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Les diagrammes suivants iliustre la mMhode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I 1> V SCHISM. irf\u»f I h CJ PREACHED AT BYTOWN BEFORE THE SASTZIRN OIiBRICAIi ASSO0SAT2O23', ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 10th. 1839, PUBLISHED AT THEIR REQUEST, BT ROBERT VASHON ROGERS, KECTOK or niCHMOMDi U> 6. PRIMtitD AT THE OFFICB OF " THE CHURCH. COBOUR6, U. C. tf , iJH-1 .%^ M a s € ( t ] # SCHISM. n.,..vc vvi 17 —"Now I bef^eech you, Imtlnen, innrk Uinc whic!. ye liave le^rnvd; and avo.d th™.. That against which the Apostlo cauliona in U'^™ «o"l« is Schism. . «^, />;.„,.-;, This mny bo dcfinoowUdgc'.ni cxerci,:,,g religious offections which is i""-"^-^ *^ „' Gosrel. If'^.-ch belho meaning of Iho - cr in one holy f-'""/"'?- " ° ,J.6troy the exercise oftho»e kindly f^.lingH and affeot,™. f 4 "HP which the gospel expects, ami which it inculcntes a» th« surest proof of its reception in tho heart; — surely thus to tliw'.irt, thuvS to destroy, must be n sin of no connnon kind I othnr sins rjo, indeed, injure ; but this strikes at the root of lint which is llio only r«Mnody for oil the evils of this world. Am! y«'l lnjw ii^inlv i^i it Hioiig-'-t of by the greater part of noiniii'l C':n;-:ti;ii!w I yc.'i, iiow seldom do Cbrisliuns conisider it ill lit it jioitil. of vi(!vv ill winch the Bible places it ! With them, liin sjijrlitoat ciinse, a trifling otnnco, a groundless prrjndic ', which a very little inqr.iry would remove, — or an eqijuUy grnnnd!esa preference, v.hoso foundation in truth, an equally small amount of examination would prove warit- ing-, is sufficient to lead to Ibo ofTonco of separation, al- though so contrary to tho doctrine of our Lord Josu3 Christ. With the hopo of shewing you, that in liio eyes of Him who seelh not as man secth, schism is no trifle, I shall ask you to consider ; — Some proofs of the bin of Schism. It is sin bticauso, — I. It transgresses tho law of Love. Consider this law as applied to tho Church of Christ. St John (1 Ep. iii. 18, and iv. 7,) shews its obligations :- — " beloved, let us love one another ;" •* my little children, let us net love in word, neither in tontruo, but in deed and in truth." •' Love ono another with a pure heart fervently," says St. Peter (1 Ep. i. 22 ;) •' love the brotherhood" (ii. 17) ; " love as bretliren," (iii. 8) ; '• lovo all things, havo fervent charity (love) among yourselves," (iv. 18.) These are but fiw of tho many texts to tho samo point; suffinient, however, are they for my purpose. Observe, the 2)ersons to be beloved ; — tho broiherJiood. All who, by baptism, havo put on Christ — tho profession of a christian ; liavo, outwardly, been made sons of God; and, ihorfiforo, brotbren ono of another. Then, think of the chi^ ^ 5 M racier of UiuUoveto he, exercised towards "the brotherhood'*. Not a mero expression of the lips,— not iu words only,— not in the language of aftbction, meroly, Iho title, brother, al- ways on the tongue ; but in our intercourse ono with ano- tlior in deed; and that intercourse, not the hoUo'v and i\o. ceitful courtesy of the world, but that ho-osty ur.d truth, which is found in brethren,— members of the i^atao f in»ily, i» Joving one another with a pure heart." See yet ag lin, the character of that love is to bo more than sin-eve. U must be fervently-breathing, actively-devoted, — '' fervent charity" *' lovin;' ^\ iih a pure hn.ul hrvenlly." Aii'l lhi»' i» to be exercised at all times, loo/ardd all men, as a m:»lL<'r of the first importance; exercised in foi'ijiving the miny of. fences which must ever be found amon;r errinir ;»!"' mi;,ta. king m.