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Introduction
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that the Christian age—the light of which, compared with the former
dispensation, is as the light of the sun compared with the feeble rays
of the moon—should commence in glory and close in obscurity.
And since a special work of the spirit was necessary to prepare a
people for the first advent of Christ, how much more so for the
second; especially since the last days were to be perilous beyond
all precedent, and false prophets were to have power to show great
signs and wonders, insomuch that, if it were possible, they should
deceive the very elect. But to the scriptures of truth:
“And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs
shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and
if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay
hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Mark 16:15-18
.
Campbell’s translation says, “These miraculous powers shall
attend the believers.” The gifts were not confined to the apostles, but
extended to the believers. Who will have them? Those that believe.
How long? There is no limitation; the promise runs parallel with the
great commission to preach the gospel and reaches the last believer
.
But it is objected that this aid was promised only to the apostles
and to those who believed through their preaching; that they fulfilled
the commission, established the gospel, and that the gifts ceased
with that generation. Let us see if the great commission ended with
that generation.
Matthew 28:19, 20
. “Go ye therefore,
[135]
and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father,
and of the son, and of the holy ghost: teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world.”
That the preaching of the gospel under this commission did not
end with the Primitive Church is evident from the promise, “I am
with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” He does not say,
I am with you, apostles, everywhere, even to the ends of the earth;
but I am with you
Always
, to the end of the world, or age. It will not
do to say that the Jewish age is meant, for that had already ended
at the cross. I conclude, then, that the preaching and the belief of
the primitive gospel will always be attended with the same spiritual