The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1886-06-09

some other concession, on the ground
of expediency. They insist upon one
denomination adopting some peculiar
ity observed in another, because they
conceive that the greater growth of
the latter is due to such popularity.
The fact may indeed be so, but the OBJ
legation to adopt, is the question. The
itineracy of the ministry is the peculiar
feature in the Methodist system, to
which its immense diffusion is chiefly
due. Shall we all adopt it, no matter
what the rights of private Christians
may be, and in the face of the fact that
it originated, not with Paul, but with
Wesley? Immersion, as the exclusive
mode of baptism, is the peculiar feature
of the Baptist denomination, to which
its wonderful progress is due. Shall
all the various Churches become i'm
mersonists, in spite of their conscien-
tious opposition to so gross form of
ritualism? Has the fact that the New
Testament nowhere prescribes the
mode of baptism nothing to do with it?
This brings us to the point. There
is no basis of unity but the Bible; and
Bible unity, is obviously, in the spirit,
and not in the letter. The fusion of
all evangelical Churches into one, is an
Utopian scheme beyond our contem-
plation. A General Assembly, General
Conference, or General Convention, for
the whole world, would be an impossi-
bility. A pope, without the attributes
of omniscience and ubiquity is down
right nuisance. Practical unity, there
fore, looks only to peace and assimila-
ton among true Christians. But this
must necessarily be so complete as to
obviate friction, and remove all re-
proach out of sight of the world. Diff
ferences that impede the gospel among
the heather, are differences which the
Scriptures do not sanction at home.
Any honest Christian can soon dis
cover what they are. We refer to ex-
ternal institutions and usages, and not
to creeds and interpretations, because
the external is the first to arrest the
attention of mankind.
Differences that do not claim to be
fundamental, will not operate as seri-
Gus obstacles to the gospel, when spirit
ual unity is plainly manifested. The
latter will tend to counterfeit the for
mer. But such differences as interrupt
the harmony and communion of the
true people of God-such as apostoli-
cal succession, an infexible form of
worship, and an exclusive mode of bap-
tism, narrowing the circle of commun-
ion-such differences are a standing
reproach against our holy religion, and,
if persevered in, must inevitably arrest
the wheels of Christian missions in the
very hour of victory.
The remedy we propose for all per-
nicious and unnecessary differences, is
a common recourse to the precepts and
examples contained in the Scriptures.
We do not mean that the Bible shall
supersede all creeds and confessions,
which would speedily resolve the
Church into its individual elements !;
but general consent to make it, in it's
inspired integrity, the supreme direc-
tor of all associated opinion and prac-
tice. The usages of all Churches have
more or less diverged, without suffi-
cient reason, from those of the print
tive examples. If true unity is de-
sired, it can only be effected in this one
way. All polite calculations, drawn
from the growth of sects, are delusive
A Church that loves the truth supreme
ly, cannot afford to purchase popular
ity by sacrificing any part of it. The
summons ought to recall all denomina-
tions to the revealed doctrines of Chris
tianity, whether they can be nationally
reconciled or not, and to primitive Ian
guage and usage, as far as is possible,
under the changed conditions wrought
in society by our modern civilisation.
Assimilation, not union, is the practi-
cal aim.
A WRITER in the Christian Adoocate
of this city, referring to Mr., Moody's
recent meetings in Norfolk, says that