-n, partially only, hou'ever much ri;uew.;d iu the spirit of their minds. " Aoove all things have fervent cha- rity among yourselves ; for charity shall covor the umliitudo offiins." Sucii are the principles of the huv of love, as applied by the New Testament, to tlie Church. There they stand; and no ono, who names the name of Christ, dare gainsay their wisdom and beauty, but at the expense of his Christianity ; or deny their obligation in " the church throughout all the world," except he desires to havo ills reason questioned. But are these the principles on wiiich the various bodies of christians act? Do they clierish the law of lovo as the grand distinguishing badge of their djscipleship ? Are they making all men know them as Christ's disciples by display. in'' love to their brethren of other sects ? Are they lireathing out the genuine feelings of their hearts in D ivid's prayer, — »♦ for my brethren and companions' oake I will say pea^* T b,, witlnn ihee; p-'aoe be within thy walla .ad 'prosperity i'.ttiinthv palaces?" mi Gladtr, forlhfl pako of our common chn.tian.ty. wou.d I vaivo .1.0 ans^vor i but it ...n»t n<.t bo. H«r„ is a root of .iltor«e.H „pringins up and flouri.hin^s nourish.., aa ,t ,., ,,y th« wor.l p...ions of tho human l.oart Already does .t , ouble tho ehurol,, cabling it. poisonous frn.ts widely, boun- ,if„llv _.ye, as widely and unsparingly as the enemy of aVl n,,la!onsnL could desire. Divi^an in the church, .s a .L.rene festerini; at the very heart; s.ekenmg tl», whole Lw- palsying every limb; ami, except cut out, must for ;'r destroy the l.w of love, which is the life-blood o the church. That gone, what will she be T A poor lifeless corpse; in her.elf, without feelings; "'wa'-''^ '1'" ^^ "• useless; voa, and worse than uselc, ! W.ll th;s 1. ^o, it cannot! he v.- ho loved her when a„ enemy, w,! not (or- luo her now that she is reconciled ! Of a troth she .s wounded in the house of her frien.ls. W,th a Judas' k,s, each hails her mother ; and will, a Judas' love of gam be. trays h«r to the scorn and .lerision of that w.nld winch hates her, for a few pieces of silver, or from .not.ves equally b„o There lies the Church* bleeding at every pore from tbe attacks of those, whose cry is, "down with .t, down with it, even to the ground;" neglected by her unnatural ehildren, who have fallen out by the way ; and left lopcr.sh except the priest and levito can first settle the.r confi.ct.ng claims to the few poor pounds, or the paltry acres, wh.ch ono member of her large family has rece.ved as a g.f . And Schism is the cause of these unholy feelings. Were, tho great body of believers no,v. as of old, of on e heart and ono "TTT-iTThT^nl Church in its most generally reeeWed «en«, IS me,inm all baptized perscn,, whatever naay be ibeir denominational n.m«; »t tb. same lime con..dern,iJ n./«. fr»mtorrt9t. «■>-« mind, the honor bestowed on one memi nr would cause th« whole to rejoice with it. Like various rrgimcnts, the sue. cnss of one would be considered as that of the wholo army. But now the advancotnnnt of part is looked upon as disho. nour done to the whole, und keeps hia hand on his sword's hilt to unsheath, not agunst tlicir common foes, but ag-iinst each other. How long, O Lord, may erory lover of Zion inquire, bo. foro divisions shiill ccaso ? B^^forc one mind, and one judg. ment, and o«e heart, shall bo found among those who arc buildin- on one l)op^ to which they arc inlroclucod by one baptism; aoUnowl.d^ring but one Go,\ of their salvation ; and lookin- forward to one and the same inhentanco? has, ton, tliou God of love, tlsvt U-^'^sed day when - Ephraim shall not cnvv'Jadah, and J-.dah shall not vex Ephra.m*' ; when the unconverted world shall again aay,—*' See how those chiislians love one anollierl" ^ ^ We have now considorod r-cliism as a F,in. Seen as it ift in its dostrudiou of that fandamoiUal law of the church, the law of love,— lov3 towards the brethren ; but that wc may have a more thorouirli undnrstanding of its sinfulness, may I place it in another !ight,-:n its cflccts on tlio law of love TOWARDS THE WORLD 1 j 1, fK The law of love towards tbo unconverted world speaketh on this wise,-" peace on earth ; good-will towards men." These are its principles ; and these it carries into execution, bv " going into all the world, and preaching the gospel to every creature." Its spirit is that of Him who is the world;., peacemaker ; who hath made peace by the Wood of hia cross ; and through hims.lf offers " peace to them that are afar off, and to them that are nigh" ; to the nominal chr.s. tian, and the poor idolater. Embracing this offer, they who were once