Latest / Philosophy and Faith / 02 - Persecution in the First Centuries - The Great Controversy

Transcript

02 - Persecution in the First Centuries - The Great Controversy · Philosophy and Faith

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Chapter two Persecution in the first centuries, when Jesus revealed
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: to his disciples the fate of Jerusalem and the scenes
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: of the Second Advent. He foretold also the experience of
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: his people from the time when He should be taken
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: from them to his return in power and glory for
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: their deliverance from all of it. The Savior beheld the
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: storms about to fall upon the Apostolic Church and penetrating
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: deeper into the future. His eye deserned the fierce, wasting
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: tempests that were to beat upon his followers in the
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: coming ages of darkness and persecution. In a few brief
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: utterances of awful significance, he foretold the portion which the
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: rulers of this world would meet out to the Church
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: of God. The followers of Christ must tread the same
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: path of humiliation, reproach, and suffering which their master trod.
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: The enmity that burst forth against the world's redeemer would
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: be manifested against all who should believe on his name.
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: The history of the early Church, which testified to the
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: fulfillment of the Saviour's words. The powers of earth and
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: Hell arrayed themselves against Christ in the person of his followers, Paganism.
• 1:09
  Speaker 1: Foresaw that should the Gospel triumph, her temples and altars
• 1:12
  Speaker 1: would be swept away. Therefore she summoned her forces to
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: destroy Christianity. The fires of persecution were kindled. Christians were
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: stripped of their possessions and driven from their homes. They
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: endured a great fight of afflictions. They had trial of
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover, of bombs and imprisonment.
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: Great numbers sealed their testimony with their blood. Noble enslave,
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: rich and poor, learned and ignorant were alike slain without mercy.
• 1:42
  Speaker 1: These persecutions, beginning under Nero about the time of the
• 1:45
  Speaker 1: martyrdom of Paul, continued with greater or less fury for centuries.
• 1:50
  Speaker 1: Christians were falsely accused of the most dreadful crimes and
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: declared to be the cause of great calamities, famine, pestilence,
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: and earthquake. As they became the objects of popular hatred
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: and suspicion, informers stood ready for the sake of game
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: to betray the innocent. They were condemned as rebels against
• 2:09
  Speaker 1: the Empire, as foes of religion, and pests to society.
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: Great numbers were thrown to wild beasts or burned alive
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: in the amphitheaters. Some were crucified, others were covered with
• 2:21
  Speaker 1: the skins of wild animals and thrust into the arena
• 2:24
  Speaker 1: to be torn by dogs. Their punishment was often made
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: the chief entertainment. At public fetes, Vast multitudes assembled to
• 2:32
  Speaker 1: enjoy the sight and greeted their dying agonies with laughter
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: and applause. Wherever they sought refuge, the followers of Christ
• 2:40
  Speaker 1: were hunted like beasts of prey. They were forced to
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: seek concealment in desolate and solitary places. Destitute, afflicted, tormented
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: of whom the world was not worthy, they wandered in
• 2:53
  Speaker 1: deserts and in mountains, and in dens and caves of
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: the earth. The catacombs afforded shelter for thousands. Beneath the
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: hills outside the city of Rome, long galleries had been
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: tunneled through earth and rock. The dark and intricate network
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: of passages extended for miles beyond the city walls. In
• 3:11
  Speaker 1: these underground retreats, the followers of Christ buried their dead,
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: and here also, when suspected and proscribed, they found a home.
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: When the life Giver shall awaken those who have fought
• 3:22
  Speaker 1: the good fight. Many a martyr for Christ's sake will
• 3:25
  Speaker 1: come forth from those gloomy caverns. Under the fiercest persecution,
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: these witnesses for Jesus kept their faith unsullied, though deprived
• 3:35
  Speaker 1: of every comfort. Shut away from the light of the sun,
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: making their home in the dark but friendly bosom of
• 3:40
  Speaker 1: the earth, they uttered no complaint. With words of faith, patience,
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: and hope, they encouraged one another to endure privation and distress.
• 3:50
  Speaker 1: The loss of every earthly blessing could not force them
• 3:52
  Speaker 1: to renounce their belief in Christ. Trials and persecution were
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: but steps bringing them nearer their rest and their reward.
