The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1871-05-20
For the Herald.
"CHURCH UNITY"

MR.. EDITOR AS "1ndependence" =
has (since bis last effusion of siang) fled
rom the turf SO weakly contested for by
hin, we have nothing more to say to
him but this-S'dng l. poor subterfuge u
% escape from contest. But we are +
rot yet quite done with "Unity." There =
$ one point yet to he contested for, and
hat is ''Church Unity"
'Unity'' contends that 1t is on'y the
INVENTIONS of man that divide churches
We admit that the church is divided
nd ya&ss-,;.a Lit In Aiwi'1~Si -. ~ e.
Z Mood styic of worsp. and -liscipllnsil~
and united on the fundamental laws, the
underlying principles, the foundation
stone-ChTist. Go in whatever chris
tan church you will. regardless of the
sect or denomination, and you will hear
Christ held up as the way of mans sal
walton. 'fhe same doctrine is preached
to-day that the apostles preached,-
"believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and
you stall be saved" Go where you will.
.isit any christian churc.,, and you will
hear the same doctrine preached that
was preached by the "apustles." Reli-
gion is the same to-day that 1t WAS in
those days. Men are converted in this
day, the same as on the day Of Pente-
/. cost. Some receive it IN the mighty,
rushing wind, others in the ''still small
voice." Some go to the "mourners'
BENCH" some to the ''serious BENCH
and others tn mo bench;" but whatever
way they go to seek religion, Tor in 9th
], or words, a change of heurt) there is but
one way of obtaining 1t, and that is,
I 'Jaith ia Christ This is the root of the
J, whole matter. o. this foundation are
s all the christian churches built And in
u this faith and belief all christian church
s es are united as one church. They are all
aiming at one object, 'the sdUin0 o.
souls" What think you, Mr.. Editor
|. the Apostles object WAS in preaching
. the gospel of Christ? Not to institute
= one certain form, for all men To be gov.
erned by, hut they preached full and
y free salvation for all men that would be
/ lieve. They told the story of Christ'
!. death and resurrection, and the redemp
,, ton of men through the blood of Christ
u And thus we hear it repeated in this da,
in all christian churches, and will he re
~ peated while time lasts. at is stor,
le Cf,en told and never old"
'r Unity" wants the churches all unitet
y as one church in discipline. We NIGH
~ with equal propritty ask why is lot tn
v whole world united under one form Q
government and laws. But we would b
!, answered that it would not do. TIA
- world is not of one tongue and nation.-
m Some prefer a monarchial government
~ to republic, and Uice verso. But W
w think it would apply to national govern
et ment as well as to church government
as Some prefer kneeling to pray, other
% prefer to stand. Some prefer "sprink
IS, ling" others ''immersion." What ma
ne tiers it concerning these minor affairs, s
we are united on the main points-th
- vital parts. 1t is just as impossible I
y, unite men on church government as
\" is on State government. We are not a
~ of one nina, and therefore we do not a
up see thing in the same light. Who fir
"a. instituted form for the government
ne religious societies3 Did not God, vii
s sI. bis ch.sen. people, Israeli He ga,
~ them their laws and ordinances, and Il
'''' manner Of their service, which is pee
liar to that race of people. From when
- spring our forms of government, bo
VI national and church Are they n
40 founded upon the natural and reveal
~. laws2
" Every institution must have certa
90 " laws laid down for its government or
cannot succeed. We think, Mr.. Editt
90 that IL 1t is mans invocation that divid
the church (Which has only been asse
ed, not proven) then it is an invent
- blessed Of God. For by that means on
~. can all men be reached. j
A SMYRNA, May 10th, 1871.