DISTURBING ELEMENT.
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THEBible is not the disturbing element, or property that prevents fusion, for all the sects have the Bible, speak well of it and commend it. They all bold the Bible in common. It is well received among all denominations. The Bible is not, then, the divisive element, or the repellent property among them that renders fusion impossible.
The Lord is not the repellent element, or property that prevents fusion, for they all speak well of him. Indeed, they all claim to have him with them and to love him.
The Holy Spirit is not the disturbing element, or property, for they all speak well of him, and claim to love him and to have him dwelling in them.
What, then, is the repellent property among them that prevents fusion, or union? It is this very pet, dear and precious creature that they all press to their hearts, guard so sacredly, and love so dearly, and hold on to as to life itself—denominationalism. This is the element, the corroding element, the foreign property, that will not fuse. It is constitutionally a rebel against union. It is antagonistic and repellent. What is it that makes the denomination? It is that which is peculiar to it. It is not the Bible that makes a Methodist, nor the love of the Bible, nor anything in it, for the Presbyterian has theBible, loves it, and all that is in it, as well as the Methodist. It does not make him a Methodist. It is not the Lord, for the Presbyterian receives the Lord as fully as the Methodist, and the Lord does not make him a Methodist. It is not the Holy Spirit, for all the first Christians received the Holy Spirit, and they were not Methodists; there never was a Methodist before John Wesley.
What, then, is it that makes the Methodist? It is simply that which is peculiar to Methodists, and that which is not received by a Presbyterian. What is it that makes a Presbyterian? That which is peculiar to Presbyterians, and not received by Methodists. Why, then, can not Methodists and Presbyterians fuse into one mass, or unite? Because the Methodists will not give up Methodism, that which is peculiar to Methodists; and the Presbyterian will not give up the Presbyterianism, or that which is peculiar to Presbyterians. That which is peculiar, makes the denomination; it is the disturbing element in the way of fusion, or union, and that must be given up, or union can never take place.
The Lord prayed that those who believe may be one, that theworld may believe. This denominationalism is the very element in the way of union, or the cause of division, and division is in the way of the world believing, or a main cause of the world not being converted. The way is now opened for carrying the Bible into all the world and turning the world to God. Shall that ever be done, or shall our power be expended in sending denominations into the countries now open for the one pure and holy religion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Or, canwe not now, under the influence of the love of Christ, receive the one religion of the New Testament and nothing else; unite on it, and carry it to Italy, and every other country now in Divine Providence, opened up for the reception of King Jesus? What need we care for denominations? The body of Christ, the church of the Living God, the kingdom of God, is denomination enough for a man who loves the Savior; and the Book of God, containing the law of God and the gospel too, is creed enough for all who sincerely love our Lord Jesus, the Christ. What a grand and glorious work could be performed, if, all in good earnest in the work would unite under God, put their hearts into the work and determine to push the cause of Christ, the gospel of the grace of God, the kingdom of God, through the world. We have one book, a book no where in doubt—the volume of God, the Bible, and, can all with one heart, and one soul, push it through the world, enforce it on men to read it, teach it to others, and make it the great power in the earth, to break down and wipe out Romanism; to sweep away all pagan gods, temples, and altars, and all sectarian denominations, and unite all the friends of the Lord under Prince Messiah; let him go before them, lead and guide them forever and ever. What is a mere denomination, separated from others by some peculiarities not mentioned in the Bible, nor received by any other party on earth, compared with what the Lord styles, “my church,” Matt. xvi. 18; the body of Christ; the kingdom of God, containing all the people of God? This is what we have in our view; we will go for nothing less than the body of Christ, the kingdom of God. It is of God, the denomination is of man.