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: Like God's servants of old, many were tortured, not accepting deliverance,
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: that they might obtain a better resurrection. These called to
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: mind the words of their master that when persecuted for
• 4:11
  Speaker 1: Christ's sake, they were to be exceeding glad, for great
• 4:14
  Speaker 1: would be their reward in heaven. For so the prophets
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: had been persecuted before them. They rejoiced that they were
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: accounted worthy to suffer, for the truth and songs of
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: triumph ascended from the midst of crackling flames. Looking upward
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: by faith, they saw Christ and angels leaning over the
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: battlements of heaven, gazing upon them with the deepest interest,
• 4:36
  Speaker 1: and regarding their steadfastness with approval. A voice came down
• 4:40
  Speaker 1: to them from the throne of God. Be thou faithful
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: In vain were Satan's efforts to destroy the Church of
• 4:49
  Speaker 1: Christ by violence. The great controversy in which the disciples
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: of Jesus yielded up their lives did not cease. When
• 4:55
  Speaker 1: these faithful standard bearers fell at their post by defeat,
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: they conquered God's workmen were slain, but his work went
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: steadily forward. The gospel continued to spread, and the number
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: of its adherents to increase. It penetrated in two regions
• 5:10
  Speaker 1: that were inaccessible even to the Eagles of Rome, said
• 5:15
  Speaker 1: a Christian expostulating with the heathen rulers, who were urging
• 5:18
  Speaker 1: forward the persecution. You may kill us, torture us, condemn us.
• 5:23
  Speaker 1: Your injustice is the proof that we are innocent. Nor
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: does your cruelty avail you. It was but a stronger
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: invitation to bring others to their persuasion. The oftener we
• 5:33
  Speaker 1: are mown down by you, the more in number we grow.
• 5:36
  Speaker 1: The blood of Christians is seed. Thousands were imprisoned and slain,
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: but others sprung up to fill their places, and those
• 5:44
  Speaker 1: who were martyred for their faith were secured to Christ
• 5:46
  Speaker 1: and accounted of him as conquerors. They had fought the
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: good fight, and they were to receive the crown of
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: glory when Christ should come. The sufferings which they endured
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: brought Christians nearer to one another and to their redeemer.
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: Their living example and dying testimony were a constant witness
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: for the truth, and where least expected, the subjects of
• 6:06
  Speaker 1: Satan were leaving his service and enlisting under the banner
• 6:09
  Speaker 1: of Christ. Satan therefore laid his plans to war more
• 6:13
  Speaker 1: successfully against the government of God by planting his banner
• 6:17
  Speaker 1: in the Christian Church. If the followers of Christ could
• 6:20
  Speaker 1: be deceived and led to displease God, then their strength, fortitude,
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: and firmness would fail, and they would fall in easy pray.
• 6:28
  Speaker 1: The great adversary now endeavored to gain by artifice what
• 6:31
  Speaker 1: he had failed to secure by force. Persecution ceased, and
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: in its stead were substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: prosperity and worldly honor. Idolators were led to receive a
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: part of the Christian faith while they rejected other essential truths.
• 6:47
  Speaker 1: They professed to accept Jesus as the son of God
• 6:50
  Speaker 1: and to believe in his death and resurrection, but they
• 6:53
  Speaker 1: had no conviction of sin and felt no need of
• 6:56
  Speaker 1: repentance or of a change of heart with some concessions
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: on their part. They proposed that Christians should make concessions
• 7:04
  Speaker 1: that all might unite on the platform of belief in Christ.
• 7:08
  Speaker 1: Now the Church was in fearful peril. Prison, torture, fire,
• 7:12
  Speaker 1: and sword were blessings in comparison with this. Some of
• 7:15
  Speaker 1: the Christians stood firm, declaring that they could make no compromise.
• 7:20
  Speaker 1: Others were in favor of yielding or modifying some features
• 7:23
  Speaker 1: of their faith and uniting with those who had accepted
• 7:26
  Speaker 1: a part of Christianity, urging that this might be the
• 7:29
  Speaker 1: means of their full conversion. That was the time of
• 7:33
  Speaker 1: deep anguish to the faithful followers of Christ. Under a
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: cloak of pretended Christianity, Satan was insinuating himself into the
• 7:41
  Speaker 1: church to corrupt their faith. And turn their minds from
• 7:45
  Speaker 1: the Word of Truth. Most of the Christians at last
• 7:48
  Speaker 1: consented to lower their standard, and a union was formed
• 7:51
  Speaker 1: between Christianity and Paganism. Although the worshippers of idols professed
• 7:56
  Speaker 1: to be converted and united with the Church, they still
• 8:00
  Speaker 1: clung to their idolatry, only changing the objects of their
• 8:03
  Speaker 1: worship to images of Jesus and even of Mary and
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: the Saints. The foul leaven of idolatry, thus brought into
• 8:10
  Speaker 1: the Church continued its baleful work. Unsound doctrines, superstitious rites,
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: and idolatrious ceremonies were incorporated into her faith and worship.
