Reformation Publishers
The New Testament Church
The New Testament Church
H. M. Riggle
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I AM writing this on my sixty-fifth birthday anniversary, having spent forty-four years in the active work of the ministry. I am presenting to the reading public my eighteenth book. The subject treated is today agitating the whole religious world. Among genuine Christian men and women everywhere there is a growing dissatisfaction with present conditions, and a decided trend toward a closer spiritual fellowship and Bible oneness. Leading men of God are discarding controversial and technical theological questions that have separated the people of God for centuries and retarded the great task of the church in its mission to evangelize the world. Many are rising above the narrow denominational walls that have held them apart, and the Spirit of God is effecting a warmer Christian love and a closer bond of union.
Observation and contact have fully convinced me that the spirit of reformation is working among genuine Christians everywhere. The outstanding question is: What is the true basis of oneness for ALL God’s people? What is the Bible standard of this unity? How can it be attained? In this book I have endeavored to answer clearly these questions. With a deep sense of gratitude to God I humbly acknowledge his presence and direction, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the preparation of this volume.
This book sets forth the Bible doctrines in a definite, uncompromising manner. But instead of presenting a theoretical, idealistic, picture-book, and blue-print church in outline, I have endeavored to present the truth in a reasonable, practical way, and to deal with the question down here on earth where we live and function. In this respect you will find the contents just a little different from any work that has been published on the subject.
At the time of D. S. Warner’s death, in 1895, he had been engaged in writing a book entitled, The Cleansing of the Sanctuary. His sudden departure left the work far from complete. Feeling the hand of the Lord upon me to complete the same, I added 340 pages to the 200 he had written. That work had a large sale and accomplished much good.
Later I wrote The Christian Church–Its Rise and Progress. This book was published in 1912 and has been on the market exactly twenty-five years. Copies will be found in every nation around the world. The entire edition being sold, I felt clearly led of the Lord to write the present work and bring it strictly up-to-date. This is not a mere revision of some former book, but as a whole, its matter is practically new. It is exactly what the title expresses. I am confident that it clearly and reasonably presents the New Testament church, spiritual and practical.
I humbly ask you to peruse its contents with unprejudiced mind, and may the gracious Lord lead us all into the clear light of his blessed and eternal truth.
Your servant and brother in Christ,
HERBERT MCCLELLAN RIGGLE
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