Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-05-06

Firss UAisarsAa Church,
ERAoN ~ RHv. rHos. =, Alcxs-Tnx TRUE
cHRIsTIAS uxioN-wHAr IT IL AND WHAT IT
10 nor.
Rev. Thos. F. Hicks preached on Sunday at
Tie First Unitarian Church. from John, XVII
81: "That they all may b one" He said the
SAyiors prayer Ia to be fulflled-itis fulfilled.
Tho true dlscples are already one not in ex. +
ternals not in form but in spirit l shall
show, first, in what respects the Disciples are
not to be one. aud, ss0olsd. in what respect they
are 70 he ono.
Frat, then. the disciples W not to be one in
vision OF labor more and better work can be
done by each mAn doing ono thing we'll, than
Nv each attempting to do everything Diyersi-
ties of trades aud calliuss will continue.
2. The disciples are not TO be one In social
custom; living in different ages, and Of different
nations, social uniformity would be impossible.
3. Nor are the disciples to be one in language
Called from every nation, people and tongue,
each man will speak his own language.
4. Nor are tile disciples TO be one in church
name; . diversity Of names may consist with
tho spirit OF love.
s. The disciples are not to be one in church
government. The apostolic churches, ~ it ap-
pears from the New Testament history, were
CODkTOkAtlUnAls 4HsEe WAb buO CuuIcu ~ WI
inth; the church at Ephesus, the church 1t Dol.
osse; and these are spoken Of N individual
churches, and not Us . body Of churches.
There were no consolidated bodies or denomi-
| nations, ~ there are to-day,
Notwithstanding this intimation from the apos-
tolic practice, no one system OF church govern
ment is, in the New Testament prescribed for
all time.
polity which might he best for one people,
in one age, might not DO pest for another peo-
lola la ftporA An ft,A rtuo ati nj n.
ment is left for the determination Of individual
churches in each place or period.
6. The disciples are not to be one in church
service. Each church has right to the form OF
service most helpful to its own members. Each
individual has = right to that form OF service
most helpful to himself. The only essential
point is. that they all worship the Father IN
spirit and in truth.
Z. The disciples are not to be one IN churet
work, diyersities Of gifts tit them Tor diversity
' OF work. Some apostles some prophets
I some evangelists. Every man should use hi'
: own gifts.
8. The disciples are not to be one in opinion
No two persons have exactly the same view
truth.-From differences OF education, talent
: and knowledge, uniformity Of opinion wonld b.
|, impossible.
But the speaker insisted in the secon'
place, that ell tho true disciples are one In tn
= faith Of Christ. All may not equally compre
= bend Christ in His character or mission, but al
a have faith in Him a. Z teacher, and Savior. Ii
this they are one.
l. 2. All true disciples arc one in christian es
l. periencs. Not that all have the same expert
l. ence but all have an experience which come
by faith in Christ all are, In some measure
growing up unto Him growing up unto Ill
disposition and character they are "branche
9 Of the trne vine !" from him they draw nourisf
O ment and life.
{. 3. All true disciples are one in tho spirit @
love-Chrst's mission Was one OF love. Abou
g this there is no dispute. Through love, God gel
'r His son. In love the son came. .'In this til
,r love Of God is manifested that while We wer
;. yet Sinners Christ died for US Christ cam
% to seek and to the lost. All true disciple
D. partakc in some degree Of this spirit Of love.
e 4. All true disciples arc one in the spirit {
IA obedience Not that they all do the san
~ things from difference In knowledge son
III may do with good conscience, what othe
n could not do without sin. But all have repente
of sin all real disciples OF the Lord, sbandt
the sin they see they turn from what thu
know to be sin they enquire for the comlnan
-, ments Of God, with an earnest purpose to {
:! them. In this spirit OF obedience, then, TIT
ry agree.
q 8. All true disciples are one in the spirit
ia service. This is implied in the spirit OF 10
and obedience. Christ took upon Him the for
no OF a servant and was made in the likeness
in men. He came to serye-He came, mot to
mt ministered unto; but to minister, and to give
life y ransom for many" All true disciples 9
W ter into His mind And spirit in this respect,
ct, arc willing to serve.
At They are willing to serve, not only the stro
aud rich but the weak and poor. They =
willing to serve those who need help.
os The speaker remarked, by way OF applicable
80 that the only practical christian union, is
~ union in the spirit OF love, and that this uni
to can be secured without conformity in chur
on, name, in church polity, or in form OF setvi'
He remarked I'd. that the dream OF those "
hope to see all existing denominations conse
dated into one great oyershadowing body, ia
vain /; such a change would be neither pract
all BILE, nor desirable, because (d what helps @
'"i hinders another. One person is aided in his .
md proach to God by n written liturgy others
ack numbered by anything OF the KIND. lheTe ~ ne
nod OF Il variety Of church usage,to suit and help
Ae" 90. Some are members Of existing denomil
tions, who would not join any other. Some I
ne, Baptists, who would not join any church il thu
INV WAS no Baptist church. Some are Methods
'"' who would not. i9in anv church if there Wac
mn The same may be said of others. go that in
rty important sense it is true, that the more sec
tn the more christian workers.
W Externals sttract or repel, according to on
'er- education, taste or habit Of thought, and ca
an finds in his own peculiar church, that which
rm- fords him most help in wolshiping God, and
doing good.
OF (C.) The criticism OF one church by anoth
v tends to keep each pure. There is, to be su
ao- some criticism which il unfair and bitter,
i, this is not 30 much the necessary result of
40 existence of sects, as the result Of the 3,
his shness Of human nature. When the spirit
&C. love dwells in the hearts of all church membe
no. the criticism OF disciple by disciple, and
~. church by church, will be tender and earyi
Ds 3. There is still good deal Of sect idolat
OF but this, it may be said, is an outgrowth of
fe, man selishness. Those who are but half c
oo verted to Christ very readily become sect bu
o. ers they regard the sect an an End, and no,
means but those who are really converted
the spirit OF love. as it is III Christ Jesus, are
sect builders to them the soct is an instrume
means only-they value the sect only as it
AIRY means OF saving men, and clarifying God.
Of 4. We are better employed, then, in cult
the ting the spirit OF love than in urging any ext
- nal union of sects.
'ur- The spirit Of love does not Say, stake
the name, and We will fellowship yon" but it 3
-ter III you are worsng for Him, use your G
inc methods, choose your own tools, and wear =
'ins own harness."
in 5. The churches should cultivate towards @
and other the spirit OF confidence. There is les'
Thu | division, and more OF love, than there used
be, and the time will come when the spirit
ose- Christ shall so pervodc ALL that they shall be
alter one fold, with one Shepherd.
this 6. The churches should learn from each {
lily. OR that the good points Of each may bece
nes the property Of all. That each I
last drop its clogs and hindrances, and retain G
lose the essential and useful.
our =. All Churches aud all disciples, need n,
and faith.
vile, Unbelief is hinlrance aud snare ia
the opens the heart to receive, what God waits
,pu- give. beseech You to cultivate faith tow
3mo Christ, and toward God.
lent D. All disciples and all churches should
The tivate likewise, the spirit OF love. .Love is
Of fulfilling of the law. Love is the one great
rtin force of Christianity. Whatever y
neutrality-suspicious. your doctrine-with
title oSe you sle h4.hills.
and opon your neart 10 hou. ana let ais l
of warm you in love, and prompt you in scr,
esl, 'o"A'u your IohoW men.
via, =
and \ Poisoned Cargo Of salt.
are ----
NJ . WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A CALAMITY ALA