• 8:21
  Speaker 1: As the followers of Christ united with idolators, the Christian
• 8:24
  Speaker 1: religion became corrupted and the Church lost her purity and power.
• 8:29
  Speaker 1: There were some, however, who were not misled by these delusions.
• 8:33
  Speaker 1: They still maintained their fidelity to the author of Truth
• 8:36
  Speaker 1: and worshiped God alone. There have ever been two classes
• 8:40
  Speaker 1: among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: one class study the Saviour's life and earnestly seek to
• 8:48
  Speaker 1: correct their defects and conform to the pattern, the other
• 8:51
  Speaker 1: class shunned the plain, practical truths which exposed their errors.
• 8:55
  Speaker 1: Even in her best estate, the church was not composed
• 8:58
  Speaker 1: wholly of the true, pure and sincere our Savior taught
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: that those who wilfully indulge in sin are not to
• 9:05
  Speaker 1: be received into the Church. Yet he connected with himself
• 9:08
  Speaker 1: men who were faulty in character, and granted them the
• 9:11
  Speaker 1: benefits of his teachings and example, that they might have
• 9:15
  Speaker 1: an opportunity to see their errors and correct them. Among
• 9:18
  Speaker 1: the twelve Apostles was a traitor. Judas was accepted not
• 9:23
  Speaker 1: because of his defects of character, but notwithstanding them. He
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: was connected with the disciples, that through the instruction and
• 9:30
  Speaker 1: example of Christ, he might learn what constitutes Christian character,
• 9:34
  Speaker 1: and thus be led to see his errors, to repent, and,
• 9:37
  Speaker 1: by the aid of divine grace, to purify his soul
• 9:41
  Speaker 1: in obeying the truth. But Judas did not walk in
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: the light so graciously permitted to shine upon him. By
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: indulgence of sin, he invited the temptations of Satan. His
• 9:51
  Speaker 1: evil traits of character became predominant. He yielded his mind
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: to the control of the powers of darkness. He became
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: angry with when his faults were reproved, and thus he
• 10:02
  Speaker 1: was led to commit the fearful crime of betraying his master.
• 10:06
  Speaker 1: So do all who cherish evil under a profession of
• 10:09
  Speaker 1: godliness hate those who disturb their peace by condemning their
• 10:12
  Speaker 1: course of sin. When a favorable opportunity is presented, they will,
• 10:17
  Speaker 1: like Judas, betray those who, for their good have sought
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: to reprove them. The Apostles encountered those in the Church
• 10:23
  Speaker 1: who professed godliness while they were secretly cherishing iniquity. Anonaeus
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: and Sapphira acted the part of deceivers, pretending to make
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: an entire sacrifice for God when they were covetously withholding
• 10:36
  Speaker 1: a portion for themselves. The Spirit of Truth revealed to
• 10:39
  Speaker 1: the Apostles the real character of these pretenders, and the
• 10:43
  Speaker 1: judgments of God rid the Church of this foul blot
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: upon its purity. This signal evidence of the discerning spirit
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: of Christ in the Church was a terror to hypocrites
• 10:53
  Speaker 1: and evil doers. They could not long remain in connection
• 10:56
  Speaker 1: with those who were in habit and disposition constant repas
• 11:00
  Speaker 1: presentatives of Christ, and as trials and persecution came upon
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: his followers. Those only who were willing to forsake all
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: for the truth's sake, desired to become his disciples. Thus,
• 11:11
  Speaker 1: as long as persecution continued, the church remained comparatively pure.
