Page images
PDF
EPUB

portance of his own peculiar views, he almost overlooks the grand and distinguishing truths of the Bible, in which all true Christians are agreed. On the other hand, there is scarcely one instance out of a hundred, of men whose minds are thoroughly imbued with the truths of science and revelation, being the violent abettors of sectarian opinions, or indulging in party animosities; for, knowledge and liberality of sentiments almost uniformly go hand in hand. While we ought to recognise and appreciate every portion of divine truth, in so far as we perceive its evidence, it is, nevertheless, the dictate of an enlightened understanding, that those truths which are of the first importance, demand our first and chief attention. Every controversy, agitated among Christians on subjects of inferior importance, has a direct tendency to withdraw the attention from the great objects which distinguish the revelations of the Bible; and there cannot be a more absurd or fatal delusion, than to acquire correct notions on matters comparatively unimportant, while we throw into the shade, or but faintly apprehend, those truths which are essential to religion, and of everlasting moment. Every enlightened Christian perceives the truth and importance of this position; and were it to be universally acted upon, sectarian divisions and contentions would soon cease to exist; for they have almost uniformly taken place in consequence of attaching too great a degree of importance to matters of inferior moment.

Were the minds of the members of the Christian church, therefore, thoroughly enlightened, and imbued with the moral principles of the religion of Jesus, we should soon behold, among all denominations, a tendency to union, on the broad basis of re

cognising the grand essential truths of Christianity, which formed the principal subjects of discussion in the sermons of our Saviour and his apostles—and a spirit of forbearance manifested in regard to all opinions on matters of inferior importance. Were this period arrived—and, from the signs of our times, its approach cannot be very distant-it would be attended with a train of the most glorious and auspicious effects. A merging of party differences, and a consequent union of enlightened Christians, would dissipate that spirit of trifling in religion by which so much time has been absorbed in discussing sectarian opinions, to the neglect of the great objects of the 1 Christian faith; for when trivial controversies are quashed, the time and attention they absorbed would be devoted to more sublime and important investigations. It would have a powerful influence on the propagation of Christianity throughout the heathen world; for the whole Christian world would then be=come one grand Missionary Society, whose operations would be conducted with more efficiency and skill, whose funds would be much more ample, and whose Missionaries would be better educated than they now are-and those sectarian differences of opinion, which now produce so many unhappy dissensions, for ever = prevented from disturbing the harmony of converts in distant lands. It would cherish the principle of Christian love, detach it from every unholy jealousy, and render it more ardent and expansive in its philanthropic operations. It would produce a powerful and beneficial influence upon the men of the world, and even upon infidels themselves; it would snatch from them one of their most powerful arguments against the religion of the Bible, and would allure them to the investigation of its evidences, by the ex

hibition it gave of its harmonious and happy effects. It would have an influence on the minds of the Roman Catholics, in leading them to an unbiassed inquiry into the grounds on which the Protestant church is established. At present, when called upon to examine the doctrines of Protestantism, they retort upon us-"You are divided into a hundred different sectaries, and are at variance among yourselves; show us which of these sects is in possession of the truth, and we will then examine your pretensions, and perhaps come over to your standard." It would have an influence on the Jewish people, in removing their prejudices against the religion of Jesus of Nazareth, especially, were it followed, as it likely would be, with a repeal of all those statutes which have imposed upon them disabilities, deprived them of the rights of citizenship, and subjected them to unchristian severities. In short-in connexion with the general manifestation of Christian principle-it would produce a benign influence on surrounding nations, and on the world at large. For a body of Christians, in such a country as ours, formed into one grand association, and acting in harmony, must exert a powerful influence on the councils of the nation; and our political intercourses with other states, being conducted on the basis of Christian principles and laws, would invite their attention to a religion productive of so much harmony and so many beneficial effects. Peace and unity in the church would have a tendency to promote peace and friendship among nations; the cause of universal education would be promoted, without those obstructions which now arise from sectarian prejudices; and a general diffusion of useful knowledge would soon be effected throughout every quarter of the civilized world, till the knowledge of Jehovah

should cover the earth as the waters cover the channels of the seas.

The disunion of the Christian church is not to be perpetual. We are certain, that a period is hastening on, when its divisions shall be healed, when its boundaries shall be enlarged, and when " the name of Jehovah shall be one throughout all the earth." At some period or other, therefore, in the lapse of time, a movement towards such a union must commence. It cannot take place before the attention of the religious world is directed to this object. And why should not such a movement commence at the present moment? Why should we lose another year, or even another month, before we attempt to concert measures, in order to bring about a consummation so devoutly to be wished? The present eventful period is peculiarly auspicious for this purpose; when the foundations of tyranny, injustice, and error are beginning to be shaken; when knowledge is making progress among every order of society; when reforms in the state, and in every subordinate department of the community, are loudly demanded by persons of every character and of every rank; when the evils attached to our ecclesiastical institutions are publicly denounced; when the scriptures are translating into the languages of every tribe; and when missionary enterprises are carrying forward in every quarter of the habitable globe. To attempt a union of all true Christians, at the present crisis, would, therefore, be nothing more than falling in with the spirit of the age, and acting in harmony with those multifarious movements, which are destined to be the means of enlightening and renovating the human race; and at no period since the Reformation could such an attempt have been made with

success.

more sanguine expectations, and greater prospects of All eyes are now turned towards some eventful and auspicious era, when the light of science shall shine refulgent, when abuses shall be corrected, evils remedied, society meliorated, and its various ranks brought into more harmonious association. And shall Christians alone remain shut up in their little homesteads, apart from each other, stickling about phrases, and contending about forms, without ever coming forth to salute each other in the spirit of union, and to give an impulse to the moral machinery that is hastening forward the world's improvement and regeneration? Such a surmise cannot be indulged: it would be a libel on the Christian world, and a reproach on the religion of which they profess themselves the votaries. I trust there are thousands in every department of the church, who are ardently longing to break down the walls of partition, which separate them from their brethren, and anxiously waiting for an opportunity of expressing their sentiments, and of giving the right hand of fellowship" to all who love our Lord Jesus in sincerity.”

In any attempts that may be made to promote this great object, mutual concessions behoved to be made by all parties. One general principle, that requires to be recognised, is this:—that every opinion and practice be set aside, which is acknowledged on all hands to have no direct foundation in scripture, but is a mere human fabrication, introduced by accident or whim; such as, the observance of fast and preparation days previous to the participation of the Lord's Supper, kneeling in the act of partaking of that ordinance, repeating the Athanasian Creed in the regular services of the church, &c. &c. It is a striking and remarkable fact, that the chief points about

« PreviousContinue »