Milford chronicle., 1885-12-11
srnlnrs TnINes r0R sERI0rs MrY.


SERIOUS THINGS FOR SERIOUS MES.
What is the will Of Cod for all his own III
this day? This is the theme Of our letter.
In our last we showed from tile scripture
what the church Of Cod is according to his
mind. The body of Christ, the House Of
God, perfect unity by the Holy Ghost. Christ
the head of the body, and all true christians
members of the body by the Holy Ghost.
One body and one spirit. We saw also how
the assembly or church was formed at the
beginning by the coming Of the Holy Ghost
Acts 2nd For by one Spirit we are all
baptised into one body" Ist Cor. 1913. In
whom Christ all the building fitly framed
together groweth into an holy temple III
the Lord. In whom Christ ye tSaints)
also are builded together foT an habitation
Of God through the spirit, .. Ep. 2-2I, %.
The Spirit Of Cod then unites the members
together unto one body, or building, in the
Lord This is Gods unity, all one by the
Holy Ghost 81 therefore beseech you that
We walk worthy Of the vocation wherewith
ye are called with all lowliness and meek
ness, with long suffering, forebearing one an
other in love; endeavoring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bonds Of peace" Ep. a
~, 3. "There is one body and one Spirit,
one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all (saints) above all,
through all and in you all, " Ep. 4-4,5,6, and
more Of it to the end of the chapter.
This unity Of the spirit then we are res
ponsible to keep. 1t is not to come together
as men in the flesh and make union; that
would be mans union not Gods unity, the
unity created by the Spirit How then is
this unity to be kept7 We answer only in
submission to God. It can only be kept as
saints are in the place of full submission to
God, and then they will be led by the very
same Spirit that created and which alone can
keep the unity. Insubordination to and re-
bellion against God is the root Of all the
schisms and divisions that have ever come in.
While one says am of Paul, or Calvin, or
Wesley, or Apollos are We not carnal and
walk as men in the flesh? The mind of the
flesh is emnity with God. It is not subject
to the law of Cod and never can be; so they
that are in the flesh cannot please God. But
We are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if so
be the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if
any man have not the spirit of Christ he is
none of His, and if Christ dwell in you the
body (hesh) is dead because of sin, but the
spirit is life because of righteousness. See
Rom. Sth chapter
From these scriptures it will be readily seen
that sectarianism or divisions, sects, schisms
or heresies, all the same, are of the flesh; of
man in the flesh, thinking his own thoughts,
going his own ways acting according to his
own convictions while the unity is of God
and is kept by man only when walking in
the Spirit in full subjection to God. Not my
will but thine be done. In brief the church
Of God is heavenly institution, composed
of the saints of God, who are a new creation
in Christ Jesus for eternity. Its sphere is
not of this world, but of heaven and they
are all in it by the power of God through
faith and by his grace. Now the will of God
for them while here on earth is that they
may all be one, as thou Father art i'll me
and in thee, that they also may be one in
us; that the world may believe that thou hast
sent me- " John 1921. 'They are not of the
world as l am not of the world" Ib. 1915,
''Now beseech you brethren, mark them
which cause divisions (sects) and offences
contrary to the doctrine which you have
learned, and avoid them. For they that are
such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but
their own belly, and by good words and fair
speeches deceive the hearts of the simple"
Rom. I6-I7,IS. "Now beseech You bretf-
ren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that We all speak the same thing and that
there be no divisions (schisms or sects)
among you; but that you be perfectly joined
together i'll the same mind and in the same
judgement" Ist Cor. 40.
We might fill columns with scripture quo
tations OH this subject, but here is certainly
enough to prove to any one, over whom the
word of God has authority, that Sectarianism
is i'll itself open rebellion against God This,
then, being indisputable, what are we, who
desire to be in submission to God, to do ?
The word of God tells us plainly "Endeavor
to keep the unity of the spirit, " Gods unity.
Do you ask 'how shall this be done ?"
will try (by Gods will to answer this ques-
ton in my next. Yours, for the truth,
J. S PRErrYMAN.
MILFORD, Nov. IS, 1885.