Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-10-09

sHufCu, WHICH should De C0alr
Rcterized by unity (4:1-16l; e
eond, the walk of the indf
Tidual Christian, which should be .
walk of purity (4:17-5:21); third. the
walk of the family, which should bs
characterized by loving submission
and service (~5:22-6:9). The differences
between the two main divisions of this
epistle may be stated thus: in ths
nrst, the church is presented as an or
ganism which God alone sees; in the
second, the church is set forth as an
organization such as God would have
the world see.
Looking now for a moment at ti,a
church as characterized by unity, we
notice three trios of unities. First
there are those specific virtues which
secure and maintain the peace and
unity OF the church they are IowIt
ness, meekness. long-suffering and for
bearance, and love.
The lowly Saan is one who is not
always clamoring for his rights bur
Is willing at times and where occasion
requires to yield those rights for the
welfare Of others; he is, In other
words, the man of humble and IowIy
spirit. Where this spirit is found In
any church, unity prevails; its alb
sence means friction.
The meek nan is the man who
thinks as little of his personal claims
as the humble man does of his per-
sonal merits; he gladly gives place {
others and is willing to take the low
est room. How many seeds of strife
and roots of bitterness would be de-
stroyed il this miud were In US alI.
Selfimportance and love of ONCE, and
a craving for applause and leading
places, mars the unity and peace OF
the church.
The long-sufferingI man is he who ia
not harsh or censorious or Impatient
in his dealings with those who are
weaker than himself and who have not
yet reached his attainment. He is
forbearing with the weaknesses and
faults of others and does not cease to
love or interest himself IN his neigs-
Dor, even though he has faults and
weaknesses.
There is ext presented to us those
fundamental unities on which the
unity of the church is based. namely.
one body, one spirit. n hope: one
Lord. n faith. one baptism; one God
3ver all, through all, in all.
The church is one body. This Is
The teaching Of Scripture. At the time
Of his conversion every believer was
baptized by the holy spirit into the
body of Jesus Christ. One spirit. the
holy spirit, permeates all its members.
Indeed, only spirit-quickened men be-
long to the real church which is the
body of Jesus Christ. There is n
hope of our calling, that is, friendships
with Christ who is the one object and
inspiration of our hope; one object.
to realize, likeness to Christ. one
prize to win. the crown of life. Are
we not going to the same heaven, and
looking for the same Lord? The one-
ness OF aim of believers makes unity
and fellowship a glorious reality. Then
the church is in reality one, and
church unity is really a fact. There
may be many denominations, yet one
body; many stars, and one star differ
ing from another in glory, yet one
radiant sky; many regiments. each
its own uniform and cclors. u one
great army; many folds, but one flock:
many creeds, but faith: many nc
cents, but one common language:
many ways of doing things. but n
motive.
Here then is a true unseen unity
which binds together all believers in
the Lord Jesus Christ, and shall we
say that an outer unity of organtzs-
ton is impossible? Who will dare
say that? We would be sorry to see
the handwriting of the church affixed
to such a conclusion.
Shall we deem impossible an enter
prise which secular societies are &C.
complishing every day? Tell it not in
Gath, publish it not in Ascalon, that
a unity which the order of freemason-
nv and the brotherhood of locomotive
engineers have succeeded in attain
ing by voluntary effort and under no
stronger force than sympathy and a
sense of common need-that such a
unity has been declared impossible to
he church of Jesus Christ. The vision
may come. If 1t tarry, let us wait for
it, but meanwhile let US rest assured
of one thing, that the real church OF
Jesus Christ is one body, is permeated
by one spirit, and has one hope OF her
calling. -.