Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1838-05-02
RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY.
From the Christian Review.
UNION AMONG CHRISTIANS.

4 ~ ~ From the Christian Review.
UNION AMONG CHRISTIANS.
Religious Discussions, their Cause and
/ Cure. A Prize Essay. By PHAR-
cELLUs CHURCH, author of Philoso-
e ply of Benevolence.'' N. York. 12mo
PIP. 400. 1888.
| THIS book was written in consequence
of the offer of prize,-two hundred dol
lars,-for the best treatise on religious
|dissensions in the churches. The COM
mittee awarded the prize to this work, as
1.-THE best among twenty-seven manuscripts.
1.-THE author, who, as many Of our readers
areaware, is the pastor of a Baptist church,
in Rochester, N. Y, is favorably known
by his former book, the Philosophy of
Benevolence, which was reviewed in our
humber for March, 1887.
j
The injurious effects of discussions
among Christians, and the disturbances
of union, are so obvious, that exhorrations
and schemes, aiming at this end. are often
urged ON the public attention. They gen.
lerally exhibit more of benevolent feeling,
than of practical knowledge of mankind.
They commonly emanate from persons.
who have the modesty to assume, that
their own party is exactly right; and rea-
Isonable enough to request that all other
men will abandon their own opinions and
practices, and rally beneath the banner of
that party: This would be an easy mode
of harmonizing all discords but the man,
who can seriousl y entertain such ascheme,
must belong to the same class Of philoso-
pliers, as that ingenious protector, men
toned by Swift, who proposed to extract
sunbeams from cucumbers.
l. We believe, that on this whole subject,
there has been much misrepresentation.
The radical causes of disunion among
Christians are two,-diferent opinions,
and selfish passions. BY examining these
causes, we shall ind that they both spring
from one remoter source, the lmpertection
Of human nature, and they cannot, there
fore, be wholly removed, while that ma
ture shall remain imperfect
We may remark. before we proceed to
this examination, that the facts, respecting
the discussions among real Christians,
have been exaggerated. Mr.. Church
has. we think, in his preliminary "rever-
ie," pp 1919, allowed his fancy to soar
into the regions of fiction. We are rath-
er inclined to wonder, that all serious
Christians are so nearly united. Take
any summary of evangelical doctrnes,-
the articles of the Church of England,
for example, or the Westminster Assem-
bly's Catechism,-and to how small a
portion will any true Christian object
We think it unwise to furnish the infdel
with arguments by exaggerating our d.
visions, while, in reality, our agreement
in opinion is a fact, for which nothing can
account, bu. the truth of those doctrines,
which are held in common by all be.iev-
ers. And In regard to hostile feelings,
how mild are the dissensons among
Christians, compared with the rancorous
enmity of politicians y How courteous
and gentle are the disputes of ministers,
contrasted with the bitter discords which
often exist among physicians 1t must
be remembered, too, that theological con-
tests are seldom personal strifes, like those
alluded to, but relate to great truths, of VII
tai moment, in maintaining which, there
may be deep earneStness without anger,
and frmness without obstinacy. On such
themes it may sometimes be "impious to
be calm"
In relation to the first cause of disun-
ion among Observation-Disclosures opinions,
we observe, that some Of these differences
result necessarily from the nature of the
mind, fromthe different situations in which
men are placed, and from the character
of the Bible itself
The minds of men are not precisely
alike. They differ widely in their pow
ers of investigating truth, and of employ
ing it. Hence, the opinions of men, on
almost all subjects, are exceedingly vari-
Gus; and in every country, where the
mind is free, there are numberless parties,
in politics, literature, jurisprudence, po-
litcal economy and morals. This would
be the case, even if no bias affected the
understanding through the passions, be-
cause the minds of men are so various in
their capacities and degrees of expansion,
that they cannot be expected to adopt pre-
cisel the same opinions. Truth is, no
doubt, unit, and perfect minds would so
/. behold it; but there are no perfect minds.
except that of God and hence, no being
in the universe. it is probable, except Je-
hovah, sees any truth in its perfect devei-
opment. All finite minds must for ever
have much to learn and if. as we have
reason to suppose, the minds Of angels
differ from each other, in the degree of
their expansion and advancement, there
The recent horrible murder of member of
Congress, 10 duel, was the effect of envenomed
party passions; and it Is probable that party dis
cipline will be success l. IN preventing the prop
I er punishment OF the murderer and his abettUTs
Ii Is to be regretted. that not a man, i'm either
na1ao caxr, A.. /: r