The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-15
MI FOR ONE CAUSE.
BY REV. JOEL swARTz. D. D.
MANY THE WORKERS ONE THE woR

By REV. JOEL SwARTz, d. d.
MANY THE WORKERS ONE THE WORK.
God never devolves either the labor
or responsibility Of any great worl
upon one single person. There arr
leaders. indeed. and often these are o.
such commanding presence ard power
that we easily forget that they have fol
lowers without whore presence and CO.
operation the leadership would be as
head without a body. Ii leaders ar,
indispensable 10 plan. contrive and di.
rect. the following Of the multitude a.
hands and feet TO give execution TO the
counsels ard purposes of the wise Il
equally indispensable. He who is most
able to counsel and direct il certain to
be most deeply sensible Of his depend.
ence upon those who are his suboidi-
mates and helpers.
In proportion. too. as leader can
appreciate and applaud the services OF
his equals and ordinates in great
work and speak of aud rejoice in their
success AID honor without envy. jeal-
ousy or di.paragement. in that proper
ton does he viudicate and establish hi
right and claim 10 be at the head and
command. In no one thing do, again.
the great captains just named more
tirmly estlbllsh the claims Of superiorit,
now So generally accorded them than
by the abserce from their writing. OF
OF those bitter jsalousies and harsh
judgments CD be found in the utterance-
of their real interiors when reviewing
the actions of the2ssCciates 10 arms. In.
stances OF the weakness Of the latter
class are abuu liant ard could easily be
adduccl.
The imreriectly instructed and par
italy sauctiii, Il Corinthians Who ranged
themselves under Paul, Apollo-, and
Cepha-. filed Tine churcn with wrauglcs
an .cii-n attic sirifcs. but Tie leaders
after whom they called themselves, and
in whose lOuor lhey deemed them
selves To- be contcndIug. lad none OF
thee ccnttutiors and iealousie-, and
only felt gritved at beho,ding this I'M
wise and parii.an zeal. PaOl was large
enough TO ri ice that Christ was
preached, even when it was done
i'm strife and contention. and with
purpos. ct adding ;nl.ciion to hi,
bonds. Never does he appear greater
That many who have followed him aud
were also great, good and wise, but
were not tall enough to take his broad
and commanding outlook over the field
of their associates in the same work.
but bscame JEALOUS OF those who did
their work somewhat differently. have
thus given proof of imperfect Chris
tan knowledge and grace, IS sadly Wit
messed by the many intolerant cOntro-
yorsies In which they indulged. and the
schismatic tendencies which they gem
Grated and peIpetuated. One cannot
out admire the simple faith. sublime
courage and patient lab)rs and suffer
ipg- OF tie sixteenth century Reform
ers. but also ore cannot help deplor-
ing the Intensely cOmbative temper
Of these eminent servants Of God in
their theological discussions among
themselves and q T. calam.tOus divisions
thence resulting aud perpetuateI TO
this day. IL Is not ours to censure them
or abalc one i)t Of praise due them for
their iuestimable services. Perhaps by
the very -pirit of their age they were
kept back from that fellowship which
We now see was impossible as ii WAS de-
sirable. But instructed and admon-
i-hed by them Is il not timely aud well
that while accepting the fruit of their
labor, we reject the often thorny and
bristling capsules in which 1t has been
crown aud delivered TO IL. Have we
not at least Learn these few things:
1. That minute and exact agreement
in the details Of an extended doctrinal
system is not essential to the unity of
spirit in the bonds of peace. 10 fellow
shipa cooperation IN Christian work p,
Can we not. as far as we have already
attained, Low agree 20 walk by the
same rule and mind the same things,
and ii we be differently minded as to
other things. wig not wait in love aud
patience until the Lord reveals even
these things to Us
>. That the things IN which the va
rious Protestant families agree are 80
much more important than the things
in which they differ, that q more low
ing and patient comparison OF the for
mer. with less emphasis upon the latter,
is the true and sure way to attain all
necessary agreementand avoid all v eak
ening ami hindenng divisions. DIVER
sites OF gifts. differences of admins
trations, divers works and offices under
the operation OF the self-same spirit,
has been the divine order from the be-
ginning. and will be as long as one star
dinerelh from another star in glory.
JUDGE NOT.