enemies, become reconciled and friends. W ea. pons of war become i.npkmcnts of peace. The members o^ K the body, heretofore initrumenli of »in, become iiisUuiuenU of righteousness. And when the purposes of God in this gracioos oftor shall liave been accomplished, this world — tho battle ground of sin— wasted by th) purifying fi'-c, shall be a new earth, the abode of righteousness. For a monmnt look at the law of love, ju«t as it wa.s when published by the anjrclichost; as it was exhibited in tho obcdienco, sufFer. ings and dciilh of tho Redeemer ; as it was defined by the Sa^viour's last commission ; as it reads in every page of lus word ; and a. it ought to bo exhibited by t!»o£^e wl»o profcsu 10 tako that word as their guide. As members of the Church of Christ, you dare not sny,— this law is not binding on you : for is it not by the chMrcli, that the rnanirold wisdom of God in redemption is to bo made known, by its enlargement, and the final conquest of tho earth ? As disciples of him who went about doing good, you dare not say this law is not binding on you : for wiiut is the lest of discipleship 1— Obedience, " If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed" ; (John viii. 31) and is not this command to be oboyed, *• go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature?" Nay, is it not the abounding \n the fruits of righteousness, which is the proofof our being genuine followers cf Him. whose whole life was one continued act of benefit toman? " Honco is uiy Father glorified t!iat ye bear much fruit, so ahall ye be my disciples:' (John xv. 8.) It is proved, then, that the law of love towards the world is obligatory on all who are members of the Church of Christ. It is not a duty which they may, or 7nay not perform, but one which their very situation compels them to discharge, under peril of being disobedient to their master ; faiihlesa to the solemn deposit, with which they are entruHed. How IB it diu charged ? # ^F ->^>"«lll 9 4 Poorly, indeed ! When Uiey see the nundiorhs* •eel* which Bchisja haa caused, eucli cbiiring i.posK.lic authority for il.jexi>toncLS when ihty beliold ihut ii; Ih-y group fur- nidiing, by their cndlcHs bickerings, tho niobt incontcsliblo proof tliat they cannot all proceed from a God of order, liar, mony, and love, und pc w, and yet Jill chiirning him as llieir aullior I IIow are ih.Mnen of tins world affc .od ? "1 It'll you, brtthren, thai a« uion aro more struck by tho visi- Mo heavens, for tlio vory reason thi.t ihey arcacen, than by the invisible, f-o arc they more affected by liio relioious dis. cord they behold, ihun by iho religious coneoid which tho jJibie exacts. They adopt indeed a very good rule, if ap. plied to o«hcr subjects. They judge of chriKti;uiity by its elh;cls; f.nd hhain- and ccnfuyion be upon us that this di- vine Kystcni of truth and holinpss will not stand the test in tho important particulars of mutual lovo and charity; for no other reason than this — we are determined to he divided, notwith&tanding Ciirisl our Saviour jirayed, " Holy Father, keep through thine own nanje those whom thou hast given mo that they may be one as we are. [See Chapman'a Set: mons on Episcopacy.] See again, the manner in which this duty is discharged. Instead of following the example of the Jewlyh nation in reference to Canaan, — dividing tho land, so that the wholo might be possessed, — rivalry and mutual jealous]^ induce the various scclo* to shew more anxiety to keep each other in check, than to fight the good fight of faith. Ilcnco fol- lows that shameful waste of ministerial strength, that crowdivg together of ministers of religion, — all discharging * iVothinj; here said, can be construed into an approval of divi-jjon*;. Existing, as they most unhappily do, I mean to shew tiiclr lo!iy -^s well rs wickedness, visible, as they are; on their own admission, that all have equal divine authority ; and, if so, wliv this mutual rivalrv ? 10 dc«ulal.on arou.ul is crying loudly for help. Perishing lor l.ck of knowledge, us thousands are, dio they may wiVhout Ood and withoul Iiope, uiAo.s e..ch ..pnralo co.n.nuinoi. can obtnin a supply ovor and nbovc i^a.