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ESSAY 
 
 ON 
 
 CHEISTIAN UNION. 
 
 y 
 
 CHARLES ADAMS. 
 
 KJitJl ira SAtnkrftmi, 
 
 BY REV. THOMAS DE WITT, D.D. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 SAMUEL HUESTON, 139 NASSAU STREET. 
 1850. 
 
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, by 
 SAMUEL HUESTON, 
 
 in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Southern District 
 of New York. 
 
 SANER AND PALMER, STEBEOTTPER3, 
 
 201 William street, N. Y. 
 
TO 
 
 ROBERT BAIRD, D.D., ^ 
 
 A NAME DEAB TO CHRISTIANS OE BOTH HEMISPHERES, 
 
 issuii 
 
 IS GRATEFULLY INSCRIBED. 
 
' ’ Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2017 with funding from 
 Princeton Theological Seminary Library 
 
 https://archive.org/details/essayonchristianOOadam 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 FAGB. 
 
 INTRODUCTION . . . . 1 
 
 PREFACE 9 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 Essential Union of the Church Catholic 17 
 
 SECTION 11. 
 
 Visible Union, the Original Design....... 31 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Duty of Catholic Love 51 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 State of the Case 60 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 Duty of Visible Union 67 » 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 Denominations 84 
 
V 
 
 CONTENTS, 
 
 PAOB. 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 
 Means of Visible. Union. 93 
 
 “• SECTION VIII. 
 
 Means of Actual Union 100 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 Encouragements 113 
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 Address to Episcopalians 130 
 
 SECTION XI. 
 
 Address to Baptists 142 
 
 SECTION XII. 
 
 Address to Congregationaliste and Presbyterians.. 147 
 
 SECTION XIII. 
 
 Address to Methodists 152 
 
 SECTION XIV. 
 
 Address to the Church Catholic 158 
 
Christian Union,” the theme of this little 
 volume, is admitted by Christians, of various de- 
 nominations, to be one of great importance, and 
 transcendent interest. Yet how lamentable and 
 plain are the proofs abounding, and continued, that 
 it fails to impress their hearts, and stimulate their 
 efforts for its promotion, in the visible manifesta- 
 tion and exercise of it. Each denomination dwells 
 upon the minute shades of its particular opinions, 
 by which it is separated from others, and seems to 
 forget the bond that unites them to Christ and each 
 other, in the faith of the vital truths of the Gospel, 
 and the common hope and service of the Saviour. 
 Hence they are led to seek their own, and not su- 
 premely the things of Christ ; and in the love and 
 pursuit of denominational interest and prosperity, 
 the efforts of other denominations for the advance- 
 ment of the Redeemer’s kingdom, instead of being 
 cordially greeted, are often viewed with envious 
 
11 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 / 
 
 regard, a spirit of controversy becomes awakened 
 and indulged, and counteracting efforts are em- 
 ployed. Alienation, bitterness, opposition, follovr 
 each other in the train. “Judah” continues “to 
 vex Ephraim, and Ephraim to vex Judah.” What 
 hindrances have thus been caused to the spread of the 
 Gospel ! How has the purity and strength of the 
 ONE church of God been impaired, and the world 
 gained an advantage for reproach and neglect of 
 the truth of God ! 
 
 The singular and interesting developments of 
 Divine Providence, in the state of the world, at the 
 present time, open wide avenues, and furnish in- 
 creasing facilities for diffusing the Gospel, and urge 
 upon the Christian church to go forth, “ fair as the 
 moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army 
 with banners,” in order to possess the much land 
 that is to be possessed. At this time it is a matter 
 of congratulation that the subject of Christian 
 Union, in its appropriate manifestation and exercise, 
 not based on uniformity, but on common evangeli- 
 cal truth cemented under the controlling spirit of 
 Christian love, should have been brought forward 
 prominently. The promotion of such an union, 
 cherished and manifested, will be hailed as one of 
 the most auspicious tokens. Its progress will fore- 
 bode the healing of the breaches of Zion, and the 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Ill 
 
 calling forth of the energies of the Christian church 
 in an harmonious movement for the salvation of the 
 world. Then would be realized more and more, 
 until the fulfillment shall unfold in all its beauty, 
 our Lord’s prayer, in behalf of his disciples, John 
 xvii. : “ Neither pray I for these alone, but for 
 them also which shall believe on me through thy 
 word; that they all may be one, as thou Father 
 art in me, and I in\hee, that they also may be one 
 in us ; that the world may believe that thou hast 
 sent me.” Under this influence, while many of the 
 multiplied denominational walls would, one after 
 g,nother, fall away, yet among the denominational 
 enclosures which doubtless will remain, there would 
 prevail a spirit of mutual love and confidence in the 
 common faith, seeking intercourse and fellowship, 
 and co-operating in advancing the cause of the Re- 
 deemer. They would no longer turn their weapons 
 against each other, and spend their strength in in- 
 testine contests ; but they would be found as one 
 army, though divided into distinct encampments, 
 with special banners, yet all arranged in harmonious 
 order, under the one banner of the Captain of their 
 salvation, and making a common onset on the foes 
 of truth and righteousness, and blending their en- 
 ergies in spreading the reign of holiness and peace 
 on earth. There are those who are sincerely de- 
 
IV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 sirous of an increase of harmony and co-operation 
 in the different branches of the church of Christ, 
 who yet do not see the expediency or the proba- 
 bihty of success of the means proposed for pro- 
 moting union, on account of the varying settled 
 views on many points that are entertained, and the 
 different organizations and separate fields in which 
 Christians are placed. But is not this allowing -the 
 perpetuation of the evil by letting it alone as hope- 
 less, and do not these very considerations urge the 
 importance and necessity of employing the best de- 
 vised and most wisely directed means, for drawing 
 more and more closely and visibly the bonds of 
 Christian fellowship, among those who are one in 
 Christ, in whatever department of the church they 
 may be found ? The difficulty alluded to arises often 
 from a mistake entertained as to the object of the 
 measures suggested for promoting the visible unity 
 of Christians. That object is not uniformity of 
 views so as to lead to amalgamation. Sectarianism 
 seeks union by bringing others to its own faith, and 
 in all things exclaims, The temple of the Lord are 
 these.” True Christian faith and charity combined 
 leave to others their conscientious convictions on 
 all points not vitally connected with saving truth, 
 carefully regards their rights, feelings, and interests 
 in their distinct organizations and fields of labor ; 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 V 
 
 and then meets and embraces them on the common 
 ground of evangelical truth, in the spirit of love, to 
 co-operate for the Redeemer’s glory and the world’s 
 salvation. Unity, with variety, characterizes all 
 the works of God. Why should it not be so in the 
 sections of the Christian church ? It is thus only 
 that the power of Christian love displays most 
 strikingly its glory, making the main features of the 
 Christian church a sufficient ground for its attrac- 
 tion, and triumphing over all diversities compatible 
 with these. The fraternal sympathies of any one 
 body of Christians, all holding the same opinions, 
 has no effect in convincing the world of the strength 
 of this divine principle, like that of the exhibition 
 of them on a larger scale, comprehending the diver- 
 sity of sects. It may be added that such a triumph 
 of love would do more to assimilate our judgments 
 in smaller matters than the most luminous contro- 
 versial writings and discussions will accomplish, 
 though freed from bitterness and asperity. The 
 prevalence of this principle would incalculably ad- 
 vance the internal purity, peace, and strength of 
 the church, and increase her influence to bless the 
 world at large. 
 
 Prominence has recently been given to this ob- 
 ject by the measures whic^i were taken for, and 
 ■which resulted in, the formation of the Evangelical 
 
VI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Alliance, in 1846, at London. The incipient steps 
 originated in Scotland. A wealthy merchant of 
 Glasgow, and an elder of the Secession church, 
 feeling a deep interest in the subject, procured a 
 series of ably written essays, from the most distin- 
 guished ministers of the different denominations in 
 Scotland, as Drs. Chalmers, Balmer, Wardlaw, 
 Candlish, and others, on different topics, connected 
 with the subject of Christian Union. These he 
 published in a volume, and generously distributed. 
 Circular letters, signed by a number of ministers in 
 Scotland, were addressed to the evangelical churches 
 of Great Britain, inviting them to a meeting at Liv- 
 erpool, in the fall of 1845, to deliberate on the sub- 
 ject of Christian Union. That meeting was well 
 attended, and proved a refreshing and edifying one. 
 It was resolved to call a meeting of evangelical 
 Christians of evangelical churches in all parts of 
 the world, in London, in the course of the next 
 summer, with the view to form a regular organiza- 
 tion of an “Evangelical Alliance.” It was my 
 privilege to attend this meeting, in August, 1846; 
 and the remembrance of it will always be deep and 
 fragrant in my soul. One thousand Christians, or 
 more, from different churches and various countries, 
 were met in holy fellowship, to deliberate on this 
 blessed theme. The great majority of these were 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Vll 
 
 from Great Britain ; but there were a considerable 
 number from the churches of continental Europe, 
 and from sixty to seventy from the United States 
 of America. Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyte- 
 rians, Congregationalists, Lutherans, German and 
 Dutch Reformed, French Reformed, etc., sat side 
 by side, and united in prayer and discussion. Two 
 hours every day were appropriated to prayer and 
 praise, and the spirit breathed therein was eminently 
 quickening to Christian love. Amid the topics 
 wdiich arose, and which occasionally excited appre- 
 hensions as to embarrassments which might arise, 
 calmness and quietness, under the control of Chris- 
 tian love, prevailed, and led to the happy results 
 which were reached. It was pleasant to be in such 
 an assembly, many of whose members had long been 
 known abroad by their writings, and religious char- 
 acter and influence. The result of their delibera- 
 tions is before the public, in the development of the 
 basis on which the Evangelical Alliance is founded, 
 and the principles by which it is characterized and 
 governed. They commend themselves to the inves- 
 tigation of American Christians. For the promotion 
 of the object it contemplates, should not more be 
 done among us ? The volume to which these re- 
 marks are introductory is a contribution in its be- 
 half, which it is trusted will bear fruit, in advancing 
 
Vlll 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 its claims upon Christians of different denominations. 
 Every page bears proof of the strength of conviction, 
 and warmth of feeling, with which the author has 
 entered on and prosecuted the discussion of his 
 theme ; and the whole bears, with strong force, upon 
 the mind and heart of the Christian reader. Its 
 wide circulation cannot but do good. 
 
 In the words of Robert Hall, it may he said, ‘‘ If 
 Christians would generally act on these principles, 
 we should hail the dawn of a brighter day, and 
 consider it as a nearer approach to the ultimate 
 triumph of the church than the annals of time have 
 yet recorded. In the accomplishment of our Sa- 
 viour’s prayer, we should behold a demonstration 
 of the divinity of his mission, which the most im- 
 pious could not resist. We should behold in the 
 church a peaceful haven, inviting us to retire from 
 the tossings and perils of this unquiet ocean, to a 
 sacred enclosure, a sequestered spot, which the 
 storms and tempests of the world were not per- 
 mitted to reach.” 
 
 THOMAS DE WITT. 
 
 New York, January 25, 1850 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 A BRIEF sketch of the history of this book, by 
 way of introducing it, may not be improper in itself, 
 or unacceptable to the reader. A little more than 
 one year since, my mind began to labor intensely in 
 view of the divided aspect of protestant Christen- 
 dom, and the exclusive attitude which, though with 
 numerous exceptions of excellent individuals, the 
 several evangelical denominations of Christians 
 manifested toward each other. The idea occurred 
 to me, and more vividly than ever before, that in 
 the matter of exclusiveness and non-intercourse of 
 these denominations, there appeared to be, after all, 
 not so much in favor of one above the others as I 
 had been accustomed to suppose. I saw, or thought 
 I saw, in this respect, a grievous and mischievous 
 error in the whole of them ; and so intensely did my 
 mind dwell upon this general subject of church di- 
 visions, and so clearly did it occur to me that this 
 whole fact and process were aside from the true 
 1 ^ 
 
X 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 spirit of the gospel, and the fashion of the apos- 
 tolic church, that I was led seriously and consci- 
 entiously to question the propriety and righteous- 
 ness of my own position, as a member of one of 
 these same divisions. Turning my eye inward, and 
 inquiring whether, in perfect sincerity and truth, I 
 loved all other Christians as I loved those of the 
 denomination to which I belonged, I detected, as 
 if it had been a new discovery, what I could not 
 but confess to be a superior love for those of my 
 own name — and that, too, irrespective of acquaint- 
 ance on my part, or of piety on theirs. Here, 
 of course, I stood arrested, alarmed, and convicted 
 of sin. I shuddered as I saw a serpent still nest- 
 ling in my heart, of whose existence I had but dimly 
 dreamed. With inexpressible pain I perceived my- 
 self to be occupying, and to have been long occu- 
 pying, a false position — that I was not precisely 
 where Christ is — that as I looked forth upon the 
 great church catholic, my view was unlike that of 
 Christ, and that of Paul, the true view, but meas- 
 urably one-sided, confused, disjointed, partial. I 
 knew my sin, and confessed it before God, and 
 begged of Him the true and perfect love to be shed 
 abroad in my heart — and that I might contemplate 
 and love all the disciples as He would have me. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XI 
 
 From this time, the love of sect, and the spirit 
 of sectarianism, rapidly declined with me; and 
 some of the more prominent peculiarities of sect — 
 of my own, as well 3s others — grew less weighty 
 and important in my esteem. I found myself in- 
 clining, in an unusual degree, toward the scriptures, 
 and away from human authority, and human sys- 
 tems. I was becoming conscious of less veneration 
 and love for what I could not find satisfactorily es- 
 tablished in the Word of Truth ; and truth I was 
 determined to seek, wherever it might lead me. 
 
 Under these circumstances, it will not appear 
 strange to one who will take the trouble to attend 
 closely to this sketch of a portion of my mental 
 history, that, though in some sense, “ broken up” 
 and confused, I was still not without great consola- 
 tion. The Lord, as I believe, was drawing me away 
 from man nearer to himself. I was emerging, if I 
 do not mistake, into a higher spiritual life — where I 
 was to breathe more freely, and be entertained and 
 delighted with clearer views, and my heart expand- 
 ed with a higher and more catholic love. Hence, 
 though cast down, I was not destroyed — sorrowing, 
 I rejoiced also. H knew that my heart was fixed — 
 though clouds and darkness seemed gathered over 
 me, and the spirit of the storm was breathing 
 
XU 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 mournfully across ’my path. During those sombre 
 days, I could not tell what would become of me, 
 nor whither my weary steps would be led ; and 
 never, I think, did mortal man inquire with more 
 simplicity after the true position, aq4 true ac- 
 tion. < 
 
 At length the meditations of my mind assumed 
 a shape something like the following : I said — is 
 not Christ, after all, among these divided churches ? 
 Do they not include multitudes of disciples as dear 
 to Heaven as any existing upon earth ? Have not a 
 great multitude, in all probability, gone from their 
 ranks • up to the church triumphant ? Even as 
 matters are, is it not true of these several compa- 
 nies of evangelical Christians, that they are a- great 
 and indispensable blessing to the world ? Are they 
 not, though bearing different names, yet accom- 
 plishing much — very much, for the eternal welfare 
 of man ? Are they not as obviously God’s people 
 as any people upon earth ? If we may not find 
 Christ’s church among what are termed the prot- 
 estant and evangelical denominations of Christen- 
 dom, then where shall we go to find that church 
 this side of heaven ? If the all-important test given 
 by Christ, namely, that “ by their fruits ye shall 
 know them,” be of any worth, then is it not as pal- 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 xm 
 
 pable as ‘‘the clear shining after rain,” that if God 
 has not a people among the Establishment and Dis- 
 sent of England, and the great denominations of 
 these United States, then He has, alas ! no people 
 upon earth ? 
 
 Thus far, then, I felt that the ground was sure ; 
 and I longed that these thousands of Gospel minis- 
 ters, and these hundreds of thousands of church 
 members, should come to love as brethren in Christ. 
 I became gradually less agitated about the propriety 
 of remaining connected with one of these divisions 
 of the church catholic — provided I did, in good 
 faith, feel my relation to the above church to be as 
 full and as intimate as one of the apostles may be 
 supposed to have felt his own to be — and provided I 
 loved all Christ’s followers as perfectly as if there 
 were but one denomination — and provided I should 
 esteem my relation to the whole catholic church as 
 incomparably more precious to me than my relation 
 to any sector denomination under heaven. 
 
 It was in this state of mind that I more recently 
 directed my attention to the late catholic assembly 
 in London, and which resulted in the formation of 
 the “ Evangelical Alliance.” On reviewing the his- 
 tory of that meeting, and the transactions and 
 speeches which occurred there, I was again filled 
 
XIV 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 •witli amazement, and such as would be natural after 
 the peculiar exercises of mind to which allusion has 
 been made above. My amazement was two-fold — 
 first, that though, as I thought, interested in that 
 movement at the time, I was, however, so slightly 
 interested, and remained so during two full years ; 
 and secondly, that such multitudes, both in the min- 
 istry and laity, appear to me to have been, and to 
 remain, in very much the same sort and degree of 
 slumber as myself. I contemplated, with new and 
 increased admiration, those noble men, as well of 
 other denominations as of my own, who went from 
 this country to take part in that convocation, and 
 acquitted themselves so much like Christians there ; 
 and as I have thought of these men, I have won- 
 dered what must have been, and what must continue 
 to be, their emotions, on finding so little apparent 
 sympathy from the multitudes of Christians in this 
 land. And I have wished it might be my privilege 
 to lie at their feet, and beg their forgiveness for my 
 own obtuseness in respect to the effort in which they 
 were so piously and intelligently interested. In re- 
 gard to the effort of 1846, and the subsequent ef- 
 forts, to lead on a new spiritual and Christian state 
 of feeling and action among the different divisions 
 of Christians, I appear to myself to have been like 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 XV 
 
 the heath in the deseit, not knowing when good 
 cometh. I trust to have partially aAvoke at length, 
 and my feeble utterances are recorded in this book. 
 Whether the humble effort here submitted, or any 
 other effort I may still be led to make, shall seem 
 at all to atone for my previous deficiency, I cannot 
 determine. In writing thus, I pray to be under- 
 stood as not assuming to possess any special influ- 
 ence. All gospel ministers do exert a certain 
 amount of influence, and it is simply as one of these, 
 though feeling myself to be the least, that I have 
 spoken as above. 
 
 Greatly desirous that the humble offering here- 
 with presented to the noble cause of catholic union 
 and charity may not prove entirely useless, I now 
 beg leave, with these introductory remarks and 
 explanations, prayerfully to pass it over to tho 
 Christian public. 
 
m 
 
 
 
 
 • ) 
 
 j ■. ' 
 
CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 ESSENTIAL UNION OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 The church of Christ is one, 
 
 I seem to myself to be well-nigh ashamed to 
 write such a sentence as the above. As if there 
 could be any doubt of the essential unity of the 
 Saviour’s followers ! No such doubt is expressed, 
 indeed, but what is the feeling ? Does the 
 member of a given denomination or sect actual- 
 ly feel himself to be one with all Christians of 
 every name 1 Does he love all as he loves those 
 of his own sect 1 Is there not in his mind and 
 heart some consciousness of separation between 
 himself and those of another denomination *? Do 
 all division lines between Christians sink out of 
 his sight, and out of mind 1 And does he sur- 
 vey all as one great and goodly fellowship of 
 disciples, utterly irrespective of the denomina- 
 tional epithets which they bear 1 
 
 Inquiries like these may, perhaps, suggest to 
 
18 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION, 
 
 US that even if it be a truism to assert that the 
 church of Christ is one, it is yet a truism which 
 needs to he repeated, and even to be illustrated. 
 
 We accordingly proceed, without apology, to 
 exhibit in some particulars the actual unity of 
 the church of Christ. 
 
 1. This church is one, of course, in respect 
 to its Head, The Lord Jesus Christ is the 
 Head of the church. He is the great Shep- 
 herd of all the sheep. And not only is this 
 true as an absolute fact — Christ is so recog- 
 ^nized by every Christian of every name. The 
 Messiah — the Christ of the New Testament — is 
 the fully acknowledged Head — acknowledged 
 thus, not merely by every Christian organiza- 
 tion, but by every individual disciple. There 
 is not one • of them, in whatever division of the 
 church, or of the wide world, that does not look 
 to Him as their Prophet, Priest, King, and Sa-, 
 viour, and who does not, like Thomas, reach 
 forth his hands Christward, saying, My Lord 
 and my God !” As a flock, all Christians have 
 and acknowledge one Shepherd ; as an army, 
 they all have and acknowledge one Captain ; as 
 sinners saved, they trust in one Saviour ; as a 
 building, they have one corner-stone ; as a body, 
 they recognize one head. Whether they look at 
 each other, and acknowledge each other, or not, 
 yet every eye centres upon Christ, and He is 
 Lord of all. 
 
ESSENTIAL UNION OF THE CHURCH. 19 
 
 2. The Church of Christ is one in respect to 
 the hihle. Among all the sects and divisions 
 of protestant Christendom may be seen the same 
 bible, at once recognized and acknowledged by all 
 in common. Every disciple, as he looks upon that 
 book, affirms it to have been given by the inspi- 
 ration of God, and to be profitable for doctrine, 
 for reproof, for correction, for instruction in 
 righteousness, that the man of God may be per- 
 fect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 
 Each one putting his eye upon the bible, agrees 
 that it is the only and sufficient rule of faith and 
 practice. It is true, there is not an entire one- 
 ness of interpretation in respect to all and every 
 point. Such an entire oneness, it is likely, may 
 not exist with any two minds. Yet there it is, 
 the one inspired, acknowledged book of the dis- 
 ciples, the one inspired, acknowledged rule of 
 life. The bible that lies on my table, wherein 
 I read and meditate for eternity, is the identical 
 bible of all protestant Christendom, the bible 
 substantially of those professed churches who 
 have ventured upon the unhallowed work of cor- 
 rupting the word of God. 
 
 3. The church of Christ is one in respect to 
 saving faith. Every disciple of every name, 
 and in every country, looks for mercy and par- 
 don through Christ alone. They all fall into 
 the same arms, trust in the same grace, plant 
 their feet upon the same rock. Go where you 
 
20 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 will, and to whatever Christian, and inquire of 
 him the ground of his hope of eternal life, and 
 the answer is one. There is not even an appa- 
 rent discord. Christ is the common founda- 
 tion ; they are all sons and daughters “ after 
 the common faith.” One and the same link 
 unites them to the great source of life and sal- 
 vation. All of them retire from self, all look 
 to Christ that they may be saved. 
 
 .4. So the church of Christ is one in essen 
 tial doctrine generally ; that is, in the doctrine 
 which is essential to salvation. This all-im- 
 portant fact is, I believe, generally conceded. 
 Hence, while there is the melancholy fact of 
 different and distinct denominations, there is 
 also, however, the pleasant recognition of 
 “ evangelical” denominations. By this lan- 
 guage, Christians of various names concede that 
 essential truth is not confined to any single sect 
 or family of professing Christians. It is doubt- 
 ful whether, throughout evangelical Christen- 
 dom, one hundred bigots could be found, who, 
 in their minds, confine essential truths to their 
 own denomination. But whether this be so, or 
 not, is not to our point. The fact is, the truth 
 indispensable to save, is, blessed be God, with 
 each of the great denominations of protestant 
 Christians. In this most important sense, they 
 are all of one faith^^^ as well as of one Lord. 
 The bible, in great and essential matters, is a 
 
ESSENTIAL UNION OF THE CHURCH. 21 
 
 piain book, and tbe truly sincere and simple- 
 hearted need not err or differ here. And they 
 do not. Touching all those matters on which a 
 good man would wish to think and speak when 
 upon his dying bed, there is no difference in the 
 great church catholic. 
 
 5. The church of Christ is one in baptism^ 
 Not in respect to who are the proper subjects, 
 or what the proper mode, do we mean, but it is 
 one in baptism itself. There is oneness in re- 
 spect to its initiatory and symbolical character, 
 oneness in looking through it and beyond it to 
 that higher baptism, the baptism of the Holy 
 Ghost and of fire. Toward this “ one baptism,’^ 
 the eyes of the whole church militant are 
 turned. Without this there is no expectation of 
 good ; the dry bones are universally expected to 
 remain dry ; the dead in trespasses and sins, to 
 remain in their deaths. 
 
 6. Hence the church of Christ is one in 
 prayer. Let any one set himself to compare 
 the public and social prayers of ministers and 
 Christians of different denominations. Suppose 
 them to be written^ so that they could be read 
 side by side with each other, and what would be 
 the difference 1 A difference of style 1 True. 
 A difference in comprehensiveness 1 It may be. 
 A difference in arrangement or order I Exactly 
 so. A difference in thought and spirit I Scarce- 
 ly nothing of this sort of difference. They have 
 
22 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 learned to pray and praise from the same divine 
 forms. They hi|,ve been baptized into the same 
 spirit. The heart of Christ is the common cen- 
 tre of all their holy impulses and longings. In 
 his awful and blessed presence, they all mingle 
 into one. Cold and cheerless distance is for- 
 gotten ; speculative differences die out of mind, 
 while there is one common struggle for the great 
 salvation. Oh, if, amid the tribes of Israel, 
 there -were more praying and praising, and less 
 disputing and dogmatizing, then might we look 
 immediately for the crumbling of division walls, 
 and a spiritual and holy coalescing among the 
 ranks of God. 
 
 7. The church of Christ is one in hope. He 
 that shall read the hope of one pious spirit — no 
 matter of wTat name or sect — reads at the same 
 time the hope of the whole community of disci- 
 ples. Not only is the foundation identical, the 
 object is one and the same. It is ‘‘the hope of 
 eternal life’’ that is actuating and animating, as 
 by one universal impulse, the follow^ers of the 
 Lamb ; which hope they all have as an anchor 
 of the soul, both sure and steadfast. Quench 
 this great idea and expectation, and you at once 
 lay prostrate every Christian upon earth. The 
 same dread sensation would shock all hearts, 
 and palsy every arm. 
 
 8. The church of Christ is one in fear. 
 Every Christian, wherever he belongs, fears 
 
ESSENTIAL UNION OF THE CHURCH. 23 
 
 God — fears Him witli a I 10 I 3 ", abiding, and all- 
 controlling fear. In view of any particular act, 
 whether visible or invisible, they all inquire. 
 Is this pleasing to God They fear to offend 
 Him. His fear in the heart, is one of the grand 
 characteristics marking every child of God. Im- 
 agine any overt sin, as lying, fraud, unclean- 
 ness. profaneness, and imagine a temptation to 
 such a sin to be placed before five Christians, 
 of as many denominations, and who does not 
 see that the principle of their resistance is one 
 and the same I In other words, they are one 
 in fearing God ; in preferring to die rather than 
 to offend Him. The entire multitude of pious 
 ones are God-fearing people, while tliis high 
 and cardinal principle has no recognition what- 
 ever of sectarian limits. 
 
