Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-04-15

"ouiu ucSidIe nun UOC 0rLnOQoX,
and exclude him from the churches.
His (the Bible) plan is easy to
understand, but theirs is mysterious
and difficult, SO that the wayfaring
man, though unlearned is bothered.
OF all the sixty-six books of the
Bible this alone contains the ac-
count of men being couorated to
Christianity. And if we wish TO re-
turn to the pure apostolic faith, we
must throw aside much of the re-
ligion taught by our Rev. Theolog-
ians and "build on the foundation of
apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner stone"
Christ says "except man be born
Of acater and the Spirit, he cannot
enter the kingdom of God" The
apostles doctrine was to believe, re-
pent, and obey. Obedience in bap-
tism, the orthodox tell us is non
essential. The scriptures declare it
to be command to be obeyed. John
says "He that saith | know Him,
and keep not His commandments,
is liar and the truth is not in him.
How shall we harmonic these.
After men are made Christians
mot Baptists, PresbyteIians, Metho-
dists, Episcopalians, Campbeliists or
Quakers.) they want to know how
10 remain so and finally be saved.
The next twenty-one letters of the
apostles to the saints and brethren
of the different congregations, adj
mirably fulfill this purpose. But in
none of these do we tind any author
ity for the present state of disunion
in the church. Some preach that
division is right SO that all can find
a church that suits them. Paul says
in writing to sail that in every place
call upon the name of Jusus Christ"
"Now 1 beseech you brethren, by
the name Of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye all speak the same thing,
and that there be no divisions among
you, but that ye be perfectly joined
together in the same mind and IN
the same judgment" Christ prayed
"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
has sent me-" How can the worlC
believe ip Christ while his professeC
followers disagree, quarrel, anC
even debar each other from eating
at their masters table +? If we re-
joice as christians, "If any man suf
fer as q christian mot as Wesleyan
Calvanist or Lutherian) let him not
be ashamed, bnt let him glorily God
We should throw aside our party
names and differences, and "waIl
worthy of the vacation wherewill
we are called with all lowliness and
meekness, with long suffering, for
bearing one another in love; en-
deavoring to keep the unity of the
Spirit in the bond Of peace. There
lis one body and one spirit, even as
We are called in one hope of youl
calling, one God and Father Of all
who is above all, and through all
and in you all"
The last book is the Revelation OF
Jesus Christ to John, where he por>
trays the history of The church
through the succeeding ages unit
John sees "tbe holy city, new Jeru,
salem, coming down from God ont Of
heaven, prepared as bride adorned
for her husband"
Much depends on our brightly
dividing" the Scriptures and apply.
ing it to those for whom it was in
| tended We should eudeavor t.
leand the "mind Of the spirit" OF
disputed questions and then "ear
nestly contend for the faith which
was once delivered unto the saints
But our eternal salvation depends
on our studying the Bible SO that
we may grow in grace, aud bear Tho
fruits OF the Spirit Then we may
enjoy The promise, "Be thou faithful
unto death aud / viii give thee a
crowa Of life"
II searching after truth we must
be willing TO give up any doctrine
or idea that conflicts with the Bible,
We must Insist on the form 81
eorr1 words - and frame mn teach.