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About Christian herald. (Portland ;) 1882-18?? | View Entire Issue (June 22, 1883)
CHRISTIAN' HERALD. _________________________ ■________________ 7- ; -, _____________________ ■ 5 has been more prolific in division one body to comprehend all, one 2. When the question of authori than the last. These divisions can spirit to animate ally one hope to ty is settled the next hinderance we HINDERANGES TO CHRIS now be arranged into groops or inspire all, one Lord to govern all, tind is a want of knowledge con TIAN UNION. families, and these families can be one faith to unite all, and one bap cerning what the Bible teaches. counted by scores. Good men have tism to induct all into the one The religious world is yet clad in BT F. M. BAI S H. talked much of and prayed much body. the, habiliments of ignnramut and The present divided state of for the union of God’s people,- - The hinderffificcs "union like "erfbiFfTashionably and popularly Christian society is much deplored -¥e±«mes have "been 'written and this are numerous and varied, but masked, presides over the theologies . by aff of God’g-lltkhfur ~ctnKn;en~ learned and eloquent sermons have I shall notice only a few of them which exist, like useless plants in That such a state is not Scriptural been preached, all looking to the and that briefly. My., object is to the gardens of present religious is certain ; and that the results one ble.^ed end—when we should be suggestive rather than exhaus society. This is an awful and most flowing from the confusion is not all see eye to eye and walk hand tive. deplorable fact. And before the best, but absolutely sinful, is in hand. 1. The first liiuderance I note is union of tiotl’s people carrtig effect equally certain. God intended that We have been told by tlm. ed and the World truly Christian ** ,ch*ldren should be_pnex the preachers and editors that the time want of a proper standard of On this question ized the dark cloud of ignorance jBavior prayed for this union, and would soon come when we yould authority. and superstition must be chasted the apostle Paul rebuked division all be one. But, brethren, 1 do not society vacitates all the way from away by the radient and blazing in the strongest language and with believe it. I do not believe the the infallibility of reason to a so _ light of sound Scriptural teaching. the most unanswerable arguments, churches will -be united in this" called infallible papacy. ”~An in the charity of the great apostle world. Never again will the dis fallible reason, an infallible ex The laws of nature are sufficiently was not broad enough to enable ciples be one as in the day of the perience, an infallible church, an minute and special to guide and him to say that in the goodness apostles.' Denominational lines infallible creed, and an infallible govern the least as well as the and wisdom of God his children will not be broken, till crushed by book-»-the Bible, are all presented greatest thing in being, and so the would be divided and subdivided death. And this judgment does to the world as infallible authority. law of the Lord, when properly till sects and parties Would be not impede my work for such a Protestants and Catholics alike . understood and reverently appre counted by the hundreds. He union. Not at all. We do not be cling to the tradition^ of the ciated, is sufficient not only to would not excuse the sect spirit of lieve1 that all men will obey the “ Fathers,” and trust the ex guide all men to Jesus but to bring the Corinthians by teaching them gospel and be saved, and yet we cathedra intei-pretation of unin all his professed followers into one that Jesus was the vine and the work unremittingly to that end. It spired men. It is man’s inherent „ glorious and harmonious body. — different parties the branches, but .isour business to watch care- imttrrc“*to demand "infaH.»hitity in- - —Religions teachers have not he would teach the most indisohi- fuily our duiy and perform it, matters of Ins religion. Invest him learned how to properly divide and ■trteunion Ty this beautiful and leave results with God. Duty with the clear and well defined subdivide the word of truth.. They language of - the Savior. The is ours, results are his. Let us say conviction that his religious faith, do not approach this book as they Scholarly and erudite teacher re with Watts, " Let party names be in whatever it may.consist or what would any other volume, expecting buked the schismatic spirit in its heard no more.” And yet we' can ever may be its object, is infallible, its different parts to have a distinct and you bind him as in fetters o and well defined purpose. To many incipency. And in doing so his truly say with another: iron; and you can not blame him of them the Old Testament is as [words stand as an everlasting con “ In vain ye say, Let sects and systems for this, it is but the reasonable .„binding upon the Christian as the demnation of a divided christen- Ml, And Jesus ’ precious name be all in all j- deinand"-"bf his spiritual nature. New Testament. They see no |k>m, and he becomes an example In vain ye say * By his blest name aloue to us, as preaeher, worthy of our His ‘members should while hero on Rome, a* between an infallible difference in the object of the book earth be known ;* church, or an infallible book, gave of 1’sahns.and that of the book of closest immitation. The confusion Yet cling to what that gracious Jesus her people the former. This is the Acts. Like a prominent clergyman here contemplated is dishonoring pains— Sectarian union and sectarian names. ” fundamental and central idea of of this State, when a young man to God; it is unloyalty to the of Popery. She has crystalized asked him what he must do to lie What do we meun by • Christian Savior; and violates the planest ■Usages of the sacred Scriptures. union ? Unless we have some well around this doctrine, and crush this saved, sent him to the 19th Psalm, It paralyzes the usefulness of the defined views just here, we will not and you will HOC" the fabric crumble and told him to read that carefully church, foster^ the spirit of envy fail to blunder in our discussion into dust ■ But when we can get and prayerfully, and that the light Mid strife, and conduces to indiffer- and in our work. The term union the world to accept an infallible would brake upon his understand ■ice and infidelity. It destroys the is used as expressing just the book as infallible authority, then ing by so doing. We can never leace of homes, squanders money opposite of division, and then we have made one step toward hope to unite the churches while n the name of religion, perverts’ nothing more strongly forbidden Christian union. I do not wish to ignorance as profound and as un lie word of God, hinders the than divisions. We are command destroy the idea of infallibility, but pardonable as this is to be found |»read of the gospel, and sends ed to be perfectly joined together wish to insist on the authority of among the preachers. Unless we thousands to the--grave without in the same mind and in the same the one blessed book. Let us place can agree in the elementary teach judgment, and that there be no di the Bible above all churches, an<T ing of the gospel we can never hope Sod and without hope. | The preacher who will not re visions among us. The degree of let us make it arbiter in all things to be of Qne mind in other particu What know they of the buke this division and do all in his closeness required by this com spiritual. “AU Scripture is given by lars lower for Christian union is either mand is more fully explained by inspiration of God, and is profitable difference between the covenant r no rant of the teaching of God’s she apostle in another place where for doctrine, for reproof, for cor made with Abraham and the cove ford or is a moral coward ; and ic says, “ There is one body and rection, for instruction in righteous nant in Jesus ? Correctly they ither case is disgrace to pure | one spirit, even as ye are called in ness ; that the man of God may be enow nothing. It is the same with ■iristianity, and becomes pavti- one hope of your calling; one perfect, thoroughly furnished unto hem. Babies were in that cove feefs crirnnis in this great sin. Lord, one faith, one baptism, one all good works.” It will be a long nant, and therefore they are to be I From the days Arius and Ath- God and Father of all who is above time before the religious world will in the church of Jesus Christ. .They Bsius who divided on the differ- all, and through all, and in you appreciate the supreme authority do not understand that that cove ftcc between an i and an o, parties all.” Seven specifications of unity of the word of truth, and yet we nant was purely fleshly and tem- Mtve multiplied, over matters of as arc here mentioned When all these can never hope for union till this xiral, while this is spiritual and ittle real significance, as the ap- are found io exist among Chris work is accomplished. Then the eternal. Of the difference between •rent differences between these tians then we will have that union question of authority constitutes the gospel in promise, in prospect, < I and in fact they know nothing. Biters. And perhaps no century the Scriptures require. There is hiYiderunce to Christian union. Original Contributions. 1 -■