The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-12-15

called him in question: "But when
l saw that they walked not uprightly
according to the truth of the Gospel,
I said unto Peter before them all, If
thou, being a Jew, Invest after the
manner of Gentiles, and not as do
Jews. why compellest thou the Gen.
tiles to live as do the Jews?" Gal.
ii, IA.
This was tremendous charge of
duplicity on the part of Peter. Cony-
bear and Howson boldly declare that
"Peter was acting under the influence
of contemplate and sinful motive,
the fear of man; and his behavior
was giving strong sanction to the
very heresy which was threatening
the existence of the church, life
of st. Paul. vol. l. p. 223. Paul does
not record Peters defence. Generally
Peters conduct was bold, but he was
more or less governed by constitu-
tional timidity, as portrayed in his
terror when he attempted to walk up
on the sea, and in the denial of his
Master.
If there was want of uniformity
among the Apostles, and the beloved
John could desire to call down the
thunders of the heavens, too much
must not be expected when men are
given W more to the strengthening
of sects than the love of man. Mole
hills must not be magnifed into
mountains. If sect lays particular
stress on apostolic authority and
closes its pulpit against Christian
clergymen, or will prohibit the sweet
remembrance of the life and teach
ings of the Saviour of man in that
ceremony instituted for all who love
him, because they have not been i'm
mersed in water, that is no reason
why the Christian should grow weary
in we'll doing, or faint by the wayside.
These are incidents of intolerance,
which under the sunlight of Gods
love must melt away.
The True Union.
1 do not object to the building up
of sects, nor of that rivalry which is
permeated with love. Bnt we are too
apt to look at our points of divergence
instead of our fundamental agree
ments. In what really constitute the
essentials of Christianity there is a
wonderful unity of opinion. There
is an innumerable host which has not
a clear conception of primitive doc
trines. The doctrine of the New
Birth, or the birth from above is an
undefnable spiritual gymnastics to
too many sincere Christians. The
beloved John declares that "every
one that lovsth is born of God," I.
Jno. iv. 7. "Whosever believeth that
Jesus is the Christ is born of God. :.
For whatsoever is born of God over
cometh the world; and this is the
victory that overcometh the world,
even our faith" l. Jno. v, l, 4.
There is a general movement all
along the line to make better men
and better women; and that if we
want morality to be developed and
practiced, it must be governed or
controlled by the highest express
sion of religion. The harsh dogmat-
ism of the part is giving way to the
doctrine of Gods love to man, and
mans love and reverence for his
Creator. We are all agreed that
Christians must be born of the spirit,
the spirit of love, of gentleness, of
kindness, and believing that love
never fails.
In the building up of the religious
character, the development and train
ing of the intellect and the improve
ment of society, we can work in one
great Christian Union, provided we
can bring ourselves to the great truth
however repugnant it may appear to
our minds, that our sect does not
possess all there is of Christianity.
If this is fully appreciated we can the
more fully understand that it is re-
quired of man "to deal justly, to love
mercy and to walk humbly before
God"
GREENvILLE, o.
MORITES AND HITTITES