Year: 1878

We are coming again TO days of doubt
and difference among religious teachers.
Wide chasms are opening between ministers
and between churches As much as we may
shrink from it, we must have to do with
brethren who have departed from the faith
of the standards. Variances in belief and
teaching have appeared in some of our pres
byteries, so wide and irreconoilable, that
they must be noticed. Not to do it is to
open the door for any departures which may
be in the future of religious thought. Not
to notice the marked deviations from ortho-
doxy, which are daily appearing, will put
the church in position of growing embar
rassment


Truth and honesty exact jealous care
for our standards of belief. The world is
wide enough for worldwide oppositions and
contradictions. But no church can stand in
any conscious unity or strength unless it has
some creed by which it is distinguished
All this is plain enough.


But as these departures come to light they
involve questions of great delicacy. They
appear as wedges inserted in the very core of
church life and social life. What shall we do
with these wedges Different answers come
Drive the wedges" say some, "and let the
split run where it will. You are bound to
do it. First pure, then peaceable, is the
apostles direction. You must contend earn
estly for the faith and accept the conse-
quences." In this tone many letters are
written. There is a great pressure upon the
wedges. And there is truth in all this. But
enormous mischief has come in years past
by misapplying the words of st. James. It
is very certain that the passage referred to
(James iii 10 does not teach us to attack
those whom we think to be in error with
unloving criticism. The text has no pri-
mary reference to creed. Conduct is in the
writer's mind Personal purity is the pri-
mary law of Christianity. This once es-
tablished will work itself out towards all
men in peace, genteness, consideration,
charity and honesty.


The problem is how to vindicate our fidel-
ity to truth, and yet maintain charity. 1t
is very certain that Christ has often been
wounded by contention in the house of his
friends. 1t has been attempted to subject
errorists to discipline, and the result has
been sad havoc in the church. 1t may be
assumed that purity in doctrine should be
coupled with charity, and if possible with
peace.


At the same time quiet, peace-loving men
may not be suppressed by the cry of charity.
Some of our new departure men make much
of their courage in saying what they think.
1t is even limited that many think likewise,
but dare not come out 1t is only a fair ill.,
ference from this that they who hold lovingly
to the old paths have similar rights Of cour-
age and honesty.


If some of the brethren see their way to
preach Universalism in orthodox pupits
they must not take it unkindly if their CO.
presbyters are very outspoken in expressing
their disapproval and their grief. 1t comes
then to this, that lovers of the truth owe it
to themselves, to the church, to Christ, to
declare their condemnation of error. Let it
be done in all frankness and charity; let it
be done with consideration of all alleviating
circumstances.


Bat let error be met with truth. Let
boldness of uttering another gospel be en-
countered with equal boldness in defence of
the truth. Thus as truth and charity shall
control we may hope always to be at once
pure and Observation-Disclosures.