Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-03-06

MUCH vi IeSlSIdIlOn III dlI dSco III IL
gard to the protection of the family
has been erroneous and injurious just
here, because it did not fully recog-
nize its inviolable foundation in mans
very being. And the church is often
regarded as a mere combination OF
convenience or choice, league, pro-
Tossing certain things and having GER
tain symbols, into which men may be
at any time admitted by conforming to
certain outwar conditions. The
same loose or worldly and selfish view
is entertained here as with reference
to the inviolability and sacredness of
family ties. 1t is a mere business
corporation or partnership, only that
its department of business is of a
somewhat different nature from that
unusually known in commercial re-
lations. But in opposition to this is
the view of the text, The christian
church is family in its purest and
highest sense. 1t is built upon ma
tural and spiritual affinities. There
is nothing artificial or arbitrary about
it. 1t is not a mere combination, but
family not an association, nor part
nership, nor league in its common
worldly sense, but a family, not a
party nor set, nor persuasion, but
a Spiritual and Divine family, formed
upon the permanent affinities of the
higher being. 1t is relation began
by that new birth Of the Spirit which
is unto life. 1t is held by no uncer-
tain tenure. 1t runs PARALLEL with
the being. Death does not sever it.
1t is the fellowship of kindred, and
Of soul affinity, the bond of nature
which cannot be broken.
An association of interest often
combines men for the protection and
furtherance Of that interest; identity
of creed or opinion leagues men to-
gether in order to establish that creed
or propagate that opinion; similarity
of taste often unites men in common
pursuit in order to attain more CON-
pletely the ends in view. But all
| these are outward and artificial, and
their end is inevitably dissolution
Society moves on, and corporations
die; principles are established, and
leagues or parties become dissolved
or change their form; tastes change,
and then the association or society
breaks up and come to nothing. Oh
how is this seen everywhere and in
all ages! Even parties of philan-
thropic and moral reform, which for
a time gain popular favor, and bid
fair to sweep away all barriers and
change the whole face of society, soon
become efete corrupt and lifeless.-
They nave no permanent basis; no
vital inherent power of continuance.
But the family is formed upon alto
gether a different principle. 1t is
built fundamentally, not upon similar,
ity of taste, nor identity of opinion,
nor oneness of mere temporal and
social interest, but upon the afinities
of nature. We do not choose who
, shall be our brother; we cannot ex
clude our mother or our sister. Il
, does not depend upon choice or arbi
trary opinion at all, but is founded il
the eternal nature Of things. Just
so the christian church is. formed. Il
is a family based upon natural affinity
in spiritual relations, and not upor
. artificial combination. The family
q 'the aUhole family in heaven and earth,
E is made up, not of those who cal
. themselves brethren, but of thos,
who are brethren by the new birth OF
. the Spirit 1t is not technically so
E ciety, but a church; not sect or per
! suasion, but a church, true famil,
i in which all the members are linked
;. together by an indissolable bond. 4
man is born into that family, and can
# not be made member by any human
. appointment or arbitrary choice. A
. the earthly home to the exile an,
. wanderer is the retreat of lovin!
- hearts, where social endearments ur
= known elsewhere a lways exist;
, garden of delight, where hopes an
loves expand in the sunshine of pal
. entail smiles; so to the christian
h soul is this home of spiritual birtl
: IL is before him in all his wearisom
- pilgrimage as the object OF his mos
. ardent affection, the consummation o
lo IL his highest hopes, the place of we
. come from its family of kindred spirit
h and OF joy in fathers smile.
re II. The church of God as .fdnsil
IN is composed Of different 6ramches.-
&c The true idea of family is that q
9. a community of persons, a society c
u sovereignty, arising, not from any col
r ditions artificial, or arbitrary, or on
wardly imposed, but from the law
Ly of our being. We are born unto ce
In tain relations and unto certain dutie
- and these relations and duties can Z
is more be abrogated or suspended ;
lie the will of the parties than they ca
1g be so assumed. But the family exis
In and adapts itself to different stat'
IF of society and outward circumstance
IS, Indeed it was formed with this cap
,r- city or power of adaptation. Th
in is one, essential attribute of its n
er- ture. As it is not constituted by a
al bitrary human enactment but by {
. vine authority, so it remains essentia
sis ly permanent and entire wherey'
= men exist. 1t is not dependent, nj
af- a creature of human forming, nor Il
re result of either chance or circuI
u IL