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THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCHES.

THE

COLLECTED WORKS

OF

THE VERY REV. DEAN M'NEILE, D.D.

IN FOUR VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCHES;

OR,

THE CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST, AND THE

CHURCHES OF CHRIST MILITANT

HERE ON EARTH.

"Scripturarum ignorantia omnis mali fons et origo est: nobis enim salus
Christus est; salutis via Fides; viæ dux Scriptura."

LONDON:

THE CHRISTIAN BOOK SOCIETY,
11, ADAM STREET, ADELPHI, W.C.

1877.

1242. e. 80

Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Printers, London & Aylesbury.

PREFACE.

PAINFUL as the necessity is, it seems now to be impossible to deny that the necessity exists for Christian controversy. If miracles may not be expected, and if therefore means must be used for the preservation of Christian truth in the world, it is plain that the prolific ingenuity of the advocates of error must be patiently and perseveringly resisted.

There is nothing new in this state of things except in degree. Since the beginning of the world controversy has been an inevitable condition of the preservation of truth. The sacred writings are eminently controversial.

The prophets of Baal who patronised idolatry, and the false prophets of Israel who said, "Peace, peace, when there was no true peace, daubing the wall with untempered mortar," compelled the faithful witnesses for Jehovah to engage in controversy.

A similar necessity was laid upon the great Prophet, "the faithful and true witness," by the Sadducees who denied the resurrection, and the Pharisees who "made void the commandments of God through their traditions."

And in like manner the apostles were compelled to become controversialists, by the various false teachers, who, even then, intruded into, disturbed, and divided the infant Christian Churches. "The noble army of martyrs," both primitive and Protestant, were controversialists.

We must not complain of the inheritance of our fathers,

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