The church of Christ hath, in all ages, been persecuted and divided by heresies. Indeed, the apostle Paul saith, that "there must be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." (1 Corinthians 11:19) Our Lord himself speaks of the Nicolaitanes, Revelation 2:15. The Scriptures do not tell us in what their heresy consisted, but evidently in a departure from the truth, and probably in practices unsuitable to the purity of the gospel of Christ. But the last days' dispensation, we are told, will be distinguished by great departures from the faith; and, we may truly say, already do they appear. (1 Timothy 4:1, etc.)