and whose sacrificial death upon the cross was so wonderful, though dead, still lives and reigns in this world-a monarch more influential than any other, or all other sovereigns upon the globe. His empire has advanced majestically, with ever-increasing power, down the path of eighteen centuries.

"The Cæsars have perished, and their palaces are in ruins. The empire of Charlemagne has risen, like one of those gorgeous clouds we often admire, brilliant with the radiance of the setting sun; and like that cloud, it has vanished forever. Charles V has marshaled the armies of Europe around his throne, and has almost rivaled the Cæsars in the majesty of his sway; and, like a dream, the vision of his universal empire has fled. But the kingdom of Jesus has survived all these wrecks of empires. Without a palace or a court; without a bayonet or a saber; without any emoluments of rank or wealth or power offered by Jesus to his subjects, his kingdom has advanced steadily, resistlessly, increasing in strength every hour, crushing all opposition, triumphing over all time's changes; so that, at the present moment, the kingdom of Jesus is a stronger kingdom,

more potent in all the elements of influence over the human heart, than all other governments of earth.

"There is not a man upon this globe who would now lay down his life from love for any one of the numerous monarchs of Rome; but there are thousands who would go joyfully to the dungeon or the stake from love for that Jesus who commenced his earthly career in the manger of a country inn, whose whole life was but a scene of poverty and suffering, and who finally perished upon the cross in the endurance of a cruel death with malefactors.

"As this child, from the period of whose birth time itself is now dated, was passing through the season of infancy and childhood, naval fleets swept the Mediterranean Sea, and Roman legions trampled bloodily over subjugated provin

ces.

There were conflagrations of cities, ravages of fields, fierce battles, slaughter, misery, and death. Nearly all these events are now forgotten; but the name of Jesus of Nazareth grows more lustrous as the ages roll on."Abbott's History of Christianity.

The Government of the Church.

The government of the church of God is a theocracy. God himself works "all in all" the members. It will be remembered that this was God's plan under the legal dispensation. He said to Israel, "I am your King," and it was his design to be the supreme king and governor of his people in that dispensation. But the Israelites rebelled and took the government out of his hands and set over them earthly kings and rulers. It was prophesied that in this dispensation of divine grace the God of heaven would set up an everlasting kingdom, and in that kingdom he reigns supreme, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is declared to be the King of saints.

As he is king and head over all things to the church, the government necessarily rests upon his shoulders. Accordingly, we read, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his govern

ment and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever." Isa. 9:6, 7. Here it will be seen that the new-testament church has government, but that Christ himself is the governor of his people. "The government shall be upon his shoulder." He is the chief shepherd, the ruler, the head, "that in all things he might have the preeminence."

As governor and head of his church, he has given us a perfect law. That law is the truth, the gospel. The church of God is a divine institution; hence the divine law which the Lord has given is sufficient for its government. So there is no excuse for the modern creeds of men. Modern sects are of human origin and hence need human, or man-made, rules or discipline. But had the church of God needed more than the New Testament, the allwise Lawgiver would certainly have given us more. Modern creeds and disciplines being the products of men who are fallible, they are very imperfect and need revision. So from time to time, sectarians meet in conference, synod, or presbytery, and change and revise their articles of faith to suit the

times. But the divine law which governs the true church of God being perfect, it needs no revision. It remains forever the same. So in discarding all the creeds of men and accepting, teaching, and practising the whole truth contained in the gospel of Christ, we have the same perfect rule of faith, the same government and discipline, that was enjoined upon the primitive Christians. This is government divine.

The Lord by his Spirit calls and qualifies certain ones for the work of the ministry. These he places in authority in his church, and they execute his law. In this sense "governments" are placed within the church (1 Cor. 12:28). But those who feel this responsibility and labor in such capacity labor under the direction and guidance of the Chief Shepherd, the Chief Governor of his people. God's ministers are only under-shepherds, and what government is administered, and whatever law is enforced by them, is simply by the direction of him upon whom the real government of the church rests and who works "all in all" the members.