The Baltimore County union., 1875-10-16
United PrOteStCC3etjSnn as. United
ROn1G7siSn1.
BY DANIEL WISE, D. D.


Oneofthe most remarkable features Of current
christian history is the tendency of Christian
ects to come together, to bury old polemical
uestions, to fellowship each other as brethren
n Christ, to fraternize. Never, perhaps, since
he Reformation was there so little doctrinal
lisputation, so substantial an agreement, in the
ltterances of Protestant pulpits 80 much mu-
ual charity, such cordial sympathy in each
uccess, so marked a disposition to act together
or the common good. The outgrowths Of this
pirit are Christian associations, International
Sunday-school conventions and Sunday school
essons, the great evangelical worlds conven-
ion, and other kindred movements These
rand forms of united action would have been
impossible fifty years since: now they seem to
pring up with such vigorous spontaneity as to
nggest to every devout observer the working
f divine force upon the great heart of the
christian church.
Conceding heavenly origin to these beau
iful outgrowths of Christian love, one cannot
lelp the inquiry, whittier they do tend? They
certainly cannot be regarded as ends, termina-
ing in themselves, but only as means to some
great end yet to be achieved. They must be to
.ome coming event what the lakes ARE to the
,ataract, that is, the receptacles of moral and
piritual forces destined in their ultimate com
aetiosF 60 ecnaplish SONIA mi hty
wof7, ID Tthe kingdom of the Redeeruer. We
say, mus, be, because they surely cannot be ac-
cidental Acts They must have purpose
Arising, az they do, from so many sources in
all parts OF the Protestant world-strengthen
ing, as they are, while they multirlv-what
they can beif not providential preparations for
some onward startling movement of Christi
anity?
Let the student of human history recollect
this great historic truth, to wit, that no great
event in the march of nations comes abruptly.
1t is true that every such event appears like
an unexpected phenomenon bursting upon the
eye of the world, like lightning from a cloud.
In reality, however, it is but the precipitation
of forces, more or less apparent, which have
been long at work. Take for illustration the
introduction of Christianity. Was not its ad-
vent preceded by ages of preparation? Were
not the conditions of its sudden and rapid
spread produced by multitude of singular
providences, resulting in the unifcation of po-
litical power and the almost use of one lam
guage in literature? Take also the rise of Mo-
hammedanism, the Reformation, the overthrow
of the French monarchy, our own Revolution,
the abolition of slavery in the South, or, in
deed, ary great movementin human story, and
a careful study of its causes will prove that,
however abrupt it appeared to be, it was but
the precipitation of previous active forces
which slowly wrought it out
What then? Why this that all history
teaches us by its examples to look upon the
present striking activities in the direction of
Christian determination as forces destined un-
der God to bring about some important ulti-
mate result.
There is another existing activity running
parallel with this, the study of which may at
least suggest its provdential purpose. We al
lude to the very remarkable renewal of ag
gressve zeal in the paganized Roman Catholic
Church. 1t is certainly safe to say, that at no
period since the triumph of the Reformation
in Northern Europe has that hierarchy lifted
its head so high, asserted its claims so boldly,
or exerted itself so aggressively, as it is now
doing in our own and ether Protestant nations.
We do not here discuss the question of whether
it is or is not actually growing stronger. We
merely point to the tact that it is armed and in
the field, fighting, with vigor not to be de
spised, for the political subjugation of the Prot
estant world to its supremacy. Here its first
point of attack is the common school. But
that is only an outwork. Once intrenched
within that bulwark of intelligent freedom,
supported by the votes of its ignorai or spir-
itually blinded millions of follower, it will
make deadly onslaught on our law making
bodies, and contend with unwearied pertinaci-
ty for such notifications of public law as its
proud heads may deem necessary Ill order to
make it, in form and fact, a State Church.
Without being in any sense an alarnIist, we
insist that we cannot afford to be Indifferent to
this strange movement, much less to despise it..
We must look it in the eye. We must resist it
Ter comes, "even unto pi6oadf.' ID ''-"'' ''aHA
How can Professionalism conquer in this
struggle, which is already forced upon it? We
answer, "by uniting its forces," as God is bid
ding it do through that sweet baptism of the
wonderful spirit Of determination which is al
ready drawing its sects together. The strength
of Romansm is its organized unity. The
weakness of Professionalism, especially in its
conflict with Rome, is its division into sects,
heretofore more or less hostile to each other,
but now thank God quitting the battle ground
and seeking the "leve-feast." But let Protest.
antism once more present an unbroken line
against the paganized church, which seeks,
like monstrous dragon, to swallow every fruit
of the Reformation, and no good man need fear
the result
But how can Professionalism unite its forces so
as to win in this deadly warfare? We answer,
"by following the guidance Of the existing
spirit of determination to its logical result
What is that result? Is it the annihilation of
sects our startled reader asks. By no means,
Sects are need of the human mind, and ne
cessary, probably, to the highest development
of Christian effort for the worlds con version.
But we must annihilate sectarian spirit, by
grasping the lofty ideal expressed in thatsweet
prayer of Jesus for his disciples, that they
may be one, even as we are one." When Prot
estanism fills that ideal, and not till then, it
will conquer the world.
Is this all ? By no means. There must be a
visible manifestation of the unity o! Protest
artism-an organzm by which it can sit in
council, give expression to its opinions, and
concert practical measures for gener4l accept
ance.
Was not the worlds evangelical convention
such an organism? We answer, No; emily a
step toward it. But with all its real greatness
it was only convention of individuals, and
did not represent organic Protestanism in any
adequate degree. What Professionalism needs is
septennial Ecumenical Convention OF its
sects great representative council composed
of delegates elected by the highest legislative
bodies of the various denominations. The
opinion of such body would have weight with
mankind, for it would express the ripest wis
dom of the age. 1t could devise plans for
counteracting the devices of the Vitican, and
for Renaissance" in the bosom of Romanism
itself. Statesmen would respect such con-
venton and it would rapidly grow into one OF
the grandest moral forces on earth; while the
spirit of Christian love, promoted by it, would
speedily make its constituent churches equal to
the spiritual conquest of the world. Let him
who doubts ponder this prayer of Jesus: "That
they all may be one; as thou, Father, art IN
me and in thee, that they also may be one in
US that the world may believe that thou hast
sent me."-ReligiouS paper.