food; wearing heavy chains; fastening grates upon their breasts, and backs; * * * flogging themselves with thorn sticks, and otherwise mutilating themselves, till they frequently expired; and these men commanding reverence and homage as the saints-holy ones. What can be more revolting and distressing to a rational mind? Is this the church which Christ redeemed to himself, and renewed by his spirit, that he might present it a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing? Oh no. But we will see worse things than these."

From the seventh century, the whole christian world was divided between the Pope and Mohammed, and vain has been the search to find out any branch of the church which had not fallen into one or the other of these heresies. It is true that ingenious men have endeavored to find a loop-hole, and prove a regular descent from the apostles; but the rent has only been made worse; for the only straw they had to catch at was the Albigenses or Waldenses; and I have never heard that any one could trace them further than the tenth century, when they were founded by Claudius but took the name of Waldenses from Peter Waldo, who joined them and became their leader in the year 1160; and greatly improved their discipline, and introduced a more rational system. But it is the easiest matter in the world to prove that they had become corrupt, for Wall says, there was division among them about the year 1150. One sect declared against the baptism of infants, but the main body rejected their opinions, and they were soon silenced.-The prophet has said, if any man thinks that infants need baptism, he is in the gall of bitterness. Besides, sir, I contend that had they been the church of Christ they would have needed no reform by Waldo, for it must have been a perfect system. And now I ask the question, Was there a pure church on the face of the earth, in the twelfth century? I answer, No. Then, sir, shall we begin to mend this old garment? Why, the rent will but be worse. Seeing that the fountain is corrupt, shall we begin to purify the stream? or shall we make good the tree first, before we look for good fruit? Job asks the question, Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? and then he gives the answer-No one.

Seeing that the church has been disorganized and altogether overcome, and the church of Rome (from whence they all sprang,) is acknowledged to be the mother of harlots, we might be able to find out her daughters without much trouble. I was a little amused some months since, by two discussionists, one of the church of Rome, and the other the church of England, when the latter told him that his church (the Romans) was the mother of harlots. It seemed to me something like a female coming home after having played the harlot, and branding her mother with her own infamy: it was too bad.

In the church, as established by Christ and his apostles, men received the Holy Ghost, which caused them to dream dreams, see visions, and prophecy; and they could not be carried about with every wind of doctrine; and the gift of the Holy Ghost was as essential to the church as breath to the body, for that alone was to lead them into all truth; and I contend that this blessing was lost in the very earliest ages; for that iniquity abounded in every branch of the church, I presume no one will have the hardihood to deny; and the Holy Ghost could not abide in the midst of sin and corruption. If this blessing was lost, (as it was) could any man who saw the need of it, take upon himself to restore it? surely not. Can any man, or all men, bring back or restore that which has been taken from the world? As well might they endeavor to cast a cord around Orion and drag him to the earth. Their arms are too feeble, till God himself shall arise, and again confer that power on man, and covenant that the Holy Ghost shall descend on whomsoever they lay their hands; and then, sir, we

shall again have dreams, and visions, and healings, and the blessings of the gospel, and our glad hearts shall dance for joy, though the world may say all manner of evil against us. This part of the subject makes the blood flow quickly through my veins, for I know that God has restored what man could not, namely, the holy priesthood, according to his word.

Your affectionate brother,

John Greenhow.