 9. The church of Christ is one in love. All 
 Christians love God, and the things of God, and 
 the people of God. This love may differ in 
 degree, but such a difference has no relation to 
 denominational lines. If there is a difference 
 in the degree of this love between two persons 
 of different sects, it is no greater than a thou- 
 sand similar differences in the same sect. Such 
 a distinction bespeaks only degrees of piety, 
 and not at all a variety of denomination. And 
 then this love is one in kind. It is the same 
 holy, spiritual, delightful affection, whether in 
 one family of Christians or another. Who may 
 
24 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 have contemplated the love that glowed in the 
 heart of Leighton the bishop, of Fletcher the 
 Methodist, and of Edwards the Congregation- 
 alist, and failed to perceive that this love was 
 identical — three kindred flames, kindled at the 
 same altar, emitting the same glorious brillian- 
 cy, and towering upward toward the same God, 
 and the same heaven 1 Might these same 
 flames have approached each other, they would 
 have commingled as suddenly as delightfully, 
 and their united offering would have rolled up 
 as sweet incense before the throne. 
 
 10. So, also, is the church of Christ one in 
 the opposite sentiment of hatred. Every Chris- 
 tian, regardless of his name or country, hates sin 
 and wickedness. In everyone of Christ’s mem- 
 bers, there is the same kind of hostility toward 
 the works of Satan, and the crimes of wicked 
 men. They, without exception, hate Avhat 
 Christ hates — all have undergone a similar re- 
 newal of their affections, and have been made to 
 drink, measurably, into the same spirit. They 
 have all had the godly sorrow that worketh re- 
 pentance, and wmat carefulness hath it wrought in 
 them — yea, what clearing of themselves — yea, 
 what indignation — yea, what fear — yea, what 
 revenge ! 
 
 11. The church of Christ is one in suffer- 
 ings. Do not all true Christians have similar 
 trials and conflicts I Are they not engaged in 
 
ESSENTIAL U])TION OF THE CHURCH. 25 
 
 the same warfare against sin, whether existing 
 in themselves, or in others ? Have they not 
 common tears as they look out upon the wicked- 
 ness of this world, and the waste places and 
 desolations of Zion 1 Are there not the same 
 hatred and the same persecutions from an un- 
 godly world toward all faithful Christians, of 
 w^hatever name or country ? Is not the cross 
 laid upon every child of God ? Must not all 
 endure, all deny themselves, all fight the good 
 fight of faith, all give up the world, all run with 
 patience the race set before them 1 Of all Chris- 
 tians is it not true, in an important sense, and in 
 / every age, that it is through much tribulation 
 they must enter into the kingdom of God 1 Can 
 any Christian take up, only for a moment, the 
 biography of another Christian, no matter what 
 the sect, and not read there the story of his own 
 trials and sorrows ? But enough upon a point 
 so plain. 
 
 12. Equally true is it that the church of 
 Christ is one in joy. The “joy of faith” is 
 the common property of all the pious. All be- 
 ing built upon the same foundation, they all re- 
 joice in Christ Jesus ; they are comforted by 
 His Spirit. His peace He gives unto them all, 
 and not as the world giveth. At every triumph 
 of righteousness along this fallen world, the joy 
 of the whole Christian community is the same. 
 At every repentance and conversion, the rejoic- 
 
26 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 ing of the whole church, so far as such repent- 
 ance is known, is in sympathy with the joy of 
 angels. The identity of the church’s rejoicing 
 is, in fact, as real as that of their prayers, their 
 hopes, their fears, their faith, and their love. 
 
 13. The church of Christ is one in object and 
 effort. Call up what is in the eye of any genu- 
 ine member of the church of Christ, and when 
 you have found it, you have found what is the 
 object and aim of every other true disciple upon 
 earth. Does one of Christ’s followers seek to 
 save himself and others ? So does every one ; 
 nor need you ask after his sect or nation. The 
 purpose of Christ himself is the purpose of all 
 His people. Watch, for one day, that faithful 
 Congregational minister. See him as he is kneel- 
 ing early before God. Listen and hear /rhat he 
 is saying in his prayer. Mark him turning over 
 his bible, comparing scripture with scripture — 
 then sketching down his best thoughts. Notice 
 him as he, now and then, rises from his chair 
 and walks his study — his heart, and hands, and 
 eyes, all uplifted toward heaven. Watch him 
 as he goes out, by and by ; follow him into those 
 houses, and listen as he speaks to various classes 
 of persons. Go with him into his conference- 
 room — hear his instructions, exhortations, pray- 
 ers. On the next day, follow, with the same 
 scrutiny, a pious Episcopalian, a Baptist, or 
 Methodist minister, and when you shall have 
 
ESSENTIAL UNION OF THE CHURCH. 2T 
 
 compared the two, or, if you please, the four, 
 then set yourself to ascertain, if possible, the 
 difference, as it respects the aim and efforts of 
 those godly men. It is true that, some how, the;^ 
 bear different names, and they move in different 
 circles, and, on the Sabbath, pass into different 
 places of worship, yet, after all, they are as sub- 
 stantially alike in spirit, in effort, in purpose, as 
 if all the four were of the same order ; in other 
 words, as if these same four men had been con- 
 temporaries of Paul, instead of living in an age 
 of divisions. Or pass to history. Somewhat 
 more than one hundred years ago, there was an 
 uncommon reviving of religion on both sides of 
 the Atlantic, bearing, in its progress and phe- 
 nomena, very striking marks of similarity. John 
 Wesley, that stout Arminian, was a prominent 
 agent in the one revival, and Jonathan Edwards, 
 that prince of Calvinism, a distinguished actor 
 in the other. The two champions seemed wide 
 apart in some of their speculative notions, they 
 were divided in some subordinate sense, while yet 
 they were one in the all-important sense. They 
 strove alike for the furtherance of the gospel. 
 They were at entire harmony as it respected the 
 great purpose of life, and the efforts to be made 
 for a world’s salvation. The same is true of all 
 Christ’s faithful ones. 
 
 14. By their fruits ye shall know them.” 
 The church of Christ being one in purpose and 
 
28 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 effort, are one, also, in character. They are all 
 born of the Spirit ; old things have passed away, 
 all things are become new. It is needless to 
 speak of names and parties ; it is true of every 
 Christian upon earth, that he has put off the old 
 man with his affections and lusts, and has put 
 on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge 
 after the image of Him who created him. They 
 have all drunk of the same spiritual rock. 
 The image of Christ, to a greater or less extent, 
 is enstamped upon each. Is sin your greatest 
 distress, and are you daily laboring to grow up 
 into Christ, your living head, in all things 1 So 
 is it with your brother and sister of another de- 
 nomination. 
 
 15. And being one in character, it follows 
 that the church of Christ is one in respect to ' 
 relation. Come out from among them, and 
 be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing, 
 and I will receive you, and be a F ather unto you, 
 and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the 
 Lord Almighty.’’ Such is the high and com- 
 mon relation of all that have come to Christ. 
 Their denominational epithet comes not once 
 into the account. They are all children of 
 God, not by virtue of sect or creed, but by 
 faith in Christ Jesus. Human names, human 
 leaders or parties, have nothing to do with this 
 great matter ; for there is neither Greek nor 
 Jew, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free 3 but 
 
ESSENTIAL UNION OF THE CHURCH. 29 
 
 Christ is all and in all. With what amazing em- 
 phasis, therefore, comes home to every one the 
 injunction, saying, Take heed that ye despise 
 not one of these little ones.’’ And many of such 
 “ little ones,” owned and loved of God, are 
 scattered abroad over the world. If ye will find 
 them, forget all human classifications, and all 
 the sad prejudices of sect, all the partialities 
 and antipathies that have grown up with your 
 growth. Look up to God for a purified vision, 
 that you may see clearly, and judge impartially, 
 and if ye find any that love our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, then, as to your own brethren and sisters 
 in Christ, pronounce, “ Grace be with you all !” 
 
 16. Finally, the church of Christ is one in 
 respect to their eternal home. Does any intel- 
 ligent Christian doubt that Robert Hall, Bishop 
 Griswold, Dr. Payson, and Wilbur Fisk have 
 gone up to the same paradise ? Whatever might 
 have been once their speculative differences, is 
 not their final and everlasting home the same 1 
 And is it not just as certain that all Christians 
 of this generation, and of whatever name, are 
 passing to the same glorious and immortal rest 1 
 Are there not ministers of Christ now laboring 
 near each other with but little intercourse, be- 
 cause a carnal barricade is reared between them ? 
 And yet these same ministers will, in some 
 forthcoming day, love each other better far than 
 Jonathan and David ever loved. “ Father, I 
 
30 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 will tliat those whom thou hast given me be with 
 me where I am, that they may behold my glory.” 
 And not a disciple on earth contemplates that 
 when that innumerable company shall assemble 
 in heaven, there will be any thing to hurt” like 
 those sad divisions and separations which, in 
 this dark world, so afflict the church of God, 
 and grieve the heart of Him who loves all his 
 chosen ones. Blessed be the thought of that 
 
 goodly fellowship” that is certainly to be one 
 of the precious facts in the history of eternal 
 redemption ! There ' shall be no night there. 
 Each intellect will be cloudless ; each heart will 
 be sinless ; each character will be altogether' 
 lovely. 
 
 The church of Christ, then, is one — origin- 
 ally, essentially, and eternally one. The lines 
 of division that are seen running hither and 
 thither through the body, all these, be it remem-' 
 bered, are human, and carnal, and wrong. They 
 bespeak the footsteps and workings of evil, and 
 Christ the Lord has no fellowship for them, no 
 participation in them. “ Neither pray I for 
 these alone, but for them also, which shall be- 
 lieve on me through their word, that they all 
 may be one.” 
 
VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 81 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 
 
 From tlie closing remarks of the preceding 
 section, I have betrayed my opinion that the 
 visible as well as the actual and essential unity 
 of the church of Christ was the will of its great 
 Founder and Head. The reasons for such an 
 opinion shall now be given. 
 
 1. And first, the actual unity already shown, 
 seems of itself a conclusive consideration. For 
 has Christ formed the hearts of his disciples 
 thus alike, and chosen at the same time that 
 they should be divided up into parties or sects, 
 on the ground of disagreement in non-essential 
 truths'? Behold God’s people scattered up and 
 down this Avorld. They are passing through 
 their brief pilgrimage toward their heavenly and 
 everlasting home. They all acknowledge the 
 same Head, the same rule of life, the same foun- 
 dation of hope, the same cardinal doctrines, the 
 same spiritual baptism. Their hopes and fears, 
 their love and hatred, their sufferings and joys, 
 their prayers and praises are one and the same. 
 
32 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 Their purpose of life, their characters, their 
 efforts and labors are one. They bear the same 
 high and holy relation, and all are destined to 
 the same eternal and happy home. All these 
 important considerations, and more besides, agree 
 in this great company — an agreement designed 
 and secured by the glorious Saviour and Master. 
 Now who can believe that with such an actual 
 unity a visible division was at the same time 
 chosen and willed ; a division precluding almost 
 all intercourse between the several sections ; 
 nor stopping there, but accompanied, often, by 
 a most painful expenditure and waste of time in 
 thriftless controversies, and thus engendering 
 alienation, coldness, distrust, severity of judg- 
 ment among those who should love each other 
 with a love which many waters might not 
 quench. 
 
 Is such the usual mamier of God’s ordering 7 
 Where else, in whatever province of his work- 
 ings, may be seen a similar manifestation and 
 phenomenon 7 Refer to the different parts of 
 the human body, a source of imagery, by the 
 way, of repeated use by inspiration, for illus- 
 trating this very subject of the church’s unity. 
 But is there not a visible division of the human 
 body 7 Nothing at all of such division as cor- 
 responds to the existing divisions of the church 
 catholic. There are different powers, and for 
 different purposes, just as there are divers ca- 
 
VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 33 
 
 pacities, and adapted to different ends, in every 
 individual church or congregation. But, like 
 that same church or congregation, the different 
 faculties of the human system are still a unity.- 
 There is still one body.’’ There is nothing 
 contrarious and conflicting. * The union is as 
 visible as it is real, and real as it is visible. 
 Thus, if one member suffers, all the members 
 suffer with it ; or, if one rejoices, all the others 
 rejoice with it, and in perfect and absolute sym- 
 pathy. But what sort of a body would that be, 
 that might fully image forth the visible position 
 of the church of Christ 1 I tremble and sicken, 
 as I venture a look toward such an exhibition. 
 What if, by some strange miracle, a human 
 body, from its natural and beautiful unity, 
 should suddenly become visibly separated into 
 divers parts, with as many minds, yet sufficiently 
 hanging together by some slight hgaments, espe- 
 cially by the common union of the dissevered 
 portions to the head, as to constitute it obvi- 
 ously one body. Imagine, further, that the 
 head is the principal mind, and influences, more 
 or less, all the subordinate minds of the mem- 
 bers. Imagine, yet further, that a long journey, 
 and fraught with most important consequences, 
 were stretching itself before that curious body. 
 The principal mind, we will suppose, strikes 
 forward, and purposes the performance of the 
 tour, and the securing of the glorious results. 
 
34 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 But the union of the members with each other, 
 and of each member to the common head, is too 
 feeble for any combined effort. Each foot pro- 
 poses to go its own way, and without any par- 
 ticular co-operation with its fellow. If the path 
 is rugged and steep, each part of the body 
 selects independently its own means of progress. 
 Instead of the hands and feet acting in harmo- 
 ny, and aiding each other up the declivity, one 
 arm di*aws to the right, the other to the left ; 
 one foot strains for the ascent, while the other 
 is lying motionless upon the rock. In the pro- 
 gress of the journey a powerful enemy besets 
 this strange and anomalous body, and seeks by 
 day and by night to compass its utter destruc- 
 tion. It would seem that every part and divi- 
 sion must now harmonize and combine against 
 the common and destructive foe. One and an- 
 other of the members are wounded by the ene- 
 my’s weapons ; yet the others, so slight is the 
 connection, feel but little pain at seeing the 
 blood and anguish of their wounded companions. 
 Nay, in the very presence of their common ad- 
 versary, they take their eyes away from him, 
 and begin to charge upon each other, and, in 
 the most melancholy manner, worry and afflict 
 and weaken each other, thus rendering them- 
 selves, and the whole body, a more easy prey to 
 the destroyer, 
 
 I will thank the critic not to dissect my par- 
 
VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 35 
 
 able too closely. If it may help to impress the 
 sadness, the absurdity, of the visible divisions 
 in the church of Christ, my object is gained in 
 raising such a chimera. For did God ever order 
 such a monster in nature 1 Never ; and never, 
 as certainly, did He ever order in his church 
 the present separations, and the too often bellig- 
 erent divisions existing there. He has given 
 all real Christians the same blessed spirit, work- 
 ing in them the same character, and He wills 
 that there be no division or schism, visible or 
 invisible, but that speaking the truth in love, 
 they may grow up into Him in all things which 
 is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole 
 body fitly joined together, and compacted by 
 that which every joint supplieth, according to 
 the effectual working in the measure of every 
 part, maketh increase of the body unto the edi- 
 fying of itself in love. 
 
 2. The original church was visibly one. 
 
 The Christian church commenced its exist- 
 ence under the ministry of Christ himself. The 
 number of those who came to him, trusted in 
 him as the Saviour of sinners, and became his 
 disciples, is unknown, nor is it essential. There 
 were the twelve apostles, the seventy also,” 
 and we read of “ above five hundred brethren ” 
 who saw the Lord after his resurrection. These 
 first disciples constituted, with their divine 
 Head, the original Christian church, and that 
 
36 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 this church, during Christ’s personal ministry, . 
 was visibly one, none,- of course, will call in 
 question. There is no more sign of divisions 
 among those “ little ones,” than of party lines 
 in the same household of well-trained and obe- 
 dient children. The only line of distinction 
 which we recognize, is that between the disciples 
 and “the world.” “I have manifested thy 
 name unto the men whom thou hast given me 
 out of the world. * * I pray for them ; I pray 
 not for the world, but for them that thou hast 
 given me. ^ ^ Holy Father, keep through 
 thine own name those whom thou hast given 
 me, that they may be one as we are !” The 
 denominations that existed in the time of Christ 
 on earth, and when he uttered this prayer, were 
 two only, namely, the disciples and the world ; 
 and the disciples were one and undivided. 
 
 During the interval from the ascension to 
 the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, the 
 union w^as unbroken ; and on the morning of 
 that day they were all with one accord in one 
 place. The great revival that ensued, affected 
 the union of the church only to strengthen it, 
 for all that believed were together^ and had all 
 things common, and they continued daily with 
 one accord. The same phenomenon is seen 
 still more clearly and emphatically in the second 
 outpouring of the Spirit, shortly after. For as 
 they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and 
 
VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 37 
 
 spake the word of God with boldness, it is im- 
 mediately written that the multitude of them 
 that believed were of one heart and of one soul; 
 a description answering, as nearly as we can im- 
 agine, to the prayer of Christ above recorded, 
 for the perfect union of his followers. 
 
 Passing still further along, we come to the 
 days where the number of the disciples was mul- 
 tiplied,” and when the twelve assembled the 
 multitude for a special and important purpose. 
 (Acts vi.) The address of the apostles, on that 
 occasion, pleased the whole multitude. And 
 still the word of God increased, and the number 
 of believers multiplied in Jerusalem greatly, and 
 a great company of the priests were obedient to 
 the faith. But still there is but one denomina- 
 tion — the disciples. In connection with Ste- 
 phen’s martyrdom, there arose a great perse- 
 cution, not against churches or parties, but 
 against the church f the one church, which was 
 at Jerusalem ; and Saul’s havoc was a havoc 
 of the church;” and though the persecution 
 scattered them widely, yet were they still the one 
 united church of the Lord Jesus. From this 
 time, through the faithful preaching of the scat- 
 tered ones, the Lord working with them, church- 
 es arose in various parts, and Gentiles, as well as 
 Jews, in multitudes became disciples of the Cru- 
 cified. Saul of Tarsus, in a better sense than 
 Saul the ancient, is suddenly found among the 
 
38 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 prophets, and is launched away on his strong 
 career of evangelism, and from Jerusalem round 
 about to Illyricum, he fully preaches the gospel 
 of Christ ; while under his labors, and those of 
 the other apostles, multitudes of churches arise 
 over the pagan world. But those churches are 
 still one. The prayer of Christ is still answered 
 when praying for his apostles and original dis- 
 ciples, he adds, “ Neither pray I for these alone, 
 but for them, also, which shall believe on me 
 through their word, that they all may be one.’’ 
 In the church of Christ, Jew and Gentile, great as 
 was their former distance from each other, min- 
 gled into one. Thus, after speaking of his flock 
 gathered from Israel, the great Shepherd sub- 
 joins, saying, And other sheep I have which 
 are not of this fold. Them, also, I must bring, 
 and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be 
 one fold and one shepherd.” The apostle ac- 
 cordingly writes that among the heirs of prom- 
 ise, “ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is 
 neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor 
 female ; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” 
 
 “ Oh ! how dear was the unity of His disciples 
 to the heart of Christ ! How prominent is this 
 thought in his prayer for his church ! The one 
 Shepherd sought one fold, where every jarring 
 string should be silent forever where the per- 
 fect oneness and love of the church militant. 
 
VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 39 
 
 should antedate the blissful concord and harmo- 
 ny of eternity. 
 
 In further illustration of the visible unity of 
 the original church, the instructions of the apos- 
 tle Paul to the Corinthians is strikingly to the 
 point. It appears that the spirit of faction early 
 crept into the Corinthian church, growing out 
 of their adherence to favorite teachers and 
 I preachers, after the manner of the disciples of 
 Jewish leaders, as well as those of the pagan 
 philosophers. In other words, the church came 
 j into a state of division, and such division began 
 to be not merely real and actual, but visible also. 
 
 I That pure spiritual and visible union answering 
 to the prayer of Christ became jarred. As the 
 tidings of this state of things came to the ears of 
 the apostle, the action he at once took on the 
 subject should receive the careful attention of 
 every Christian upon earth. No sooner does he, 
 in his epistle, finish his courteous salutation in- 
 troductory, than he seizes, in direct and strong 
 I attack, upon the jarring commencing among 
 [ these disciples. It seems to be the great anxi- 
 ; ety struggling in his heart. He sees the kind- 
 
 t ling fire, and hastens to 'quench it if he may. 
 
 [; Great is his emotion, for he feels that great con- 
 1 sequences are involved. Hear him for the sake 
 I of Christ, and his church. Now I beseech 
 I you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus 
 j Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and 
 
40 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 that there be no divisions among you, but that 
 ye be perfectly joined together in the same 
 mind and in the same judgment.” Who, on 
 reading this pressing and remarkable exhorta- 
 tion, does not see, without a veil, the visible 
 unity of the primitive church? Such an ad- 
 dress bespeaks to us that divisions” were not 
 the order of the day among the early followers 
 of Christ. They were rather the dreadful excep- 
 tions to the general rule — a startling anomaly 
 rising up in the church like the genius of ruin — 
 foul spirits that required to be laid suddenly, 
 and effectually, and forever. “ I beseech you ! 
 — I beseech you, hrethren ! — I beseech you, 
 brethren, hy the name of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ Oh ! that the apostolic entreaty 
 might still thunder and echo along the ranks of 
 Christ’s frail and feeble disciples ! But what 
 is the occasion of this strenuous address of the 
 apostle to the Corinthian Christians ? He shall 
 speak for himself. For it hath been declared 
 unto me of you, my brethren, of them which are 
 of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions 
 among you. Now this I say, that every one of 
 you saith, I am of Paul, and I of Apollos, and 
 I of Cephas, and I of Christ. Is Christ di- 
 vided?” Think of this question, ye “several 
 sects.” But how does the apostle treat this 
 condition of things ? What saith he to the di- 
 vided ones ? “Ye are yet carnal; for whereas 
 
VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 41 
 
 there is among you envying, and strife, and di- 
 vision, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 
 For while one saith ^ I am of Paul,’ and another, 
 ^ I am of Apollos,’ are ye not carnal ? Who, 
 then, is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers 
 by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to 
 every man ?” What, then, of visible divisions 
 among Christians, divisions into parties and 
 sects, and naturally involving coldness, strife, 
 or envying ? It is carnal. It is purely of this 
 world, and partakes not in the smallest degree 
 of the true spiritual nature and baptism. It is 
 uninspired, a foreign element, a spirit of earth, 
 and has no place in that kingdom which is de- 
 clared to be not of this world. 
 
 But how does the apostolic voice call back 
 the discordant disciples to peace and oneness ? 
 By elevating before their eyes that which is as 
 much better than division as the ocean is vaster 
 than the rivulets that flow into it, or as immor- 
 tality is superior to the pleasures of an hour. 
 
 Let no man glory in men. For all things are 
 yours. Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, 
 or the world, or life, or death, or things present, 
 or things to come, all are yours, and ye are 
 Christ’s.” After an assurance like this, and 
 given under such circumstances, who can ever 
 suffer division more ? 
 
 Thus we have glanced at the apostolic atti- 
 tude in respect to church divisions in a single 
 
42 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 instance. In addition, it may be sufficient, in 
 this place, to remind the reader that the same 
 attitude is conspicuous in all the epistles of the 
 New Testament, and down to the latest whisper 
 from lips inspired. Every heavenly breath calls 
 to union of heart and effort, and prompts the 
 heirs of salvation to rise from the carnal and the 
 discordant, into the spiritual and harmonious. 
 From recorded inspiration there comes forth a 
 voice pealing on the ears cf all Christians, and 
 the sum thereof is, “Let there be no divisions 
 among you, but be ye all of one heart and one 
 mind, striving together for the faith of the 
 gospel.’’ 
 
 Thus was it true that the original church of 
 Christ is declared to be one ; that when divi- 
 sions arose, they were, by inspired interference, 
 promptly and utterly discountenanced and con- 
 demned ; and that the inspired influence, in re- 
 spect to Christian union, was the same so long 
 as that influence was given. The original 
 church, then, was visibly one, and not divided 
 by sects. 
 
 But I blush in presence of the conclusion 
 which, after so much labor, I have written. For 
 who ever doubted so plain a thing? Still, a 
 slight review of the facts specified will not in- 
 jure the Christian ; it may even yield a holy 
 and healing influence. 
 
 But if the original and apostolic church was 
 
VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 43 
 
 one, and was throughout the world undivided 
 by sect or denomination, what does such a fact 
 indicate touching the' will of Christ in respect 
 to the perpetuity of, such union 7 Did He con- 
 template future alterations of church regimen, 
 and a division into divers rival sects, in order, 
 as some appear to believe, that by their very 
 rivalry and friction, the triumphs of His kingdom 
 might be hastened ? God forbid I The weap- 
 ons of the Christian warfare are still not carnal. 
 Union is strength forever ; division is weak- 
 ness eternally. And He who in the beginning 
 saw fit to form His church a union, union act- 
 ual and visible, has not, down to this very cen- 
 tre of the nineteenth century, altered His plan 
 a whit, or deigned a solitary smile at one of all 
 man’s fancied improvements upon His perfect 
 and matchless workings. 
 
 3. The whole nature of the case goes to con- 
 vince us that the church’s visible unity was the 
 mind and will of its ever-blessed Head and Au- 
 thor. 
 
 Select a few out of a multitude of fects, for 
 the sake of illustration. 
 
