The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-03
THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE.
A Second Sermon ON the subject,
BY REV. Wa. J. HARRIS. d. d.


out by the recent Evangelical Alliance, of
which we give, with pleasure, brief alb
stract
lie took for his text the words found in
the 10th chapter of Acts, 3istversc "And
they said Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved. and thy
house"
Many persons in casting about for II
basis of unity that ought to exist between
churches have caught upon these words as
affording good grounds for unity of belief
and charity toward ALL This was the
motto of the so-callcd Evangelical Alliance,
which instead of being a fixed and de-
finite fact, was made of glittcrng
generalites The speaker then an
nounced that he would call attention to
some of the things that are deemed essen
tial i'll admission to membership of Christ's
church, and try to show how far this unity
actually exists between the different
churches and what direction should be
taken TO supply the evident lack. To begin
with what conclusions depend Oh any par
ticular matter of this difference. This text
is common watchword for all il breaches
repentance of sins, faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ and careful obedience to his teach
ings conveyed in the Holy Scriptures.
These things we all regard as essential to
salvation, although we cannot assert that
men may not be saved without them. This,
however, the speaker considered was no
concern to the subject in hand. 1t is whe-
ther God has given any knowledge to men
of an ultimate nature differing from this.
But few persons comparatively do not be
lievo in these az essentials They are what
is embodied in the crccds of vast majority
of the Evangelical churches. All agree that
repentance, faith and obedience are neces-
sary to salvation, and in Gods promises we
cannot hope for eternal life unless we be-
lievc them. No body of men, however, can
tell of the intention of God. If now we
all believe as mentioned, what essentials
are necessary to a membership of Christ's
church? We contend the teachings
of Christ in the training of his disciples
with Il desire to be his are important cs-
scntials Some say that so close II COM
munon is had between the church of earth
and that of heaven that they believe the
same law should be observed in the adj
mission to either This is literally the
highest absurdity. God alone can deter
mine in heaven, willie here on earth he has
intended men as His agents and. churches
for the training Of all. The utmost we can
require is credible profession of faith in
Gods requirements for salvation. He never
intended the earthly churches but as
school,
Some external mark of difference is re-
cognizcd in the form of membership while
all agree in recognizing water to be of
saving merit, the same as Christ gave in
baptism. None regard any one as men,
Der of Christ's church unless he is baptized
Here is one absolute essential to member
ship but not of salvation. The Baptists be-
lievc in immersion without which they
consider failure in obedience Although
the phrascology quoted is objected to yet
it is plainly set forth. All fail in many
points but to God the difference is made in
the amount of effort put forth and how far
for Christs sake He will forgive us.
We should therefore put forth
all our powers for our own sake
Apart from the observance of baptism,
which all agree as essential to the church
and to the application of water, even as
the Lord commanded, we, however,
differ in the mote of application. The
Baptists believe in immersion, while the
rest Of us hold to the different modes of
sprnkling. We also differ as regards the
proper subject for baptism. The Baptists
receive only adults, the Congregatonalists
receive the children of those who are mem
bers of their church, while we receive ALL
whether the parents are members Of our
church or not, remembering that Christ
said "Suifer little children to come unto
me and forbid them not for of such is the
kingdom of Heaven" They have. there
fore, peculiar claims which should be
recognized. There are also differences in
the views taken of the exact relation which
persons should be admitted, some holding
that all are not entitled to all the privileges
of the church.
In this view Of the co-existcnce between
churches some accord and others differ
from us Not in what constitutes the
right to membership, as all agree that no
unbaptized person should be admitted, but |
there are other differences, which, while |
they exist no unity can be secured. Some
distinctly maintain that all must recognize |
each others sacraments before unity can |
be secured. Until one or the other accede |
to his recognition an honest diversity of |
opinion will surely be the case.
Then comes the question what require |
ments shall we adopt to full membership |
with the church? The utmost demanded,
as stated before, is Il credible profession of |
faith. All agree that some profession of |
faith is essential, for it is written in the |
Holy Scriptures confession of belief is |
right. Some symbol of this kind is there
fore demanded. The Anglican Greed of |
England requires at baptism pronunciation |
of sin and an annunciation of the creed, |
and as all are baptized in infancy they |
they must ratify and confirm the VOWS
made in infancy, Various bodies require
a statement Of doctrine and fellowship by |
the candidate Many, however, are COM
ing to believe these formulas are out of |
place. AS regards the evidence of such be-
lief in doctrine, an obedience thereto is
easily recognized as such. But some say
what doctrine shall we adopt and whose
opinion shall we take? 1t is obvious to all |
that no one man can tell; all may err.
Men of devout knowledge and research |