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Popery condemned by scripture and the fathers - End Time Deception

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SCRIPTURE AND THE FATHERS.<br />

l7^<br />

" pose a great majority of <strong>the</strong> people, to try<br />

*'<br />

strange doctriivj <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> rule of <strong>the</strong> Scriptures<br />

""<br />

which <strong>the</strong>y don't underst<strong>and</strong>, St. John gives<br />

*•<br />

<strong>the</strong>m this very simple rule : We are of God^<br />

" he who knoweih God heareth us :— he who is<br />

''<br />

not of God heareth us not:— <strong>by</strong> this we know<br />

''<br />

<strong>the</strong> spirit of truth <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> spirit of error.^^ Did<br />

it not occur to <strong>the</strong> R., that this very simple rule<br />

of St. John is a rule of <strong>the</strong> <strong>scripture</strong>s, which <strong>the</strong><br />

unlearned, he says, do not underst<strong>and</strong>.<br />

But though St. John, in <strong>the</strong>se words, had actually<br />

enjoined implicit obedience to himself <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r apostles of Christ, it is not consequently<br />

due to <strong>the</strong> Church of Rome. The former<br />

were under <strong>the</strong> immediate direction of <strong>the</strong> Spirit<br />

of God ;<br />

but <strong>the</strong> R. has not yet proven <strong>the</strong> latter<br />

infallible. This apostle, however, teaches no<br />

such doctrine. Instead of referring <strong>the</strong> members<br />

of <strong>the</strong> Church to <strong>the</strong>ir teachers implicitly,<br />

he turns <strong>the</strong>ir attention to <strong>the</strong> doctrine of <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>scripture</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> tells <strong>the</strong>m to exercise <strong>the</strong>ir judgement,<br />

<strong>by</strong> bringing <strong>the</strong> instructions of <strong>the</strong> clergy<br />

to this test ;<br />

as <strong>the</strong> R. may see <strong>by</strong> observing his<br />

language :<br />

" Beloved, believe not every spirit,<br />

" but try <strong>the</strong> spirits whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y are of God ;<br />

*'<br />

because many false prophets are gone out into<br />

'*<br />

<strong>the</strong> world. Here<strong>by</strong> know ye <strong>the</strong> Spirit of<br />

*'<br />

God : every spirit that confesseth that Jesus<br />

*•<br />

Christ is come in <strong>the</strong> flesh is of Cod ; And<br />

" every

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