he darkness?
"The darkness is past." Do we need them to give us light? "The true light
now shineth." Do we need them to give us more truth? Jesus said of the
Spirit: "He shall guide you into all truth." The Roman Catholic priest, in
his discussion with Mr. Chillingworth, planted himself upon this promise,
made by the Savior to his apostles, as the proof of the claim of Romanists
to the attribute of infallibility. Said he: "If the attribute of
infallibility is not in the possession of the church, the promise of the
Savior has failed." To this Mr. Chillingworth replied: "It would be well
for us to determine who is meant by the pronoun '_you_,' found in the
language, before we put up the high claim to infallibility." The promise
was fulfilled to a jot, and we have the "all truth" in the teachings of
the apostles. Let those who extend that promise to themselves meet the
Catholics' argument upon it and save themselves if they can. We now enjoy
the Spirit of God through faith along with all the beneficial, practical
and comforting and redeeming results of the baptism of the apostles and
first Christians in the Holy Spirit. What more do we need? Faith lays hold
upon Christ; upon the Holy Spirit; and upon God. The just live by faith,
and drink of the rivers that flow from the great fountain of the Holy
Spirit, which was created in the hearts of the apostles and New Testament
teachers. The effects of their baptism in the Spirit are ours through
faith. And all the world may have them through faith. They are free to
all. The government of God is now set up. Order and law reigns throughout.
Jesus said, "So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into
the ground, and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should
spring and grow up, he knoweth not how, for the earth bringeth forth fruit
of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the
ear." The kingdom of God now bringeth forth fruit of herself, the good
seed, the word of God, having been cast into it. Its glorious blessings
are open to all men. The prophet says: "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come
ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come, ye, buy, and eat; yea,
come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye
spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which
satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good,
and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline