The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-05
Rect oa,a Threat Union.
BY THOMAS ARMITAGE, d. D.


auoioa, then eehat is IL All that is a de-
lightful question. There were no sects
i'll the Apostolic church; therefore, we
want no union of sects, for that would
be the sum total of sectarianism. Bat
are aro7t G Orion Of Christians. The
prayer of Jesus is that those who "be-
iieve on me may be one, as thou Father
art in me and in thee, that they may
be one la u.s." Not "oneo as men may
be one in one ecclesiastical body, but
zone in u.s. Gas are are one" Now who
would speak of the Trinity 0s q Union,
yet all may speak of the Godhead as q
apitY Then fer what does Jesus prayo
That all his followers may be one, pre-
ciseiy as he and his Father are one--net
that they form a union, but that they
constitute a unity. Then his prayer con-
templates that believers attain a oneness
of mind in the faith, not merely of feel
ing-a oneness of heart in obedience
which they offer, and a oneness Of effort
in the works which they do.
And then, Jesus measures thus Chris
tan unity by the standard Of the Divine
nature. Zone as we are one.o If this
unity among Christians consists i'll mere
heart kindness, there is no visible appo-
siteness III this tremendous petition
The Father and the Son are one in feet
ing, dctj0a, counsel, name. Therefore,
the prayer means that Christians are to
be one in the same sense, .}ee7js1g, action,
counsel, 34aaee. So completely are the
Father and Son one, that the same acts
are aseribed to both, and the same puf-
poses are aseribed to both. Such is their
identity i'll these respects, that the eye
of the keenest archangel cannot see d
shade Of variation. This is the real pic
ture Of Christian unity, as Jesus hung it
upin theSupper Chamber. Perfect iden-
tity must sslbsist among the People OF
God, andtheir unity must agree IN agree
ing, and net in differing, .justtss the unity
of the Father and the Son agrees. We
are to hold the same affections, the same
doctrines, and the same ordinances, and
we are TO hold them as Jesus held them,
or else Our union is 4 counterfeit and &
pretension. This Is Christian unity, as
Jesus praYs for it, and it seems to me,
that nothing else is. Who Wonld sup
pose that the Father holds enc form OF
truth, and the Sen another, but that for
the sake Of peace they sagree to Disagree
that is, that they mutually agree to
suppress the varying expressions OF their
mind, and that they call this being at
one: Christ was exclusively one With
the Father in doing his will, and our
unity must be like theirs. In other
words, Christian unity must be seriptu-
raj or it is unreal, tits nothing. There
FORE nothing but q return OF all those
who love the Saviour to the naked teach
lngs Of the Bible, as the Father and the
son aNoWea those teachings, can ever
result in Christian unity. Christian
bodies may declare an armstiee, and be
peaeeable, bat if is one thing TO be peace
and another TO be united. 1t is q shame
that one man should denounee another
as exclusive, because he more literally
and fully obeys the Word OF God than
himself. God has expressed his will in
the hroadness Of infinite thought, and
that man who does not scruple to obey
every part oil ii is the most catholic be-
lever. His eXclusiVeness is exclusive
oneness with Christ in obeying his will,
and therefore he partal<es of the eathoi-
iety Of God. But no man can obey that
will without sympathy with the catholic
God. Hence, David prays, not When
Thou shalt contract, but s.Nhen Thou
shalt enlarge my heart, [ will run in the
way OF thy commandments
| take it, then, that the only way in
which we Christians can be united, is to
agree that we viii mutually obey what
ever is positively enioined in the New
beyond that. Let each man appeal TO
the Bible only, and he will need to ask
for concession from his brethren. Opin-
ion will then give place to faith, conve-
nienee, and preference, and eXpediency
to divine authority. How common it is
for Christians to retain their distinct pc
culiarities, because they ore not jorbiddee
Ia tie ford Of God. This is a dangerous
prineipie--iti As one Of the rocks on which
Christian sectsspiit. Theyare the things
that are specially required that are to be
done,and not things that are specially for
hidden. Luther fell into this trap
Carlstadt demanded Of him, s.Where has
Christ commanded US to elevate the
Host.o ssWhere has he forbidden ii ~
Luther retofted. Our trouble springs
largely from this false position. We
should only ask that each others tastes
and preferences should yield 10 Gods
Word, and we shall soon begin to respect
each others views OF il, and begin to
grow into real unity. DO you wonder
That v hen 4 man asserts for instance that,
my views Of baptism are 'eriptural and
Apostolical, and adds that from some
reason aside from the Scripturalncss, he
prefers something else, and then requires