The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15
For the Central Presbyterian.
Union and Unity.
Endeavoring to Keep the Unity of the
Spirit in the Bond of Peace"

Endeavoring to Keep the Unity of the
Spirit in the Bond of Peace"
There is an obvious and most impor-
tant distinction between at1ion and u7lity:
yet great many weak brethren seem to
be incapable of seeing it, and a great
many good brethren constantly overlook
1t. The consequence is, the frequent ut
terance on the one hand, of what, but
for the contradiction of terms, could only
be called pious nonsense; and on the
other, a confusion of ideas, which sup
ported by high authority leads many
astray.
50 far as the Church of Christ is con-
cerned, in all that is essential to const-
tute it, there Is substantial unity. There
IS one Lord, one faith, one baptism
Whatever diversities of administration
there may be, and however great the
variety Of organization, the essential
unity Of the Spirit may still be pre-
served.
There IS one Lord because "There is
none other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved
but the name Of Jesus There as one
faith; for the act by which the soul of
the sinner is united to Christ, must be
essentially the same in the case of every
one of our fallen race. And there is one
baptism for there can be only one seal,
however differently it may be applied,
Of that one faith by which the soul is
united to Christ And it follows; that
whatever differences Of opinion they may
have in other respects, all who have the
one Lord, one faith, and one baptism"
constitute one body animated by one and
the same Spirit and this unity pervades
the whole Church of Christ, and the bond
by which it is kept up and preserved is
peace. 1t is not too much to say, there
fore, that just in proportion to the pre-
servation of peace between the various
branches of the Church Of Christ, the
unity Of the Spirit is kept and illus
trated.
But as long as we retain the right of
private judgment, in our present condi-
ton of ignorance and infrmity, it is in
vain to hope for a consolidation or union,
for example, of the Presbyterian, the
Baptist, and the Methodist Churches.
Yet if alnion of all its members is essen
tial to the Church of Christ, then the
members of these denominations who re-
fuse thus to unite are sinful schismatics,
and in so far, are not entitled to be called
Christians, although they have zone
Lord, one faith, and one baptism" But
the absurdity of this conclusion must be
apparent; for no one can doubt that there
are multitudes Of true believers in Jesus
in all of these and Of other separate &C.
clesiastical organizations; and if faith
unites one to Christ, and if member of
Christ is member of His Church, then
unity is not identical with union, and
union is not the essential bond of peace
by which alone the unity of the Spirit
may be kept up. Peace is much more
likely to be preserved by separation than
by union, where there are irreconcilable
and inevitable differences of opinion as
to important principles of doctrine and
order. The largest Christian charity is
entirely consistent with the most pro
nounced doctrinal convictions, and the
strongest UNCONVENTIONAL attachments.
The distinction which is here asserted
between unity and union, however clear,
is very unpalatable to the religious bigot
on the one hand, and the religious fanatic
on the other. The bigot can see nothing
good in those who do not fully agree with
him, and sends to perdition all who will
not unite with him and think as he does.
The fanatic thinks that everybody is
wrong, and that he has discovered
potent charm for reconciling all differ
ences, and becomes very angry and i'm
patient with all who will not accept his
nostrum. If he does not send them di-
rectly to perdition, he very severely
hands them over to uncovenanted mer-
cies
II the principles which are contended
Tor in this article are sound and good,
every one will admit that they apply to
different families Of the same general &C.
olesiastical organization, as well as to or
carnations which are distinct and diff
ferent as to their leading features. There
are for example, some distinctive diff
ferences" as to doctrine, order, and prac-
ii,e, between the Northern and Southern