Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-03-20


the unity of the church. There are many de-
nominations of Christians; and while we Of
tentimes lament it and speak of it as sore evil,
certainly it is not necessarily so. May it not be
true that these differences, properly held and
contended for, are of real advantage to religious
progress :? Truth, which, perhaps, would not
otherwise be known at all, or but Obscurely ap-
pretended, is brought out clearly and distinct
ly. It is we'll said "The world is educated
by opposition, and it is more than doubtful
whether such a world as it is could be educated
in any other way" Certain it is, that those
violent attempts to bring about visible unity,
which an Incorporate zeal frequently insists
upon, do more harm than good, by making
prominent, differences which are only subordi-
nate. Whenever such attempts are made, there
is, of course, discussion of the points in
v0lved in the proposed union. This at once
brings to the front the distinctive principles
the peculiar tenets-of the sects. Many hotly
contend for them as vital under the disparag-
ing assaults of those who contemn them as
merest trifes-whO stigmatiZe them as puerile.
And thus it happens that in this stormy con-
troversy, a fictitious Importance is given to
differences which all admit, in calmer moods,
are non-e essentials. The end desired and
sought, will never come about by such meth
ods. If it come at all, it will be the result OF
a larger knowledge, a broader charity and a
more enlightened zeal.
But these denominational distinctions do
not affect the essential unity of the church.
The church is one in Christ, so long as Christ
is all and in all. And wherever the Christian
recognizes in his fellow the badge of true dis
cipleship-wherever he sees the image and su-
prescription of the Master-then his heart at
once responds with a cordial love, genuine
sympathy, which makes all Christians kin in
deed. He asks not his antecedents, his lin
cage, his social position, the value of his es-
tate, or his nationality. 1t is enough If he
find the marks of common faith enough if
he discerns, even in faintest traces, the llnea-
ments of the one altogether lovely.
All national, social, civil distinctions are
lost in this common service, citizenship and
heirship Here in this fundamental principle
of Messiah, the Goldman, Mediator and Re
deemer, we have platform upon which all the
household of faith can stand. Wehave bond
which links together all who claim an evangel-
ical creed. We have glorious truth, the sum
and substance of the faith once delivered to
the saints.
What an animating, inspiring thought it is,
that amid all the differences Of race, condition,
government; amid all the diversity and appa-
rent antagOnism of religious belief, you have
here doctrine-a doctrine, too, SO important
and vital, which is earnestly embraced by the
European, Asiatic, the African and the Amer
lean, by the rich and poor, the learned and ull.
learned, by Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist
and Presbyterian doctrine which rallies to
it's defence those who are in everything else as
wide as the poles asunder. If you would see
the church, the whole church, in all it's length
and breadth, rank and file, marshalling in
OF; to hot
be said that Jesus of Nazareth is a blasphemer
and impostor; let it be denied that he is a
divine Saviour in whom we have redemption
through his blood. With one heart and one
voice they cry $50, this is our God we have
waited for him; and he will save us. This is
the Lord we have waited for him; we will be
glad and rejoice in his salvation !"
Third. And hence we remark again that
this doctrine is fundamental to the perpetuity
of the church 'The gates of hell shall not
prevail against it,
If you understand the expression, 1.-THE
gates of hell" as referring to the power OF
death, then the declaration is that the fearful
ravages which death is ever making shall not
affect the existence of that organization built
upon the rock of Christ Jesus. True it is that
these ravages are sweeping so sweeping that
one generation gOeth and another cOmeth.
Death is the great destroyer. He cuts the
tenderest ties, breaks the strongest attach
ment, and rends in pieces the most COM
pact associations. Grave after grave is open
ed until the chronicle of mortality, as writ
ten in the scripture, is "And Joseph died,
and his brethren, and all that generation. "
All 20 to one place. Soon one generation,
now SO full of activity, so busy with its plans
and schemes with it's discoveries and inven-
1: LOT fn nA S1irif
and the future life, will have passed away,
leaving not a solitary survivor of all the
millions that now throng the highways of
earth. But the church ''abideth forever" "
Death may sweep away apostles, fathers and
the primitive churches, but all gaps are filled
up; and the King of Terrors is cheated of his
victory. Many stand ready to be baptized for
the dead. So that the life Of the visible king
dom, so far from yielding to the power of the
grave, perpetuates itself in a vitality that
blooms in eternal youth. AS it flows on,
it broadens and deepens, until society, the
family, the State-until science and art-feel
is bounding pulse and throb with it's divine
energy. The church can never know the
weakness and decay of old age, or the corrup-
tion of the grave. .".
If however, you understand the expression,
'the gates of hell" as referring to the princl-
palites and powers Of darkness, which IS per-
haps the common view, then the declaration
is, that the church shall victoriously resist
every assault by the great adversary of God
and man. Whatever may be his might, how
ever numerous his legiOns, no weapon formed
against Zion shall prosper. Says Daniel: ITO
the son of man was given dominion and glory
and the kingdom; his dominion is an everlast-
ing dominion which shall not pass away, and
his kingdom shall not be destroyed" ....
How desperately this kingdom has been as
sailed; how fiercely this dominion has been
contested Is this dominion passing away
Let the records of the church answer These
assaults are as desperate and fierce to-day as
they ever were. And as they have failed
failed utterly and signally--in times past, so
now we may feel the most perfect assurance
that He who dwells in the midst of Zion, will
prove her defence and helper The church
may become corrupted with error rank her.
esy may prevail; the love of many may wax
cold congregations may die; denominations
decline and become totally extinct; but there
shall be somewhere a seed to serve the Lord
a remnant according to the election OF grace.
And there is everything in the word and prom.
ise of God in the exaltatiOn and headshlp OF
Christ, in the experience of Gods people, and
in the history of the church, to make it sure
and manifest beyond the possibility Of cavil
that Christ will overturn and overturn and
overturn, until the kingdoms of this world
shall: become the kingdom of our. Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. I,i3 81; ..i.g.i .AI.51.
Fourth. One other thought The history
of the church in it's long struggle with evil and
unbelief, in it's wonderful tfiumphs, in its
present all-pervading influence, its intensely
aggressive work; we say, in these things: we
have the strongest and most satisfactory his
torical proof of the truth of Peters confes.
sion: ''Thou art the Christ the son OF God: .
If the theory of naturalism be true, if there be
nothing supernatural and divine i'll Jesus OF
Nazareth, then how do you account for that
church which he built up, and which is possess
inn tho ,uorll2 Cnuld the humlla son of q