The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-04-29
For the Herald.
CHURCHES.
SMYRNA. Del, April 18th, 1871.

Mr.. EDITOR Tin looking over the
two last issues of your paper 1 notice
that some of your correspondents have
been expressing their opinions of the
style of churches which should and
should not exist; but if express an en-
tirely different opinion from theirs
hope they will not criticise too severely
any defect they may happen to detect in
my arguments or conclusions; for be 1t
understood / do mot write to be their
competitors, but because am interested
in their subject. In the first place every
person who obeys the commandments
ofthe Bible with all their heart" may
be appropriately entitled christian
And for the sake of being certain he is
obeying those commandments no one
who is really earnest in his desire to be-
come chhrch-membe1 will object to be-
ing both sprinkied and plunged. This is
one of the great distractions of churches,
one sprinkles another plunges. Now
when u matter is so easily settled as this
difference, why are not these churches
one. We are commanded to "love one
another" and christians at least should
obey the commandment. Instead when
we attend church of no matter what
denomination We scarcely ever miss
hearing hard words said about others
Most all the differences tina occur in tie
different churches are the Inventions of
man. 1t is in their probationary rules,
their church government, their church
members guide. But where in the BIZ
BILE can ne found any authority for any
such Intentions? 1t has no "dividing
lines" There all is unity and love-
Strength springs from union; and con
tend that these divisions made to suit the
habits, taste and opinions OF men, are
| mr. half ar hntanffof.l ~
ment of religion, as they would have
boon had they remained united. Any
thing invented by man 10 deter for one
instant the entrance of a human being
into the Church, is a cheat-and fraud
ulent attempt against religion and the
Bible. When that time comes that it
becomes common for one church to con
tribute means to build another belong
ing to a different denomination we will
have all the attributes of true christiani-
| ty in our churches. Then there will be
Al church union, which will enter q
countless army TO battle for God and the
final overthrow Of sin. And that time
is needed. On rock our Saviour foun-
ded his church-and he founded but one.
1t h as now become a very common
thing for eur most eminent Divines--tc
| give in their Sermons nor the contents Of
the Bible-but their opinions ofthe aw-
full fate awaiting those who belong to all
other churches; and i'll informing theil
hearers that the sect whose doctrine they
preach is the only safe one to belong to-
in short, the only true road to Heaven.
1 And so 1t traEspires, thar after we hay,
heard one denomination denounce eacl
and all other denominations-we become
disgusted-stand aloof from all of then
-prefering to risk frail conscience, t,
the honesty of our churches. "A hous'
divided against itself cannot stand" is
grandly told truth, understood by all. =
And tue church is at least crippled il
its progress, when the ''divided parts
array themselves so bitterly against eacl
ether.
1t is q startling truth that now "a day
when almost half our Divines address
their flock, it is about their intempprat
haLits, while nothing is said of colder
promises and grand truths of the Bible
thus lie takes care of the flesh, and per
mis- theifnmortal soul to go to the De
vii, for the want of the knowledge whic
he should have supplied. The ioaue
una fishes are very attractive in til es
degen, rate days. am in favor of
church which while at pence with nj
other ds,. Ominations, teaches onl
what the Bile teaches. Which invert
no creed orchurch government merel
| 10 please portlon OF ltS members. lie
vying no comma dments on its mem
bers, but the Bibles. Which seeks
unite all sects into ono grand and grea
body-for the utter annihilation of 81
f and advancement of religion / hay
written the ABOVE in the spirit of kind
ness and am not preiudiced to an
| church in existence. My opinions ar
/ honest in every instance 1 have men
toned, or the church points which
/ have written of. UNITY.
Kenton, April 9th.