Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-17

the incfenso is constant. the number OF
the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem
greatly" and stranger still, "a great
company OF the priests were obedient TO
the faith" Soon the multitude has
grown SO great that new feature In
the organization appears because
made necessary. And the dcacons
are appointed by the men 70
whom had been given Nv the
King supreme authority in Ills Kingdom.
The predicted persecution is begun. and
;..,. ..- ...,.....u.ss "oid Ut, ond ,nc
limit. th etv whers Il ~suqf frs.
be spoken. Samaria is evangelized. be-
cause the preacher runs thither to escape
the stones which have killed his brother
Stephen, and thus by providential inter-
ney which must be made under the guild
most parts OF the earth" And 300 years
thercafter-mark 1t, only 800 years-the re-
the inspiring faith OF the al-conqucring
Roman The eagles OF the empire which
had defled the holiest place OF the temple
OF Jehovah are no more seen at the head
Of the invincible legions, but In their
Htei0 .Gc Isauar -, t.,. s,.s s.. DeafinS tne
s...n o. iEe Creee 7oi fhr "1crcl mono
gram the name Of Him who died thereon
the temple which death Itself could not
dcfilc Yes. mark IL, in less than 300
years from that day in which Simon
Peter did preach the first sermon the
world ever heard I'm the name OF Jesus;
fr4s t,.4. l1 yn ~ tnc hummer ~ tnr
names together Of believers In Jesus. was
120; the worlds master has bowed IN
worship before the Galiean, the victor
has been vanquIshed. and the Church of
Jesus has made a progress greater per-
haps. in view OF all the circumstances or
her advance, than in all the centuries
which havp succeeded. And the henrt OF
the Christian OF to-day Is troubled. and
the mind OF the Christian OF to-day Is
OF necessity asking the question. Why Is
II so? Why is II for five times 300 years
the kingdom has made so small rela-
tive advance? why has not victory full
and complete pcTched upon our stan
dards? why do not all the nations How
into the Lords House as promised or
old2 Why does not the world believe that
His Father did send our Lord as in HIS
all-prevailing intercession lie did plead!
The answer is given i'm the words OF our
text He prays not that this result for
mon might be accomplished without the
aid and instrumontality Of men by the
immediate and direct interposition OF the
power Of jehovah but he prays that
under the controlling influence or the
Pafaclete. the Comforter. whom He
would send from the Father, all believers
in Him might be one; that so the world
might believe in His true mission from
the Father. THAT they may all be one
how? Manifestly in some sense visibiy
one. for only such unity can be the
agency for the convincing Of the world
round about. ignorant and thoughtless.
THAT they may all be one"-how? AS
God the Father and God the Son are
one. which union must surely be or
ganic. and cannot be consistent with
rivalry and jealousy, with competition
for the favor Of the people. with refusal
to have fellowship in even the one pccu-
liar act Of Christian worship. with waste
ful extravaganza in men and money IN
tho proud endeavor to maintain these
rival organizations in the same town.
Manfostly the Christian unity already
attained cannot be that for which Jesus
prayed. because beyond a question the
result has not been accomplished Tor
which He made our oneness the means.
Unity AMONG CHRISTIANS.
And vet let us not fail to recognize
that there is already unity among
Christians real and appreciablc. ana
thank God that | can add. increasing
There Is unity of the spirit among those
who differ most widely In opinion, In or
ganization, in mode Of worship. Perhaps
Ills to this partial and manned unity that
any progress Of the Kingdom has been
due i'm the centuries which have passed
since the beginning Of sorrows, the rend-
ing of tne oue S10s ny tne proud onlnip"3
of men. This would seem 10 be proven by
the word OF Scripture as also by the IN
crease in missionary zeal and actiViiy
ueious opinion has been measurably
sweotened by the Light of free discussion,
by the touch Of united phiiahthropic
9. lc.srr nrourh 'u- h'hN .'.
ioincd together. and compacted hy that
which every joint suppieth. according 10
the effectual working in the measure OF
.. r, I.F iIU It L'rd 'ra ma y :
Father would operate by the Holy Ghost
10 convince the world OF His own lord
ship and authority: and by that Body.
broken, divided, enfeebed. does this in
babjtlng spirit still effect that the Body
shall make increase into the building up
of itself In love" Broken, divided, en-
feeblcd yet by the power OF the Holy
Ghost the only agent Of any veritabie
growth there has been. and there IS. a
building up Of loving fellowship among
those who call themselves Christians. Let
lis thank God for this. Let us labor ana
pray that this unity of spirit among all
VINO name fn1t rreciJu. naHi" ui~ 81
intensified, But let us not be satisfied
VT. raat WLich J. stu 50 partial 20
disappointing, so inadequate TO accomplish n
tie great work lie has given u To 90.
Because the increase OF splrituai unity
must clear our vision To see more clearly
.lf.Hfg n
fine great dangers. W, are in, by reason
clearly the furious might of our enemy,
and the necessity for all the vantage
winch belongs to us 4 We shall conquer.
Let ms rccocniZ4. let Us reJoiCe in, let
MS emphasize the Christian unity which
docs exist despite all our divisions. Tor
Christian unity must at last lead 10
Church unity. Che visible expression oil
the invisible life: the material agent WHICH
Christ appointed whereby the spirit oil
Grace shall convince the world OF the SIN
Of refusing Him whom the Father dld
send. of the righteousness that Is gone
"a tho Fathers throne whereof all men
NAV share, of the judgment oil
their great enemy who mas Deei
CONQUERED by the King. 1t Is the spirit
that nuickeneth; the flesh prohteth nothlnS
Nh mat Christian men and Christian
teachers WOuIl flloit ihiis iNHh@N ''' 49,
the elaborate completion OF organization
not the methods, new or old, Of evange
us,ic operation: not the chaste beauty D
Cothic architecture; nor the eloquenc'
of tho Dreacher. nor the glorious mar
monies of the artist: nor the sweet sen
euous effect Of the perfectly-appointet
ritual. nor one nor all of these shal
convince the world that His Father di'
send our Lord The Spirit, the constraln
ing SDirit alone can do this mlgh'.
work but, according TO the declaration ol
Jcsus. using as instrument the unit!
of believers, unity, real, ana splri'uai
unity in spirit and in truth, manifeste'
in unity of action. Therefore We hea
tho cxhortation of the greatest apostl
sounding out from the Ephesians dow
tho ages. walk worthy OF the vocatiof
wherewi,h ye are called. With all lowii
ness and meekness: with long suffering
forbearinc one another in love: endeavor
ing 10 keep the unity of the Spirit In tn
bond of peace" Then he adds without III
connecting words there is" inserted b.
our translators. lone body and one spirit.
This is the full, the perfect unity o
the Shirt for which the Master prayed
1 The spiritual life must have visible habi
! ,ation The soul dwellsth not apar
! from the body here on the earth. bti
in the body. So the Holy Spirit, tn
4 a. In. b.a