 (1.) Christ’s people are to love each other. 
 Nor is this love to be any common affection of 
 the heart. It is to be, as wm have seen before, 
 a love stronger than life. They are to be fol- 
 lowers of God as dear children, and walk in 
 love as Christ also hath loved them. Their 
 
44 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 hearts are to be knit together in love. Loving 
 each other is made a capital evidence whereby 
 they may know that they have passed from 
 death to life ; while it is plainly declared that 
 he who loveth not his brother abideth in death. 
 John, in showing the love of Christ in laying 
 down his life for, his people, adds, that “ we 
 ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 
 
 Now a love like this being the established 
 duty, as well as beautiful privilege of all Chris- 
 tians, w'ho can believe that Christ ever designed 
 a state of visible division, whose direct influence 
 is, and ever has been, to smother, and in multi- 
 tudes of cases to quench utterly, that heavenly 
 flame 1 What father, designing and requiring 
 that his children should love each other as bro- 
 thers and sisters should do, would partition 
 them ofi* into several divisions or parties ; and 
 under such circumstances that the different 
 groups would naturally see each other but sel- 
 dom, become almost strangers to each other, 
 have very little conversation or correspondence, 
 save su^ as might be controversial, and tend 
 rather to alienation and aversion than to harmo- 
 ny and' affection ? Would it not be morally 
 certain that this father’s measures would fail to 
 bring to pass the end in view ? Nay, that they 
 would be strikingly adapted rather to interfere, 
 directly and fatally, with the fulflllment of his 
 requirement ? A wise and good father, design- 
 
VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 45 
 
 ing and enjoining true and ardent affection in 
 his children toward each other, hastens, on the 
 other hand, to break up every dividing line that 
 may have been drawn among those children. 
 He carefully discourages every tendency to ex- 
 clusiveness. He promptly checks all unpleasant 
 disputes, and he is ever attracting to union, and 
 hushing to peace. But God is infinitely wiser 
 and better than men, and it is certain He who 
 requires mutual and perfect love of all his sons 
 and daughters, never ordered or approved a vis- 
 ible division into strict and oft opposing parties, 
 one of the directest means of preventing the 
 love which he has demanded. 
 
 (2.) Christ would exhibit His church as an 
 example of holy affection and brotherhood to the 
 world of mankind. In this deeply important 
 aspect, as well as in others, are Christians to be 
 the light of the world, and permit their light so 
 to shine before the world as that men may see 
 their good works and glorify their Father who 
 is in heaven. Nor need it be asserted here that 
 the example presented to the world, of love and 
 union, is an example of great power, furnishing 
 to multitudes one of the most convincing argu- 
 ments for the divinity of the Christian religion. 
 If Christ’s disciples shall compel all surround- 
 ing- spectators to exclaim, Behold how these 
 Christians love one another !” such a demonstra- 
 tion shall aid wonderfully in persuading thou- 
 
46 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 sands to join the standard of the cross. He 
 ■who "was before an unbeliever, coming in “is 
 comdnced of all, is judged of all ; and so falling 
 down on his face he will worship God, and re- 
 peat that God is in you of a truth.’’ But alas 
 for the example before an unbelieving world, of 
 a divided church ! It is only necessary to say 
 here that its influence is the dreadful opposite 
 of what has just been delineated, and furnishes 
 one of the most prominent excuses of worldly 
 men for dispensing with all attention to religion. 
 Thus it comes to pass that, so far as visible di- 
 •vision goes, it is darkness rather than light to 
 the eyes of men. “Is Christ divided?” No; 
 never. Nor could He ever have divided His 
 dear children. 
 
 (3.) All Christians are to walk by the same 
 rule. The same general duties belong to the 
 whole body of Christ’s followers. It has been 
 seen above that Christians are one in respect to 
 the bible. All acknowledge the same blessed 
 revelation. And then, on the other hand, the 
 bible speaks to every one. Christ spake to all, 
 as well as prayed for all. The apostles speak 
 to all, and write for no parties. Had Christ 
 designed divisions in his church, whether essen- 
 tial or visible, would he not have provided sev- 
 eral distinct rules ? If there be one rule, and 
 one only, how could there have been in His 
 mind distinct and even opposing sects and par- 
 
VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 47 
 
 ties 1 There could obviously have been no such 
 thing. The one hihle of Christendom is of itself 
 a most solemn and convincing testimony against 
 the divisions of the church of Christ. A unity 
 itself, it calls to unity and concord, actual and 
 visible, all of every nation that assume to stand 
 upon its sacred platform. That blessed book 
 rules the heart, and rules the conduct of every 
 Christian upon earth. It rules them all alike, 
 so far as it rules at all. But the heart and the 
 conduct are the great considerations. Differ- 
 ences of opinion upon unessential matters are, 
 in the comparison, a consideration not worthy 
 to be named, or come into mind, from this time 
 to the day of judgment. What, then, of visible 
 separations and coldness for the sake of such 
 s differences, among the righteous- ones 1 Father 
 of heaven and earth, pity and forgive thy erring 
 children ! 
 
 (4.) All Christians are to offer to God the 
 same worship, Where are the two or more lit- 
 urgies furnished for Christians by the great and 
 glorious Master? No where. ^^After this 
 manner, therefore, pray ye!’’ Who? Every 
 : disciple in every age, and of every land. But 
 
 how shall they pray? ^^When ye pray, say, 
 ^Our Father!’” Whose Father? The Fa- 
 ther of Presbyterians, of the Episcopalians, 
 Baptists, Methodists ? Again we beseech thee 
 to pity us, good Lord! Hallowed be thy 
 
48 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 name !” Who is to breathe that, and who does 
 breathe it ? A party 1 Thy kingdom come !” 
 The kingdom of some great leader 1 The do- 
 minion of some great theological captain, as 
 Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Edwards'? ‘‘ Thy will 
 be done on earth as it is in heaven !” As in 
 heaven, or as in some carnal division on earth ? 
 ‘‘ Give us this day our daily bread, forgive us 
 our trespasses, lead us not into temptation, de- 
 liver us from evil !” And what is the compre- 
 hension of this little pronoun ^^us?” Includes 
 it a sect^ or the disciples ? 
 
 The Christian liturgy is one, and its meaning 
 is one ; and with direct reference to this the 
 inspired apostle prayed in behalf of the Chris- 
 tians at Rome, that they might be one and un- 
 divided, saying, ‘^Now the God of patience and 
 consolation grant you to be likeminded one to- 
 ward another, according to Christ Jesus; that ye 
 may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, 
 even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.’’ 
 
 The church is to worship with one mouth,” 
 in form according to the word of God. Of 
 course, they are to worship with “ one mind,” 
 offering to God the same true, sincere, and holy 
 worship. The chorus of the universal church, 
 from all continents and islands, and every sea, 
 as it rolls up before the throne of God, is to be 
 of one import, one spirit, one wide and glorious 
 harmony. 
 
VISIBLE UNION THE ORIGINAL DESIGN. 49 
 
 What, then, we ask again, of those visible 
 and woful separations, those heart and open di- 
 visions among the true and spiritual worship- 
 ers 1 Is there an inspired and lofty anthem to 
 be sung, whose music shall sweep wide over this 
 spacious world, and from ten thousand times 
 ten thousand voices shall its loud strains rise 
 up to mingle with the everlasting harmonies of 
 the heavenly world ; and all this from separate 
 and secluded groups, at distance from each 
 other, and each hedged in by cold and lofty 
 walls, so that there shall be no union of the de- 
 licious strains as they ascend toward the throne 
 of God? Has He ordained, does He will to 
 perpetuate, an arrangement like this ? Such a 
 question requires no answer. 
 
 (5.) Glance at one fact more, which of itself 
 seems to be conclusive. The church of Christ 
 is to enlighten and save the world. That this 
 is the great purpose and work of the church, 
 will, I hope and believe, not be called in ques- 
 tion. The cl^urch militant is to go up on the 
 length and breadth of this wicked world, and 
 under God, and by the co-operation of His 
 power, subdue it to Christ. But how are they 
 to do this ? Is the body to separate itself into 
 established, stringent, and permanent divisions, 
 with but the slightest mutual recognition and 
 co-operation ? With an enemy before him of 
 fearful strength, and obstinacy, and malignity, 
 
50 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 does a great and skillful captain divide his army 
 into several independent divisions, and lead them 
 to attack the foe ; each as though there were no 
 other division, without concert, without mutual 
 support, and often wasting their ammunition 
 and strength in attacking each other, instead of 
 falling in united and mighty force upon the 
 common foe ? No such thing was ever heard 
 of. It is a complete absurdity. The Captain 
 of salvation, then, has never ordered such an 
 army. 
 
 Such are some of the considerations appear- 
 ing to render it certain that the present visible 
 separations in the church of Christ are only 
 carnal, and have no foundation whatever in the 
 “ Lord of all,’’ His people, nor in the spirit and 
 genius of His ever-blessed gospel. I know that 
 this is an alarming conclusion, and fraught with 
 the greatest consequences, but truth is mighty, 
 and will prevail ; and may God in boundless 
 mercy make all his people willing to see the 
 truth here as well as every where else ! That 
 Satan hath blinded partially the eyes of many 
 disciples, as well as of unbelievers, appears to 
 be as certain as the existence of church divi- 
 sions ; and the sooner we are divested of all ig- 
 norance of his desires, the better for the church 
 and the world. 
 
DUTY OF CATHOLIC LOVE. 
 
 51 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 DUTY OF CATHOLIC LOVE. 
 
 But there are visible divisions in the cbnrcb 
 of Christ. These divisions are grounded upon 
 differences of opinion in matters confessedly non- 
 essential. They are matters of difference, then, 
 of a similar general character to things in "VYhich 
 persons of the same denomination often differ. 
 At the same time they agree in the great sub- 
 stantial of rehgion. In the things that ac- 
 company salvation’’ there is no real variance. 
 They are one in Christ Jesus,” though they 
 are divided on some questions of prudence or 
 policy. As Christians^ they are one; though 
 as men and women, they are, in some degree, 
 variant. In heart they are the same, albeit in 
 intellect — in the province of mere opinion — they 
 are slightly contrarious. They mutually ac- 
 knowledge the variation of opinion, they mutu- 
 ally acknowledge the oneness in Christ ; that is, 
 they recognize each other as Christians. In 
 other words, the several evangelical denomina- 
 tions of Christians have a mutual recognition of 
 
52 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 a difference^ and a mutual recognition of a one- 
 ness; while the difference^ when compared with 
 the oneness^ is also, by mutual recognition, not 
 worthy to be named in the same century ! 
 
 Here, as I most solemnly believe, I have put 
 the true issue. Something like this (do I mis- 
 take ?) will be the view in far-off eternity, and 
 long, long after these little ones of various com- 
 panies shall have mingled in the one and ever- 
 lasting fold in heaven. Oh ! for a little of the 
 spiritual eye-salve, that we may see more clearly 
 even now ! 
 
 I was about to infer from what has just been 
 written, that since, among the evangelical de- 
 nominations, there is a mutual recognition of 
 Christian standing and character, so, among the 
 members of these denominations, ministers and 
 laity, there should he the same brotherly love 
 as though the visible division had no existence. 
 
 And here, again, I have to confess myself 
 ashamed, ashamed to have written down, and 
 especially with any view of illustrating it, so 
 palpable a truth. An,d yet it would seem that 
 to some it is not an entirely self-evident propo- 
 sition, at least if we may judge from their gen- 
 eral aspect and bearing. With the sincerest 
 deference, I submit the question whether there 
 be not ministers and church members not a 
 few, in what are termed the evangelical sects, 
 who love the Christians of their own denom- 
 
DUTY OF CATHOLIC LOVE. 
 
 53 
 
 ination witL. a more earnest love than those 
 of any other name? I cannot doubt that 
 such is the fact, and would beg of such a care- 
 ful review of some considerations like what 
 follow. 
 
 1. Ministers and members of the different 
 evangelical denominations should cherish the 
 same love for all included in their several folds, 
 as if the visible divisions had no existence, for 
 the reason that they mutually recognize each 
 other as Christians. I am to love the brethren. 
 But yonder is one who is not of my denomina- 
 tion. True, he differs from me in some mat- 
 ters, but I think him a Christian. He bears 
 the image of Christ, he acts like a Christian, he 
 breathes the spirit pf a disciple. I am, then, to 
 love him with the perfect brotherly love of the 
 gospel. His denominational epithet or opinions 
 are to interfere with my love not in the smallest 
 degree. So far as my love and fellowship for 
 him are concerned, all lines of separation are to 
 be precisely as though they w^ere never thought 
 of, and never had a being. He is a Christian ! 
 My love must ask no more, and look no further. 
 
 2. This same love^ as if there were no visible 
 divisions, must exist, because, being Christians, 
 all that are such are dear to the heart of the 
 Saviour. Let us often ask ourselves. What of 
 our division lines relatively to the infinite love 
 of Jesus to his disciples? As He looks upon 
 
54 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 two of His ministers, or 'two of His unofficial 
 members, placed in two different human sects, 
 what of that denominational wall rising between 
 them 1 We answer, it has no recognition in his 
 heart of love. He sees the partition indeed ; 
 sees it with no approval ; sees it as of no heav- 
 enly origin or character; sees it as hay, 
 wood, and stubble ; sees it just about to disap- 
 pear forever. He loves those two ; He has 
 given them the same upward aspirations, the 
 same renewed nature ; their names are both writ- 
 ten in heaven, they are alike in His blessed fold. 
 Here, then, comes in play the divine logic of the 
 apostle, as he writes, Beloved, if God so loved 
 us, we ought also to love one another.” Christ 
 loves these two; then should they also love one 
 another. Nay, if they be truly born of God, 
 must they not, and will they not, mutually love 1 
 For every one that loveth Him that begat, 
 loveth him also that is begotten of him.” Alas ! 
 shall any one submit to forego this divine test 
 of his own discipleship'? Is not the time at 
 hand, when among all Christians there shall be 
 perfect sympathy with that heavenly sentiment 
 of Robert Hall, one of^the most beautiful that 
 his pen ever wrote, saying, The man who is 
 good enough for Christ is good enough for me ?” 
 
 3. This equal love, irrespective of denomina- 
 tion, should exist in Christian hearts for the 
 reason just now hinted, that the sectional lines 
 
DUTY OF CATHOLIC LOVE. 
 
 55 
 
 dividing up evangelical cliristendoni are facti- 
 tious and carnal. It is not important now to 
 specify their origin and date, or by what means 
 they have become so much strengthened, and so 
 firmly established. It is quite sufficient to say 
 that Christ and his apostles had no hand in their 
 creation. No such thing, as we have before 
 seen, was ever countenanced in the original 
 church of Christ ; and if, at times, appeared 
 any tendency to such a result, it was promptly 
 and decidedly discouraged, while all were ex- 
 horted, by inspired and earnest exhortations, to 
 unity, harmony, and love. These separating 
 lines are but the fruit of mental darkness, re- 
 straining Christians from seeing clearly and alike 
 all speculative truths. That the great Head of 
 the church permits them is certain. That He 
 disapproves them is equally certain to every eye 
 that has pondered the 17th chapter of John, as 
 well as the whole genius of the gospel. That 
 He may bring good out of them, as out of a 
 thousand other evil things, we need not ques- 
 tion. That He will everlastingly obliterate 
 them, no Christian doubts for a moment. They 
 are human, and they are carnal. They came 
 of the flesh, and not of the spirit. They sprung 
 from looking away from Christ and leaning to- 
 ward this world. Worldly wisdom, worldly 
 policy, worldly taste, these, and such as these, 
 form the hotbed of sectional divisions among 
 
56 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 Christ’s disciples. They are all earthly: ^‘For 
 while one saith ‘ I am of Paul,’ and another ‘ I 
 am of Apollos,’ are ye not carnal, and walk as 
 men?” Let Christians lift up their eyes from 
 this world and look to Jesus ; let them become 
 deeply baptized and pervaded with the spiritual ; 
 let them be forever pressing near to Christ ; 
 let them forget, as all Christians should, the out- 
 ward and the transient, and let them learn that 
 one profound lesson, teaching us to worship the 
 Father in spirit and in truth, and be unmoved 
 at aught beside ; let Christians thus do, and all 
 divisions among these disciples will become as 
 revolting to them as they were to Paul and 
 John, and they will come to love each other as 
 though sectarian names were never lisped. Let 
 every one be certain that if he love a Christian 
 brother any the less because he is of another 
 sect than himself, every single degree by which 
 his love is thus diminished is carnal, and of car- 
 nal origin ; and let him bethink himself that he 
 does just so far differ from his Lord and Saviour, 
 whose perfect love takes no manner of cogni- 
 zance of the unhappy distinctions that so fill the 
 eyes of thousands of poor purblind mortals. 
 
 4. And ought not the one common effort of 
 the several evangelical denominations of Chris- 
 tians, to prompt them to that equal love for 
 which we plead? To bring a lost world to 
 Christ, is, I humbly trust, the common drift and 
 
DUTY OF CATHOLIC LOVE. 
 
 57 
 
 endeavor of all these families of ministers and 
 Christians. Suppose the circumstance of their 
 vicinity to be wanting. Imagine that the great 
 family of the Presbyterians and Congregation- 
 alists were confined in their operations to the 
 American continent ; the Episcopal churches to 
 Europe ; the Baptists to Asia, and the Metho- 
 dists to Africa and Polynesia ; and suppose 
 them to be marked by the same names, and the 
 same differences as now, and all reaching, in 
 their respective provinces, for the evangelization 
 of the world — would the fact of difference of 
 denomination interfere with brotherly love? 
 When the efforts of each were directed to one 
 and the same grand result, would not a differ- 
 ence of love, arising out of a difference of de- 
 nomination, be seen at once to be an absurdity? 
 Would not Christian and ministerial affection 
 and sympathy abound, and holy greetings be 
 often exchanged, and ardent prayers for each 
 other’s success and triumph go up daily to 
 heaven ? But we dwell in the same neighbor- 
 hoods, and mutual jealousies are wont to arise, 
 and the spiritual to be merged in the carnal, 
 and brotherly love, alas ! declines. 
 
 5. Finally — for we can touch but a specimen 
 or two out of the mass — there should be equal 
 love, as if division lines had no existence, inas- 
 much as this will presently be the actual condi- 
 tion of things. In the year 1880, then, and for- 
 
58 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 ever afterward, the present generation of Chris- 
 tian ministers and disciples will, most of them, 
 be where they will be far more fully one than 
 are the most united and affectionate congrega- 
 tion of Christians now resident upon earth. 
 They will have passed onward to a better life, 
 and a more luminous and . peaceful world, leav- 
 ing behind them as utterly worthless all those 
 separating lines, and distinctive epithets, and 
 sectarian feelings, that were born of the earth, 
 and are doomed to perish forever. There, in 
 that one fold, and with their one Shepherd, they 
 will love and rejoice for ever. Or, if ever a 
 tear might fall there, it would be in remem- 
 brance of those dim shadows amid which, in 
 their darkness and wickedness, they once shut 
 themselves in from each other, and preferred a 
 part of the disciples above another part, and 
 almost forgot to love large multitudes whose 
 names, however, were written all the while upon 
 the Saviour’s heart. Thus, even on this earth, 
 I have lighted, in some sweet day, upon a friend, 
 and our souls were at once wedded forever ; 
 while yet previously and often we had looked 
 upon each other, and, perchance, exchanged the 
 usual civilities, but never dreamed, until that 
 brighter day shone over us, of those deep foun- 
 tains within, that were to spring up so suddenly 
 and mingle their glad streams in everlasting 
 union. And then the wonder was long and 
 
i UTY OF CATHOLIC LOVE. 59 
 
 often recurring, how our former coldness could 
 have existed, and what was the strange spell 
 whose sudden breaking revealed us to each 
 other. A strange^ spell,” and very mournful, 
 now holds its sway over multitudes of Christian 
 hearts. Yet the first outbeaming of the heav- 
 enly brightness shall dissipate the fatal charm, 
 and then they shall see clearly, and the harmo- 
 ^ny shall be beautiful and eternal. 
 
 I 
 
60 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 STATE OF THE CASE. 
 
 Does the catholic love, noticed in the last 
 section, actually and generally exist among the 
 evangelical churches of Christendom 7 The 
 negative of this solemn question is doubtless the 
 truth. But no one should presume to write so 
 melancholy a statement without good and suffi- 
 cient evidence of its correctness. What, then, 
 are some considerations evincing the want of 
 perfect iove in Christians for their brethren of 
 other denominations 7 
 
 1. We refer first to the position of evangeli- 
 cal ministers of different sects toward each 
 other. This is too often a position of distance, 
 coldness, and non-intercourse. They probably 
 know each other, recognize each other as men 
 and neighbors, perhaps call upon each other 
 occasionally, and thus exchange the civilities of 
 common courtesy and common friendship. It 
 is something if they do so much as this, for the 
 instances are too numerous in which there seems 
 to be an almost utter want of communication. 
 
STATE OF THE CASE 
 
 61 
 
 There are no pulpit exchanges, no ministerial 
 gatherings, save such as are denominational ; 
 no cheerful word one to another ; no joining of 
 hands across the partition walls ; no friendly 
 God-speed is given ; no more intercourse is had 
 than between the evangelical and the heretical 
 minister. We by no means write this as being 
 the universal attitude of the evangelical minis- 
 try toward each other. But we do write that 
 something nearly resembling this is their atti- 
 tude in multitudes of instances, down to the 
 present day. My information does not allow 
 me to state how general is such an order of 
 things. That there are many honorable and 
 "beautiful exceptions is most gladly conceded. 
 That more generally the mutual bearing of min- 
 isters of dilferent sects approaches the cold and 
 the unsocial, is, I believS, the truth. 
 
 But if this be so, what becomes of enlarged 
 and catholic love 1 If these ministers love each 
 other, love each other as servants of the Lord 
 Jesus, love each other to as great extent as 
 each loves his own denomination of ministers, 
 then whence all this distance and silence ? Such 
 is not the mode in which love operates. It at- 
 tracts rather than repels ; it is warmth, and 
 not coldness. It comes forward to cheer and 
 gladden, instead of hiding itself in the distance. 
 It melts down intervening walls, instead of en- 
 caging itself within them. The fruits of true 
 
62 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 catholic love being wanting, therefore the love 
 itself is so far wanting. 
 
 2. Does this equal love exist in the member- 
 ship of the several evangelical denominations'? 
 Then why such paucity of intercourse between 
 the several sects '? Why are the social gather- 
 ings in society so generally sectarian? Why 
 are the lines of sect, in most instances, the lines 
 that limit visits, intercourse, correspondence, 
 and limit, in instances too many, even sympa- 
 thy and friendship ? Whence arises the ever- 
 living, the ever-watchful jealousy of Christians 
 of one sect toward those of another ? Why are 
 doubts forever rising touching the sincerity and 
 purity of each other’s motives, and the benevo- 
 lence of each other’s plans and operations ? 
 Why so slow to recognize the all-important 
 points of their ' agreement, and so ready to 
 pounce upon the comparatively worthless mat- 
 ters of their dissent. Somewhere in New Eng- 
 land I have seen a Congregationalist and a 
 Methodist church in the same village, and each 
 embracing members of about the same standing 
 in respect to property, intelligence, and influ- 
 ence. As one contemplated them, they seemed 
 not as united allies against the common foe, but 
 more like two forces placed to watch each other, 
 and guard against mutual encroachments. 
 Neighbors, in that particular region, would meet 
 and pass on their way, hardly seeming to recog- 
 
STATE OF THE CASE. 
 
 63 
 
 nize each other. Ladies, Christian ladies, would 
 dwell in near proximity, and, during long years, 
 cross never the threshold of each other’s doors. 
 If in one society some plan were started that 
 might, by possibility, reach out and touch the 
 other, and invite to some approximation and co- 
 operation, the opposite society was certain to 
 launch some counter plan, lest there might be 
 found, perchance, one single link of precious 
 union and alfection. And there those two asso- 
 ciations stood, as stand two adjacent and sullen 
 icebergs, while the Christian and brotherly love 
 that coursed from the one to the other was as 
 abundant as the mutual warmth that might be 
 supposed to attract those same frozen mountains 
 of the sea. We would not adduce this as a 
 specimen of what are the mere general spirit and 
 bearing of the different sects of Christians rela- 
 tively to each other. We judge it an extreme 
 case, while yet we must also write that there 
 are multitudes of others exhibiting a similarity 
 far too perfect. And in connection with such 
 examples, all pretensions to the brotherly love 
 of the gospel is worse than idle. There is 
 hatred rather than love, and separation instead 
 of union, while the whole scene is only disgust- 
 ing in the eyes of infinite purity and goodness. 
 
 3. We may refer, thirdly, as illustrating the 
 deficiency of catholic love in the several evan- 
 gelical denominations, the lack of deep interest 
 
64 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 in each other’s general operations and prosperi- 
 ty. How many church members, or even min- 
 isters, feel any particular interest in religious 
 movements beyond the limits of their own de- 
 nomination 7 To what extent do Christians ac- 
 quaint themselves with missionary, sabbath- 
 school, and tract operations of the church catho- 
 lic 7 How much interest is felt in behalf of 
 these efforts 7 How much prayer is offered for 
 their success 7 How much intercommunication 
 of sympathy and encouragement is witnessed 7 
 On the hypothesis that these several denomina- 
 tions are all promoting the cause of Christ, what 
 intelligent Christian — ^minister or lay member — 
 must not be surprised at his own want of inter- 
 est, at his great degree of unconcern, in respect 
 to what his fellow-christians are doing to save a 
 lost world 7 And if such apathy exists, then 
 what lies back of it 7 Is it love ? Is it holy, 
 heavenly, earnest affection for your brethren of 
 other names, that thus goes out in indifference 
 as to what they are doing for the race, and as 
 to the success of their efforts 7 Be not deceived ; 
 but be well assured that the carelessness above 
 alluded to is equally an evidence of your want 
 of true and Christian greatness, as of genuine 
 catholic love. 
 
 4. I will only add the tendency to contro- 
 vexsy between the different evangelical denomi- 
 nations, as a further evidence of a want of love. 
 
STATE OF THE CASE. 
 
 65 
 
 Love tends to peace, and aims to hush all need- 
 less discords and jarrings to eternal silence. It 
 is another than a Christian spirit that delights 
 in controversy. Such a spirit must sometimes 
 submit to it ; submit to it where the great law 
 of love would seem to require it ; where great 
 and essential truth may seem to be endangered, 
 and great and momentous error may appear to 
 be coming in. But otherwise the catholic Chris- 
 tian will let controversy alone before it be med- 
 dled with. A work infinitely higher and better 
 is before him, and he cannot pause to stoop or 
 trifle. Alas ! how much time and talent have 
 been nearly wasted in profitless discussions ! 
 Did Christians of various sects love like Chris- 
 tians, how many matters now so prominent in 
 their thoughts and conversation, would sink to 
 their proper place, while such Christians would 
 be diligently cultivating that holy union and 
 harmony so necessary to the salvation of a world 
 of sinners. 
 