• 11:16
  Speaker 1: But as it ceased, converts were added who were less
• 11:19
  Speaker 1: sincere and devoted, and the way was opened for Satan
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: to obtain a foothold. But there is no union between
• 11:26
  Speaker 1: the Prince of Light and the Prince of darkness, and
• 11:29
  Speaker 1: there can be no union between their followers. When Christians
• 11:33
  Speaker 1: consented to unite with those who were but half converted
• 11:36
  Speaker 1: from paganism, they entered upon a path which led farther
• 11:39
  Speaker 1: and farther from the Truth. Satan exalted that he had
• 11:43
  Speaker 1: succeeded in deceiving so large a number of the followers
• 11:46
  Speaker 1: of Christ. He then brought his power to bear more
• 11:49
  Speaker 1: fully upon these, and inspired them to persecute those who
• 11:53
  Speaker 1: remained true to God. None understood so well how to
• 11:57
  Speaker 1: oppose the true Christian faith, as did those who had
• 12:00
  Speaker 1: once been its defenders. And these apostate Christians, uniting with
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: their half pagan companions, directed their warfare against the most
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: essential features of the doctrines of Christ. It required a
• 12:13
  Speaker 1: desperate struggle for those who would be faithful to stand
• 12:16
  Speaker 1: firm against the deceptions and abominations which were disguised in
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: sacerdotal garments and introduced into the church. The Bible was
• 12:23
  Speaker 1: not accepted as the standard of faith. The doctrine of
• 12:26
  Speaker 1: religious freedom was termed heresy, and its upholders were hated
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: and prescribed. After a long and severe conflict, a faithful
• 12:35
  Speaker 1: view decided to dissolve all union with the apostate Church
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry.
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they
• 12:46
  Speaker 1: would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate
• 12:49
  Speaker 1: errors fatal to their own souls and set an example
• 12:52
  Speaker 1: which would imperil the faith of their children and children's children.
• 12:56
  Speaker 1: To secure peace and unity, they were ready to make
• 12:59
  Speaker 1: any concession consistent with fidelity to God. But they felt
• 13:03
  Speaker 1: that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the
• 13:05
  Speaker 1: sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be
• 13:12
  Speaker 1: difference and even war. Well would it be for the
• 13:16
  Speaker 1: Church and the world if the principles that actuated those
• 13:19
  Speaker 1: steadfast souls were revived in the hearts of God's professed people.
• 13:24
  Speaker 1: There is an alarming indifference in regard to the doctrines
• 13:27
  Speaker 1: which are the pillars of the Christian faith. The opinion
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: is gaining ground that, after all, these are not of
• 13:33
  Speaker 1: vital importance. This degeneracy is strengthening the hands of the
• 13:37
  Speaker 1: agents of Satan, so that false theories and fatal delusions,
• 13:41
  Speaker 1: which the faithful in ages past imperiled their lives to
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: resist and expose, are now regarded with favor by thousands
• 13:48
  Speaker 1: who claim to be followers of Christ. The early Christians
• 13:52
  Speaker 1: were indeed a peculiar people. Their blameless deportment and unswerving
• 13:56
  Speaker 1: faith were a continual reproof that disturbed the sinner's peace.
• 14:00
  Speaker 1: Though few in numbers, without wealth, position, or honorary titles,
• 14:05
  Speaker 1: they were a terror to evil doers wherever their character
• 14:08
  Speaker 1: and doctrines were known. Therefore they were hated by the wicked,
• 14:12
  Speaker 1: even as Abel was hated by the ungodly king. For
• 14:16
  Speaker 1: the same reason that King slew Abel did those who
• 14:19
  Speaker 1: sought to throw off the restraint of the Holy Spirit
• 14:21
  Speaker 1: put to death God's people. It was for the same
• 14:24
  Speaker 1: reason that the Jews rejected and crucified the Savior, because
• 14:28
  Speaker 1: the purity and holiness of his character was a constant
• 14:31
  Speaker 1: rebuke to their selfishness and corruption. From the days of
• 14:35
  Speaker 1: Christ until now, his faithful disciples have excited the hatred
• 14:39
  Speaker 1: and opposition of those who love and follow the ways
• 14:42
  Speaker 1: of sin. How then, can the Gospel be called a
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: message of peace. When Isaiah foretold the birth of the Messiah,
• 14:49
  Speaker 1: he ascribed to him the title Prince of Peace. When
• 14:53
  Speaker 1: angels announced to the shepherds that Christ was born, they
• 14:56
  Speaker 1: sung above the plains of Bethlehem, Glory to God in
• 14:59
  Speaker 1: the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.
