[Ohio]

Originally Posted by Evangelical

Until the reformers it was Orthodox and Catholic, both did not believe in salvation by faith alone, and still don't believe that. So I wonder who you are referring to, to fill that thousand year gap? Is it the obscure non-Catholic and non-Orthodox groups?

Witness Lee himself, especially during the early days in the USA, often spoke of Miller's Church History. Andrew Miller was a long-time associate of J.N. Darby, thus on our "approved" reading list back in the 70's.

The following quote, with highlights provided, was taken from Miller's Introduction. It is quite telling concerning his own burden to write, and the actual history of God's church. It is even quite prophetic of Lee's Recovery Version view of "Christianity," written at a time when the exclusives around him held similar views about the greater body of Christ.

Read this intro several times. It was not written carelessly. It says a lot to our current discussion.

The Mistakes Of Historians In General

Some historians, it is sorrowful to say, have not taken into account this sad mixture of evil vessels with the good — of true Christians and false. They have not themselves been spiritually minded men. Hence they have rather made it their chief object to record the many unchristian and wicked ways of mere professors. They have dwelt at great length, and with great minuteness, on the heresies that have troubled the church, on the abuses that have disgraced it, and on the controversies that have distracted it. Much rather would we endeavour to trace, all down through the long dark pages of history, the silver line of God's grace in true Christians; though at times the alloy so predominates that the pure ore is scarcely perceptible.

God has never left Himself without a witness. He has had His loved and cherished though hidden ones in all ages and in all places. No eye but His could see the seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed the knee to the image of Baal, in the days of Ahab and Jezebel. And tens of thousands, we doubt not, even from the darkest ages of Christianity, will be found at last in the "glorious church," which Christ will present to Himself, on the long-looked-for day of His nuptial joy. Many precious stones from the rubbish of the "middle ages" will reflect His grace and glory on that crowning day. Blessed thought! even now it fills the soul with ecstasy and delight. Lord, hasten that happy day for Thine own name's sake!

The truly godly are instinctively humble. They are generally retiring, and for the most part but little known. There is no humility so deep and real as that which the knowledge of grace produces. Such lowly and hidden ones find but a small place on the historic page. But the insinuating or zealous heretic, and the noisy or visionary fanatic, are too clamorous to escape notice. Hence it is that the historian has so carefully recorded the foolish principles and the evil practices of such men.