The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-03
UNION COMMUNION
SERVICE HELD.
DR., Ker's Sermon at the Second
Presbyterian.
AN INSTRUCTIVE DISCOURSE,
T.cv. Dr. Uidcn breaches on the Mean
ing OF the Law-B Bishop Jaeger at
st Paurs- other services in
the Churches sunday.
AN INSTRUCTIVE DISCOURSE.

Tho unicd communion service in inc
Second prcenEf cIldn chnith W"7 "ttehue y
IVA f.rer audience sunday night Among
,,,.. .res.nt were number from Man
.b..fsr and the suburbs The exercises
,..ro participated m by several fresoytc-
,isn .ierrsmcn and Eey. pr IL. u. Kerr.
...f,r of fhr First prcshlterian church.
rra,.nrf tho sermon. iis subject was
christian Unity
THO tezt Was Neither pray 1 for these
alone. lut for them also that snail bee
l.ye ou mc Through their word that they
lid may nc one. as thou. Father, art I'M
me- and 1 in thee. chat they also may be
nue n us. that The world may believe
chat thou sent me- ST. John XVII. 2O-ll.
pr kerr said. in part.
"N0 words OF Christ ever came more
from Dis heart than these uttered in this
bis ono extended recorded prayer ad-
dressed f0 God ON The eve of his crucihX-
ion He prayed that his people might Doe
Kept separate from the world. and that
they might Doe one. this latter as proof
of his divine sonsmp
Now the spiritual church OF God IS
one always BIAS been. and can never boz
divided. because Sc is the body of Christ
81. the Lord must have been praying chat
lIf. of tle church. that the church might
feel 10 and manifest 90 90 the world in iis
visible character The unity OF the people
of cod with one another and with
Christ is the suhlimcst fact existent, ca
Oept the unity of the Godhoad Itself This
oneness arises from The fact that we are
au born of The same Holy Spirit and
united t0 Christ. u ann the vines ye the
branches said Jesus.
THE DIVINE LIFE.
.The principle of unity is the divine
life that rcrVadcs every part and member
of the church The church is not am ore
earlzatiou ass a bundle of fagsots. but
au organism as a vine. OF as Che human
body with many members the body OF
ChIlst-thc church-is n0Urshed by one
bread. and inhabited by one Spirit and
thIs mystical unity can never De de-
st0red.
..Now we have many denominations of
Christians. get we ar. one and ought 10
show &c. The rrandc-t thing that could
happen iu our city would oe "a imled
communion service say Zoo the great Ar
mary liam. of au Christians resident here.
.Tf our Lord Jesus Christ should appear
900 Richmond and announce thot he would
meet al hls followers Boo some designated
place tomorrow nighl what gathering
fner. would ho of people OF a.l dcnom'na-
lions at the appointed hour TO- after au
bad assembled. Christ should announce
Chat ho had called them together for
united communion service would any go
away because off differences OF opinion
with others presont-on form. ceremony.
government 0r d0gml OF any kudf Ger
f.InIr mott Why Because am would feel
fnaf th.l were servants of the King. and
that n0 differences among themselves on
other questions could be sufficient TO jus
rfr dissenting ones seif from his holy
presence
THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST
.Je.us said. .Wheresoever two or three
ara Gathered together ln my name, there
ann boo the midst of them So Christ
is here in the midst W each band of his
followers just ass really ass III we could
sae hlm. and got Christians stand apart
nl f0r various reasons. refuse to one
another the closest Christian fellowship.
Wny9 Because men have set up otAer
f..ts OF church-fehowshi beside the
great principle OF devotion to Christ
Tnat man is servant of Christ should
cntiIe him to amy church fellowship. and
this is the only possible basis upon which
there ever can Doe ans general exhibition
of unity among Christians
"For the lack of "a fuu manifestation
az unity. the world does not know that
there is "a church of the living God, one
great body iu him. Yea. the church her
fa.f does not know 81 except as theory.
and the self-consciousncss OF the church
af the church OF God is MIL
"Thc most magnificent fact in the uni-
verse roxt to God. is tho church. She
contains in herself an the cody who live,
or have lived on earth The saints in
heaven and the saints ON earth are one
body 0f which Christ is thc head.
a GLORIOUS UNITY.
"The glorious unity of the church I'm
Goi. and God 800 the church. is tho most
comprehensive fic, Listen Christ says.
CAS- thou Father art 500 mc. and i in thee,
that they also may Doe one in u.s.. stu
pend0us truth this is where reason and
imaeination stageer. and faith alone can
gaze into its fathomless glory. This unity
D. tho one thing chat shall survive the
wreck Of planets. suns. and time 10 abide
through al eternity world without end.
Amen.
"The disciples were gathered together
with One accord in one place. on the day
II pentecost. when the Holy Ghost was
poured OUT upon them in wonderful man
Hesitation OF power 10 the church of God
Do our day should get together in spiritual
unity. not dissoiping au denomiuatiOnal
ncs. Dot in holy fellowship exhibiting
.o God and men that we are one In life
and spirit the Holy Ghost would be
aoureI out with an abundance and power
mac would shake the world. and furnish
he greatest proof that Jesus Christ Is.
he Son OF Cod.