 Is it true, then, that there is a deficiency of 
 brotherly love, and of that which reaches over 
 denominational walls and embraces all that love 
 our Lord Jesus Christ ? And has it ever oc- 
 curred to my readers what a most melancholy 
 phenomenon this is 1 Friend ! pause now, and 
 close, for a few moments, the volume in your 
 hand, and retire within yourself, and look upon 
 that difference of love which you feel for those 
 
66 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 of your own sect and those of another sect, still 
 reckoned by you as evangelical and Christian. 
 Whence came that difference of love ? Who 
 made it ? What would Paul think of it '? What 
 scripture approves it ? Does Christ, the great 
 Shepherd of the sheep, feel the same difference 1 
 Is the difference at all carnal ? Will you proba- 
 bly cherish it on your dying bed ? Will it ever 
 live in heaven? Oh 1 what Christian, on finding 
 such a state of his affections, but must be 
 startled and greatly alarmed ! How must he be 
 shocked at beholding that while he was suppos- 
 ing himself to be spiritual he is still carnal, and 
 walks as men ! And will he give sleep to his 
 eyes, or slumber to his eyelids, till he has ad- 
 vanced to a higher sphere, and breathes a purer 
 atmosphere, and gains a clearer Hsion, and wel- 
 comes a deeper baptism, and learns to expatiate 
 more freely and delightfully in the spiritual, the 
 holy, the catholic life ? 
 
DUTY OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 6T 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 DUTY OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 We come now to submit the proposition that 
 a visible union of all evangelical Christians 
 throughout protestant Christendom becomes 
 their urgent and solemn duty before the great 
 God in heaven^ and before this sin-ruined 
 world. 
 
 And having written the above statement, I 
 will not presume that I can present the great 
 argument for its support so appropriately and 
 convincingly as it might be given by a multitude 
 of better and abler men ; yet I could beg that 
 for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of his most 
 precious cause, even this presentation may re- 
 ceive the prayerful attention of the reader. 
 
 1. And it is proposed that all we have before 
 written is pertinent in proof of this great duty. 
 We would refer, for example, to the first fact 
 of this essay, the actual and essential unity of 
 Christ’s church. Such actual unity has been, 
 we think, sufficiently illustrated, and if so, why 
 should it be to so great an extent kept in the 
 3 
 
68 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 dark ? If the Christian denominations were es- 
 sentially divided in belief, in spirit, in aim and 
 conduct, then, indeed, a visible division would 
 have some serious apology. But when the 
 points of their agreement, compared with their 
 non-agreement, are in number as a hundred to 
 one, and in importance as the universe to an 
 atom, there is no apology for division such as 
 actually exists. To use an old illustration, all 
 true Christians resemble each other spiritually 
 and religiously, fully as much as they do out- 
 wardly and physically. There is a difference 
 in the appearance of all men and women, while 
 yet they are substantially alike, and indubitably 
 of the same race. So there are distinctive dif- 
 ferences in different Christians, while essentially 
 they are the same ; they are one. How im- 
 measurably important, then, that this blessed 
 oneness should be manifest ! Oh ! how deeply 
 the wide world needs to look up, this moment, 
 and behold this actual unity ! How many souls 
 have perished already, how many more are in 
 the act of perishing, by the offence they take at 
 the unhappy and false attitude of those who are, 
 all the while, genuine Christians ! We are one, 
 and we persist in professing that we are divid- 
 ed. In our hearts we are the same ; in our 
 aspect we are different, and seem to a witness- 
 ing world to have little or no fellowship. Will 
 not the time come, and come speedily, when 
 
1 
 
 DUTY OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 69 
 
 Christians shall consent to be one in their diver- 
 sity, and consent likewise that the world shall 
 see this oneness 1 
 
 2. We offer, as another consideration, the 
 second fact of this essay, the original visible 
 unity of Christ’s church. The apostolic church 
 was one in the eyes of the world. The true 
 church of the nineteenth century the world does 
 not see to be one, but divided. A calm, hum- 
 ble, spiritual eye, discerns the real oneness that 
 still exists among the people of God, but a care- 
 less and hostile world sees no such thing. Many 
 of even serious and inquiring minds fail to de- 
 tect it, and comparing the present visibly divided 
 church with the original church of Christ, they 
 too hastily infer that the two are not of the 
 same genius and fellowship. Even aside from 
 the idea of the great cloud of witnesses” that 
 surrounds the church of Christ on earth, who 
 can describe the deep pain and distress that a 
 pious spirit must feel at the bare contemplation 
 of a difference from the apostolic model. Let 
 us go and read over again the Acts of the Apos- 
 tles, and the Epistles ; and as we read, let us 
 cry in the midst of our utter bitterness. There 
 are the Christians, there is the church; but 
 there are no denominations, and no separation 
 for the sake of non-essential opinions. The 
 prayer of Jesus seemed answered there ; and 
 whether at Jerusalem, at Antioch, at. Philippi, 
 
70 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION, 
 
 at Corinth, at Rome, or at Ephesus, Christians 
 were one. The world saw them one, persecu- 
 tion saw them one, the ministry saw them one, 
 they all saw themselves to be one ; and all dis- 
 tinctions of Jew, Gentile, Barbarian, Scythian, 
 bond, free, were annihilated on earth as in 
 heaven. 
 
 It is certainly different now ; Christ’s little 
 ones are separate, like sheep of different and 
 distinct pastures. Hearts, formed by the Spir- 
 it’s hand to love and bless each other in time, 
 as well as forever, yet never mingle along these 
 mortal shores. Their names are different, and 
 perchance a speculation or two of theirs magnify 
 themselves into a world between them, and they 
 never see each other, and their hands are never 
 joined, until their mutual greetings in brighter 
 worlds. I mourn and make a noise; indescriba- 
 ble sadness comes over me, and my heart bursts, 
 as I contemplate this picture ; and my spirit in 
 its anguish cries out, When shall the time of 
 joy return !” When shall this giddy, sinking 
 world behold once more the oneness of God’s 
 dear people 1 
 
 3. The third fact of this essay, the duty of 
 catholic love, calls for a visible union among the 
 disciples of Christ. We cannot, we must not, 
 doubt that catholic love, by which I mean love 
 to all Christians as if division did not exist, is 
 imperative upon the whole brotherhood of saints. 
 
DUTY OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 71 
 
 But tKe present condition of division, and with 
 so few holy ties connecting the several denomi- 
 nations, is obviously prejudicial to such love. 
 Who, alas! does not feel this to be truel 
 Where is the Christian heart whose experience 
 might not record a sad tale of restricted love 1 
 And thus, I fear, it must ever be so long as 
 our partitions, and almost complete separations, 
 are permitted to continue. Not only the v/orld 
 regards the church as a plurality ; thousands 
 and thousands within its own pale entertain a 
 similar view ; and wliile they shall retain it, 
 their hearts will be affected correspondingly. 
 Who may write all the power of division Who 
 may portray the mighty influence of the divided 
 position of evangelical Christendom upon Chris- 
 tians that have been accustomed to look upon it 
 from their infancy, tp look upon nothing else, to 
 count their owm denomination, and that of their 
 fathers, as by far the best and truest, if not the 
 only true church ? Think at how late a period 
 in life these convictions and prejudices are worn 
 away, if, indeed, they ever cease in life. Alas, 
 how many, this very day, are straitened and sti- 
 fled ! With what coldness, with what question- 
 ings, they look over those miserable walls within) 
 which they have been always encaged! How 
 start they back if some catholic smile should!! 
 chance to meet them from beyond ! Oh ! hows 
 isolated are they, like the old sounding-board'^ 
 
72 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 that were suspended over the pulpits of a former 
 generation ! Christians ! in the name of heav- 
 enly charity, how long shall our dear children 
 grow up under these disastrous influences 1 How 
 long shall they drink in the bitterness of divi- 
 sion, mingled with even the sweet draughts of in- 
 fancy? How long shall their little beautiful 
 eyes, as they first look out upon this wicked 
 world, behold there a divided church ? How 
 long shall the earliest sounds that light upon 
 their ears be notes of discord between Christians 
 that are equally dear to Heaven? Has the 
 reader forgotten the impression received amid 
 his first recollections, and perhaps from a pious 
 parent too, against a certain denomination of 
 the Saviour’s family ? And has he gone down 
 into all the depths of his heart and his experi- 
 ence, that he might compute accurately the 
 amount of deadly influence thus exerted against 
 his loftiest excellence in influence and happi- 
 ness? 
 
 4. After the above remarks, we should be 
 guilty of tautology were we to dwell particularly 
 upon the fourth fact specified in this essay, the 
 fact of a painful want of catholic love without a 
 visible unity of the church of Christ. Let the 
 visible division of Christ’s church continue, and 
 divisions of heart will still continue. Let there 
 be visible oneness, and it will aid inconceivably 
 to promote unity of spirit. 
 
DUTY OF VISIBLE UNION. 73 
 
 5. The duty of visible union among all evan- 
 gelical Christians will he seen by a more special 
 notice of the fact, that division is a very com- 
 mon pretext for infidelity. What Christian, es- 
 pecially what ministei^^ has not discerned this 
 painful fact in the course of his religious con- 
 versations? Irreligious men will not, ordina- 
 rily, give themselves the trouble to study care- 
 fully and profoundly this great subject. They 
 turn their eyes upon the churches. They be- 
 hold them divided into parties, having little or 
 no sympathy or religious intercourse, and often 
 opposing each other, and speaking evil one of 
 another ; and noticing thus but little beyond 
 what is earthly and selfish, they easily and read- 
 ily infer that the whole thing is a fable, and had 
 its origin elsewhere than in the mind of God. 
 ‘‘ Would God,” they inquire, be the author 
 of division and contention? But division and 
 contention are the order of the day among pro- 
 fessing Christians. Their Christianity, therefore, 
 like other religious systems, is born of this 
 world, and is of no superhuman character or 
 authority.” Logic like this, fallacious as it 
 certainly is, yet harmonizing with the evil ten- 
 dencies of man, is welcomed as genuine and con- 
 clusive, and the mind and heart are yielded up 
 to the baleful influence of skepticism. What a 
 pity that they were ever permitted to look upon 
 Such an aspect of the church of Christ. Would 
 
74 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 they might ever, as they contemplated this 
 church, have been compelled to see its oneness, 
 its harmony, its beauty, and constrained, as 
 they looked, to exclaim in their wonder, Be- 
 hold how these Christians love one another 
 Thus would their infidelity have been' well-nigh 
 impossible. They would have witnessed a spec- 
 tacle of loveliness and of happiness such as the 
 world cannot give, and they would have pro- 
 nounced it, though reluctantly, to be not of this 
 world. The sublime language of the Saviour’s 
 prayer would have been realized ; they would 
 have discerned the oneness of the disciples, and 
 would thus have known that the Master came 
 from God. 
 
 6. A kindred consideration to the foregoing 
 is, that visible division among the Christians of 
 protestant Christendom constitutes one of the 
 strong supports of anti- Christian Rome. Every 
 one knows that Romanism embraces division as 
 truly as protestantism, and that contentions 
 have, from time to time, arisen in that commu- 
 nion, far more furious and wicked than what 
 have ever disgraced the reformed church. At 
 the same time they boast of their unity, and pro- 
 claim, at the top of their voice, the divisions of 
 anti-papal Christendom. Not a few are deceived 
 by this very means. They rightly suppose that 
 the church of Christ is one. Looking at prot- 
 estantism, they seem to see division 3 while 
 
DUTY OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 75 
 
 looking at popery, they seem to see unity; 
 and thence infer that there is the true church. 
 
 7. A visible as well as actual union of evan- 
 gelical Christians is necessary in order to the 
 counteraction of Romanism in this land, and 
 throughout the world. All Christians are aware, 
 or ought to be, of the mighty effort of popery to 
 overspread and subjugate the nations. Nor do 
 protestant Christians doubt that such a triumph 
 of Romanism would be the death of true religion 
 on earth, and but a slight degree to be preferred 
 to the “ abominable idolatries” of paganism. 
 To resist this “ man of sin” is to be one of the 
 great conflicts of the true disciples. Here will be 
 waged one of the severest battles of the church 
 militant ; and the struggle rapidly apprbaches — 
 yea, is already commenced. It is no time for 
 divisions and strifes among the ranks of the 
 "heavenly soldiery. Together should they stand 
 — one vast and united force — and, ceasing all 
 petty animosities and words of thriftless contro- 
 versy, advance, shoulder to shoulder, against the 
 common adversary. Alas, how trivial, how con- 
 temptible appears, in the face of this great ef- 
 fort, all party movements and party words ! 
 While men sleep, the enemy is sowing. While 
 Christians and Christian ministers are contend- 
 ing for sect, the great cause of true religion is 
 jeopardized. Protestant Christians have a great 
 common cause. They have a common defence 
 
76 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 to make ; a common aggressive effort to put 
 forth. A common curse is resting upon them ; 
 a common fate awaits them, whenever the papa- 
 cy shall again triumph over an oppressed and 
 bleeding world. If, in any mind, a doubt re- 
 mains that the tyrannical, persecuting, bloody 
 spirit of the papacy is changed in these modern 
 times, let such a mind remember the Portuguese 
 exiles recently driven from Madeira, and then 
 let him never doubt again. The God of provi- 
 dence has permitted that one more demonstra- 
 tion of the spirit of Romanism, to convince all 
 protestants what they have to expect in the 
 event of its prevalence and triumph. And 
 what are to be the eternal results of such a tri- 
 umph ? Does the papal religion save the souls 
 of men? We will not doubt that Christians are 
 there. Yet are they Christians in spite of po- 
 pery, rather than because of it. A strange and 
 astounding development, indeed, is Christianity, 
 if it be popery ! Look at its history. Look at 
 its worship on a Sabbath day. Look at its cer- 
 emonies, its mummeries. Look at its traditions, 
 and miracles, and relics, and saints, and pro- 
 cessions, and masses, and confessionals, and 
 anathemas, and burnings, and blood! Yet this 
 is the religion — rather, this is the abomination — 
 that is reaching to grasp the world, and reduce 
 it under its dark and iron sway, compassing sea 
 and land to make proselytes — and again we ask, 
 
DUTY OF VISIBLE UNION. Y7 
 
 What are the results ? Survey Roman Catholic 
 Europe. Contemplate Italy — poor and crushed 
 Italy. Contemplate degraded Spain ; benighted 
 and cruel Austria; unstable France. Look at 
 Mexico and South America, and wherever this 
 dread incubus settles down upon men. There 
 is almost no light wherever it comes. The peo- 
 ple are not saved. Superstition, though in an- 
 other form, still triumphs. ' Darkness as truly 
 as ever, covers the earth, and gross darkness the 
 people. Religion is caricatured, mocked, in- 
 sulted. This is not Christ ! If it be, then let 
 the world sit down and weep in long despair ; 
 for the sun of its joy and hope is set forever. 
 The damps of endless night seem already clos- 
 ing over us ; and there is no salvation. A more 
 stupendous and amazing contrast could not be 
 conceived than between popery and the New 
 Testament. But the New Testament is Christ. 
 Popery, then, is anti-christ ; and the great Head 
 of the church calls upon all his people, of what- 
 ever name, to combine for its overthrow, in or- 
 der that thus may be removed the greatest ob- 
 stacle on earth to the progress of his glorious 
 kingdom. 
 
 8. Then, further, a visible union is necessary 
 for the successful counteraction of all other anti- 
 christian efforts and influences. There is not 
 one of these but should look up and behold pit- 
 ted against it, a holy and united Christianity, 
 
78 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 A corrupt and debasing literature ; corrupt and 
 debasing amusements ; hateful and ruinous li- 
 centiousness ; audacious and heathen Sabbath- 
 brealang ; guilty and vile intemperance ; pre- 
 posterous and abominable slavery; diabolical 
 and horrid war ; together with the wdld spirit 
 of sheer and naked worldliness — each and all of 
 these dismal things demand, for their strong, ir- 
 resistible, and successful opposition, a united 
 and holy church, presenting before them ever an 
 unbroken front, and pouring against them a per- 
 petual and deadly ruin with weapons mighty 
 through God,” and drawn from the celestial ar- 
 mory. Amid these multifarious and hideous 
 strongholds of Satan, erected all along this poor, 
 sin-stricken world, what, oh, what have God’s 
 people to do with divisions among themselves ? 
 What have they to do with internal wars, and 
 mutual strifes, and bloodshed ? Away with 
 such a thing from the face of the earth ! Cursed 
 be the spirit of strife and sectism wherever it 
 prevails amid the ranks of God’s Israel ! There 
 is other work : a divine struggle, a more heav- 
 enly warfare. 
 
 9. Thus are we reminded to add, that a visi- 
 ble union of all Christians is demanded for the 
 spread of true religion through the world. Two 
 facts appear to be plain: 1. That the gnspel 
 should speedily be carried to all nations ; and, 
 2. That protestant Christians must be the hu- 
 
DUTY OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 79 
 
 man instrumentality concerned in tins vast en- 
 terprise. A world-wide diffusion of the gospel 
 of Christ should he always in the eye of Chris- 
 tians. Their Lord and Saviour died for the 
 world. His blessed salvation belongs to the 
 world. It has been directed to be carried to all 
 nations. The grace of our Lord. Jesus Christ 
 would as effectually heal and save all the mil-' 
 lions of the human race, as a single individual. 
 So stands this great case. Salvation is for all. 
 The proclamation thereof is commanded by 
 Christ, to be made to all. It is directed to be 
 made by those who have themselves been made 
 partakers of the heavenly gift. But protestant 
 Christians are these partakers, if there be any 
 such upon earth. On these, therefore, devolves 
 this sublime responsibility. To these the Sa- 
 viour of the world saith, Go ye into ail the 
 world and preach the gospel to every creature.’^ 
 But how shall protestant Christians carry for- 
 ward this great work, save by. a holy union and 
 co-operation I Oh! what shall jarring sects, 
 with all their unhallowed sectarianism, do for 
 the regeneration and eternal life of the world % 
 Wasting our lives in promoting divisions and 
 bitterness, how shall we go forward to rescue a 
 lost world from eternal death 1 The truth is, 
 no Christian minister or lay member has one 
 moment to spare for any thing but for the glory 
 of God, and the salvation of men. Each one 
 
80 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 should greet, as angels of mercy, all others, of 
 whatever name, that are laboring to save the 
 ‘ world. The hearts of all the disciples should 
 mingle into one, in view of the work that lies 
 before them. And they should be so mingled, 
 too, that their union and harmony shall be 
 known and read of all men. Sleep, sleep, all 
 needless controversy ! Be hushed, every vain 
 babbling, every carnal jarring, every noise of 
 battles,” and whisper of bitterness, throughout 
 all the ranks of the spiritual Israel ! A world 
 is to be saved from remediless ruin. Arise, as 
 one man, and fly to the rescue ! 
 
 10. Especially arise as one, when the present 
 interesting state of the world so emphatically 
 calls to unity. It becomes all Christians to 
 meditate how wonderfully the God of providence 
 is opening great and effectual doors” for the 
 ingress of holy and saving influences. Millions 
 on millions of Roman Catholic Europe are now 
 accessible to the efforts of a pure Christianity, 
 that have, for ages, been shut up to error and 
 darkness. Millions on millions of heathens are 
 also accessible to evangelization, that have here- 
 tofore been hidden behind impenetrable barriers. 
 Thousands of laborers, could they be found and 
 sustained, may now be employed in the great 
 work of evangelizing and saving the world ; 
 while a wider field is laid open for Christian ef- 
 fort than was ever known before. If the move- 
 
DUTY OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 81 
 
 merits of Providence, in thus opening the world 
 to the march of the gospel, be any indication of 
 the duty of Christians, then should the fifteen 
 hundred missionaries now sent forth by protes- 
 tant Christendom be at once increased ten-fold. 
 Oh ! how, at this moment, should the united 
 energies of Christians go out to occupy and bless 
 the nations ! What a rallying there should be 
 to disseminate the bible and Christian books 
 through papal Europe, and to carry the light of 
 life amid the crowded ranks of paganism, and 
 of the false prophet ! Deep should call unto 
 deep in regard to this great interest of the hu- 
 man race, and for the consummation of which 
 the whole created earth groaneth and heaveth 
 in pain, together until now. Let protestant 
 Christendom unite, let us unite firmly, and for 
 the day of judgment, and the evening of the 
 nineteenth century shall witness the gospel ex- 
 tending itself to every nation under heaven. 
 
 11. Finally, a most conclusive reason for a 
 visible union of Christians is seen in the oft-re- 
 peated language of the Saviour’s intercessory 
 prayer (John xvii. 20, 21) ; and though, in this 
 argument, allusion has already been made to‘ 
 the point before us, yet I cannot consent to pass 
 it without a more special notice. In this re- 
 markable passage Christ thus prays to the 
 Father: ‘^Neither pray I for these alone, but 
 for them also which shall believe on me through 
 
82 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 their word, that they all may be one, as thou. 
 Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also 
 may be one in us, that the world may believe 
 that thou hast sent me.’’ 
 
 Here Christ prays for the oneness of his dis- 
 ciples. The oneness for which he prayed was 
 an essential oneness, for it was the oneness of 
 the Father and the Son. But the oneness sought 
 was also a visible oneness ; for it was to be a 
 spectacle to the world, as is obvious from that 
 most important object specified in the prayer, 
 namely, that the world may believe that thou 
 hast sent me /” Here is implied that momen- 
 tous fact already noticed, that visible divisions 
 of the church of Christ are a source of infidelity ; 
 and there is implied the necessity of a visible 
 oneness, in order that the world may be con- 
 vinced of the divinity of the Christian religion. 
 Here rises, then, a great and inspired argument 
 for a visible oneness of all who love our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. They all should be one ; they all 
 should he seen to be one. Their oneness should 
 be conspicuous as the sun rolling in a cloudless 
 sky ; and for what important purpose ? This 
 simply : that the world may believe that Christ, 
 and, of course. His religion, are divine. 
 
 Take, therefore, one solemn look through this 
 glass, ye Christians, and see, without a mistake, 
 see with infallible certainty, why multitudes 
 scout your religion, and your Lord. . Look 
 
DUTY OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 83 
 
 thoughtfully here, and you may see, if you please 
 to see, what you must do, would you 'convince 
 the world of the divine origin and real glory of 
 Christianity. Ye must be one ; not essentially 
 only — ye must show it — declare it — act it. I 
 will not affirm that ye may not wear different 
 denominational epithets, though these are all of 
 earth. But I will say, that your oneness in 
 Christ must be as obvious as your oneness of 
 race ; that ye are to esteem your differences as 
 ye esteem your variations of profile, or stature, 
 or tinge, or physical strength. The world must 
 not doubt that ye are one common band of 
 Christians, loving each other, loving the race, 
 and earnest for the everlasting life of all men. 
 
 In this aspect of our subject, what a solemn 
 reckoning, alas ! will they meet, at the judgment, 
 whose influence in the world was to keep asun- 
 der those who should have walked, arm in arm, 
 to heaven ! “ It is impossible but that offences 
 
 will come ; but wo unto him through whom they 
 come. It were better for him that a millstone 
 were hanged about his neck, and he cast into 
 the sea, than that he should offend one of these 
 little ones.’’ 
 
84 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 Inasmuch as protestant Christendom is not 
 visibly one, but is divided into various denomi- 
 nations or families, this appears to be the place 
 for a brief and candid notice of this position of 
 things, and especially with reference to true 
 catholic union and fellowship. It is quite un- 
 necessary to remind the reader that divisions 
 founded upon differences of speculative opinions 
 did not commence with protestantism, but may 
 be traced up to the early ages of the church. 
 Nor were the divisions among the reformers at 
 all referable to any sin of theirs in departing 
 from the papal communion. The boasted one- 
 ness of the papacy, so far as any real oneness 
 was there, was but a combination whose founda- 
 tion and cement was worldly despotism and spir- 
 itual darkness, and was far more kindred to op- 
 pression and wrong than to true Christian union. 
 An evil and mighty hand had long been laid 
 upon Christendom, and individuals and nations 
 were crushed at the feet of the pope, rather than 
 
DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 85 
 
 united to each other and to Christ in holy love 
 and communion. The divisions, therefore, that 
 presently arose in the progress of the reforma- 
 tion, proved not at all that the said reformation 
 was heretical, and the papacy was orthodox. 
 There is such a thing as the oneness, the com- 
 mon stillness, as well as the common loath- 
 someness, of the dead in their charnel-houses. 
 And there is such a thing as the stragglings, and 
 partial differences, and alienations of childhood’s 
 beginning life, albeit its very contentions and 
 opposing words themselves evince that there is 
 life. The profound student of God and of hu- 
 man nature will be disposed to wonder, not that, 
 under the circumstances, Luther, and Zuingle, 
 and Calvin differed so much, but rather that 
 their harmony was so great. Yet differ, we 
 know they did ; while their differences have, to 
 a greater or less extent, been perpetuated to the 
 present day, as embodied in the Lutheran and 
 Reformed communions of continental Europe. 
 Simultaneously with the reformation, the En- 
 glish church also became separated from the pa- 
 pacy ; and in its new organization, this, as well 
 as the church of Scotland, received, as their 
 basis, the reformed doctrines. From the church 
 of England especially, non-conformity early gave 
 rise to large secessions, out of which arose the 
 Independents of England and Holland, the En- 
 glish Baptists, and English Presbyterians . From 
 
86 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 the Presbyterians of England and Scotland, the 
 same denomination, including its several classes, 
 exists in this country. So of the Baptists ; 
 while the Independents of the other side of the 
 Atlantic became the Congregationalists of New 
 England. In the next century the Methodists 
 appeared, and in a few years are seen spreading 
 themselves in the United Kingdom, and the new 
 world ; while the Episcopalians of this country 
 are to be deemed, as a denomination, identical 
 with the church of England. 
 
 Thus there arises before us what may be 
 termed the great denominations of evangelical 
 Christendom. There are the Reformed and Lu- 
 theran churches of continental Europe ; the 
 Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Congregational- 
 ists, Baptists, and Methodists of Great Britain 
 and the United States. Disregarding the high 
 episcopal claims, and recognizing all of these as 
 churches of the Lord Jesus Christ, or as differ- 
 ent branches of His one church, what does Chris- 
 tian union require of them! Does it require 
 the amalgamation of all these denominations into 
 one organization, or does it demand merely a 
 oneness of spirit, a mutual love and fellowship, 
 accompanied by such manifestations as to be 
 known and read of all men I The position, that 
 holy and catholic union requires the amalgama- 
 tion of all the existing denominations, must be 
 confessed to lie open to some serious objections. 
 
DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 87 
 
 It will be borne in mind, that the real issue is 
 not what, in the abstract, is the only and proper 
 external arrangement of the church, but what is 
 truth and propriety under the circumstances 
 which actually exist. It is possible that a re- 
 publican form of government, such as ours, is 
 the true form, while, even were it known to be 
 so, such a fact would not be admitted to settle 
 the question, that Great Britain should at once 
 abolish her limited monarchy, and become a re- 
 public. Similar remarks, we think, may be true 
 of the several existing ecclesiastical establish- 
 ments included in evangelical Christendom. In 
 answer to the suggestion that all the evangelical 
 denominations should be amalgamated into one, 
 it seems sufficient to submit that such an organi- 
 zation is impracticable. The distinction of 
 opinions on which the several organizations are 
 founded, are honestly and conscientiously cher- 
 ished by the differing portions. The Presbyte- 
 rian and Congregationalist, for example, each 
 entertains, in good faith, a conscientious prefer- 
 ence for. his pwn ecclesiastical regimen. The 
 Methodist most honestly believes that an itin- 
 erant ministry is more scriptural and useful than 
 a ministry wholly settled and stationary. The 
 Baptist very conscientiously believes that im- 
 mersion is the only scriptural mode of baptism, 
 and that penitent adults are the only proper 
 subjects. The Episcopalian as fully believes 
 
88 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 that the regular episcopal succession is indis- 
 pensable to a completely valid ministr3\ Thus 
 there are differences, differences not in respect 
 to essential truths, while yet they are actual and 
 decided differences, and leading, necessarily, to 
 variation of practice, and such variations as, 
 were they supposed to exist in one and the same 
 denomination, must result in perpetual friction 
 and discord. 
 
 Such appears to be a brief presentment of 
 this matter ; and such a presentment is suffi- 
 cient. There are conscientious differences in 
 matters about which men may differ, and yet be 
 Christians, wffiile, yet, each party deems its own 
 views too important to be given up ; and as 
 each is sincere, so each feels bound to that line 
 of action accordant with the' particular theory 
 thus honestly and conscientiously entertained. 
 The phenomena of different denominations ap- 
 pears to grow naturally, if not necessarily, from 
 freedom of thought and judgment, combined with 
 that imperfection of mind and heart which is a 
 common attribute of fallen humanity. There 
 are wo positions, direct opposites, where such 
 a phenomenon w'ould not appear. The first is, 
 that of despotism and darkness, thought being 
 trammeled and light being forbidden. Such is 
 the oneness of popery. The second is a position 
 of perfect freedom, and perfect light, and per- 
 fect love. Such is the oneness of the heavenly 
 
DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 89 
 
 world, where the disciples shall be one in mind 
 and heart both, and there shall he naught to 
 hurt or destroy. Protestant Christendom ap- 
 pears to occupy an intermediate position. There 
 is love, much love ; there is light, much light — 
 and freedom to see it, and mind and judgment 
 to comprehend and apply it. But all these great 
 and essential elements are imperfect here. 
 Neither love, nor light, nor freedom, nor intel- 
 lect, is what it will be when we shall he like 
 Jesus, and see Him as He is. 
 
 From considerations like these, therefore, it 
 is difficult to see that Christian union calls for 
 an immediate merging of all the evangelical de- 
 nominations of Christians into a single organiza- 
 tion. The plurality of denominations consti- 
 tutes, of itself, no proof whatever of separation 
 from the true church of Christ, but a manifesta- 
 tion, rather, of the imperfection above alluded 
 to. The question, then, returns. Does Christian 
 union require merely a oneness of spirit, a mu- 
 tual love and fellowship, and accompanied by 
 such manifestation, or confession, as to render 
 such oneness notorious 1 This is, very proba- 
 bly, the truth. This is the species of union 
 ' which our glorious gospel demands, and which 
 the Christian world is competent to possess and 
 exemplify; and that, too, without affecting, ex- 
 cept for good, their own specific denominations. 
 If we mistake not, Christians may, under the 
 
90 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 circumstances, innocently act in different 
 branches of the Saviour’s family ; but they are 
 to be one in spirit, intimately united in holy and 
 heavenly fellowship, and ever contemplating each 
 other as fellow-citizens with the saints, and of 
 the household of faith. True Christian union is 
 not so much a union of denominations ; it is, 
 rather, a union of Christians ; a union of indi- 
 vidual hearts. A union of denominations, irre- 
 spective of a union of spirit, w'ould not be Chris- 
 tian union ; while, on the contrary, a union of spir- 
 it, irrespective of denominations, would infallibly 
 be Christian union. Christians, and Christian 
 ministers, must, in good faith, approach each 
 other. Being Christians, and judging each oth- 
 er to be Christians, they are no more to permit 
 their speculative differences to keep them apart, 
 than they would permit their varieties of coim- 
 tenance, or difference of the names by which 
 they were christened, to exert such an influence. 
 They cannot, in this imperfect world, be one in 
 speculative view ; but they can be one in heart, 
 one in love, and in fellowship. 
 
 Thus does it plainly appear, that this great 
 matter of Christian union must be a matter, not 
 so much of communities, of companies, of de- 
 nominations ; it must be eminently a matter of 
 the Christian, The disciple who is now reading 
 these words, must, in his own individual spirit, 
 fly to mingle in holy love with all other disci- 
 
DENOMINATIONS. 
 
 91 
 
 pies, and as forgetful, if possible, of denomina- 
 tions as if divers names had never found their 
 way into the one church of the Lord Jesus. 
 Nor must such a disciple wait. He is not to 
 tarry an hour for others to move with him ; just 
 as he should not have lingered a moment in the 
 matter of his souPs conversion. He may invite 
 others to the same position with himself. Nay, he 
 should do so, and with all affectionate and urgent 
 entreaty. But in that very day he thus invites, he 
 will hear divers objections upon the right, and cold 
 suspicions upon the left. He will stand amazed 
 at his own familiar and dear brethren. His heart 
 will ache, and, perhaps, more and more, as he 
 looks upon the sad alienations of hearts that 
 should be one in Christ Jesus. But he must at 
 once write all this alienation, this heart division, 
 in the Christian family, as being carnal. It is 
 a spirit of evil, that must not at all dampen the 
 glowing affection and fellowship of his own soul. 
 He must persist in numbering himself with the 
 great church catholic, in preference to any sect 
 or party among men. 
 
 Be this, then, well understood : the individ- 
 ual must move ! This alone is practicable ; 
 this alone will accomplish the mighty work. 
 Christ no where requires an absolute oneness of 
 view and opinion ; while some difference of view 
 will inevitably lead to some difference of exter- 
 nal arrangements and economy. So far, just so 
 
92 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 far, there is innocence. Child ! go no farther. 
 You may worship in another house than where 
 some of your brethren meet ; you may worship 
 in a mode somewhat different from theirs ; you 
 may wait upon God’s ordinances and sacraments 
 with some difference of outward form ; your con- 
 victions or your taste, in these minor matters, v 
 you may innocently indulge. But pause there. 
 Be thy heart, thy soul, thy spirit, one with ev- 
 ery pilgrim, wheresoever he is toiling up the path 
 of life. Move toward him. Forget all, save 
 that himself and you belong to the same Saviour, 
 have one spirit and work, and are hastening 
 homeward to the same eternal heaven. Wait 
 not for your minister, or your society, or your 
 denomination. Move, if need be, all alone. 
 Commit yourself promptly, sacredly, and eter- 
 nally to universal love and fellowship. Emerge, 
 this very hour, from every carnal trammel and 
 entanglement into the great holy catholic 
 church.” Wed yourself to-day, and by holy 
 and immortal ties, to every disciple on earth and 
 in heaven. In your eye, let separating walls 
 melt down to-day, just as the fires will certainly 
 melt them down to-morrow. Advance, Chris- 
 tian ! In thy heart’s deep affections greet the 
 doers of God’s will. Are not these thy brother, 
 and sister, and mother 1 And such is the de- 
 mand of Christian union. 
 
MEANS OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 93 
 
 SECTION VIL 
 
 MEANS OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 But this advance, this union 5 as we have seen, 
 must be visible^ otherwise the great object of 
 oneness specified in Christ’s prayer will not be 
 realized, namely, That the world may believe 
 that thou hast sent me.” How, then, shall this 
 great point be gained I How shall the union of 
 Christians become notorious, and thus impart its 
 great and glorious lesson to “ the world 
 
 1. In replying briefly to this inquiry, it is 
 submitted, first, that ministers and Christians of 
 different denominations should religiously avoid 
 all unprofitable controversy. Christian union 
 apart, how much of this species of controversy 
 has cursed the church of God ! How much 
 talent has thus been wasted, and what millions 
 of golden hours have thus been squandered ! 
 Have not hundreds of ministers devoted precious 
 days to indulgences of this kind that had far 
 better been spent in planning for the conversion 
 of this lost world to Christ 1 Has not a large 
 amount of religious controversy been spoken and 
 
94 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 written that would never have been heard and 
 seen had the disputants kept their eyes steady 
 upon the dying scene, and meditated well the 
 brevity of all their opportunities for usefulness 
 and salvation 1 And, in addition to all the other 
 evils attendant upon needless controversy, its 
 influence upon holy and Christian union is al- 
 most sure to be prejudicial ; while, as it re- 
 spects the manifestation^ it is that of discord 
 rather than harmony, of division instead of 
 union. Christians controvert, and the world 
 sees and hears ; and oh, how observant the 
 world is of this very thing ! How eagerly it 
 watches the controversy, and the spirit and tone 
 of the controversialists ! And as they watch, 
 how perfectly facile is the impression upon their 
 minds that religion is a matter of quarrel rather 
 than of healing ; and reading Christianity from 
 such exhibitions, they easily fail to see its divin- 
 ity, and to “ believe that the Father hath sent” 
 either the system itself, or its ever-blessed Au- 
 thor. 
 
 2. Hence, secondly, if between Christians of 
 the different denominations there must^ at any 
 time, be controversy, the visible union of Christ’s 
 church requires that it be conducted so that 
 such union shall not be harmed. Hast thou 
 never noticed theological opponents, strong and 
 earnest each for the point he had assumed, who 
 yet, amid the very fervor of debate, demonstra- 
 
MEANS OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 95 
 
 ted that though divided in view, they were one 
 in heart, were brethren in Christ, were dear to 
 each other, like two little children in their fa- 
 ther’s house, and loved each other with a love 
 stronger and mightier than the heat of contro- 
 versy] That was a discussion whence all 
 anger, wrath, and clamor, and evil speaking 
 were abstracted ; where no bitterness came in 
 CO poison ; where all unfairness, and every in- 
 tended fallacy were avoided ; where the oppo- 
 nents sought, so far as might be, to see eye to 
 eye; where all Christian courtesy, gentleness, 
 calmness, candor, sincerity, and charity shed 
 around perpetually their hallowed influence; 
 where the disputants lay at each other’s feet, 
 and there was a strife to detect how near to 
 each other they might come, rather than how 
 long a distance they might throw between them ; 
 while their conversation was more like saints on 
 the verge of heaven, than like the disputants of 
 this world. Two phenomena will unfailingly 
 occur in connection with religious controversy 
 thus conducted. First, even such controversies 
 will become more and more unfrequent, till they 
 die away amid the harmonies of heaven ; and 
 secondly, while they continue they shall cause 
 little interference with the visible union of the 
 church of .Christ. 
 
 3. It will essentially aid to render Christian 
 union visible, should Christians of different de- 
 
96 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 nominations frequently meet each other in union 
 assemblies. Where Christians of two or more 
 denominations dwell in sufficient proximity, 
 might not one hour a week be righteously and 
 most profitably and delightfully devoted to such 
 a sort of confession of their essential oneness ? 
 
 ^ At proper times, why may not the world” be 
 permitted to look on and witness the commun- 
 ings, the unity of those of their neighbors who 
 love our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Let them see and , 
 hear and feel that the prayers, the praises, the 
 exhortations, the encouragements, the trials, the 
 aims of Christians are one, and this whether 
 they wear one name or another. Let the world 
 see and know that if there is diversity the one- 
 ness is greater ; that if there be not uniformity 
 of mode there is identity of substance ; and that 
 if there be differences of administrations there 
 is the same spirit. 
 
 4. Another mode of manifesting Christian 
 union is by occasional pulpit exchanges between 
 the different denominations of ministers. This 
 is beneficial variously, but we name it here only 
 as a witnessing of tho essential oneness of God’s 
 ministers and people. Let this be understood 
 to be the order of things in all our cities and 
 villages, and its infiuence will be potent as well 
 in the exhibition of Christian union as in the 
 creating and cherishing of such union. The in- 
 ference from such an evangelical custom is irre- 
 
MEANS OF VISIBLE UNION. 97 
 
 sistible. The world, as it watches this opera- 
 tion — and watch it the world will — must and 
 will reason thus : “ These ministers and Chris- 
 tians do, after all, belong to the same class, and 
 their differences are not such as to constitute 
 them any thing else than a unity. They preach 
 the same matters substantially, as is obvious 
 from their interchange of labors. The same 
 fact demonstrates their confidence in each other, 
 while they mutually contemplate one another as 
 laboring to accomplish one and the same great 
 object. Their difference is in little else than 
 name. They are one in whatever is deemed by 
 them of essential importance.” The welcome 
 to your pulpit which you give to a minister of 
 another denomination, is one of the strongest 
 manifestations you can make that yourself and 
 he are one in the gospel of your common Lord 
 and Saviour ; while the impression upon every 
 spectator will be decisive and irresistible. 
 
 5. Christians may bear witness to their union 
 before the world by defending one another when- 
 ever necessary. Too often is it true that when 
 another denomination than ours is assailed, we 
 are either silent as to any defence, or openly 
 join, it may be, in the accusation. Here, of 
 course, is no witness of union, but of disunion 
 rather. The opposite should be the position of 
 Christians whenever practicable. From per- 
 verseness, or ignorance, or both, one and an- 
 
98 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 other Christian sect is often named injuriously. 
 A censorious world hears much ill will toward 
 many real Christians. Let Christians meet all 
 unfriendly censures with appropriate explana- 
 tions and defence. Let them seize all such op- 
 portunities to show to a severe and uncharitable 
 world that the church of Christ is one ; that if 
 one member suffer, all the members suffer with 
 it. How many opportunities have Christians 
 not only to defend the injured of other denomi- 
 nations than their own, hut also to hear witness 
 to the excellence of their Christian character and 
 lives ! And when such witness is borne, and 
 borne with truth and skill, it becomes a confes- 
 sion of Christian union and fellowship, whose in- 
 fluence cannot fail to be felt by every class. 
 
 6. In addition to the above, it may be said, 
 Anally, that, on all proper occasions, Christians 
 and Christian ministers should give direct testi- 
 mony to their union with ministers and Chris- 
 tians of other communions. Let each one take 
 up the beautiful confession of David, as he as- 
 serted, “ I am a companion of all them that fear 
 thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” 
 Similar in spirit to this is the benediction of the 
 apostle, as he exclaimed, “ Grace be with all 
 them that love our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen !” 
 One of the confessions of the eminent Whitefield 
 is correspondent : I profess to be of a catholic 
 spirit. I am a debtor to all. I have no party 
 
MEANS OF VISIBLE UNION. 
 
 99 
 
 to be at the head of ; and, through God’s grace, 
 I will have none, but, as much as in me lies, 
 strengthen the hands of all of every denomina- 
 tion that preach Jesus Christ in sincerity.” 
 How refreshing is such an announcement ! Who 
 can refrain from exclaiming, “ Would there were 
 more spirits so beautiful as this, scattered over 
 this frigid world ! It should soon be convinced 
 that the true Messiah is come.” 
 
100 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 / 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 MEANS OF ACTUAL UNION. 
 
 But how can we fully profess and confess 
 Christian union, unless we really and positively 
 feel it? We certainly cannot 5 and hence we 
 venture to specify some means which will not 
 fail to promote this heavenly spirit in our hearts. 
 
 1. As means of Christian union, much that 
 was offered in the preceding chapter is highly 
 pertinent. The avoiding, for example, of un- 
 profitable religious controversy is as important 
 to the existence of Christian union as to the con- 
 fession of it. The same is true^of the manifes- 
 tation of the proper spirit whenever controversy 
 is indulged. So of union assemblies for prayer 
 and conference. It may be deemed certain that 
 such meetings, carefully conducted, will be pro- 
 motive of catholic love and union. CJiristians 
 will thus become more and more convinced of 
 their own actual oneness, and they will come, 
 more than ever before, to love each other as 
 brethren in the Lord. Such, too, will be the 
 influence of interchange of pulpits. The same 
 
MEANS OF ACTUAL UNION. 
 
 101 
 
 gospel will be heard sounding forth from the 
 ministers of different names, and the effect of 
 that “ common faith’’ will be to produce a com- 
 mon love and fellowship. So, also, will mutual 
 defence and support enkindle mutual love, while, 
 yet further, he that confesses the love he already 
 has for his brethren, shall have more. 
 
 2. We proceed, in addition to the above sug- 
 gestions, to propose, as a means of promoting 
 catholic love and union, an ascent to a higher 
 spiritual life. There is need of a deep and pow- 
 erful baptism of the Holy Ghost poured forth 
 upon the ministers and churches of Christendom. 
 The vast body of Christians, it is much to be 
 feared, are too much occupied with the outward, 
 the formal, the sensuous, in religion. There is 
 too much fastidiousness, too much tendency to 
 the gratification of the taste in respect to the 
 things of the gospel. Appearance, and sound, 
 and mode, are too prominent in the Christian 
 mind. There is needed in this age, in general, 
 and in reference to Christian union, in particu- 
 lar, a solemn review of what is the true position 
 of a Christian. This position is seen in the sub- 
 lime and awful lesson that fell from the lips of 
 Christ upon the ears of the Samaritan woman. 
 “ Woman,” saith he, “ believe me ; the hour 
 cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers 
 shall worship the F ather in spirit and in truth, 
 for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. 
 
102 - 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNIOJf. 
 
 God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must 
 worship Him in spirit and truth.’’ Oh ! if the 
 time should ever come when this deep lesson 
 shall be fully learned and practiced by God’s 
 worshipers, nothing more will need to be 
 said to urge the great matter of Christian union 
 and fellowship. We behoove to ascend into this 
 diviner atmosphere — the atmosphere of the spir- 
 it in distinction from that of sense — along whose 
 soft and delicious airs mingle the strains of 
 heavenly love and everlasting harmony. Name, 
 sect, dogma, sound, are considerations little 
 thought of in that pure and sunny region. 
 There the great idea is high and holy worship ; 
 to ascend the hill of the Lord,” is the fervent 
 aspiration. All is welcome there whose tenden- 
 cy is to enkindle the fire of holy devotion and 
 urge the soul still nearer to the great and spir- 
 itual God. When will the earthly and carnal 
 cease to adhere to the minds of ministers and 
 Christians, and when will they learn to look, not 
 at the things which are seen, but at the things 
 which are not seen ? When shall they come to 
 contemplate each other as though they con- 
 sciously were standing amid the last week of 
 time’s eventful history, and were listening, ev- 
 ery hour, for the rumbling of God’s chariot- 
 wheels coming to judgment ! 
 
 3. To descend to a greater particularity, gen- 
 uine and deep humility will conduce powerfully 
 
MEANS OF ACTUAL UNION. 
 
 103 
 
 to Christian union. Is not pride much concerned 
 with the existing separations and alienations 
 among the followers of the Lamb? There is 
 such a thing as the pride of denomination — the 
 pride of sect. One sect may he more numerous, 
 another more ancient, another more wealthy, or 
 more intellectual and influential ; another, still, 
 more enterprising and zealous. And such pe- 
 culiarities may be, and, doubtless, often are, 
 occasions of pride and mutual alienation. But 
 the pride of sect, with every other species of 
 pride, should have no place in a Christian heart. 
 It is needless to say that all should cultivate 
 profound humility, each esteeming others better 
 than himself, and being subject one to another, 
 as becometh saints. Thus would Christians of 
 different denominations discern, with far greater 
 clearness, what is good and Christ-like in their 
 brethren of other folds, and become more entire- 
 ly disposed to sacred union and fellowship. 
 There would be no longer a tendency to exclaim, 
 
 Stand by, for I am holier than thou but 
 each, rather, would count it a dear privilege to 
 walk in company to heaven with even the hum- 
 blest of the Saviour’s family. 
 
 4. Christians should cultivate a spirit of holy 
 love. Alas ! how much coldness, and distance, 
 and stiffness, are still seen in the church of 
 Christ ! How confined and how straitened are 
 the Christian affections ! How many seem fear- 
 
104 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 ful lest their hearts should open too freely and 
 too widely toward the man who entertains a 
 preference or two that are different from their 
 own ! But all this is narrow, and low, and 
 frigid, and unevangelical. We should seek and 
 cultivate a larger love, a more exuberant and 
 far-reaching benevolence. The truth is, Christ 
 
 has much people’^ all about us. One denom- 
 ination embraces not all the disciples, nor yet a 
 moiety of them. Think not, thou cold, dreary 
 Christian 1 that thou art alone. Elijah thought 
 so once ; but God had -seven thousand beside 
 him that were good and true, and that even in 
 the wicked realm of Israel. Open, then, thine 
 eyes, and open wide thy heart, and let holy and 
 brotherly love enkindle and flame forth, and 
 unite thee to all the goodly fellowship” of 
 those who love our Lord Jesus Chidst in sincer- 
 ity. 
 
 5. Larger and brighter hopes should be cher- 
 ished in all Christian hearts, as a means of closer 
 union one with another. They are not to be 
 forever contemplating the darker shade and as- 
 pect of things. Let them look upon the sunny 
 prospects that lie before the church of the living 
 God. See how Christ is working by the various 
 denominations of Christendom. Oh ! what a 
 Christian that must be in this generation who 
 sees nothing done in the kingdom of Christ ex- 
 cept the operations of his own sect I Who 
 
MEANS OF ACTUAL UNION. 
 
 105 
 
 would not prefer to be sitting alone upon an ice- 
 berg, far off in the polar seas, than to occupy 
 the position which this man holds 1 Let the 
 Christian learn rather to hope and to exult in all 
 that the Lord is doing, and over all the earth, 
 and by whatever company of His dear children. 
 Let him trace every kindling fire sprinkling the 
 darkness of paganism like the stars on a mid- 
 ' night sky. Let him see and hope, and call them 
 Christian lights, and be deeply interested for 
 their spread and triumph, till they all meeting 
 and commingling, shall illuminate the world* 
 Hopes like these shall help to urge us out of 
 sectarian stocks and fetters and prisons, and 
 assist to wed us in heavenly union with all, re- 
 gardless of name, who are reaching to save the 
 race. 
 
 6. Nearly allied to the above is the sugges- 
 tion that Christians should cultivate joy and re- 
 joicing at every triumph of Christ’s kingdom, 
 and by whatever instrumentality. How sublime 
 that thought, that there is joy among the angels , 
 of God over one sinner that repenteth ! Nor is 
 such joy at all impeded by sectarian lines, but 
 is utterly forgetful of earthly names and carnal 
 separations. That Christian, then, who has joy 
 for a sinner’s repentance at his own altar, while 
 he is but slightly affected at a similar event 
 within the influence of another denomination, 
 may have, indeed, a spark of grace, but he may 
 
106 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 be very sure that much of the earthly and sen- 
 sual still cleaves to him, and he is far from be- 
 ing a kindred spirit of the heavenly intelligences. 
 Let Christ’s disciples cherish joy for salvation 
 wherever it is given. Let them rejoice in the 
 manifested grace of God as when one findeth 
 great spoil. If the carnal and the selfish strug- 
 gle for the mastery, let them stretch their wings 
 and tower aloft into a purer and happier region, 
 where their souls shall have strength to sympa- 
 thize with every victory of the Saviour. Mean- 
 while, before such hallowed influences sectarian 
 coldness shall depart, and Christian hearts shall 
 flow together in holy union, as well as sacred 
 
 7. It will be a means of the union of Chris- 
 tians here on earth if they meditate profoundly 
 upon their prospective union in the heavenly 
 world. That union in heaven is certain ; Chris- 
 tians will be one when they depart and be with 
 the great Shepherd in His everlasting kingdom. 
 Nor is it graceful or at all becoming that they 
 should be blind to a prospect that is as sure as 
 heaven itself. But the more nearly the church 
 on earth resembles that in heaven the better. 
 If there will be no jarring, no selfishness, jeal- 
 ousy, or envy there, it should be so here ; and 
 it will help to secure this heavenly arrangement 
 if Christians will consent to look often at the 
 things which “ are not seen.” Will they en- 
 
MEANS OF ACTUAL UNION, lOT 
 
 deavor to stand aloof from their brethren with 
 whom they expect to dwell in perfect love and 
 union forever and ever 1 Will not heaven begin 
 below, and the harmony above be antedated on 
 earth 1 
 
 8. It becomes Christians, as a means of pro- 
 moting Christian union, to endeavor to contem- 
 plate all tliQ disciples as they are contemplated 
 by Christ himself. We know that all his fol- 
 lowers are, of course, dear to the Saviour, We 
 know that he laid down His life for all of them. 
 We know that he loved his own, and that he 
 loved them to the end. We are assured that 
 he prayed for them all — not merely for the apos- 
 tles — but for all them also vfhich should believe 
 on him through their word. We are instructed 
 that Christ recognized all his disciples as united 
 to himself as the branch is united to the vine ; 
 as members of his body, of his flesh, and of his 
 bones ; as being one in him, as himself and the 
 Father are one. Such is forever the view of 
 Christ in reference to all that love him. Our 
 lines of demarkation and distinction have no re- 
 cognition with him. He loves all that love him, 
 and loves them as his disciples. Such is the 
 attitude of Christ toward Christians. What, 
 then, should be the attitude of Christians toward 
 one another] This is a plain question, and 
 easily answered, and a faithful looking unto 
 Jesus’’ will be as effectual for Christian union 
 
108 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 as for numerous other salutary influences grow- 
 ing out of such a contemplation. 
 
 9. It becomes Christians to pray directly for 
 a spirit of union and fellowship with all Chris- 
 tians. Every good and every perfect gift is 
 from above, and cometh down from the Father 
 of lights. Nor can there he a doubt that prayer 
 of this sort would be acceptable to God. He 
 has most explicitly directed His children to love 
 one another with pure hearts fervently ; with 
 one mind and one mouth to glorify God ; to fol- 
 low after the things that make for peace, and 
 things whereby one may edify another, that 
 there he no divisions among them, and that they 
 strive together for the furtherance of the gospel. 
 Prayer to God, therefore, for the healing spirit 
 of union and love, will not he in vain. Chris- 
 tians, in their closets, should think this matter' 
 all over. They should frequently feel the ab- 
 surdity and wickedness of a sectarian spirit, and 
 give the Lord no rest till He has purged them 
 from all such carnality. Let them confess all 
 their heart to God ; let them lay open before 
 Him their whole deformity in this respect, and 
 weep and pray before Him until He shall come 
 to consume their sin with the breath of His 
 mouth. 
 
