New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-20
THE UNITY OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH.

THE UNITY OF HE NlNiDiII- NIi'hS'''
Ehop CnRtaS at the Firot Reformed Episcopal ohurcn
Eshon Cummins preached yesterday at the
First Reformed Episcopal Church at Madison-aye' ana
rortvsevcnth-st His text was John y 49, And other
sheep have which are not OF this fod 'hem a'so
must bring and they shall hear my voice, and there sa
be ore fold aud one shepherd"
The most solemn prayer said Bishop Cummins' ever
uttered by the Rcdecmer uttered in Gethsemahea
few hours before lis agony on the cross In inc hS'
in which he was betrayed He passed from the upper
room in Jerusalem to the garden over the prook he'
end There knecng amid the shadows of the Owe trees
He offered His final prayer on earth Tor HIS cci a"
"a The h,ci priest OF old bore upon MS bosom n
fbe "hrcastniatf craven with the names OF me me
tH%elve tribes of Israel. Jesus bore upon us i
nf enr pw6o then acknowcdged Him, but the whole
Church 20 the last syllable o. n ,Hem who
"Nohcr pray for these alone bu lof an p i,o ~ io
shan believe me through thfiT %Ci may he ONE "a
Thou Father art in Me and in Thee that hy may ne
one in IIs Has that prayer been answered ING world
Te tI been denied His souls supreme desirei
Not So The PRAYER has been answered IRON he nou'
biyHest meaning The question then whether the Re
dcemers prayer has been answered Is to be decided W
our conception Of true character OF the Chch Oh
Christ According TO theory the Church is form OF
polty or government dyney esats ne III, ny aHhcT
y the submission and obedience of all mon 1t is gov
erued by bishops and prlates who are nCal
the Holy Ghost by tactuaI 9le"tsslon;
orsan7aons. therefore which possess tins POLLY ana
order belong to the Church 81 CHRIST All thai with
what may be corruption in doctrine. tc apostasies
from tho faith Of The Gospel the idoatres OF escopay
catholic Church And matter what may be the purity
and integrity of faith, the love and zeal for Cris' the
.! s of 2 ePE 'F oa,. lying a9@ y"s tRS
pary, they are no part OF Chrst's Church. Fence
he Roman the Eastern and the Anglican Communons,
and TINS is the Church TO which Trey adhere when lnly
0Ix all Inc
Word of God not uteIancc 10 sustain H. AGAINST thls
1bcorv which makes the Church of Chis he identical
with one visible organization appeal TO scripture,
and find there this true idea OF the Church.
The Church of Christ is His mystical body OF which He
is the sole head and TO which al believers united
members in living body 1t Is the household Of COD
the whole family In heaycn aud earth name after the
one Name Lei any maD try to apply such epithets TO
any particular or national church among those claiming
fo s5ssess eycusyey the title of Holy Catholic Church
and II becomes mockery. The Church Of Christ is only
one body in its relation TO Its great Head: bur III forms
Of Organization necessary its diffusion it exists nder
various aspects Herein it is in harmony with The g.cat
law everywhere, pervatng he works OF GOD That
there are many churches In its truc spiritual cOncep
ton as the mystical body Of Christ the Church essen
TALLY True unity rests alone upon union win
Christ The soul that ia united 10 Christ by hyinS
faith is one with every other believer ana ihCs most
truly all Christians are one. Thus has the prayer of
Jesus been answered. This unity earthly power can
destroy. No controversies or se aons or GI'c'stcs
among Christians can break this bond.
The great question yet rcmans-in hat does The unity
of the visible church consist How all the chuIcnes
OF ChrstendOm be unitedI Not, We rcuY ny sunnis-
sion to one earthly head The theory Of Vicar OF christ
upon earth to whom the submission OF all inc, IS
Ia seless fiction without shadow 0f Scripture 10 attest
it, Humanity itself. moved by the hand 81 Goa. has
for ght AGAINST IT, and shattered II IN pieces dr loticrs
vessel What causes rent aSuudpr the Church INTO The Latin
and The Greek cOmmunOns Not mere differences creed
Tat tie antag0nsns # AMI civilization. Nor are we
10 look visible unity OF ChrsteEdom ~ saueneS Of
belief OF creed DOGMA. Such identity or sancuess ~
belief never has yet existed. NOt even among the
aposties did exist. ST. Paul wthstOOd 81 Pccr To- me
face question OF doctrine Let Augustne3 motto be
our rule: In essential things, unity III mont sScndI
things hberahty; in al things, charity" Nor
are we 10 look for the union OF the Wis
lille Church by the adoption OF one form
G. church government. pOlity or worship. Ih'1
was realized the fifth 10 the fifteenth centuries.
and these Cnph2Gcally the dark age. Tie might
hind the reunion al thlstondO1 now u the
exclusive theory that pFOclams that there Is only one
Divine poity and order, and demands that all men
shall submit 10 that. There is al last only tet ~
that have said finds fullest cOnI nation IN tno wOtds
of our Lord the text. Unorun toy. our English yer
sion does bring ont the iu force or His words.
Other sheep have not of Tins i0ld; them also must
bring, and there shall be hOCG mot iOl'D and one
shepherd
Brethren this Reformed Episcopal Church is witness
to-day to the true unity OF all Chri~ts people. II Is
protest and revolt aginSt the eXclu-iNCnrN5 0l the
dogma that would limit the Church OF Christ 20 one cc-
clesiastca pOiv, that denies place ana portion 40
the Holy Catholic Church 10 all who do not summit 20
prelates claiming rule by divine rilht, lords over
Gods heritage. To-day there is yeiInlDg throughout
churches Of Reformation Nav this dcar Church 81
Ouis he an instrument III Gods hand Of bringing all who
love the Lord Jesus Christ into closer and tlu,r fellow
.fI