First Quarter, Lesson IX, February 29, 1896, p. 33:
"When the early church departed from God and imbibed pagan errors, she became Babylon.
When she united with the state, she fell, and, as an organization,
was the body of Christ no
longer. While the Reformation churches held fast to the word,
Christ was with them. Then
they crystallized their various errors into creeds and endeavored thus to confine God's word,
they made themselves daughters of Babylon. When
some of them united with the state, they
fell, and God had to use other people, called out of Babylon
to carry forward His work. Now [in 1896]
among these very churches which came out of the second Babylon,
confusion reigns; and now [in 1896]
great Babylon, including later daughters, is
in adulterous union with the kings of earth
, and is endeavoring to make that union stronger. God calls no church Babylon which holds to His
word, and follows the light that shines from it, even though there are in its membership many
who do not know Christ When the controlling influence of a church is downward,
it erects
some other standard [27 Fundamental Doctrines/
Trademark Name] besides
God's word."
All emphases of font color, bold, and brackets supplied at this site.
First Quarter, Lesson X, March 7, 1896, pp. 35, 36:
"It has ever been true that a backslidden body,
one that has turned from God's word to men,
from God's power to the state, was never reformed in itself.
Invariably God's message has
called out those from the fallen church who would do His will and
preach His gospel. Israel
went down to Egypt for help, and their captivity and loss of power followed. Out of the
captives God gathered a faithful band to do His work. The Jewish church failed, and God
called out the apostolic church to do His bidding. The Roman Church failed, and out of it
God called the churches of the Reformation. Some of these churches failed to advance, and
God called out others to bear His gospel to the world such as the Baptist, Methodist,
Congregationalist, Disciple, Adventists.
His last 'called-out' people will know no standard but
His word, no power but His Spirit."
All emphases of font color, and bold supplied at this site.
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