 10. At the same time, and as promotive of ^ 
 the same end, Christians should habituate them- 
 selves to pray specially for other denominations 
 
MEANS OF ACTUAL UNION. 
 
 109 • 
 
 than their own. We can hardly retain a posi- 
 tion of coldness and distance toward Christians 
 of any denomination, if we are accustomed to 
 remember them sincerely at the throne of grace. 
 Prayer is a most leveling, melting process. 
 Partition walls sink away before it. Sectarian 
 names are forgotten, as the spirit of a man ap- 
 proaches near to God. The ground is too holy ; 
 the atmosphere is too pure ; the mount is too 
 lofty, that carnal things should find a place for 
 existence. Oh ! if there were more heartfelt 
 and devout prayer of the different branches of 
 Christ’s church for one another, who questions 
 that this, of itself, would prove a most power- 
 ful means of brotherly love and fellowship ? Who 
 that has ever thus prayed, has not, in his very 
 act of supplication, been conscious of delightful 
 union with all the lovers of Christ and his cause? 
 And rising from his knees, it was with a heart 
 pinging, 
 
 “ Blest be the tie that binds 
 Our hearts in Christian love ! 
 
 The fellowship of kindred minds 
 Is like to that above.” 
 
 11. The prayer just spoken of will strongly 
 influence to yet another means of Christian union, 
 namely, carefully to guard against giving or 
 taking offence. Alas ! how much of precious 
 union among Christians has been prevented by a 
 violation of this rule ! How easy a thing it ap- 
 
no 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 pears to be for some men to speak a word, and 
 with an air, which, without accomplishing any 
 good end, does, however, give offence to some- 
 branch of Christ’s followers, and retards the 
 progress of brotherly love and union. Must an 
 unpleasant word be spoken or printed 1 Does 
 God and his church, and the eternal well-being 
 of souls, require it 1 And if so, can it not bo 
 spoken or written softly and quietly? Must 
 there be bitterness and offensiveness ? Is such 
 a word uttered as directly under the eye that 
 searches all things? Would Paul, under all 
 the circumstances, have spoken in the same way? 
 Or has he not somewhere written, “ Give no 
 offence either to Jew or Gentile, or to the church 
 of God, even as I please all men in all things, 
 not seeking my own profit, but the profit of 
 many, that they may be saved.” 
 
 Nor, if we would promote Christian union, 
 must we be hasty to take offence. Injudicious 
 Christians and ministers of other denominations 
 will, probably, give utterance to offensive things. 
 At times men will be thus guilty, from whom 
 we have reason to expect better things. But 
 under such circumstances, Christians should 
 most carefully watch over themselves. .While 
 it is a good rule to “ give no offence,” it is also 
 a good rule that we take none. Those who 
 would do great good and little harm on earth, 
 must make up their minds to endure much. In 
 
MEANS OF ACTUAL UNION. 
 
 Ill 
 
 the midst of provocations they must often, often 
 be silent. It is far better to weep and mourn 
 apart than to retaliate. To imitate Him w^ho 
 when He was reviled, reviled not again, is infi- 
 nitely better than that strife of words whence 
 evils issue often, but Christian union, never. 
 Offend not on the one hand, and be not offended 
 on the other, if you would advance successfully 
 the beautiful fellowship of the gospel. 
 
 12. Would Christians and ministers promote 
 Christian union to the utmost, let them not un- 
 necessarily speak any discouraging word of the 
 talents, operations, or productions of other de- 
 nominations. Of talents, whether natural or 
 acquired, God is pleased to make use of a great 
 diversity for the advancement of religion. Man 
 may think that a given amount of human learn- 
 ing is indispensable to a gospel minister, and be 
 ready to pronounce sentence of condemnation if 
 their own standard of acquirement is not, in all 
 cases, reached. But God is of another mind, 
 and often accomplishes great things by the instru- 
 mentality of talents that, to many, appear con- 
 temptible. The greatest caution should be used 
 in respect to our opinions and remarks touching 
 the abilities and qualifications of ministers, and 
 especially of those who are of a different denomi- 
 nation from ourselves. We may not have at- 
 tained the proper stand-point from which to see 
 clearly, and estimate accurately ; and it is often 
 
112 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 well, when we are unable to approve, to let 
 these men alone,” not forgetting the possibility 
 of being found even to fight against God. 
 
 Of the modes and operations of other denomi- 
 nations, similar remarks are also true. Will 
 you condemn all ministers and Christians who 
 think proper to serve God and His cause in 
 ways differing, in some degree, from such as you 
 approve 1 If so, your course will be as unwise 
 as it will be prejudicial to the cause of catholic 
 fellowship. Are all people alike.? Is there no 
 difference of taste, temperament, habit, educa- 
 tion, intellect, intelligence, association, and 
 many other differences ? Have you demonstra- 
 ted it to be certain, that while there are differ- 
 ent operations there is not the same spirit? 
 And are you absolutely sure that where there 
 are differences of administration there is not the 
 same Lord ? Are you clear, very clear, that 
 your own specific modes would be best for all, 
 irrespective of circumstances ; and would you, 
 if you could, assume the responsibility of pre- 
 scribing them for all ? If not, then be careful, 
 slow to speak, slower to condemn. 
 
 So, also, he who would, to the utmost, culti- 
 vate a catholic spirit, will exercise and exhibit 
 equal candor in respect to the writings of other 
 denominations. Is there not, in our partially 
 sanctified and partially carnal minds, a sort of 
 predisposition to censure the religious writings 
 
MEANS OF ACTUAL UNION. 
 
 113 
 
 of men belonging to a different branch of Christ’s 
 church ? Is there not too often discerned an 
 ungraceful and ungenerous readiness to deal se- 
 verely, if not bitterly, with pious authors bear- 
 ing not our party name ? Perchance they strike 
 off upon a path somewhat novel to us ; break 
 away from some of the more usual terms and 
 formulas with which we are familiar ; discover 
 too much independence of what we have ever 
 regarded as the “ standard authors” upon the 
 theme discussed, and presume to take their own 
 course, with the bible alone in their eye. How 
 likely, in such a case, that an alarm will be 
 speedily sounded ! And perhaps the cry of 
 heresy will be raised, and while thousands of 
 various names are greatly refreshed by the writ- 
 ings in question, yet another one less hopeful, 
 and less happy, starts from his hiding-place and 
 hurls his anathema against the whole composi- 
 tion. Here, also, we are liable to prevent the 
 sacred union of the disciples. It is lovely to 
 search, and strive to agree, with our brethren to 
 the utmost extent, and after all pains have been 
 taken to ascertain their sentiments. If, after 
 all, a difference is discerned, and conscience 
 makes its demand upon us to give such differ- ' 
 ence a public notice, then is the time to deal 
 kindly and tenderly. Then is the time for the 
 reviewer or the opponent to dispense with all 
 carnality, to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 
114 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 toucli his erring brother -with only a heavenly 
 touch, as if two angels differed, for a moment, 
 while winging their way from earth to paradise, 
 bearing thither one of the heirs of salvation.’^ 
 13. Another means of promoting Christian 
 union is to cultivate personal acquaintance and 
 intercourse with ministers and lay members of 
 other denominations. The neglect of this may 
 be ranked among the fruitful causes of heart-di- 
 visions among the churches of the Lord and Sa- 
 viour. How many instances might be found in 
 our cities of two Christian families dwelling in 
 close proximity, who never enter each other’s 
 doors, and never know each other, because they 
 enter, on the Sabbath, different places of public 
 worship, christened by different names ! And I 
 have known two evangelical ministers that lived 
 and labored in the same village, and the dis- 
 tance of whose parsonages was but a stone’s 
 throw, who yet never presumed to recognize 
 each other, but were as two cold strangers, that 
 pass on each his own way. In presence of such 
 modes and manners, it is idle, of course, to look 
 for Christian union. Ministers and private 
 Christians must know and evince something of 
 Christian courtesy, or all efforts for Christian 
 union and Christian co-operation are out of the 
 question. They must look each other in the 
 face ; they must greet each other ; hear each 
 other’s voices 5 sit down in each other’s houses ; 
 
MEANS OF ACTUAL UNION, 115 
 
 converse upon some of those great themes where- 
 in they sympathize and feel no difference. They 
 must begin to trample upon the artificial and 
 unchristian distinctions that have so long and so 
 fatally kept them asunder. They must reach 
 I after a more social position ; and ministers and 
 people both, of different denominations, must 
 come to know each other better. The immedi- 
 ate result will be a greater union, and more of 
 that brotherly love” so much insisted on in 
 the scriptures, and which is so necessary to the 
 I perfect prosperity of the Redeemer’s kingdom. 
 Let there be an immediate move in this direc- 
 tion wdierever the unsocial position has been 
 heretofore maintained. Welcome tbe day when 
 the true disciples shall know each other better ! 
 
 I Christ sees them all to be one ; how happy 
 could they themselves catch the same view ! 
 And they must hasten to seize upon the means 
 necessary to secure so desirable an end. 
 
 14. Finally, another powerful means of Chris- 
 tian union is the sincere and earnest endeavor, 
 by all denominations, for the reviving of reli- 
 gion. Disunion and separation will be almost 
 certain to accompany a cold and formal state of 
 religion. Christian union requires Christian 
 love as its basis ; hence a true revival of reli- 
 gion, reviving and increasing christ,ian charity, 
 promotes directly that holy union among the 
 disciples of the Saviour for which he prayed; 
 
116 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 •while, reciprocally, this heavenly union aids, in 
 a powerful degree, the prosperity of religion. 
 Precisely thus it was in the opening of the Spir- 
 it’s dispensation. On that eventful day, we 
 read of the disciples as being of one accord in 
 one place. In this their position of harmony 
 and oneness, the Holy Ghost came upon them, 
 and as Peter preached, thousands were suddenly 
 awakened and converted. But the influence of 
 this great refreshing was not to produce division 
 and' separation, but it is declared of those dis- 
 ciples that they continued daily with one accord. 
 One of the results of that glorious reviving was 
 to knit their hearts together in love and fellow- 
 ship yet more and more. And so it ever must 
 be. The spirit of. God is subduing, cleansing, 
 healing, sanctifying, and restoring, in His power 
 upon a Christian heart. He tends to consume 
 all that is earthly and carnal, and to shape the 
 man rapidly into the image of the heavenly and 
 the spiritual. 
 
 Hence, it would seem, we are not to look for 
 any valuable Christian union aside from the in- 
 fluences of God’s holy spirit working mighti- 
 ly” in the hearts of the disciples. For this 
 ever-blessed influence, therefore, as well for the 
 great cause of catholic union and love, as for 
 the salvation of the sinful multitude, all Chris- 
 tians should look with earnest longing. Oh ! 
 there is none but God that can help us and heal 
 
MEANS OF ACTUAL UNION. 
 
 nr 
 
 us, and give to us that beautiful character on 
 earth which vfill fit us for the fellowship of the 
 heavenly circles. 
 
 ‘ Blest are the sons of peace, 
 
 Whose hearts and hopes are one ; 
 
 Whose kind designs to serve and please, 
 Through all their actions run. 
 
 Thus on the heavenly hills. 
 
 The saints are blest above. 
 
 Where joy like morning dew distills, 
 
 And all the air is love.” 
 
118 
 
 V 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 ENCOURAGEMENTS. 
 
 But are there any encouraging indications 
 prompting the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ 
 to move in the great enterprise of Christian 
 union 1 That such indications are not wanting 
 appears to the writer of these pages to he cer- 
 tain ; and of a few of these he begs leave re- 
 spectfully to remind the reader. 
 
 1. An indication of very special importance 
 is, that, at this present, the great deep of many 
 holy minds is stirred upon this solemn subject. 
 There is in progress an irresistible sentiment — 
 a sentiment as deep and as firm as religion it- 
 self — that the existing divisions and coldness 
 among the nominal disciples of the Saviour are 
 anti-christian, anti-scriptural, wicked, and alarm- 
 ing. There is, in not a few of the best and ho- 
 liest minds, in this and other countries, a rest- 
 lessness — a weariness — in view of the present 
 artificial and unspiritual position of the evan- 
 gelical churches of Christendom. There is a 
 secret sighing, and longing, and crying for a 
 
ENCOURAGEMENTS. 
 
 119 
 
 purer spirit to brood over these churches, heal- 
 ing their divisions — consuming their carnality — 
 redeeming them from the deathly damps of sec- 
 tarianism, envy, and hatred, and lifting them to 
 a holier and diviner attitude, and nearer to the 
 heart of their great Leader and Sanctifier. 
 There are spirits — and they are not few nor 
 mean — ^walking amid the churches, in whom 
 sectarianism is either dying or dead ; who al- 
 ready feel themselves far more closely united to 
 the church catholic than to any denomination ; 
 whose daily and fervent prayer flows in sympa- 
 thy with the prayer of Christ, for the oneness 
 of all his followers ; and who are ready to spend 
 and be spent in behalf of the unity, purity, and 
 perfection of his people. Nor is all this a mere 
 impulse of the moment — a sudden ebullition of 
 excited feeling. It is rather an inwrought life — 
 often of slow, yet ceaseless growth, begotten by 
 an influence not of this world, nourished, and 
 sustained, and confirmed by prayer, and medita- 
 tion, and long communings with the holy scrip- 
 tures, and shone upon by rays of supernal beauty 
 darting from eternity, and cheered and charmed 
 by music glorious as the voice of the Son of 
 God. These men are weary of parties, and 
 sick of religious strife, and words that are of 
 no profit, and vain jangling. They are reach- 
 ing, on the other hand, for the spiritual, the 
 substantial, the essential, and are flying home 
 
120 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 to tlie scriptures, and feeling their way nearer 
 to Christ, and farther off from the command- 
 ments and ordinances of men, and seeking the 
 unsullied region where there is neither Greek 
 nor Jew, but where Christ is all, and in all. 
 They are men that often pray that prayer out 
 of whose comprehensive petitions one saith, 
 ‘‘ Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth 
 as it is done in heaven !” All the causes lying 
 back of their somewhat peculiar position, may 
 not be known even to themselves. There is a 
 possibility, perhaps a probability, that some of 
 these Christians are rapidly nearing the heavenly 
 Jerusalem ; and an unseen hand, it may be, is 
 silently moulding them for the great transfer 
 about to occur. Sweet influences, arriving from 
 a purer sphere, may be pointing them upward, 
 while a clearer vision, aided by near proximity 
 of the world of light, may be showing them, as 
 they have not been wont to discern, the trans- 
 cendent loveliness and beauty of an undivided 
 church — a great and holy multitude, bound up 
 in the bundle of eternal life, and destined to in- 
 effable and everlasting fellowship. 
 
 And who is there that, from whatever sacred 
 cause, has thus caught the true view of the 
 church of the living God, might ever endure a 
 different aspect — especially such as rises on the 
 eye that looks forth upon the militant church? 
 “ Oh P’ he instinctively exclaims, it is not so 
 
ENCOURAGEMENTS. 
 
 121 
 
 in Jesus’ prayers or teachings — it is not so in 
 heaven!” And then he weeps, and amid his 
 tears he vows never to add fuel more to the fires 
 of discord, nor countenance, by word or action, 
 the carnal estrangements from each other of 
 God’s own dear children. Here, directly here, 
 stand those disciples of the Lord and Saviour 
 who bear mps\ fully the likeness of their Mas- 
 ter, and who are nearest to his presence, and 
 dearest to his heart. And he hath more of such 
 on earth than is known by many ; and this is 
 one of the encouraging indications. 
 
 2. Another of these indications, and one of 
 weighty and solemn import, was the catholics 
 gathering at London in the summer of 1846, 
 and which resulted in the formation of the Evan- 
 gelical Alliance. I pray the reader, whatever 
 may be his opinions or prejudices touching that 
 event, to review it for a moment. I am not 
 particularly concerned now to defend its meas- 
 ures. I am not anxious to write a word, in this 
 place, in respect to the doctrinal basis, the dis- 
 cussions, or the resolui^ons of that meeting, al- 
 though in these I confess to see much, very 
 much, to approve and rejoice in. But we would 
 invite the attention of all protestant Christians 
 to the fact itself of the meeting. Contemplate 
 an assembly of Christians, and Christian minis- 
 ters, of every evangelical denomination. They 
 have been invited to gather in the city of Lon- 
 
122 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 don from all parts of tlie Christian world. In 
 accordance with such invitation, about one thou- 
 sand men assemble from various countries. 
 Representatives are there from England, Scot- 
 land, Ireland, Nova Scotia, Canada, and the 
 West Indies ; also from France, Germany, Swit- 
 zerland, Italy, Holland ; while more than seven- 
 ty of that thousand men are from the United 
 States, who went on that long pilgrimage over 
 sea, to he present at this meeting, and not a few 
 of whom, of different denominations, were among 
 the most reputable and excellent ministers, of 
 this country. But what was the object of this 
 extraordinary convocation — a convocation such 
 as had not been seen before since the dawning 
 of Christianity? The object was the confession 
 of Christian union, and the promotion of such 
 union among all evangelical Christians. Thir- 
 teen successive days, sabbaths excepted, that 
 great company of men of different countries, as- 
 sembled and prayed together, and deliberated, 
 and wept, and rejoiced. There they allied them- 
 selves to each other as a, band of Christian breth- 
 ren, the object of their alliance being “to aid in 
 manifesting, as far as practicable, the unity which 
 exists among the true disciples of Christ ; to 
 promote their union by fraternal and devotional 
 intercourse ; to discourage all envyings, strifes, 
 and divisions ; to impress upon Christians a deep 
 sense of the great duty of obeying their Lord’s 
 
ENCOURAGEMENTS. 
 
 123 
 
 command to ‘ love one another and to seek the 
 full accomplishment of his prayer, ‘ that they 
 all may be one, as thou. Father, art in me and 
 I in thee — that they also may be one in us ; that 
 the world may believe that thou hast sent me.’ ” 
 They also provided for the formation of similar 
 unions in the various countries represented. 
 
 Such is the fact of the Evangelical Alliance.” 
 Our province here is not to defend it — not to 
 interfere, in the least, with the difference of 
 opinion respecting its measures, or its efficacy 
 for good as an organization. The concern of 
 this argument is, to point to it as a fact, and 
 to the indication presented by such a fact. And 
 in this aspect of the matter, we have no hesita- 
 tion in pronouncing the London assembly to 
 have been one of the most interesting and im- 
 portant events of modern times. Men may 
 differ about some of its features as much as 
 they please. They may call it a farce, a phan- 
 tom, a failure, or any thing else. But one thing 
 has been demonstrated by that meeting, and 
 shines forth clearly as the sun on high. The 
 London meeting has told the tale of a mighty 
 tendency and longing toward catholic union^ in 
 not a few of the most brilliant and lovely spirits 
 in Christendom, And that one manifestation, 
 beaming forth upon the eyes of the nations, is 
 worth all the expense and labor involved in the 
 meeting, multiplied a thousand fold. The de- 
 
124 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 voted disciple, sighing for the union of the church 
 catholic, will turn his eyes toward that meeting, 
 and will hope for a brighter day. He will see 
 that he is not alone ; but other men — chosen 
 men — whose praise is in all the churches, deep- 
 ly sympathize with the emotions and heavings of 
 his own spirit, and have already given utterance 
 to the sentiments that had long lived in his heart, 
 but which he had deemed it almost hazardous to 
 declare. The man of the world must read it 
 as a fact of history, that great and good men of 
 all the principal denominations have met and 
 greeted each other as brethren, and bidden each 
 other God-speed in their heavenly progress ; and 
 as he reads, he must be impressed, whether he 
 will or not, that Christians, after all, are one ; 
 that it is only as men that they dijQfer, while as 
 Christians they are identical. Romanists must 
 look upon that demonstration, and while they 
 still affect to mock at divided protestantism, 
 they will wonder and tremble. The protestant, 
 in hundreds of instances, will contemplate it, 
 and while joining with the papist in denouncing 
 it as a magnificent failure,” he will, on that 
 self-same day, move toward his brethren of other 
 denominations, and under an influence which he 
 refuses to acknowledge, and which has traveled 
 to his soul by a path which he knows not, he 
 emerges suddenly into the great catholic broth- 
 erhood, and begins to love the church of Christ 
 
ENCOURAGEMENTS. 
 
 125 
 
 better than sect or party. The excellent men 
 who went from this country to take part in that 
 important meeting, and who have received so 
 little apparent sympathy from thousands of their 
 brethren, are not, therefore, to be discouraged. 
 It is quite likely that, with the same expense, 
 they never before accomplished an equal amount 
 of good for the church and the world. They 
 shall find it after many days. 
 
 3. Another encouraging indication is, the nu- 
 merous and increasing unions of ministers and 
 Christians of the different evangelical denomina- 
 tions. It is no unusual thing, at present, for 
 ministers of different names to assemble in weekly 
 or monthly gatherings, and commune together 
 concerning the interests of their several charges, 
 and of the church at large, and mingle their pray- 
 ers together for the prosperity of religion. So, 
 also, it is rapidly becoming common for Christians 
 of the laity to assemble, irrespective of name, to 
 confer and pray together. There is, on the 
 part of Christians, a more full and outright re- 
 cognition of each other’s piety and sincerity, 
 than there once was ; nor does it require a proph- 
 et’s vision to see clearly that, when disciples of 
 different sects shall become accustomed to pray 
 and praise together, and shall be mutually bless- 
 ed under each other’s counsels and exhortations, 
 the carnal partitions that have been wont to sep- 
 arate them will speedily sink away, and they 
 
126 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 ■will come to realize the holy oneness of all ■who 
 love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Away 
 from Christ, and immersed in worldly influences, 
 Christians are almost certain to differ and divide. 
 But ■when they draw near to God, and gather 
 around the gracious throne, and assume, on 
 earth, a position most nearly resembling the 
 church in heaven, then their difierences vanish — 
 the alienation is healed — they are no longer sev- 
 ered, but are one in Christ Jesus. And such 
 anvaspect of things, it is hoped and believed, is 
 hastening to become widely visible among the 
 evangelical churches of the land. Christians 
 are really one, and it shall yet be e\dnced be- 
 fore a wondering world. 
 
 4. Yet another encouraging indication is, the 
 aspect of the religious press. Not only are 
 there several periodical publications that are 
 devoted mainly and directly to the promotion of 
 catholic union, but religious weeklies, month- 
 lies, and quarterlies, and under the patronage 
 of different denominations, appear almost unan- 
 imous in their favorable bearing toward the 
 efforts of the age for a closer union of Christ’s 
 follo-n^ers ; while even the secular press is not 
 without its notes of good will and approbation. 
 Now may be heard from week to w^eek, and by 
 all who please to listen, the winning invitation, 
 the soul-stirring appeal, the solemn echoing of 
 inspired instruction, the interesting train of 
 
ENCOURAGEMENTS. 
 
 12T 
 
 facts, on the great subject of catholic love and 
 union ; and the voices that are speaking, are 
 not confined to one country or language, but 
 they are heard, swelling on the air, from op- 
 pressed Switzerland, and down-trodden Italy; 
 from France and Germany; from the great 
 brotherhood of missionaries scattered over pa- 
 ganism, as well as from sunny Britain and 
 America. And they are no mean voices that 
 are speaking to us, but such as deserve the ear 
 of the whole Christian world. There is no more 
 delightful and refreshing note borne to us on 
 the breath of the public press than this note of 
 holy and catholic union of the saints of the Most 
 High. It is a voice, too, that has waked never 
 to die. Here rises a reformation that shall 
 never go backward, but shall pass on increas- 
 ing' and growing till every jar of earth is hushed 
 amid the eternal union and harmony of heaven. 
 
 5. But what other encouragement is needed 
 when it is considered that perfect love and 
 union between Christ’s followers is pleasing to 
 God? That the great cause of catholic union 
 among his children is the cause of God, is as 
 palpable as Christianity itself. . Here there can 
 be no mistake. Men may difier as to the means 
 to be used for aiding to unite the Christian world, 
 but they will not difier — they cannot difier — in 
 the sentiment that this union is dear to Christ, 
 and was a prominent theme in his prayers. The 
 
128 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 Lord in heaven has no pleasure whatever in the 
 differences, jealousies, envies, coldness, and sep- 
 arations existing among his professed children. 
 If he has a people on earth, it is infinitely pleas- 
 ing to him that they should all be one in love 
 and fellowship. The Christian who, in his heart, 
 possesses the highest degree of such love and 
 fellowship, is the nearest to what Christ would 
 have him ; and he who is laboring for the pro- 
 motion of this same spirit, is ranked, in the 
 ' mind of God, among the most blessed of peace- 
 makers, and shall be called a child of the Lord. 
 God hath called us to peace, and enjoined it 
 upon his children that they love one another, 
 and that they be perfectly joined together in the 
 same mind. 
 
 Here, then, the Christian, minister or lay- 
 man, who is panting and laboring for Christian 
 union, stands upon sure and solid ground. He 
 has certainly the cause of heavenly truth in 
 hand, and hence, if he proceed prudently and 
 harmlessly, yet determinedly and perseveringly, 
 his success and triumph are as certain as the 
 throne of God. Does any one ask what is the 
 great encouragement of those who are looking 
 for the union of the disciples ? God is in it, is 
 the all-sufficient response, and he will bring it 
 to pass. Whoso heareth, let him understand. 
 The beautiful vision of one of our own poets 
 touching the cessation of wars, seems hastening 
 
ENCOURAGEMENTS. 129 
 
 to be realized in regard to religious strifes among 
 differing Christians. 
 
 Down the dark future, through long generations, 
 
 The echoing sounds grow fainter, and then cease, 
 And like a bell with solemn, sweet vibrations, 
 
 I hear once more the voice of Christ say. Peace I 
 
 “ Peace ! and no longer from its brazen portals. 
 
 The blast of War’s great organ shakes the skies, 
 
 But beautiful as songs of the immortals, 
 
 The holy melodies of love arise.” 
 
 r 
 
 f 
 
CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 ISO 
 
 SECTION X. 
 
 ADDRESS TO EPISCOPALIANS. 
 
 To the ministry and membership of the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal church: 
 
 Brethren in Christ — I trust you will allow me 
 to address you as such, though my name is not 
 enrolled within the pale of your communion. 
 Yet I do esteem you, as truly, perhaps, as your- 
 selves, to be a branch of the true church of our 
 Lord Jesus Christ. Most of the doctrines laid 
 down in the thirty-nine articles — the doctrinal 
 basis of your church, and the Church of Eng- 
 land — I most cordially assent to. Much of 
 your precious liturgy is scarcely less precious 
 with me than with you ; and whenever it is my 
 privilege to mingle in your assemblies for public 
 worship, my whole soul unites with yours in 
 your prescribed and beautiful forms of prayer 
 and praise. Even the surplice and gown worn 
 by the ministry as they officiate in the desk and 
 in the pulpit, though not accordant entirely with 
 my taste, and my views of apostolical simplicity, 
 I would not think it worth while to contend 
 
ADDRESS TO EPISCOPALIANS. 131 
 
 about, I believe you to belong to Christ, and 
 that you have as perfect a right as other Chris- 
 tians to your own inodes and preferences, as 
 pertaining to either public or private worship, 
 and the ordinances of God’s house. 
 