- c.r^:.- ./ oi.crvez- fiou. And schism is the cause of thle. WcM-e the churc;. now. a^ of o!J, united, thia could not be' Then, each scpatvae bo.ly of ehn.lians -holding- th« head " marshalled under one nan.n, would have but ona ob. ^.ct ^war with t!:e world, the llesi), and the devil. Nor can ,uch a .^tale of things ever cease whilst schism Ea'^h denoadnation of chri.ti^n., conscientious in thcir^ pret^.ren.o. munt desire, pray and strive lV.r tiro exion.ion ot their distinctive principle.. Thoy look on th^.u as the me tiinm, by which the Holy Ghost hath wrought a.l his work in them. Can they bo otherwise than surrounooo with a halo of reverence? T^^ir present Mate i. traced to their Ibrm of rovernrueni, or their mode of conductin:; worship : must Ih.^ not, then, be desirous that all others s.ould be- come pa! lakers of llfeif l-encul? _ „ ^ n Wo have now conslderud sc!dsm-lho - divisions' of tho text-and havo found it sin; hccaune iransgressnig the law of leva to God and.^an. Like Ml other sins, its evils are piain, as the dishonor done to God ; the injury to others. and tooursilves. God^s hatred of schi.m then, mu.i folb>w ; and frequently has it been shewn, and most severely ha« it b-.-ui puninbed Thus, an early attempt to usurp tho divinely co.ist.tuted priesthood-running the ri.k of bringing in heresies and ,ehisms,— was visited by the destruction of Corah, Datlian and Abiram. Jeroboa.n, the son of Nebat, in opposition to the templo at Jerus.dom sets up his golden calves, command- ir^rbis subjects to worship thorn, thus drawing rfi-a.argo. r: r I n |»ortion of the then ohurch of God ; and lo, himself notor/- ous for ever after, as he who " made Israel lo sin !" Hit •uccespors on the throne all, all, reprobate towards God t His people departing gradually, still farther and farther from the truth of the Old Testament; till at last, ripe for yengeance, they are carried away captive, and the place that knew them once knows them no more for ever ! Not to multiply examples from the Old Testament Church, — for a moment, look at those which the New af^ fords. Where are the remains of the various heresies, and schisms of the firs't ages? Their names continue; their tenets arrr matters of record only I Whilst, unable to bear the purify- ing, the trials through which the church has passed have washed them away from her fair face I — And where are they which arose at the llefornialion,--the tares which tha enemy sowed among the wheat ? Some few remain, whilst the multitude are forgotten I " Division was their sin ; and division was their curso !'* Where is the schism of John Calvin — the openly-acKnoxu^ ledged departure from tlio discipline and constitution of the Church, as it had existed from Apostolic days to li is own time. It cxisis in the Picsbytcrian communion, though ex- piring, if its divided condition be any criterion of its decay. And where, wo would again ask ourselves, is that vast bod>' of* professing Christians who still boar the name of Wesley, (though they havo little in common with him but his name, wandered, as they have, afar off from his principles) who call him master, and yet do not tho things which l.ie com- manded, — where aro thry?— Still having a name as Wes- leynn Methodists ; but (rrided and subdivided; and each •ubdivision itself the psn t.l of a niimerous offspring of di- visions 1 i-i h tW«-J by tho piou» of that branch of tWe general cl.uroh „n rrih with which thoir founder .omni„«l in communion ^.Soin'ea the eU.ch in heaven, the, ^'^^^^^^^ X .ere their fi^tteache.! -" f- --• "r^t, have the pre-eminence; no longer contented w>ih the hum Me vet useful office of preachers, they dared, unautho n.ed ty 'J o, ::d Ltr^ry to'the dying wish of their pare... .to administer the covenant tokens of God's love_t^^^»^^^^^^ ments :-thu» usurping the priestly otfice. Thus they mvi dedh: body of Christ. Hence has ^own the mutual a lousy which has since existed bot^o^n those, «ho«ee once bosom friends- Hence has arisen that «"' »!?;;';[ which still mars, in this Province, what I would sUll call their works of faith and labours of love ! I„ proof of this, enumerate only the various separation, from -hat form of Government, on the continent of Europe, [iThc United States, in Great Britain in general, but spe- cially in Scotlund. Justice however, compels me to add,_that not ««-■« ferct^PPyeould'l say. M..v) » ^^^ ^tlX " hf Ja" '"a Wesley have not ^'^;^f''l^:';^^, I, U,i. J:r;:r:;t?r!;;£U^But sLh isthecon.tant IZ made to poison their minds and to estrange thejr feel- n^tratexceV much labour be had to disabuse them of "5a!