The true northerner., 1898-01-05
Mr.. Bates Again.

InI. DdIcS Akdin.
Mr. EDIToR-rwo questions in the
two articles seem tO demand further
notice:
First: What shall do To he savedg
Sinner" says some say they are justi-
fled by faith, and implies that this is
different from what Paul said lie will
find, il he will read Heb. / g that these
words are used in the same sense. So
far as doing is concerned, that grows
out of our believing. | believe | can
raise crop of corn and SO plant the
seed. The merchant believes he can
sell goods and SO buys them. Ii we can
get people to believe, we will risk the
doing. We may have to explain the
method of doing as we would explain
how To plant corn; but the heart that
believes will do. The doing will in
clude the whole of life's work; see John
1l:27, Acts S:37, Rom. 10:lO. Until
there is complete, full acceptance of
Christ rs a personal savior, which is
the true idea of belief or faith, there
can be no union with HIM, and with
out Him we can do nothing
Second: Reasons for and reasonable
ness OF different denominations:
A very short text tells the story, 1--WE
know in part" Knowing but in part,
with our different ttemperaments, educa.
tion and surroundings we do not all see
all of the same part, and SO reach diff
ferent conclusions This gives rise to
different schools of medicine, different
secret societies, the desire for different
breeds OF horses, cattle sheep, etc. 1t
would be exactly as reasonable to de-
mand that the citizens of Paw Paw
should get together and decide what
breed of horses was the best, and all be
required To use only that one breed, as
for the churches to decide which was
the best and have only that
have two horses, a gray and a bay,
and | do sometimes hitch them together
with one driver, just as the Baptist
churches did, but | have never under
taken To combine them into one horse
or even to put one harness on them both
at the same time.
1t would be as sensible for man To
refuse to buy horse when he needed
one because there were different breeds,
as for a man to refuse to become a
christian because there are different
churches. While these different views
and practices exist, we believe each one
can work better in harness fitted than
To undertake IA general mixing of horses
and remodeling of harnesses.
Inquirer" brings out the fact of
these different views when he asks the
churches To get together and agree on
all the details of church work and then
allow him to believe as he pleases.
| History shows that the advent of new
denominations has generally resulted
in truth and members. Note Luther
and the Wesleys. They also inspire
each other to increased activity in the
work Again they act as balance
wheel To each other, modifying each
others views and practices so that to.
day they are much nearer alike in their
views and much more charitable in
their differences than they were fifty
years ago.
Let us look at the matter in Paw Paw
from the standpoint of accommodation
One writer suggests that the five
churches be merged into two. Suppose
we doit. Dispose of three churches and
let the pastors go to selling hardware
or groceries. | think the two largest
ones would seat the usual congregations
at the present, but what would be done
with the great influx of inquirers who
would be seeking admittance because
OF the union of the churches? They
would have to go and form new de-
nomination and build new house or
/ stay out in the cold. l. Z. BATES.