The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1823-07-30
from the Christian Register.l

Christianity VS.. Sects and Parties.
[ This is the head of an article in late num-
Der of the Connecticut Herald. II is an
extract from the Election Sermon of the Rev.
Nathaniel w. Taylor, delivered at Hart
ford, May eth, 1928. To the sentiments of
the extract we most cheerfnlly say-Amen.
Every denomination of Christians
should depend simply, for the mainte-
nance of its numbers and its influence,
on the purity of its doctrines, the sanct-
~ of its morals, and the zeal and labour
of its ministry. 1t always has been, and
it always will be, an ultimate curse to
any religious denomination. TO strength
en- and build up itself by political patron
age. If Christians are to be less con-
cerned for the cause Of God and Of
souls, than for the success of their relig-
ious party; il sect is to clash with sect;
if, to augment their secular influence,
and to pervert it to build up their
cause, they are 10 become political fac
tons and if the community are to wit
ness only their mutual hostility and con-
tests, the most fearful results may be
foretold with the certainty of prophecy.
Nothing, nothing can atone for I" the
broken unity, the blighted peace, the
furnished beauty, the PROSTATE energy,
and the humbled honour of the Church
of God" Every barrier between the
Church and the world would be swept
away; ignorance of God and of duty
would thicken apace, and the broadcast
sunshine of the Gospel be eclipsed by
the spreading darkness.
Let Christians, then, bury in oblivion
their sectarian contests, and all those
animosities, jealousies and suspicious,
which mar their intercourse. Without
pretence of differing on essential
truths. or that each sect has not every
desirable means of promoting the canse
Of God, zchdt can justify alienation and
mutual competitions I? When, by union
and concert, we might do so much to
uphold and extend that influence which
the wisdom of God has appointed to
bless men, in time and eternity, zchct
can justify us IN 7sasting our strength IN
the cork Of Proselyt;sni, and for this pur-
pose merging the Christian into the sec
tartan, and the sectarian into political
partisan? All brethren, we want
more of the sacred fire that giowed il
the breasts of the early Christians
more of the spirit Of heaven-more fell
Iowship with angels, with God and his
Son, in the work of bringing men to re-
pentence and salvation. God calls his
people to other service than mutual
contention. While the enemy, rushing
in like flood on the one side. calls us
to defend common Christianity, the
field, whitening TO the harvest on the
other, invites US TO its tolls and IFS re-
wards. " The new Jerusalem is de-
scending from God out of heaven
and we seem TO hear 6: voices in heav-
en-" voices of acclaiming gladness, say
ing, " The kingdoms of this world are
becoming the Kingdoms Of our Lord and
of his Christ" Let US then open our
hearts to higher and nobler inspirations.
Let US strike our hands in a Covenant OF
LoOe-let our hearts accord with the
designs, and our efforts keep pace with
the movements of Gods benefcence.-
Then shall the Church be one, and Sc
cure, from the most profane, the ac-
acknowledgement of her divinity, in the
blessings she bestows on our land
Then, in firm encounter, her sons shall
meet the legions Of error and of death,
and go on 10 new triumphs, till earth
shall hear and zseIcome the saIOation of
God.