Nevada County picayune., 1889-07-31
RELIGIOUS COLiIMN.
Edited by .. GEO. A. GARDNER
UNITY OF DOCTRINE.

spirit is obligatory, but where is the 1 man who contends for unity of doc Urine? Many go so far as to claim that the division of the Christian church into numerous sects and de- nominations is a positive blessing to the human family. Our beloved Master evidently did not endorse this view of the matter; for he says emphatically that "a house divided against itself can not stand and i'll His remarkable microscopy prayer, He prays earnestly for the unity of his followers. The Apostle Paul, too, rebukes sharply hls Corinthian brethren for their divisions, exhort- ing them to be of the same mind, and to speak the same thing.
 In every other thing but religion men are allowed great latitude of opinion and theory; indeed, diversity of opinion, and sometimes contrariety of theory on other lines, is unavoida- ble in our present imperfect state; but the case is far different when we approach the sacred precincts of theology and endeayor to formulate the creed by winch our lives are to be governed. Here we tread on hal- lowed ground; here we find the doctrine revealed to us from above here we all have the same infallible spirit for our Teacher, and we are assured that He will lead us into the way of all truth. So, with one text t-book, and one infallible Teacher, we sit as humble disciples at the feet of our dear Master, and learn the truth as it is in Jesus. We learn that the Scriptures were given by inspiration and are profitable for doctrine" as we'll as for reproof, correction and instruction in right eousness."
 Now, unity of doctrine is essential to unity of spirit; there can be no thorough and perfect concord and harmony without agreement ill doo- trine: flor how can two walk together except they be agreed" and how can diverse and conflicting doctrines produce that unity of spirit and brotherly love without which all our pretensions to religion are as sound ing brass or tinkling symbal. Why Is it that there Is no unity and fellow ship between Catholics and Protes- tants, between Calvimsts and Armin- ians, between Immersionists and anti nti-Immersionists, between Jews and Christians? The answer is, be- cause of radical differences of doc urine; and the absence of true unity is in exact proportion to the degree and strength of their doctrinal differ ences. Hence we see at once the necessity for doctrinal unity, as that IS the only true basis of unity of the spirit.
 Amid all the seeming antagonisms there is wonderful unity of doctrine in the Bible. From Genesis to Reve- lations, although many of the books were written at wide intervals of time from each other, yet there is no material discrepancy, no real antago- principles. And when we come to examine the Apostolic churches, their doctrine as recorded in the Acts and in the Epistles is character ized by the same wonderful unity. When the Apostle Paul wrote his Ipicllt bO iliS iNoilulS, dii lut Dt- lievers and Christians at Rome were included in his Catholic and soul stirring letter The same may also be affirmed of his Epistles to the Corinthians, as well as of all his other epistles. The church was then : a unit in doctrine, just as it ought to be to-day. The divisions of the church since Apostolic times have been one of the chief means of re- tarding the success of the Gospel l and the world will never be fully 1 eyangelized until the general church | shall harmonize their differences, march under the same banner and | proclaim the same sou-saying doe trines.
 Each one in his sphere may con tribute to this glorious result by the cultivation of broad Catholic spirit, and by sincere effort to promote the unity of doctrine and spirit.
 SAW MILL AND GIN.-I have a new .I.,... T