 I will not attempt, however, to conceal the 
 embarrassment under which I labor in proposing 
 to address you on the very important subject of 
 Christian union. It is an embarrassment W'hich 
 appears the more weighty, as there seems no 
 human prospect of its mitigation. I shall be 
 understood as alluding here to the episcopal 
 theory of the Christian ministry, which consci- 
 entiously, as I doubt not, you hold to be the 
 only true theory. This theory excludes, of 
 course, from the ranks of a valid ministry, all 
 that have not received episcopal ordination; 
 while thus, in the mind of a genuine Episcopa- 
 lian, the right of all those Christian organiza- 
 tions existing aside from episcopacy, to be re- 
 cognized as parts and branches of the true church 
 of Christ, becomes vitiated. It would be quite 
 needless, perhaps extraneous, for me to say how 
 much I regret this state of opinion and feeling 
 on the part of Episcopalians ; and it seems the 
 more melancholy, considered in connection with 
 its bearing upon the matter of catholic union 
 and fellowship. At the same time, however, 
 from repeated conversations with Episcopal cler- 
 gymen, I have gathered the notion that what are 
 
182 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 termed the evangelical denominations of Chris- 
 tians in this country are, notwithstanding the 
 supposed invalidity of their ministry and church 
 organizations, considered by you as disciples of 
 the Lord and Saviour. Retaining, as you be- 
 lieve, the succession of evangelical and essential 
 truth, and retaining, as you also believe, the 
 succession of saving faith and piety, though 
 aside, as you judge, from the succe^ion of the 
 apostolical ministry, they are esteemed by j^ou 
 as, while involved in some important error, num- 
 bered, notwithstanding, with the heirs of salva- 
 tion. 
 
 Now, under these circumstances, though pe- 
 culiar difficulties are obviously in the way, yet 
 is there not, even for Episcopalians, a large 
 platform for Christian union? The ministers 
 and members of the Protestant Episcopal 
 church, as they contemplate the other evangeli- 
 cal denominations of this country, consider them 
 as either being parts of the church of Christ, 
 or as being out of his church, and remaining 
 still aliens from the commonwealth of spiritual 
 Israel. In the latter event, there would, of 
 course, be no foundation for Christian union or 
 fellowship. Judging them to be heretical, and 
 to such an extent as to be strangers to God, they 
 must, in all consistency and propriety, refrain 
 from all appearance of recognizing them as 
 among the followers of Christ. But Episcopa- 
 
ADDRESS TO EPISCOPALIANS. 133 
 
 lians — at least the more pious and candid of 
 them — cannot, and do not, we are assured, as- 
 sume this most melancholy ground. Whatever 
 may be true of individual ministers or church 
 members, this is not the attitude, as yet, of the 
 great body of American Episcopalians. In 
 other words, the good and candid men of that 
 communion do recognize the Presbyterians, Bap- 
 tists, Methodists, and orthodox Congregational- 
 ists, of the United States, as Christian organ- 
 izations^ if not as Christian churches ; and the 
 ministry and membership included in these de- 
 nominations, they believe to be, in general, sin- 
 cere followers of the Saviour. Nor, beloved 
 brethren, do you leave this as being, in your 
 minds, an undecided matter. Your language 
 respecting them is not that perhaps they are 
 Christians,” or that “ there may be Christians 
 among them,” or that “ there are some Chris- 
 tians among them.” In other words, you do 
 not look upon what are termed the evangelical 
 communions of this country, as we are all ac- 
 customed to contemplate the Romanists of this 
 and other lands. But you regard them as Chris- 
 tians — standing, in this respect, on a level with 
 your own communion, and including, in con- 
 nection with your own church, the most benev- 
 olent and excellent men and women of this na- 
 tion. 
 
 It is, then, on this ground precisely, that f 
 
134 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 desire most respectfully to meet you with my 
 appeal in behalf of catholic union. I have ven- 
 tured, I trust with propriety and truth, to write 
 you as looking forth upon the great denomina- 
 tions around you, and counting them to be Chris- 
 tians. And when I have written you thus, if I 
 have written truly, I cannot hut feel that I have 
 attained much, and am planted upon sure and 
 impregnable ground, and where I can call heaven 
 and earth to witness the extreme propriety of 
 positive and strong advances, on your part, to- 
 ward catholic and visible union, and the extreme 
 impropriety, on the other hand, of your vdth- 
 holding such union. The ministry and mem- 
 bership of the other denominations, you believe 
 to be Christians, as truly and as generally, though 
 perhaps not so eminently, as the ministry and 
 membership of the Episcopal church. Then 
 you believe that the Lord Jesus loves those min- 
 isters, and loves those church members, though 
 partially erring. You believe their names are 
 written with yours in the book of life. You 
 believe them to be rising, side by side with your- 
 selves, toward everlasting life. You believe 
 that in the great day of judgment, they will be 
 standing in company with yourselves, at the 
 right hand of the Judge ; and that to them, as 
 to you, he will say, ‘‘ Come ye blessed of my 
 Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you 
 from the foundation of the world.” You be- 
 

 
 lieve that in the long, long future, they will be 
 with you in heaven ; and when the crowns are 
 cast down at His feet, and the hallelujahs of 
 immortality, like the voice of thunderings, and 
 the noise of many waters,- shall roll through 
 heaven, their voices will mingle with yours amid 
 the celestial harmony. There will come a pe- 
 riod — so you believe — a period far, far in the 
 bosom of eternity, when you and they will have 
 been, for millions of ages, in heaven — one and 
 united and bfessed there — and when, amid that 
 blissful and everlasting fellowship, you will look 
 away through the vista of departed centuries,, 
 and as the eye lights upon these days and years, 
 the present divisions of Christians for opinion’s 
 sake will appear but the gropings and stumblings 
 of hapless blindness ; and you will be lost in 
 amazement that the prospective eternal union 
 of the saints should not have influenced to wed 
 them in glad and unbroken fellowship along their 
 earthly pilgrimage. Yes, you must allow us to 
 urge, beloved brethren, that your recognition, as 
 Christians, of those whom you term dissenters, 
 does furnish to them, if ’we do not mistake, a 
 most decisive and irresistible claim to fellowship 
 and union. T humbly submit, that consistency, 
 not to say righteousness, requires of you one of 
 two things, to wit : either that, in your minds, 
 you do cut dissenters from episcopacy off from 
 the church of Christ, and count them as sep- 
 
136 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 arate from the Saviour and his grace ; or, on the 
 other hand, recognizing them as Christians, you 
 profess your oneness with them in the glorious 
 gospel of the blessed God. In the simplicity of 
 my heart, I can see no consistent middle ground 
 between these two positions. Not a few minds 
 in your own communion, as also in the commu- 
 nion of the church of England, entertain the 
 same view with myself of this grave matter, and 
 thus have drifted to the sad alternative of reck- 
 oning, with Mr. Palmer, the dissenting world as 
 forming no part of the church of Christ, and of 
 turning them all over, ministry and laity, to the 
 uncovenanted mercies” of God. True, these 
 dissenters are sincere. True, they trust in Christ 
 alone for mercy and forgiveness. True, they 
 evince the Christian as fully as the Churchman 
 or the Romanist. But an invalid minister has 
 called them, though by the aid of truth ; an invalid 
 minister has baptized them ; an invalid minister 
 has assumed to give to them the Lord’s supper ; 
 an invalid minister, invalid because lacking, 
 and only lacking, the apostolic laying on of hands 
 upon his head, has ventured to break to them 
 the bread of life. And thus there is no grace, 
 no salvation, save as some heathen, it may be, 
 are saved I To all this class of Episcopalians 
 this address, of course, has nothing to say. I' 
 leave them with their kindred spirits, consti- 
 tuting that corporation whose head is infallible, 
 
ADDRESS TO EPISCOPALIANS. 137 
 
 and which declares, in so many words, that those 
 who submit not to its doctrine and authority, 
 are as pagans, infidels, Turks, Jews, heretics, 
 and schismatics.’’ 
 
 But, blessed be God ! such is not, respected 
 brethren, the position, as yet, of the majority of 
 the ministry and laity of the Protestant Episco- 
 pal church. That majority acknowledges, with 
 unspeakable delight, the fact of dissenting Chris- 
 tians ; and beholds them, in multitudes, in the 
 great Christian communions of the country. See 
 ye to it, then, that ye fail not to convince the 
 world, and by every appropriate means in your 
 power, that you and they are one in Christ Je- 
 sus. Consistenc}^, and what is of far greater 
 importance, righteousness and piety, demand this 
 at your hands. The solemn demand of Heaven, 
 that all Christians should.be one, and that they 
 should evince this oneness to the world, becomes 
 as imperative upon you as upon any other branch 
 of the church of Christ. 
 
 But how are Episcopalians to manifest this 
 oneness with all whom they hold to be Chris- 
 tians 1 To this question it becomes not me to 
 attempt an answer. Let every man be fully 
 persuaded in his own mind. That, on your 
 part, there exist special difficulties in the way 
 of visible union with hundreds of thousands 
 whom you esteem to be genuine Christians, is a 
 palpable matter. Your idea of the invalidity of 
 
13S 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 a non-episcopal ministry, rises up as the great 
 obstacle. Kor does it become me to interfere 
 with such an idea. I might, indeed, give utter- 
 ance to my extreme regret that the fruits of such 
 a ministry, fruits that are, this day, refreshing 
 and gladdening the nations, should apparently 
 exert, as a test of divine approbation, so little 
 influence with you. It were needless to remind 
 you, that this very test of validity and genuine- 
 ness was ordered by the great Head of the church 
 himself, who has instructed us most clearly, that 
 a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit ; nei- 
 ther can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 
 And have not the fruits of the several evangeli- 
 cal denominations been good ? Considered in 
 its religious and moral aspect, does yonder sun 
 shine upon a fairer land than these United 
 States I Contemplating the great denomina- 
 tions of this country in connection with dissent- 
 ing England, lives there a body of Christians 
 upon earth more .enterprising and successful 
 than they in the great work of spreading true 
 religion through the world ? Nay, I venture one 
 step further. For the reason that thousands of 
 learned and excellent ministers of this land have 
 not passed through the ceremony of episcopal 
 ordination, are even yourselves prepared to wish, 
 this moment, that all those blessed voices should 
 be hushed, and that, too, though they persist to 
 publish the gospel with only their present com- 
 
ADDRESS TO EPISCOPALIANS. 
 
 139 
 
 mission ? But I forbear. How long, in God’s 
 providence, this sad barrier to holy union among 
 Christians, shall continue, I assume not to pre- 
 dict. 
 
 But may nothing be done for visible union 
 while even this great difficulty remains'? Is 
 there no way for the Episcopalian to meet 
 him whom he esteems his dissenting brother, 
 and convince the world that they are one in 
 heart ? The case, I acknowledge, appears to 
 me to be peculiarly embarrassing to the church- 
 man ; but let him do what he can. Let him, 
 for conscience sake, and for Christ’s sake, go to 
 the extremity which his position will allow. If 
 he, being himself a Christian, considers, at the 
 same time, another denomination to be Chris- 
 tians also, I pray him to use every appropriate 
 means within his reach, to show their real one- 
 ness to the world. I beseech you, dear brother, 
 that, in the face of this wicked world, you reach 
 over your hand of fellowship .to those with whom 
 you expect to dwell in perfect union forever and 
 ever. If your strong views of the ministry must 
 still remain, then be it so. But with your heart 
 approach your Christian brethren ; approach 
 them in spirit ; approach them visibly in all 
 lawful means and modes. If these means and 
 modes seem wanting, help to crea.te them. 
 Search up every pure and catholic platform, and 
 stand there with those whom Christ loves, and 
 5 
 
140 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 will love to the end. Thus stood those sixty 
 and five clergjnnen, and those fifty and nine lay- 
 men, of the English Establishment, with their 
 Christian brethren of different names, who had 
 assembled from the four winds, and formed with 
 them the Evangelical Alliance. There, amid that 
 - company, arose the voice of Bickersteth, beauti- 
 ful as the music of the heavenly harmonies. 
 
 How sweet,” he said, is brotherly love, and 
 the mutual giving way of one to the other ! 
 Glory, glory be to our God, that He has brought 
 us so far forward in our blessed work ! (the 
 work of visible Christian union). Glory, glory 
 be to our God ! * * * But one more remark. 
 We have not lost a Christian friend by joining 
 the Alliance. I may say so from having a large 
 acquaintance with my brethren of the Church of 
 England in every part of the land. I have not 
 lost the love of a Christian brother by joining 
 the Evangelical Alliance. Nay, more, I think 
 they have shown me, and have been anxious to 
 show me, that I am more dear to them than I 
 was before. No church will lose ; every church 
 will gain by the Alliance.” 
 
 Happy, happy, I must believe, would it be for 
 the Episcopal Church, both in the old and new 
 world, were such a spirit and such views to per- 
 vade it universally! Welcome the day, when 
 every minister and member of that church shall 
 cherish the spirit of the catholic and noble Mo- 
 
ADDRESS TO EPISCOPALIANS. 141 
 
 nod, as lie exclaimed, Though another Chris- 
 tian is a dissenter, and I am a minister of the 
 established church ; or he is a Baptist, and I 
 baptize children ; or he is a Methodist, and I 
 am a Calvinist ; I should say, ^ My dear friend, 
 you might as well make up you mind at once to 
 be with me, for j^ou must make up y our mind 
 (I trust, by the blessing of God) to spend with 
 me your eternity.’ ” 
 
142 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 SECTION XI. 
 
 ADDRESS TO BAPTISTS. 
 
 To the ministry and membership of ihe 
 Baptist churches : 
 
 Brethren in Christ — It is quite unnecessary 
 for me to say, that I address myself to you on 
 the great topic of Christian union, with the same 
 deference, the same profound respect and Chris- 
 tian love, with which I have ventured, as above, 
 to speak to my Episcopalian brethren. I ap- 
 preciate, I think, the evangelical character of 
 your churches. I know your zeal in the great 
 cause of evangelical religion throughout this 
 country I love and admire, also, that mis- 
 sionary energy and spirit, and those strong and 
 increasing efforts for the world’s conversion, 
 characterizing your community. None more 
 sincerely and more perseveringly labor to bring 
 all men to the knowledge of the truth than your- 
 selves. It is true, there are, and must be, re- 
 grets for the difficulty amounting, in your esti- 
 mation, to a stern necessity of a denominational 
 organization, distinguishing you from beloved 
 
ADDRESS TO BAPTISTS. 
 
 143 
 
 brethren between whom and yourselves this only- 
 difficulty or difference appears to exist. The 
 subjects and mode of baptism, especially the 
 latter, constitute the difficulty alluded to ; and 
 shall 1 be pardoned for expressing my fears 
 that the Baptist distinctive difference operates, 
 with some peculiar power, in preventing cordial 
 Christian union, on the part of ministers and 
 members of your churches 1 In your judgment, 
 the disciple on whom water is merely sprinkled 
 or poured in the name of the Trinity, is not, in 
 any scriptural or proper sense, baptised, and 
 thus is not qualified to participate in the holy 
 communion of the Supper. Accordingly, per- 
 sons of other denominations, and who have not 
 been immersed, are not expected to join you in 
 this solemn sacrament. Such is the present at- 
 titude of your churches ; and whether a greater 
 liberality of administration shall obtain, such, for 
 example, as was advocated so forcibly by the 
 great and eloquent Robert Hall, yet remains to 
 be seen ; while with this whole matter it is not 
 my province to interfere. With most unfeigned 
 pleasure, however, I may write of you as I have 
 written of the more pious and candid of Episco- 
 palians, that, while the latter declines to admit 
 the dissenting minister to his pulpit, and you de- 
 cline to admit the unimmersed disciple to your 
 communion table, yet you agree in recognizing 
 other evangelical denominations as Christians, 
 
144 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 and fellow-heirs with yourselves of the grace of 
 life. The intelligent and pious Baptist fully 
 expects to meet his pious Congregationalist and 
 Methodist neighbor in the kingdom of God ; and 
 that, too, though neither of them have received, 
 as he believes, the baptism of water. He judges 
 them to be mistaken touching this subject, but 
 sincerely in error ; and that God, therefore, re- 
 fuses not to them the baptism of the Holy Ghost 
 and a meetness for eternal life. 
 
 If, respected and dear brother, the above is 
 an accurate presentation of your attitude to- 
 ward other evangelical denominations, then is 
 there not ground for the most decided and 
 strong appeal to you, also, as it regards the 
 great subject of Christian union? It is true, 
 you cannot meet other denominations so closely 
 as some of them can approach each other. You 
 cannot, with your present views, and they re- 
 taining theirs, join them in that most affecting 
 and most beautiful manifestation of Christian 
 uni'^"^- around the table of the Lord. This, I 
 venture to believe, is, between you and them, a 
 matter of mutual and profound regret. Yet 
 who shall attach blame to either party ? Who 
 shall judge and condemn, save Him that sitteth 
 in the heavens ? What, then, must both par- 
 ties do ? What, except to allow this one mat- 
 ter to rest ? The one party will still piously 
 believe that immersion is the only mode of bap- 
 
ADDRESS TO BAPTISTS. 
 
 145 
 
 tism ; the other party will still piously believe 
 in this and other inodes besides. The result 
 in the matter of the Supper will, I suppose, con- 
 tinue. What then? Both parties are Chris- 
 tians, and such in mutual recognition. Must 
 you not, then, my brethren, meet the rest as 
 disciples of the common Saviour, and partakers 
 of the common salvation? Ought you not to 
 beware, lest the peculiar difference between 
 yourselves and them — a difference shutting you 
 out from them, and' them from you, in a par- 
 ticular instance — should come to exert more 
 than its appropriate influence ? Being, on both 
 sides, Christians, shall there not be perfect 
 union in every possible form ? If in all points 
 save one you can manifest union, will you not 
 do so ? Ought you not to hasten to meet your 
 brethren with open arms and open hearts. 
 Christ — so you believe — loves your brethren of 
 other names, and of other views touching the 
 subject of difference. You believe that he will 
 presently bring you and them to glory. You 
 believe that there, .all will be perfect — all will 
 see alike — their communion will be sweet, and 
 holy, and eternal. With this certain prospect, 
 shall we not wait,’ for a little moment, till this 
 darkness be overpast? And as we wait will 
 we not love and bless each other, pray with 
 and for each other, bear ourselves tenderly one 
 toward another, be mutual helpers heavenward, 
 
146 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 show this world that we are brethren, and that 
 we have passed from death unto life because, 
 notwithstanding our differences, we walk to- 
 gether as dear children 1 
 
ADDRESS TO CONGREGATIONALISTS. 147 
 
 SECTION XII. 
 
 ADDRESS TO CONGREGATIONALISTS AND PRES- 
 BYTERIANS. 
 
 To the ministry and membership of the Con- 
 gregationalist and Presbyterian churches : 
 
 Brethren in Christ — There would seem 
 to arise no difficulty or embarrassment in the 
 way of addressing you on the great and vital 
 subject of Christian union. With each of the 
 two highly respectable denominations already 
 addressed, there does exist an external diffi- 
 culty, unfavorable to such union ; though not, 
 'it is hoped and believed, an insuperable and 
 fatal difficulty. On your part, however, no 
 such obstruction appears. You are untram- 
 meled in respect to the ministry, and free to 
 extend the hand of ministerial fellowship to all 
 faithful laborers in the Lord’s vineyard. So 
 also are you free in respect to the membership, 
 and can freely invite to visible communion with 
 you, all who love our Lord Jesus Christ. Per- 
 fectly free are you, on the other hand, to ac- 
 cept the like courtesies when extended to your- 
 
148 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 selves. Your ministiy can pass into any pul- 
 pit that shall he opened to you. Your mem- 
 bership are at liberty to sit down at the table 
 of the Lord, wherever, and in whatever church 
 they are invited to do so. Nor is it too much 
 to say that, in instances innumerable, your 
 practice and attitude have been correspondent 
 to the delightful freedom of your system. I 
 am not apprised of any more convincing and 
 striking proofs of catholicity in any denomina - 
 tion of Christians, than what have been exhib- 
 ited wdth you. Reference, by way of illustra- 
 tion, might be made here to the broad and cath- 
 olic platform of your theological schools ; also, 
 of that magnificent institution, the American 
 Education Society ; both admitting to equal 
 privileges all evangelical candidates for the 
 ministry, utterly irrespective of denomination. 
 Yet these are but a small part of what might 
 be specified. And why should you not stand 
 forth as burning and shining lights, a brilliant 
 and powerful example, in the great work of pro- 
 moting the visible union of the Saviour’s disci- 
 ples? I need not remind you how full}" the 
 divine Providence seems to have designated you 
 to such a movement. Taken in connection, 
 you overspread this great country. Your 
 churches are coeval with the existence of civil- 
 ization upon this continent. As a body, you 
 have learniug, intelligence, and wealth ; while 
 
ADDRESS TO CONGREGATIONALISTS. 149 
 
 not a few of the excellent of this world, both 
 ministers and laity, are in your ranks. You 
 have ever acted prominently in all the noble 
 enterprises of the age. Your efforts for the 
 improvement of the common school system, and 
 in the cause of education generally, have been 
 untiring; and in the great foreign missionary 
 field you have nobly surpassed all other denom- 
 inations of the country. Not only have you 
 stood forth among the capital agents for the 
 elevation and improvement of the people of this 
 land, but, by your hundreds of missionary la- 
 borers, you are publishing widely the news of 
 salvation among the heathen. Enlightened and 
 pure religion, blessing the broad earth, would 
 seem to be the grand tendency of your energies 
 and efforts. 
 
 What, then, we may safely inquire, what have 
 you to do with sectarianism^? How does it be- 
 long to you, or at all become you ? Does it not 
 appear that the man among you who descends to 
 narrowness and partyism, is false to the genius 
 of his system, and recreant to its lofty and holy 
 tendencies ? You are of that class of Christians 
 the best of all adapted to catholic and combined 
 efforts for the evangelization and regeneration of 
 the race. None can deal a heavier bfow at sec- 
 tarianism than you. None can do more than 
 you to trample down the graceless barriers that 
 now so often separate true Christians, and to 
 
150 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 aid in binding together, in sacred brotherhood 
 and felloiYship, the several tribes of God’s Is- 
 rael. It must be added, of course, that none 
 stand more affectingly responsible before God 
 for the prevalence of Christian union. 
 
 It is a most pleasing consideration, therefore, 
 that there is alread}^ such a host of truly catho- 
 lic spirits in your communions — men who are to 
 be classed among the truest and best nobility of 
 earth — men whose piety is as profound as their 
 learning, and whose charity and liberality are 
 equaled only by their zeal and enterprise. And 
 \\]ij should not a spirit such as theirs become 
 general throughout your churches 1 How did it 
 happen that the announcement for a great oecu- 
 menical assembly, as it came flying over the 
 Atlantic, so thrilled the soul of the venerable 
 Beecher, impelling him to exclaim, as he flrst 
 heard it, ^H’ll go — I’ll go !” And how was it that 
 he ventured on tliat long and hazardous pilgrim- 
 age — that old man, and full of years 1 He de- 
 termined to e\dnce, if it were his dying efibrt, 
 his oneness vrith the great community of the 
 saints. And why should he not ? There was 
 nothing in his polit}* — nothing in his theology — 
 nothing in his piety, to offer the smallest imped- 
 iment. Whus he stood, full of years ; full of 
 light ; full of good fruits ; full of love to all the 
 disciples ; nearing rapidly the shores of paradise ; 
 about to join the saints of all ages and names ; — 
 
ADDRESS TO CONGREGATIONALISTS. 151 
 
 why should he not be permitted, ere he departs 
 hence, to join himself visibly with those to whose 
 society he will be wedded forever 1 
 
 I feel myself, respected and beloved brethren, 
 under special embarrassment in addressing you 
 — as, indeed, I must feel in all these addresses ; 
 embarrassment arising irresistibly from the felt 
 diminutiveness of him who writes, on the one 
 hand, and, on the other, the high respectability, 
 as well in character as in numbers, of those 
 whom he presumes to address. I am obliged to 
 forget every relation save that of Christians; and 
 speaking to jmu as one of the disciples, and as 
 one who thinks he discerns some of the fair fa- 
 cilities of your position, I do, with all my heart, 
 exhort you to cultivate the oneness, the beauti- 
 ful catholicity, for which our great and common 
 Redeemer has prayed. It is for you, brethren, 
 to move strongly and firmly here, and it is for 
 you to accomplish great and excellent things. 
 
152 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 SECTION xm. 
 
 ADDRESS TO METHODISTS. 
 
 To the ministry and memhership of the 
 Methodist churches: 
 
 Bretliren in Christ- — Shall I he permitted to 
 address myself to you, also, upon the great mat- 
 ter of catholic union? And I will commence 
 by saying, that with you, as well as with those 
 last addressed, there are special facilities for 
 operating in this great enterprise. Indeed, in 
 no class of the great Christian family, are such 
 facilities more marked and abundant. And all 
 this is precisely w^hat might have been expected, 
 as we study the character of that great and re- 
 markable man whom you recognize as the found- 
 er of your peculiar system and organization. 
 The catholicity of Wesley, I need not remind 
 you, was one of the most prominent character- 
 istics of his mind and heart ; while in this re- ^ 
 spect, as well as in many others, he seemed far 
 in advance of thousands of his cotemporaries, 
 as well within the Establishment as beyond its 
 
ADDRESS TO METHODISTS. 
 
