The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1861-11-28
BIBLICAL SKETCH Els.
BY JUNGLE WILLIAM"
SKETCH XII.
THE sCRlPTuRAL CHARACTERISTICS

OF A CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
We now proceed to enquire into
the nature, constitution, privileges,
and Obligations of the Primitive
Christian Churches, as organized
by Inspired Apostles, and described
in the New Testament. The Church
of Christ has, by dint Of its pecu-
liar principles, a constitution apart
and by itself, and between it and
any political constitution there is
no comparison or simiIitude to be
made. 1t is not MoNARCHIcAL, UNI
der Pope or Patriarch !; nor ARIsro-
CRATlcAL, under Bishops and Pre-
latcs. The word Church means,
literally, those called out, and is
applied to Christians as having
been separated from the world to
the faith Of Christ. The appeIIa-
ton (ecclcsia), or church, without
any adjunct, occurs l Cor. xii. %;
Eph. i. % iii. 10; Phil. iii. 5. The
phrase (ccclesia Thcou), "Church
of Cod" is applied to the whole
Christian Church, q Cor. Y. 80;
XIV. 81 and to a single Christian
church, q Cor. xi. %, 16; l. .;
Tim. iii. 81 The Church is termed
"Church of Christ" (ecclcsia Kris
tou), in Matt. xiv. 18, II will build
my Church." &c. Eph. iii. q, the
Church of Christ; chap. V. %, she
is called "the Church Of God" or,
which is the same thing, Gin God
tic Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ" l Thes. i. l, and , Thcs. i.
1. Of the same import is the
phrase, "the Churches Of God
which are in Christ Jesus" l Thes.
ii. IA. The ancient people Of God
also bore the name, "Church OIL
God," (ecclesia Kuriou), Deut. xiii
2, &c. s. The Church is divided
into militant and triumphant. BY
the Church militant is meant, Chris.
tians in the present life, so far a:
they have to contend with many
internal and external sufferings,
universities, and prosecutions. BY
the Church triumphant is meant
the just made perfect in heaven
so far as they are freed from al
these trials, and enjoyt the most per.
feet rest and blessedness. Wher
the unity of the church is spoken
of in the New Testament, it is 6
, moral and spiritual unity which
are intended. The import of thi.
term is, that all who worship Coo
according to the doctrine of Jesu:
should regard themselves as mem
bers of one society, and, as such
should exercise mutua! brotherly
love; that, Notwithstanding al
differences of birth, condition
knowledge, and various gifts, the,
should still constitute one church
or religious society, worshippin!
one and the same Lord, evel
Christ, and partaking in common
of the blessings promised to hi
. followers. That there should b.
such a union among his follower
was the last will-the testamen
; of Christ. John xiii. 81. And il
| order to this, it is not essential
that there should be q full and en-
, tire agreement of opinion onthing
! not essential to salvation. Chris
tians, though differing as to thei
mode of thinking; their particula
opinions and forms; and though
divided into particular commun
ions, ought to regard themselve
: still as so many branches of tn
Church Of God and live in tn
unity of the Spirit, This is tn
, true spirit of Christianity it in
fuses feelings of liberation. An'
the more a Christion has of tn.
p mind of Christ, the more toleran
will he be to others ; and especial
", because he knows that not onl..
: his Lord, but his brethren, sc
much in him which requires for
b~earanco, Titus iii. 8-5. Thi
unity of the church is mentione'
$ in those. passages in the New TIES
lament in which warnings ar