Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1862-08-27

' - r.
| IofSynods, Presbyteries, Churches, MIN
listers and Members, constituting the
(Presbyterian Church, South, and With
reference to what the Church is doing
for thegreat work to which sheis called.
he thenproeeeded in.a styleof tonch-
ling eloquenee, to o'ofer some :iimpfessive.
reasons Why a union is, desirable with
tall:those in the Confs fsderate States who
are substantial ysof the same faith aid
Eorder, viz :e}: -: s,..-:3ss - ~,
4. Christ prayed for ssni0ss among all all
his people--all that, should believe in
| his name. John XVI: 20;; 0;;2l Mel.
Ither pray I for thesea alone, but for oil
them which shall believe through their
word, thatt6sy all maybe one. - q; Itsis is
admitted that 1.-TWO cannot walk togetlh-
er unless. they be. agreed. But We lye'
: Z, > ~ ~ = =
tplead for union and communion where
there is agreement in sllshe5grest lead
ing doctrines IN God $ word, and Church
|polity. tits also admitted that in con.
sequence of The ;imperfection Of our
common nature in itspresent state, we
do not find. absolute and perfect agree:
ment in all the minuti@ and non-essen-
tials Of christianity. s These differences
are to be expected--they are found .ey-
erywhere, and in. all denominations. -
Now are the points of difference between
your Body and ours Of such radical
character as not to admit Of ansor p
Gould not the matter be satisfactorily
adjusted for both parties?s ! have no
authority to ofertany terms Of funion,
fbut only to confer about III: and I frank:
ly:and canddly say that I suppose 3all
unions -four Body with Others must be
on the basis Of the Westminster Con-
Ifession Of Faith+the accredited STAN
[dardssof the church. But do you not
lhold and preach these very doctrines 7
May not some Of our differences be ow-
ing to the manner in which we define
our terms? At any rate we give you
most cordially the right hand of chris r
tian fellowship, and, Invite you to . fra
fternal correspondence'with our General
Assembly. -. - H.
q. The feeble and scattered and des-
tituts condition of many of our church
es, especially in the bounds of your de,
nomination and Bethel Presbytery, is
another argument for . union Of our
churches, il. it can be brought about BY
such means as would be according to
truth and duty, and agreeable to both
parties. IF there were union Of the
two denominations, most Of the church,
es on both sides, by uuiting together,
could settle ministers among them, and
support them. Would this be nothing
| to the cause of Christ? Would it be
nothing to the progress of religion a.
mong our people, through all this sec
ton of country? Would it be nothing
to many of our church members, and
their children, and servants, who have
SO. many silent sabbaths? Union is
|strength, provided the parties united are
sincerely and heartily agreed. If not,
union would be productive of.strife and
discord, and every evil work. But might
we not hope that the spirit of God would
flavor and foster, and cement our union
8. There are many peculiar reasons
for our union, growing out of the trou-
! |bles of the times-the necessity of con-
centrating, and exercising all the ener'
gies of our common Calvinistic faith a.
gainst the abounding wickedness of the
times, the unblushing and rampant here
Isles that are abroad. And especially
to meet the torrent Of abuse and fanati'
cism that is rolling upon us from the
,|North. Common dangers, and common
difficulties should excite US to common
lsympathies and efforts, and should binc
us all together in closer bonds of atfec
!, ton and fellowship, to4resist the foe
Moderator, awful as these times nov
, are for the cause of truth and godliness
, Iverily believe far darker and more
awful times are coming for the church O
2 God in these Confederate States, whe1
8 this ruthless war is closed. What vii
,|then be the condition of the country
What will be the moral and religious
condition of the hundreds Of thousand
Of brave and patriotic soldiers who vii