- to enlighten where ignorance of J-h^prmc.. pies prevails, their cMdrenwiU wander from the church their fathers. Perhaps my sincerity may be questioned, but God .s my wifn «s. / Ha.e great «»rr««. «» •« the fearless Apostle to the Gentile., .ay.—" Mark tlum 14 whieh cause divisions among youJ* I say, Mark. Observe attentively and diligently, those who seok to draw you away from that branch of the true vino — that portion of the uni- versal church which has never yet been guilty of the sin of schism: no, not when reforming herself from Papal errors, (for even then she only returned to what she had been bo- fore that despotic church enslaved her,) — who requires not " of ny man that it should bo believed as an article of faith whatsoever is not read in Holy Scripture, or can be proved thereby,"* — who has already fed the flames of persecution with a noble army of martyrs, — and who has, as an humble instrument, cheered and sustained their spirits as they as. cended in their fiery chariot to their God, — and who is even now, in this day of blasphemy and rebuke, nourishing with her Liturgy, Articles, and Homilies, thousands of God's dear children. Finally, " Avoin Tmai !" Count them not as enemies : far from this ! But avoid listening to those who would seduce you from the faith and practice of your forefathers. I dure not bo ignorant of the " railing accusations" brought against us, secretly by many who with their lips shew much love ; by others more openly, and far more honourably. Necessity is laid upon mo to pat you on your guard. Become better acquainted with the to. nets of your church. Accustom yourselves to the language of your Prayer Books. Seek to drink in the spirit of her Liturgy. Through her ministry, sit at the table of her Lord and your Lord. And, above all, through the moans of grace which your Church offers, ever hold communion with her adorable Head and Saviour, l^hus, " truly repenting, — most earnestly desiring pardon, and forgiveness, — preserved and continued in the unity of the church, when tnken henco, L# u i * Artiple vl. 15 i# you will bo taken to !ii?i favour, through tlio morlta ol God** dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord."* Amen. PRAYER. O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship ; hast built thy church upon Ihe foundation of apostles and prophote, Jesus Christ him- self being the chief corner stone; c;ist thy bright beams of light upon her, — Graciously behold thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and gi- ven up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death up- on the cross. O Lord, we beseech thee, to keep thy church and household continually in thy true religion, in thy continual godliness.— Keep her with thy perpetual mercy. Let thy continual pity cleanse and defend her. From en- vy, hatred and malice and all uncharitabloncss — from all false doctrine, heresy and schism, good Lord deliver her. Inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of unity and concord, so that all her members may live in unity and godly love; and may thus shew themselves very members incorporate in the mysticil body of thy Son, the blessed company of all fditi:ful people. — Yea, giant to all who have been admitted to the fellowship of Christ's reli. gion, that most excellent gifi of cliarity, tlic very bond of peace and of all virtues, that we may become one fold under one Shepherd ; and so to follow thy blessed saints in all vir- tuous and godly living, that we may come to those un- epoakable joys which thou hast prepared for them that un- feignedly love thee, tlirough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, * See Service for Visitation of the Sick. V* w .■jf •1 "B* w im