New-York tribune., 1874-10-19
DIFFERENCES IN OPINION.
41IA 4-IN4@-' - ~ u ~
ga< Rer n N. Thompson, D. D., at Christ Church PRO

EplscopGl)
The Rev. DR.. H. NJ Thompson preached yes
terday morning in Christ Church, from the text Now
this saw that every one Of you saith Paul; and
of Apollos; and Of Cephas and of Christ" q Cor
inthans l2 II is said the preacher an instinct for
US t. look back former days aud think them better
than our own. The golden age seems 10 be backward
and not 1t is the tabled when the Church
20 grandy succeeded and trumphed in her work, when
divisions and differences were unknown. the Church
unit and Christians at peace with each other. But what
A. their conception only dream and there
was a time OF calm and when there rot also
fears WITHIN and ghtngs without St. Paul declares Of
those to that they not at peace 1t
was not then that the Church at rest Christians
were carnal then and There reality
OF dream in the day Of the Apostles and there never
u time when all believed and lived alike.
history Of the Church, content, in some degree
with time The nineteenth century is lust >
Church as IL was then. Whep therefore. we ind dis
sensioD let US not tax OF the times when there were
grounds Of difference IN the family OF the Church
Christ prepared for it. His command 70 gather
the wedding the good and the bad. He said that lie
came not 70 bring peace but sword. When Christian
men differ il is simply because they are carnal and
fn Christ Differences OF opinion must exist so long
different. IL Is impossible that AL men should
think alike Provision made for differences the
q neh We expect that all, in such eOngrega-
mon tins for Instance. VIII see eye 10 eye One
cannot suit all minds one takes that which he
needs ana another that which LIE needs and 1t ls right
thai il should be Iu thIs itself ,here Is
harm 10 always thus in the Church OF God,
snd will Tue God worship is the same
but the outside realm 0f Christian thought diverse
opniOHs tuere n.usf be. There will be High and Low
Churc hmen, Evangelcas. and Rltrallsts All their
the rght 20 exist 10 propagate themselves
10 argue themselves 10 write books for Themselves
The Church Of God IS not sect IL holds and teaches
the universal eathOc faith Saint Paul told the iaeT
amply u believe the Lord Jesus Christ In other
words. must have personal faltl IN personal
Savior. There Is literally nothing beyond tae creed
which accepts a baptism. Beyond thai, he must
be allowed take what he take; and lie must be
lower level than himself. The narrow see
merely but because organize u propagate their pet
notions. The harm II done when men call themselves
after Paul, or Apoos, or Cephas. They make them
into parties and try 10 compel others 70 adopt
When iG becomes matter OF surprise that
Of ferent Views exchange pulpLs, II is because
have united 10 sustain what they regard as more
essential than Christian truth and CHRISTIAN charity
Gods church. divided may be. can never fz IL ~
eternal Ii still stands, aud VIII stand when our toll
end life ended. God remains the same de rs the
guard Of his Church, and not IL lack Of futh aud
differences Of could have destroyed h. t would
have been destroyed ago. Because it has stood ia
tbe face Of AL these Is evidence Ia Itself that the
Church IA Of divine origin.
Let IN live charity Let know that o. our
breInren VINO dnef from us nearer 70 God shan we
saeVer tbe!r wsys OF approach they are al approach
~ se same dod ~ ws sa In the sight vi God are sc