Evening journal., 1905-11-27


stead It was reorganization, not dis
memberament Through all the cary
christian centuries the organic unity|
OF the church was carefully maintain
ed. The idea of dividing the christians
OF country, c- a community. into sep
arate and Independent churches, acI
cOrd.ng to thair doctrlnal differences
each appointing agencies, general
ing f.ictions and wasting the commonI
resou. ces never occurred to the mind oil
any man. Il was not until a much lated
and less favored period that the church,
began to adopt the sectarian structural
since so largely developed.
Opinions Always Differed.
1t is populary supposed that ou1I
system of denominationism is caused
solely or chiefly by diversity of opinl
/ ions. But diversity of opinion a,waysI
existed. Various schools of thought p-el
vailed within the Jewish church. Id,
the writings of the early church faith
ers YOU can find nearly all the opinions
which divide the churches today, bud
there was no division. Why not? Bel
cause of the principle deeply graver|
in the convictions of all christians, ,tha I
the church is one by reason of her
re alton to Christ, her Head and tina
any organic separation or division o'
THE body which He has made one isl
utterly unlawful and inadmissable Tia
abandonment of this principle. not q
lgreater variety of religious beliefs. il,
the real cause Of modern sectarianism.
The great objection. then, to such dlvi'
siOns as now exist is that they viO'att
1.-THE divine constitution Of the church.
Under the first dispensation the churcl
was one, with one tabernacle. or tenn
pie, one priesthood. one merry seat
The church was then incapable of on
ganic division. That which God 70,
1000 years made mpracticab,e should
forever be deemed unlawful, and thai
unity which He ned so long above thd
possibility of disturbance should havd
been kept sacred from violation foH
{ ever
That true unity is a fundamental law
= Of the constitution of the church II
: proved by the fact that Christ laid
: sufficient foundation for it in the spin
) litual unity of al true believers. Th'
: name given to the church is Ecclesia
5 body called out All who are ''partals
ers of the heavenly calling compos'
r the "Ecc,esia."
, The members Of this spiritual bod
have no difficulty in discovering eacl
other. They have common danger
which they can resist better unite
than divided. They have a common re
, sponsibhity to the community, and TIL
! world, and divided they are not con
i petent to discharge that responsible
= ity. They are called to a holy fellow
ship to which some form of union i
=, Indispensable. The Redeemer has Pre-
vided all that is necessary for hi
/, people for offence and defence, in th
, visible church, and the name He CAV
I to it-Ecclesia-shows of whom He dc
!. signed it to be composed.
Again the Scriptures testify wit
q one voice that genuine unity is fur
! damental law Of the constitution of tn
/, church.
!. I have brought this subject to you
l. reconsideration today. because il is pei
f itinent to the discussions Of the cor
o ference of Evangelical churches now i
@ session In New York. That confesenc
e is a most encouraging sign Of tn
y times. The question is SO far from b'
S ing fully considered that / shall refe
!. to dt nsxt Sunday. If ! mistake not th
s time has come when in self defence W
n must seek an organization which wi
d be indeed the Church of Christ.