Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-11-25
Communicated.
SECT.

# it's character and the word that
stands at the head of this, Is not I
lntrue to the use hal has been made
Of it. Its original meaning was cat
Of, and it still stands for part. The
Christian sects properly used
designates the parts into which the
of Christ is divided. There
is nothing therefore in the word sect
to justify the use the poet has made
of it
ssSlaye to no sect, who takes no private
road;
But looks through nature up to natures
God"
But did not Christ pray for unity
in his followers, and if SO, has not
that prayer been in vain, If the sects
are parts of his Kingdom? Let us
look into this. Christ's Kingdom
differed from those Of the world, IN
that it was an empire of love and not
of force. A new commandment l.
give unto you THAT We love n an
other" It's popularity was not that
it should be guided by bishops or
assemblies or congregations, or that
it should be a close corporation inves-
ted with power to ~perpetuate its ofh-
GERS and existence; but that 1t should
be entrusted to those that loved him
and one another. The grand charter
of the God-given authority of his
Kingdom to bind and loose runs thus
at its end, "For where two or three
are gathered together in my name
there am | in the midst of them
Two or three are small numbers but
these with Christ are the God-ap-
pointed quorum for legislation and
execution in all affairs pertaining to
his Kingdom. This view of spiritual
government is'common to the sects
Even the Presbyterians describe s
church to be a body Of professor:
voluntarily associated for worship
and government, and Wesley declar
ed that the Methodist church was ,
society of men having the form o
goodness, united III order to pra,
together, to receive the word of ex
h~ortation and to watch over one an
other in love. Many similar ~referen
ces might be made but it is scarcel.
necessary to introduce them, sine
Gods employment Of many varie'
civil agencies in his temporal govern
ment of man fully justifies the cor
clusion, that his spiritual Oversight
and guidance of him is through reli
gious associations suited to his chang
ing conditions, and constituting bu
one Kingdom. Moreover. each sec
regards itself as supreme under Go
over the portion of the Kingdol
committed to it. Each adopts il
form of governments, declares il
ordinances and methods and decide
who is to administer and receive then
That a body of Christians shout
commence a new church is not SUI
prising in view of the foregoing. /
taking such a step they are in II
direct line of precedent, and are 70
lowing examples that have been s.
and sustained. Surely none of IL
old sects will deny to a new one
rights and privileges they have bee
and are still exercising as professir
followers of Christ. To do so wou
undermine their highest, il not the
only. authority for separate exis
ence but at the same time it is a
tonishing in this age of Christie
enlightenment, and in this protestaI
bnH SeCtaiiaiiS Ouh'iJ tnhe SSE''
If more acceptable, a part Of t
visible kingdom of Christ, should 6
tempt to justify its arrogating to
self IN any way. The exclusive pc
session of all the spirituality, powe
and privilege of that kingdom, on 8
count of the peculiar forms of
doctrines and ceremonies. Such
attempt cannot be successful, |
cause: 1st. 1t cannot be proven
ceptaby to the general public tn
Christ ever contemplated such
monopoly of grace by any part of
people. End. If such a thing cor
be done, it would go far to confiI
the claim to infalIibility that has be
set up. Since to no perfect body
Christians could such a claim be {
MED. What it becomes q 81
to do is to hear the fruits of
spirit, which are these, Glove, j
peace, long suffering, kindness, go'
ness ~faithfulness, meekness, temp
ance, self-coEtrol.' The Master
appointed this test, "By their fri
We shall know them" Without 81
fruits there can be no perman,
success; but with them any sect
of the church, however small, Il
be certain that it will be universe
respected. A sect bearing 81
fruits needs no other viudicati
Without spiritual frultfulness ass
ton and argument are vanities. y
FROM WHAT we "a learn, we ju'
that Smith, now in Jail for burgla
ing DIR. French's house, is not gu
of any intent to do q criminal
As soon as he is able to travel
should be turned loose. Some adv
a blue ribbon and money enough
get out of town, might be presen
"