Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-10-11
The following is part of a charge of Bishop
McIlvane of Ohio to his Diocese.

The following is part of charge OF Bishop
McIlvane of Ohio to his Diocese.
In connection with these facts, ] feel it to
be matter of no little Importance, in such
times as these. to be able to add that, in our
several parishes that enjoy the blessing of a
settled ministry, there is evidence of strong
and increasing attachment to the order and
government, the worship and ministry that
Distinguish our Church. Such attachment
is the bond of our unity. The Church, as
a Church, can have no stability, no force,
without it. TO promote such attachment,
without bigotry or tormality to make it en-.
lightened, as well as afectonate; and then
to use it, not as substitute for, but as n
very important auxiliary to the direct inhu.
ence of divine truth upon the heart, and the
steadfastness of Christian character, is a
very considerable matter in the duties of
the mnistrv-too little valued indeed but
with the permanent importance Of which, |
am more and more impressed by every
new lesson Of experience and observation.
Inward and spiritual ties are enough for the
holding together of the several parts of the
o,apard and risible Church. They may
all remain, and vet the Church, as visible
society, be broken in pieces, and her inau-
cnce, as conservative and promotive of the
Gospel, almost destroyed. Unity in ccr-
tain visible Institutions is essential to unity
in visible Church. Attachment to those
visible institutions is the strength of such
unity. Where such attachment does not
exist there is no bond ofpeacc. To set lii
tie value upon it, because it is not religion,
is Is foolish as to despise the fencing of the
corn-feld, becauseit is not the grain. Not
to promote it, FOR fear Of promoting sccta-
rianism is as it'you should not educate your
children to love their home and their parents
law, lest they look with too little kindness
! upon others.
No, my brethren! If we would promote
the spirit ofvital godliness in the world, we
must promote it in connexion with. and by
means Of, that only body-the Church
which the Lord has built as the earthly
house of its tabernacle in this wilderness.
You may as we'll expect your minds to be
in health while your bodies are diseased, as
that the spirit ofrcligion will flourish, while
the body Of religion, the visible Church, is
disordered. But YOU cannot promote the
Church, as visible society, without select
ing some one out of the various forms under
which its visibility is presented, and distinct
ly preferring that one above all others, as
most according to the Scriptures and most
beneficial to the Gospel. cannot, there
fore, my brethren, but think it hopeful in.
dication of the prospects of true religion in
our Church, when | see the affections Of
our people embracing with a preference,
more and more distinct and enlightened,
those external peculiarities of our order and
worship, with which, in my view, there are
none TO be compared either in point of
scri plural authority, ecclesiastical prece-
dent, or intrinsic adaptation. Such attach
ment to the eyternals ola Church is not re-
Iigion, but religion would not long remain
in the world without it. can conceive of
a PERSONS being true Christian and yet
possessing it in very slight degree-arue
Christian; but not steadfast, consistent,
well protected Christian. But | cannot
conceive of community of Christians,
equally destitute, and yet remaining long un-
divided by difference ofopnion, unconvul-
sed by varieties of measures, except in pro-
portion as their bond ofpeace is the content
ment Of spiritual death.
"Christ, as man, subject to the law oflove
did, in holy manner, love all men as his