Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-03-19

be blended into one, and thus form tn
light OF day. So experience has show
that all christians when viewed no
from their points of difference. but from
their points of resemblance. are one
Mans prismatic intellectual indiosyncra
cies separate the rays OF truth, Thei
christian experience combines them int
one ray, continuing in itself the numbe
of perfection-th the seven-fold gifts ant
graces of the holy spirit
Men have looked at the points OF dif'
ference among christians, and have heit
up the divisions of the church as re-
proach to the christian name. Unity
meaning visible unity, it is said, is marx
of the true church. The true church
is not to be found among so many sect!
distinguished by theological differences
and separate church polty. Such per
sons look only at the surface of things
What is true unityr Is it simply ar ag-
gregation of dead masses or bodies
Joined by some external bond which they
ctnnot break? Does it not rather consist
in common experience-mutual sympa"
thy, common life devoted to common
end2 And this unity does exist in the
church of Christ. There are many types
and phases of christian life, but there are
no contradictions. There are many
christian denominations in the world ex-
hibiting great variety of these types
and phases and emphasizing particular
doctrines, but notwithstanding this
variety of doctrinal belief, the COM
mon christian consciousness has
looked beyond these differences and
found brethren in every communion
of the church Catholic. The world
would consider christians very unjust, if
in view of the strifes of political parties,
they should denounce all these parties as
destitute of love of country, and it would
think rightly, for these parties are in re-
ality the outcome of love of country.
They differ as to means, but they possess
tian church, beneath the loquaciousness
of sectarianism there is the unity of the
common christian experience. 1t was
for this invisible, yet deep and real unity,
the Savior prayed, and He prayed not in
vain To promote this unity is the duty
of every christian. To do this, it is not
necessary to break down denominational
barriers and incl ude our christians in one
ecclesia stcal union. This is an Eutopean
scheme. Gould it be carried into effect
it would tend to multiply discussions.
The best way to promote christian unity
is by each denomination laboring to ad-
vance the gospel occording to its own
Yet it is simply ridiculous for
any communion to claim that 1t holds a
of scripture truth. A soldier
may love his own regiment, and ought to
take pride in seeing it the best drilled
and most efficient in the whole army, but
that is mo reason why he should claim
that this one regiment of his is the army,
while all others are enemies in disguise.
AS we study the signs of the times we
easily discover growing spirit, not sim
ply of liberation, but of warm all>em-
Dracing love and fellowship, and hence |
.hough the number of sects has not di |
sectarianlsm has certainly de- |
LINED. 1t is becoming more and more |
obvious, that men are begsnning to real~ |
re that they may with perfect consist
,ncy love their own church, and yet love
christians more, because they love
Christ most of all. 1t is not merely ar
ificial or constrained union that is need
ID. If any christian denomination has
reason for its existence 1t is not loyal
o the truth to ignore that reason. Yet
esting ina common Saviour, and res
oicing in common hope. we feel that
for true christian unity does
ot prevent diversity, and this diversity
J not destructive of unity,
Let us then, while we glory in belong>
ng to our own particular battalion of the
rand army of Heaven, glory still more
4 that we are christians, and with the
1ve of Christ, shed abroad in our hearts,
ise above all sectarian barriers and ex-
ending our sympathies to those of other
examinations be ready to say with the
aptain of our salvation: "Whosoever
oeth the will of my Father in Heaven
le same is my brother and my sister.
THE POWER OF THE TONGUE.
Rev. W. s. Marquis preached a sound
ractical discourse in the Broadway
hurch last evening on''The Power of the
'ongue". His text was from Proverbs
5:21:.
Death and Life are in the Power of the Tongue
Id they that Love it shall eat the fruit Of it.
The book of Proverbs, Mr.. Marquis 1
poke of as the safest manual for guild
nee in business life. He then alluded to
lie reference to the tongue made in the
ook Of Proverbs, showing that it is a II
inject recognized as Of prime impo rt- I
nee, and that it deserves q prominent place {
any treatise on conduct. The tongue
iHdeed little member, but it boast
ii great things. st. James liknes it to t
lie helm of great ship-a compari>
vely little and concealed feature Of the {
,ip's machinery, yet there are none
Iore important, for with it the pilot guides