The Complete Works of John M. Mason (Volume 1 ) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1852 Excerpt: ... PART I. The Scriptural Doctrine. Strange as it may appear, it is nevertheless true, that men who have the Bible in their hands as their only rule of faith and practice, appeal immediately to its testimony, for their justification, but very rarely for their information. They take for granted that their peculiarities are right, and that the only use of the scripture is to prove them. Much is gained when, instead of putting their language into the mouth of the book of God, the book of God is allowed to sit in judgment upon themselves, and to pronounce its own verdict. This is that course of truth which, however feebly, we shall endeavor to follow. So that our leading inquiry contemplates the direct doctrine of the scripture concerning Christian fellowship. We must go to first principles: There is no point more fully settled in the scriptures, than this, that The Church of God is One. It were endless to collect all the proofs. Let one suffice. Paul, or rather the Holy Ghost, who spake by his mouth and wrote with his pen, has thus represented it. As the body is One, and hath many members; and all the members of that one body, being Many, are One Body; so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we All baptized into One body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been All made to drink into One Spirit. For the Body is not One member, but Many. This analogy between man's natural body and the spiritual body of Christ, which he elsewhere declares to be the church, Paul presses at great length, and with unusual minuteness. He does it, as any one who shall seriously peruse the context may see, with the design of reproving, and, if possible, destroying that vain-glorious temper which had infected the Corinthian converts; each one arrogating ...