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art 'clothed in purple and fine linen；' and farest 'sumptuously
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every day；' no doubt many will applaud thy elegance of taste； thy generosity
and hospitality。 But do not buy their applause so dear。 Rather be content
with the honor that cometh from God。〃Wesley； Works； Sermon 50； 〃The Use of
Money。〃 But in many churches of our time such teaching is disregarded。
A profession of religion has become popular with the world。 Rulers；
politicians； lawyers； doctors； merchants； join the church as a means of
securing the respect and confidence of society； and advancing their own
worldly interests。 Thus they seek to cover all their unrighteous
transactions under a profession of Christianity。 The various religious
bodies； re…enforced by the wealth and influence of these baptized
worldlings； make a still higher bid for popularity and patronage。 Splendid
churches； embellished in the most extravagant manner； are erected on popular
avenues。 The worshipers array themselves in costly and fashionable attire。 A
high salary is paid for a talented minister to entertain and attract the
people。 His sermons must not touch popular sins； but be made smooth and
pleasing for fashionable ears。 Thus fashionable sinners are enrolled on the
church records； and fashionable sins are concealed under a pretense of
godliness。
Commenting on the present attitude of professed Christians toward the world；
a leading secular journal says： 〃Insensibly the church has yielded to the
spirit of the age； and adapted its forms of worship to modern wants。〃 〃All
things； indeed； that help to make religion attractive； the church now
employs as its instruments。〃 And a writer in the New York Independent speaks
thus concerning Methodism as it is： 〃The line of separation between the
godly and the irreligious fades out into a kind of penumbra； and zealous men
on both sides are toiling to obliterate all difference between their modes
of action and enjoyment。〃 〃The popularity of religion tends vastly to
increase the number of those who would secure its benefits without squarely
meeting its duties。〃
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Says Howard Crosby： 〃It is a matter of deep concern that we find Christ's
church so little fulfilling the designs of its Lord。 Just as the ancient
Jews let a familiar intercourse with the idolatrous nations steal away their
hearts from God； 。 。 。 so the church of Jesus now is； by its false
partnerships with an unbelieving world； giving up the divine methods of its
true life； and yielding itself to the pernicious； though often plausible；
habits of a Christless society； using the arguments and reaching the
conclusions which are foreign to the revelation of God； and directly
antagonistic to all growth in grace。〃The Healthy Christian： An Appeal to
the Church； pages 141； 142。
In this tide of worldliness and pleasure seeking； self…denial and
self…sacrifice for Christ's sake are almost wholly lost。 〃Some of the men
and women now in active life in our churches were educated； when children；
to make sacrifices in order to be able to give or do something for Christ。〃
But 〃if funds are wanted now； 。 。 。 nobody must be called on to give。 Oh；
no！ have a fair； tableau； mock trial； antiquarian supper； or something to
eatanything to amuse the people。〃
Governor Washburn of Wisconsin in his annual message； January 9； 1873；
declared： 〃Some law seems to be required to break up the schools where
gamblers are made。 These are everywhere。 Even the church （unwittingly； no
doubt） is sometimes found doing the work of the devil。 Gift concerts； gift
enterprises and raffles； sometimes in aid of religious or charitable
objects； but often for less worthy purposes； lotteries； prize packages；
etc。； are all devices to obtain money without value received。 Nothing is so
demoralizing or intoxicating； particularly to the young； as the acquisition
of money or property without labor。 Respectable people engaging in these
change enterprises； and easing their consciences with the reflection that
the money is to go to a good object； it is not strange that the youth of the
state should so often fall into the habits which the excitement of games of
hazard is almost certain to engender。〃
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The spirit of worldly conformity in invading the churches throughout
Christendom。 Robert Atkins； in a sermon preached in London； draws a dark
picture of the spiritual declension that prevails in England： 〃The truly
righteous are diminished from the earth； and no man layeth it to heart。 The
professors of religion of the present day； in every church； are lovers of
the world； conformers to the world； lovers of creature comfort； and aspirers
after respectability。 They are called to suffer with Christ； but they shrink
from even reproach。。。。 Apostasy； apostasy； apostasy； is engraven on the very
front of every church； and did they know it； and did they feel it； there
might be hope； but； alas！ they cry； 'We are rich； and increased in goods；
and stand in need of nothing。'〃 Second Advent Library； tract No。 39。
The great sin charged against Babylon is that she 〃made all nations drink of
the wine of the wrath of her fornication。〃 This cup of intoxication which
she presents to the world represents the false doctrines that she has
accepted as the result of her unlawful connection with the great ones of the
earth。 Friendship with the world corrupts her faith； and in her turn she
exerts a corrupting influence upon the world by teaching doctrines which are
opposed to the plainest statements of Holy Writ。
Rome withheld the Bible from the people and required all men to accept her
teachings in its place。 It was the work of the Reformation to restore to men
the word of God； but is it not too true that in the churches of our time men
are taught to rest their faith upon their creed and the teachings of their
church rather than on the Scriptures？ Said Charles Beecher； speaking of the
Protestant churches： 〃They shrink from any rude word against creeds with the
same sensitiveness with which those holy fathers would have shrunk from a
rude word against the rising veneration of saints and martyrs which they
were fostering。 。 。 。 The Protestant evangelical denominations have so tied
up one another's hands； and their own； that； between them all； a man cannot
become a preacher at all； anywhere； without accepting some book besides the
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Bible。。。。 There is nothing imaginary in the statement that the creed power
is now beginning to prohibit the Bible as really as Rome did； though in a
subtler way。〃Sermon on 〃The Bible a Sufficient Creed；〃 delivered at Fort
Wayne； Indiana； Feb。 22； 1846。
When faithful teachers expound the word of God； there arise men of learning；
ministers professing to understand the Scriptures； who denounce sound
doctrine as heresy； and thus turn away inquirers after truth。 Were it not
that the world is hopelessly intoxicated with the wine of Babylon；
multitudes would be convicted and converted by the plain； cutting truths of
the word of God。 But religious faith appears so confused and discordant