• 15:03
  Speaker 1: There is a seeming contradiction between these prophetic declarations and
• 15:06
  Speaker 1: the words of Christ. I came not to send peace
• 15:09
  Speaker 1: but a sword, but rightly understood that two are in
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: perfect harmony. The Gospel is a message of peace. Christianity
• 15:17
  Speaker 1: is a system which received and obeyed, would spread peace, harmony,
• 15:21
  Speaker 1: and happiness throughout the earth. The religion of Christ will
• 15:25
  Speaker 1: unite in close brotherhood all who accept its teachings. It
• 15:29
  Speaker 1: was the mission of Jesus to reconcile men to God
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: and thus to one another. But the world at large
• 15:35
  Speaker 1: are under the control of Satan, Christ's bitterest foe. The
• 15:39
  Speaker 1: Gospel presents to them principles of life which are wholly
• 15:42
  Speaker 1: at variance with their habits and desires, and they rise
• 15:45
  Speaker 1: in rebellion against it. They hate the purity which reveals
• 15:49
  Speaker 1: and condemns their sins, and they persecute and destroy those
• 15:52
  Speaker 1: who would urge upon them its just and holy claims.
• 15:56
  Speaker 1: It is in this sense, because the exalted truths it
• 15:59
  Speaker 1: brings occasion, hate and strife, that the Gospel is called
• 16:02
  Speaker 1: a sword. The mysterious providence, which permits the righteous to
• 16:06
  Speaker 1: suffer persecution at the hand of the wicked, has been
• 16:09
  Speaker 1: a cause of great perplexity to many who are weak
• 16:12
  Speaker 1: in faith. Some are even ready to cast away their
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: confidence in God, because he suffers the basest of men
• 16:18
  Speaker 1: to prosper, while the best and purest are afflicted and
• 16:22
  Speaker 1: tormented by their cruel power. How it is asked, can
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: one who is just and merciful, and who is also
• 16:28
  Speaker 1: infinite in power tolerate such injustice and oppression. This is
• 16:33
  Speaker 1: a question with which we have nothing to do. God
• 16:37
  Speaker 1: has given us sufficient evidence of his love, and we
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: are not to doubt his goodness because we cannot understand
• 16:43
  Speaker 1: the workings of His providence. Set the savior to his disciples,
• 16:47
  Speaker 1: foreseeing the doubts that would press upon their souls in
• 16:50
  Speaker 1: days of trial and darkness, Remember the word that I
• 16:53
  Speaker 1: said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord.
• 16:57
  Speaker 1: If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: Jesus suffered for us more than any of his followers
• 17:05
  Speaker 1: can be made to suffer through the cruelty of wicked men.
• 17:09
  Speaker 1: Those who are called to endure torture and martyrdom are
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: but following in the steps of God's dear son. The
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: Lord is not slack concerning his promise. He does not
• 17:18
  Speaker 1: forget or neglect his children. But he permits the wicked
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: to reveal their true character, that none who desire to
• 17:25
  Speaker 1: do his will may be deceived. Concerning them again, the
• 17:29
  Speaker 1: righteous are placed in the furnace of affliction, that they
• 17:31
  Speaker 1: themselves may be purified, that their example may convince others
• 17:35
  Speaker 1: of the reality of faith and godliness, and also that
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: their consistent course may condemn the ungodly and unbelieving. God
• 17:44
  Speaker 1: permits the wicked to prosper and to reveal their enmity
• 17:47
  Speaker 1: against Him, that when they shall have filled up the
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: measure of their iniquity, all may see His justice and
• 17:53
  Speaker 1: mercy in their utter destruction. The day of His vengeance hastens,
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: when all who have transgressed His law and pressed his
• 18:00
  Speaker 1: people will meet the just recompense of their deeds, when
• 18:04
  Speaker 1: every act of cruelty or injustice toward God's faithful ones
• 18:08
  Speaker 1: will be punished as though done to Christ himself. There
• 18:11
  Speaker 1: is another and more important question that should engage the
• 18:14
  Speaker 1: attention of the churches of today. The apostle Paul declares
• 18:18
  Speaker 1: that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
• 18:21
  Speaker 1: suffer persecution. Why is it then that persecution seems in
• 18:25
  Speaker 1: a great degree to slumber. The only reason is that
• 18:29
  Speaker 1: the Church has conformed to the world's standard and therefore
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: awakens no opposition. The religion which is current in our
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: day is not of the pure and holy character that
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and
• 18:40
  Speaker 1: his apostles. It is only because of the spirit of
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: compromise with sin, because the great truths of the Word
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so
• 18:51
  Speaker 1: little vital godliness in the Church, that Christianity is apparently
• 18:55
  Speaker 1: so popular with the world. Let there be a revival
• 18:58
  Speaker 1: of the faith and power of the early Church, and
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: of persecution will be rekindled. End of Chapter two