Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-04-13

narrowness attaches to those who build up
on such foundation as prelatical success
sion-the structure they call the church.
do wish they would lift their heads at
least as high as the horizon, and see some
portion of the world not under their own
shadow. Methinks they would draw a
long breath, and whisper, "Well, the earth
is wider than London, or Rome, sure
enoughp'
What is the Church of God? Do the
Scriptures define it to be other than Gods
people in the world, who believe, love, and
obey Christ? "Gather my saints together
unto me; those that have made covenant
with me by sacrifice" aye are all the
children of God by faith in Christ Jesus"
What now of the unity of the church I?
Christ said emphatically: "There shall be
one fold and one shepherd" The church
is, and must be one. No one will insist
more strenuously on this than Methodists.
And we contend that this unity must be III
the most vital part, the feature most char
acteristic of the Church, and not of neces-
sity in the mere accidental features.
The oneness for which the Savior prayed
was not an organic, outward unity, such
as exhibited and boosted by the Papists,
and others of similar pretensions. Official
succession, and continuous organization,
do not constitute the unity of the Church.
Because, l. That may be maintained with
no spiritual life; and this is the essential
feature, "for the kingdom of God is within
YOU" 2 1t may be with all manner of
corruptions, and doctrines contrary to the
great Head. 3. 1t may be with all discord
and strife within. 4. Such mark of genu-
mess cannot be identified by the Bible,
| fol .sfo tbo~
fers faith from the Bible to history
(Marvins) 5. 1t excludes thousands who
are "by one Spirit baptized into one body, :"
and hence becomes schismatic in the most
superlative m manner, communicating
those whom God has accepted 6. 1t in
cites to bigotry and proselytism, which
things necessarily work discord to the
Church of Christ 7. 1t directs attention
from the spiritual to the outward and ac-
cidental and as result makes people sat
isfied with mere Church connection. s.
1t subverts the design of organism-mak-
ing it the Church, when it is only the in
strument of the Church to carry the gospel
abroad
In Protestant bodies making such pre-
tensions, it leads directly to pOpery for
they boldly profess that Romish priests are
true ministers, regularly ordained, and we
are not, and therefore are no Church. Now,
we do not object to their organization
they may retain it and be good people, a
part of the true Church but we do object
to their Directing to ours, and trying to
teach our people, and others, that we are
schismatics. Christ prayed that we might
'all be one;" and that Church which will
not be one with others rejects the Savior
PRAYER. UNCONVENTIONAL lines do not linn
it the Church of Christ, nor break its uni
ty. Hence, "all who love our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity" are brethren.
The true unity of the Church is, |. One
ness of faith-accepting Christ. "Other
foundation can no man lay" 2. Oneness
of spirit-love to God and man. God is
love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth
in God, and God in him." 3. Oneness il
practice-obedience to Christ "If a man
love me he will keep my commandments
and my Father will love him." Such pas,
sages as the following show conclusively
that we hold to the highest form of unity
There is one body, and one Spirit, even
as we are called in one hope of your call
ing" For by one Spirit we are baptized
into one body, whether We be Jews or Gen
} tiles, whether we be bond or free; and hav,
been al made to drink into one Spirit
Forthe body is not one member, but many
Those who have the fruits of the "Ont
} Spirit" are members of the zone body
| for the Spirit and the body belong to tn,
one head, Christ.
Individual opinions held, and organiza
} tions, are not "schism;" but carnality
contentious, and uncharitableness, ar
! schism For whereas there is among yol
envying and strife, are We not carnal an,
walk As menW Paul pointed out and cen
!, sured schism, when there was but one or
: ganization, one outward Church, governe,
by apostolic method; therefore ''schism'
is somewhat different from what som
: crOakers make it, and true scriptural unit
j Is what we, as Methodists, contend for
am clearly convinced that the most incor
rlglble schismatics are those who cry mos
), for unity, unity, and will not themseIve
allow unity. The mere outward organiza
Q ton sustalns no nearer relation to tn
3 Church than the shells of those animal
which renew them every year sustain t
D the animal. God cares as little what forr
+ OF government we serveunder him, as wha
+ style of house we live in. If Alexande
Selklrk had taught his cannibal islander
l. the doctrines of the Bible, and they ha
5 believed and obeyed, they might hav
= made their own form, and elected thei
:, own ministers, and been as true a Churc
} OF Christ as the Church at COrinth, thong
t they had never seen another priest or Law
e man. So broad are scripture principles
!. SO narrow are sectarian opinions.-G "
HORN, IN Christian AdU0cate,