 153 
 
 pale. No sooner had he received that special 
 baptism of the Holy Ghost which resulted in his 
 new and wonderful career of evangelism, than 
 it came to pass that he could no longer be shut 
 up to those exclusive views and feelings which 
 he had before fondly entertained and cherished. 
 He became a catholic at once, in spirit and in 
 action, and was ready to join hands with all good 
 men for the happiness and salvation of the world. 
 He longed to show himself one with all that 
 loved Christ. I ask not of him with whom I 
 would unite in love. Are you of my church — 
 of my congregation 1 Do you receive the same 
 form of church government, and allow the same 
 church officers, with me 1 Do you join in the 
 same form of prayer wherein I worship God^l 
 I inquire not. Do you receive the supper of the 
 Lord in the same posture and manner that I do ? 
 Nor whether, in the administration of baptism, 
 you agree with me in admitting sureties for the 
 baptised, in the manner of administering it, or 
 the age of those to whom it should be adminis- 
 tered? My only question, at present, is, Ms 
 thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?’ 
 If it be, give me thy hand ! I do not mean, be 
 of my opinion ; you need not ; I do not expect 
 or desire it. Neither do I mean, I will be of 
 your opinion. I cannot ; it does not depend upon 
 my choice. I can no more think, than I can 
 see or Ifear, as I will. Keep you your opinion — 
 
154 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 I mine. You need not endeavor to come over 
 to me, or bring me over to you. I do not de- 
 sire you to dispute these points, or to hear or 
 speak a word concerning them. Let all opin- 
 ions alone, on one side and the other ; only give 
 me thy hand 
 
 Such was Wesley’s heart — such was Wes- 
 ley’s character. In gathering the multitudes 
 into his societies, he inquired not after their 
 opinions, but after the drift of their souls — not 
 whether they believed this and that, but whether 
 they, in good faith, desired to flee from the wrath 
 to come, and to be saved from their sins. He 
 simply touched the one indispensable, main thing, 
 and passed by all the rest. And such is the 
 broad platform of Methodist membership to this 
 day, and in all countries where your denomina- 
 tion has extended itself. Here is the grand and 
 beautiful and facile hinge on which you may, 
 without let or hindrance, advance to meet every 
 sincere inquirer after life. In accordance with 
 the genius of your system, you have only a sin- 
 gle inquiry to make : “ Is a man sincerely striv- 
 ing to escape from hell and fly to heaven?” 
 Then, if true to your accepted and recorded 
 policy, you are with that man — you are kneel- 
 ing at his side — you breathe not a word touch- 
 ing his creed or sect — you are pointing him to 
 Christ, the great centre — you are walking with 
 him, arm in arm, to life eternal. Shoulder to 
 
ADDRESS TO METHODISTS. 155 
 
 shoulder, you are struggling with him for a 
 world’s redemption. 
 
 Then, again, your itineracy tends to the same 
 spirit of large and overwhelming charity. Your 
 ministry have not time and opportunity for 
 strong local predilections and attachments ; they 
 are circulating among the Christians ; they come 
 in contact' with various excellent ministers and 
 Christians of other names, and the whole system 
 looks away from narrowness and selfishness, and 
 contemplates catholicity and universal fellow- 
 ship. As Methodism arose, it sprang not forth 
 as a segt. Partyism and division entered not 
 into its spirit, or structure, or purpose. Saith 
 Wesley of the Methodists, They are, them- 
 selves, no particular sect or party.” And he 
 writes to his preachers, “Ye are a phenomenon 
 in the earth — a body of people who, being of 
 no sect or party, are friends to all parties, and 
 endeavor to forward all in heart religion — in the 
 knowledge and love of God and man.” 
 
 Discern we not here the original and essen- 
 tial genius, the genuine drift of your system 1 
 Your recognized calling is, to save as many souls 
 as possible — to spread scriptural holiness over 
 the land and world. The inscription upon your 
 banner is not sect — name — party. Rather, un- 
 less my vision be blurred entirely, I do see writ- 
 ten there, as in letters of fire, a universal re- 
 vival of religion! This is the beginning and 
 
156 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 ending of your manifesto. Is it an error, then, 
 to write that when you become exclusive or sect- 
 arian, you that moment contravene directly the 
 beauty of your escutcheon, and the spirit of your 
 calling? Was 3^our own Olin departing from 
 Methodism, or was he returning to it, at the 
 time alluded to in the beautiful sentence follow- 
 ing ? I remember well the hour, when walk- 
 ing solitarily upon the banks of the Nile, I lifted 
 up my voice when none but God heard me, and 
 offered up my sectarian bigotry ; and vowed that 
 I would never know a difference between Chris- 
 tians, because they were not of the same opin- 
 ion.’’ Be assured, beloved brethren, that while 
 I speak thus freely, I speak also with the pro- 
 foundest deference. I personally know many of 
 those whom I thus venture to address ; and I 
 know them to be true to the catholic principles 
 of their system. Multitudes, it is to be pre- 
 sumed, both in the ministry and membership, 
 are possessed of a like spirit. And now, would 
 they but move ! W ould the great Methodist fam- 
 ily through these United States move strongly, 
 and firmly, and unyieldingly, and in the spirit 
 of the great and good Wesley, who might com- 
 pute the influence they would exert in binding 
 together, in a higher and holier love, the divided 
 parties of Christ’s church in this great country? 
 Viewing the simplicity and comprehensiveness 
 of their platform, the perpetual circulation of 
 
ADDRESS TO METHODISTS. 
 
 157 
 
 their ministry, the warmth of their zeal, and the 
 universality of their prevalence and operations, 
 we cannot repress the suspicion that upon the 
 Methodists of this land rests a fearful propor- 
 tion of the responsibility of healing and blessing 
 the body of Christ. Oh \ may they be faithful 
 to Christ ! faithful to the spirit with which their 
 system started into being — faithful to that sys- 
 tem itself in its genuine character and legitimate 
 workings, and then the results shall bo glorious ! 
 
 N 
 
158 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 SECTION XIV. 
 
 ADDRESS TO THE CHURCH CATHOLIC. 
 
 Christians of the holy catholic church: 
 
 May I venture, in the winding up of this essay, 
 to make my appeal to you all, ministry and lai 
 ty, and irrespective of sect or name ? In this, 
 the only true church, all are one in Christ Je- 
 sus ; and in Him they sit together in heavenlj 
 places. Here no sincere voice, however hum- 
 ble, is despised ; and a word of exhortation,” 
 even from the least of all the innumerable com- 
 pany, is suffered. It is under cover of this 
 heavenly and beautiful arrangement, that I un- 
 dertake to address you a few words. May the 
 grace of God he with you ! May the comforts 
 of the Holy Ghost be multiplied unto you ! 
 
 Christians ! I have just written that ye are 
 all one in Christ Jesus. This is a great and 
 sublime fact ; too little considered by many ; 
 too little felt by most. You all bear the same 
 relation to Jesus ; your characters, your mis- 
 sion, your destiny, are one. In a few years 
 from this present time, you will all be united in 
 
ADDRESS TO THE CHURCH CATHOLIC. 159 
 
 perfect and indissoluble affection ; and no longer 
 of the earth, you will be as the angels of God' in 
 heaven. Thus far, all is as certain as any truth 
 of our blessed Christianity ; and when thus far 
 we have written, what need of a single sentence 
 more'? How is it that the sure and certain 
 prospects of the pious do not absorb all other 
 thoughts, and profoundly modify all their meas- 
 ures and movements here '? Why does not the 
 revealed and well-ascertained shape of the heav- 
 enly church, the shape it shall wear through 
 endless years, reflect itself fully upon the disci- 
 ples on earth ? How is it that they see not, as 
 in a glass, the glory of the Lord — that glory for- 
 ever shining forth in the retinue above ; that 
 the}^ niay, even now, be changed into the same 
 image, from glory to glory, even as by the spirit 
 of the Lord '? Oh ! it would appear that the 
 idea of eternal union and fellowship must be 
 sufficient. It would seem that Christians must 
 love and unite at once, if they are to love and 
 unite forever ! Or is not that thought of endless 
 fellowship and happiness but a dreamy and dis- 
 tant vision, after all '? Rises it not to the eye 
 like some bright creation of a poet’s fancy, rath- 
 er than as one of the substantials that faith 
 clearly and steadily discerns I And is not this 
 faintness and dullness of vision one of the se- 
 crets mightily influencing to the present divided 
 condition of the church of Christ'? Into the 
 
160 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 midst of this division there enters nothing of 
 heavenly elements. It is all of the earth, earthy ; 
 rising out of the earth ; entirely rooted in the 
 earth ; hearing only the savor of the earth ; tar- 
 rying back on earth when the redeemed spirit 
 rises to heaven ; and perishing with the earth 
 when the fires shall one day sweep over it as 
 with the besom of ruin. 
 
 But it is not enough to say of the disunion of 
 Christians, that it is earthy ; it is more, much 
 more than this ; it is sinful. He who, for opin- 
 ion’s sake, stands aloof from his brethren in 
 Christ, is every day sinning against God. He 
 cherishes that which he must utterly throw aside 
 before he can die in peace. A deep repentance 
 is necessary for him, and a more perfect bap- 
 tism of the divine influences. Another spirit 
 must come over him, shaping him more fully 
 into the likeness of Heaven. The serpent has 
 not yet ceased to touch him ; the old man is not 
 3^et entirely crucified, with his affections and 
 ^lusts. Old things are not all passed away, and 
 tall things become new. 
 
 The separation and division of Christians is 
 unholy and vile ; while, on the other hand, their 
 union and fellowship is»pure and divine. It is 
 one of the fruits of God’s holy spirit. The ties 
 that bind Christian hearts together are sacred, 
 like the ties of angels. It is a union of holy 
 love ; a love begotten of God, and inspired by 
 
ADDRESS TO THE CHURCH CATHOLIC. 161 
 
 His breath, and sustained by His energy, and 
 perfected by His grace. The union of Chris- 
 tians is dear to Christ ; dearer far than to the 
 best of earthly parents are the union and mutual 
 love of his sons and daughters. He died for 
 them ; he gathered them ; he sanctified them, 
 that they might be one in everlasting fellowship 
 and happiness. He gave his peace unto theni, 
 that they might be at peace with one another fon- 
 ever. He translated them out of the kingdom 
 of contentions, and strife, and confusion, that, 
 in his blessed fold, they might be joined in eter- 
 nal harmony. The smallest jarring among his 
 beloved ones — oh, how grievous is it to the 
 heart of Him who redeemed them to be a chosen 
 generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a 
 peculiar people ! 
 
 Union of Christians is dear to angels. It as- 
 similates the saints of God on earth to the sa- 
 cred associations among those superior and heav- 
 enly beings. No division or alienation are 
 among the angels of God in heaven ; and as they 
 go forth to minister for them who shall be heirs 
 of salvation, it is, doubtless, one of their blessed 
 ministries to heal all hapless divisions, and to 
 wed together, even here on earth, all those spir- 
 its that are destined to eternal union in the 
 world above. Walking unseen among the 
 saints ; encamping around them ; bearing them 
 up in their hands ; foiling the attempts of the 
 
162 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 destroyer ; whispering of the brilliant and im- 
 mortal future ; they would lure the minds of the 
 disciples forever away from low and earthly con- 
 verse, and every noise of vain strife and envy- 
 ing. Hush,’’ they seem to say, “ hush, all 
 clamor, all evil speaking, and hatred ! Be love 
 the atmosphere ye inhale, and love the parth by 
 which ye ascend, and love the music that shall 
 cheer and charm you on the way, till ye reach, 
 presently, the climes where 
 
 ‘ On the heavenly hills, 
 
 The saints are blest above ; 
 
 Where joy, like morning dew distills, 
 
 And all the air is loved ” 
 
 And dear is Christian union to all departed 
 saints. If, in their imperfect state on earth, 
 they ever strove, ever separated from any one 
 of their brethren, there, in paradise, they strive 
 and separate no more. There they are one in 
 Christ Jesus ; and could they return to us, and, 
 for a little space, walk again amid the churches, 
 their communications and exhortations would har- 
 monize perfectly with the soft and holy prompt- 
 ings of angels. Like these, they would retire 
 from the circles wdiere carnal envyings, and bit- 
 ter words, and cold alienation bear sway. Like 
 the aged John, as he stood on the borders of 
 heaven, they would exclaim, Little children, 
 love one another !” And we seem to hear them 
 adding, “ Waste no time, no thought, ye chil- 
 
ADDRESS TO THE CHURCH CATHOLIC. 163 
 
 dren ! upon what ye shall soon • see to be but 
 dross and vanity. Be joined, all hearts and 
 hands. Breathe forth a united blessing on the 
 world, and mutual blessings on each other. Oh, 
 had ^YG known, when resident on earth, what 
 we know now, our days and nights should have 
 been given to heavenly love and union. Our 
 whole influence should have gone to unite all 
 Christians ; to avert all divisions ; to hush to 
 everlasting silence all profitless controversies. 
 Time is precious ; the world’s salvation is too 
 important ; heaven is too near and too glorious ; 
 God and angels are looking and listening too 
 constantly, that a 'single hour be spent save for 
 eternal good !” 
 
 Union, again, is confirmatory. By this shall 
 ye know that ye have passed from death unto 
 life, because ye love the brethren — the brethren 
 of the great church catholic. We maj^ not speak 
 of parties here ; names and sects are not to come 
 into mind. The disciples, wherever they move, 
 and whether they believe more or less than we, 
 and in whatever company they walk, there are 
 ^^the brethren.” Loving them all as such, 
 loving them as bearing, in some degree, the 
 heavenly image, there rises up in the Christian’s 
 consciousness a test infallible, that he dwells no 
 longer within the shadow of death, but that the 
 dawning of immortal life is risen upon him. 
 Beautiful in that hour shall be his brightening 
 
164 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 hope, and more clear and lovely than ever be- 
 fore, the bright visions of eternal glory. 
 
 Christian union is eminently delightful. Great 
 is that Christian’s happiness whose large affec- 
 tions flow forth without let or hindrance, to em- 
 brace all Christian people ; who is no longer a 
 sectarian ; no longer fettered or cramped by 
 artificial and uninspired restraints, but soars, 
 free as the mountain eagle, to hail the disciples 
 with holy, heavenly greetings. Far up beyond 
 the damps of sectarianism, prejudice, and ha- 
 tred, his soul dwells and expatiates in a life of 
 love. He has emerged into a fairer, holier re- 
 gion ; and, as he meditates, he wonders where 
 he has been so long, and how he could ever have 
 tarried so far away from Christ, and from the 
 great community of His followers. He now 
 reckons himself not so much a member of a de- 
 nomination, but a fellow-citizen of the saints, 
 and of the household of faith. The apostolic 
 assurance, that all are yours !” comes home 
 to his spirit with unutterable sweetness. Giv- 
 ing himself to all, he claims all as his, whether 
 Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, and his pure and 
 spiritual heart is open to be edified and sancti- 
 fied by all the diversified gifts and ministrations 
 with which a munificent God has favored and 
 blessed His church. All the ministry, all holy 
 literature, are his. In all the church’s pros- 
 perity he delights ; in all her joy he rejoices ; 
 
ADDRESS TO THE CHURCH CATHOLIC. 165 
 
 into all her enterprises his ardent spirit enters ; 
 toward all her prospects he looks, as being united 
 to them in blissful identity. “ Things present 
 and things to come’’ belong to him. He is 
 rich, for the abundant treasures of the church 
 are laid at his feet. He is free ; for whom the 
 Son makes free, he shall be free indeed. No 
 longer straitened in himself, he realizes the en- 
 largement of the man who^^'possesses all things.” 
 
 The union of Christians, too, is mighty. A 
 species of omnipotence is here, compared with 
 which all human force is lighter than vanity. 
 When this union shall take place, then the world 
 shall believe in the great Messiah’s advent. A 
 vast brotherhood, so connected, so beautiful, so 
 heavenly, shall compel the belief of a skeptical 
 and reckless world. One prayer shall go to 
 God from millions of Christian and sincere hearts, 
 and that prayer wdll move the arm that moves 
 the world, and heaven and earth will meet. 
 One song will rise on the ear of the Eternal, 
 and as it ascends, the cloud shall come down 
 upon Zion, as anciently it rested upon the tab- 
 ernacle of testimony. Fair as the moon, clear 
 as the sun, and terrible as an army with ban- 
 ners, shall the hosts of God go up in the length 
 and breadth of the earth, while at their united 
 shout the strongholds of darkness and of wick- 
 edness shall fall prostrate, and the kingdoms of 
 the w^orld will speedily be given to the saints of 
 
166 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 • 
 
 the Most High. This moment heaven and 
 earth seem waiting — and for what ? There is 
 wanting a holy and universal league, binding to- 
 gether the Christian world ; and when that league 
 shall be formed in good faith, and when all the 
 sacred ranks shall move — move promptly — move 
 for life — move in the name of the God of salva- 
 tion — then there will be victory and triumph 
 such as the world has never seen, and the na- 
 tions, and the abundance of the seas, shall hast- 
 en to be devoted to Christ. 
 
 Come, then, ye Christians ! let us all be one ; let 
 us, each one, and from this moment, carefully ab- 
 stain from, and put away, all bitterness, and wrath 
 and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, with 
 all malice ; and in regard to all our differences, 
 let us be kind, tender-hearted, forbearing one 
 another in love, forgiving one another, even as 
 God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven us. All 
 solemn voices call the Christians of the earth to 
 peace, and union,’ and holy love. There is the 
 voice of the ever-blessed bible — all narrative . 
 and prophecy, every song and parable, each dis- 
 course and epistle, all call to holy and perfect 
 union among the saints of the Most High. 
 
 There is the voice of the Hoi}’ Spirit — and 
 all his breathings, and every silent drawing, or 
 mighty rushing” influence, every glorious bap- 
 tism, every warning, every impression, seek the 
 oneness of the disciples. 
 
ADDRESS TO THE CHURCH CATHOLIC. 167 
 
 There is the voice of evangelical goodness. 
 And every note — so full of pity and of love, so 
 lovely as it rises on the ear, so much sweeter 
 than all terrestrial harmonies — bids us be one 
 forever. 
 
 There is the sublime voice of Providence. 
 It is speaking to us from amidst heaving na- 
 tions — trembling thrones — falling dynasties — 
 opening doors, great and effectual and it 
 calls to the disciples, with an authority no 
 other than divine, that they unite, as the heart 
 of one man, for the salvation of the nations. 
 
 And there is the voice of the world — the 
 wide-spread, beclouded, sinking, perishing 
 world. And from deluded millions, that voice 
 peals on the ear of every Christian upon earth, 
 urging him to move toward his brethren, and 
 join hands with them for the illumination and 
 redemption of the lost. 
 
 There is the voice of death. His hollow 
 tones speak of the speedy removal of every liv- 
 ing disciple away from earth^ — warning all that 
 there are no hours to be lost in strife and dis- 
 union ; and charging it upon each one that he 
 suddenly prepare to leave the world with a 
 heart united to all the followers of the Lord 
 and Saviour. 
 
 There is the voice of the judgment to come. 
 And as it falls upon the astonished ear, it tells 
 of no separation save one ; and that the sheep 
 
168 
 
 CHRISTIAN UNION. 
 
 shall stand together at God’s right hand — all 
 of them, the “ blessed of the Father.” 
 
 I seem to hear a voice, too, rolling up from 
 the world of woe ; and it is a sigh of anguish 
 unutterable, by reason of deathless spirits ru- 
 ined forever, that had been saved in an immor- 
 tal heaven, if Christians had forgotten to con- 
 tend with each other, and had given every pre- 
 cious moment to salvation. 
 
 And there is a voice from heaven. Oh ! 
 how enchanting are its strains, breathing from 
 the saints of all generations as they wait the 
 coming up of their brethren that are still upon 
 the earth. One fold is here — one fold forever. 
 Divide not on earth, ye joint heirs of this peace- 
 ful and eternal inheritance !” 
 
 There is the voice of time. Let all Christians 
 listen while the dial of centuries shall strike again 
 at noon. Another “ half-time” is about to com- 
 mence — one pregnant with great and astonish- 
 ing events. God waits to do wonders upon the 
 earth before the sun of the nineteenth century 
 goes down behind the shadows of eternity.” 
 Seize your opportunity, ye Christians ! Ye 
 shall have no such chance again ' forever and 
 ever. All hands, and with one combined effort, 
 grasp the lever that shall suddenly roll this 
 dark world within the beams of the sun of 
 righteousness. 
 
 There is a voice from eternity — deep, deep 
 
ADDRESS TO THE CHURCH CATHOLIC. 169 
 
 eternity. Hear it, ye disciples, and be wise. 
 For a little moment ye are here. For the great 
 whole of your undying being, ye are away. If 
 ye will raise the note of party, it shall die 
 away presently. An immortality of Christian 
 union is just commencing. I see the door 
 already opening — and the golden harps are 
 ready — and the chorus, loud as the voice of 
 many waters, is beginning. 
 
 THE END. 
 
THE 
 
 Clirlstlaii Union and Eellgious Memorial. 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 REV. ROBERT BAIRD, D. D. 
 
 PUBLISHED MONTHLY, 
 
 AT TWO DOLL AES PEE ANNUM, IN ADYANCE. 
 
 This magaziue is devoted to the cause of Christian 
 Union among all Evangelical denominations, and its 
 great object -will be to make the Church below more 
 like the Church above, by the infusion of that spirit of 
 Christian love and brotherly kmdness which should 
 distinguish all the members of Chrisfs body, whatever 
 name they bear on earth. It will contain essays 
 on Christian miiou and collateral subjects, by some of 
 the best writers at home and abroad. 
 
 Another essential feature of om- work will be a 
 monthly memorial or resume of the progress of religion 
 in all lands. We shall pay particular attention to mis- 
 sionaiy operations throughout the world, and keep our 
 readers acquainted with the progress of religion in 
 foreign countries by the various missionaries there em- 
 ployed. 
 
 Our foreign correspondence will be extensive and 
 various, and our readers will thus be kept infonned of 
 the changes and progress of events in Europe. 
 
 Although we shall keep clear of discussions on doc- 
 trinal points, we shall feel at full liberty to animadvert 
 
THE CHRISTIAN UNION AND RELIGIOUS MEMORIAL. 
 
 It is a precious monthly, published by S. Hueston, 
 139 Nassau street, New York. — Christian Intelligencer. 
 
 We deem the Union an important auxiliary in spread- 
 ing a knowledge of the condition and prospects of reli- 
 gious denominations — a knowledge, which, we are soriy 
 to say, is not as extensively cultivated as it should be, 
 either by the ministry or the private members of the 
 church. — S. W. Baptist Chronicle. 
 
 Eveiy bishop, minister, elder, deacon and class-leader 
 should have this valuable monthly. Christians of eveiy 
 name must miite against the works of darkness, banish 
 for ever their little sectarianisms, or the world cannot be 
 saved. — Golden Rule. 
 
 The statistical information furnished by this publica- 
 tion, and its notices in a comprehensive \uew and per- 
 manent form, of the manifestations and progress of the 
 Church of Christ in all lands, render it valuable and 
 worthy of patronage. — Southern Christian Advocate. 
 
 The missionary and statistical information upon its 
 pages must render it of great value as a book of refer- 
 ence, while its essays and discussions combine much to 
 interest and instract the serious mind. Its catholic 
 spirit entitles it to the confidence of Christians of eveiy 
 name. REV. B. T. WELCH, 
 
 Pastor of the Pearl St. Baptist church, Albany, N. Y. [ 
 
 Each number of the work contains 64 
 closely printed royal octa,vo pages, and 
 will form a yearly volume of 768 pages. 
 
THE 
 
 PEABL OF DATS; 
 
 OR, THE ADVANTAGES OF THE SABBATH TO THE 
 WORKING CLASSES. 
 
 WRITTEN BY A LABORER’S DAUGHTER. 
 
 The circumstances which have produced this volume are 
 highly important and interesting. A wealthy gentleman of 
 Glasgow offered three pi’izes for the three best essays on the 
 privileges conferred by the Sabbath, to be written by labor- 
 ing men. Three months produced more than nine hundred 
 and fifty compositions on the subject. Among the essays 
 was one by a female, which the adjudicators thought so 
 worthy of publication, that they wrote for the author’s per- 
 mission to do so, and also requested a sketch of her life to 
 accompany it. With both these requests she complied, and 
 the volume was by permission dedicated to the Queen, and 
 has had a very large sale in England. 
 
 Within less than a year thirty thousand copies have been 
 sold in Great Britain, and six thousand copies have been 
 sold in the United States. It should be in every Sunday 
 School Library, and be read by every Sunday School Teach- 
 er in our land. 
 
 The book contains the original illustrations, and an intro- 
 duction by an American clergyman, and is sold in neat paper 
 covers, at 25 cents ; in cloth, 37^ cents ; and cloth, gilt edges, 
 50 cents, Avith the usual discount to the trade. 
 
 
 
 This beautiful volume is a reprint of an English edition, 
 which has had a large circulation ia Great Britain. W b un- 
 derstand it has done “ good service” there, in promoting the 
 better observance of the Sabbath by the working classes. 
 May its career through the United States be equally useful. 
 — Christian Alliance and Visiter. 
 
HEAVEN’S ANTIDOTE 
 
 TO THE 
 
 CURSE OF LABOR: 
 
 Or the Temporal Advomtapes of the Sabhath to the 
 Working Classes. 
 
 BY JOHN ALLAN QUINTON. 
 
 With a Prefatory Notice by Rev, Stephen H. Tyng, D.D. 
 
 This beautiful Essay on the Sabbath, from the pen of a 
 joui’neyman printer, of Ipswich, England, received the first 
 prize which was offered by Mr. Henderson, of Glasgow, 
 for essays on that subject by working men. The fact that 
 it was selected for the first prize, out of 1045 compositions, 
 must be sufiicient proof of its merit. The American edition 
 contains a veiy interesting preface by Dr. Tyng. It is illus- 
 trated, neatly bound in cloth, and is sold for 37^ cents. 
 
 NOTICES OF TME PRESS. 
 
 “ It is a manly, direct, and most conclusive presentation 
 of the temporal benefits of observing the Sabbath, which 
 we should suppose no one could peruse without a definite 
 impression. It should especially reach laboring men — its 
 strong sense and clear logic are finely suited to make an im- 
 pression upon the popular mind.” — ^New York Evangelist. 
 
 “ The work should be scattered broadcast over the land,” 
 — Protestant Churchman. 
 
 “ The treatise considers the advantages of the Sabbath 
 under the heads of Physical, Mercantile, Intellectual, Do- 
 mestic, Moral, and Religious. The author does not write 
 theoretically, but from personal experience ; and no work- 
 ing man can read his essay without feeling that the Sabbath 
 is one of the greatest temporal blessings. We trust that the 
 volume will have a wide circulation among all classes in our 
 own country; for all need its salutary counsels. It is writ- 
 ten in a very attractive style, and neatly printed.” — Indepen 
 dent. 
 
 This is a strong, clear, and admirable essay on the Tem- 
 poral Advantages of the Sabbath, considered in relation to 
 the working classes.” — Courier and Enquirer. 
 
 JUST PUBLISHED BY 
 
 S. HUESTON, 138 NASSAU-ST., NEW YORK. 
 

Date Due 
 
Princeton Theological Seminar 
 
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