Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-01-08
MISCELLANEOUS.
Christian Duty.

At the solicitation of number of our
readers, in whose judgment and tastes we
have confidence, we give place to the follow
ing article, which appeared originally in the
Episcopal Methodist, published in Bulti-
more =
elm those things which essential, let there be
unity, in uon essentials, liberty, and in things
cha'Ity' AuGUsTIN.
Would protesting Christians adhere to this
advice of St. Augustin, how much more
peaceably the world might live. But while
some are for Paul, and some for Cephas, and
some for Apollos; while some wrangle for
Apostolic succession, some for auricular con-
fcssion, some for immersion, and others for
sprinkling; while some pray standing, and
others kneelng, and while each of the mul>
titudinous sects into which Christians have
arranged themselves are, to say the least, full
ly as anxious about their little forms as about
the great essential~truths which Christ and
his Apostles proclaimed for our guidance aud
safety; while these facts are patent to the
world-how feeble must be the power which
Christianity wields for the conversion of
the outside world. There was day when
the common bond of brotherhood united all
Of the Christian name, when no man claimed
anything as his own, but all things were held
III cOuILlOu Dy Il common LlJIe, ana QlStrlDu-
ted as each had need. There was time when
this brotherhood of Christians spoke loudly
to the surrounding world, and the heathen
looking on were compelled to say, 'See how
these Christians love one another" Alas
that this era of brotherly love and kindly
feeling so soon passed away. Alas, for the
sectarlan spirit that so early crept into the
Church Alas, for the bigotry, the unseem-
ly hatred, the devotion to trifing forms and
non-cssential opinions, which now disfgure
the Church, destroy its unity and paralyze
its power! Many good men have long been
praying for that period to come when the
watchmen upon the towers Of Zion shall
again see eye to eye; when the little parti-
tion walls, which sects and parties have put
up to divi'ie the Christian world, shall all be
thrown down, and Christians everywhere shall
acknowledge again their common brother
hood, and their only rightful head to be
Christ the Lord. Who is there that will
avow his opposition to so blessed state Of
things? Who is there that prefers the party
name by which he may now be distinguished,
to the far more glorious name of Christian?
where all sects and sectarian feelings may
be merged in the hallowcd title of brethren
Of Christ, and children of the Great Father
in heaven? The thought sometimes forces
itself upon our minds, can those really be
Christians who keep alOof from their brethren
and refuse to affiliate with or recognize them
for some trifing difference Of mere form or
polty? We will not press the point, but we
do earnestly endorse the sentiment of Angus
tin, and say, sin those things which are es-
sential let there be unity; in non essentials,
let there be liberty, and IN all things let there
Lc churny" If we cannot agree entirely
with our brother, let us have the charity to
believe that he thinks himself right, and that
it is not our province to judge him; to his
own master (who is also ours) he is to answer,
and let us be careful to see that our own faith
and, above all, our own acts, be right in the
Masters sight. Let us remember that it is
written: ''Though Lspeak with the tongues
of men and of angels and have not charity,
l am become as sounding brass or a tinkling
cymbal; and though l have the gift of pro-
phecy, and understand all mysteries, and all
knowledge; and though 1 have all faith, so
that L could remove mountains, and have not
charity, l am nothing; and though bestow
all my goods to feed the poor, and though [
give my body to be burned, and have not
charity, it profteth me nothing" Love is
the distinguishing trait of Christianity, and
without this all our faith, all our professions
are nothing in the sight of heaven, and will
be of no avail to US. We find many profess
ing Christians who are eloquent and earnest
in defence of the peculiar forms and tenets
of the sect to which they belong, who seem
to realize but littte-of that spirit which suf-
fereth long aud isstind; which is not easily
provoked, and thinketh no evil! Oh, for
that loving spirit which beareth all things,
hopeth all things, believeth all things, en-
dureth all things. Were this spirit perma-
nent with all Christians, how soon would the
paltry barriers that now separate the profess
ed followers of the Saviour be thrown down,
and an era of peace and good will dawn upon
the world. Years ago there was a movement
made which seemed to be the initiatory step
towards this happy consummation. All over
Christendom there was union of nearly all
Protestant denominations for the purpose of
prayer and praise. All sectarian views were
carefully excluded, and Christians met to-
gether as common brotherhood to worship
common Saviour and God. The sight was
grateful one to all truly Christian hearts, and
many seemed to see in this peaceful gathering
of different sects the harbinger of that great
millennium day which we are taught to expect
will in due time come to bless this long dis
tracted earth. Is it not proper for every one
to cultivate this enlarged spirit of Christians
ity, and to labor for the coming of that day
when all scctarian crceds and names shall be