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ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments; as the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forever."

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Not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth: comparing spiritual things with spiritual.— Paul.

SECTION 1.

Opening of the subject.

Those who have glanced through the preceding pages, pained no doubt at the gloomy pictures of human nature which they present, will reciprocate with us the pleasure, of advancing to the consideration of topics connected with the removal of these evils. We think that specifics may be pointed out, which, if thoroughly tried, would heal all the most considerable wounds of the spiritual family, and thus prepare them, not only for greater happiness among themselves, but for much more efficient action in bringing this world under the reign of Immanuel. If thoroughly tried, is a qualification, however, which may be thought to foreclose the success of any specific that can be pointed out. The exhortation, it may be said, which fabulous history represents to have been continually on the lips of John, when age had deprived him of the ability to say more; "my little children love one another," if reduced to practice, would harmonize all the conflicting interests of the christian world. If christians would also obey the laws of

their religion, requiring them to be less selfish, more candid and open to conviction, and more disposed to receive the truth as it is in Jesus, their divisions would immediately cease. But how shall we induce them to try these specifics? When the remedy is found, if the patient cannot be induced to take it, it is the same to him as if there were none.

The force of objections like these, which we have had in view throughout this work, will be found to rest against all mere appeals to christians to be more lovely, more holy, more affectionate to each other, and less inclined to fan the flames of dissension; considered in the light of means for adjusting their differences. Such appeals must always be ineffectual in accomplishing this result, so long as they interfere with the convictions of duty, in so large a portion of every denomination. Though these persons should approve every word of your appeal,it would not deter them from a single dissensious measure; because they judge, and rigthly too, that it would be treachery and impiety in them, to sacrifice truth, to a peace with those who would effect its overthrow. Hence, we have made few appeals of this kind; nor do we design to, till we have gone as deeply as possible into the merits of the subject, to see whether there are not measures, of which all parties, with their present sentiments and feelings, can approve, which, if legitimately followed up, would produce the consummation so much to be desired.

Though the principle is right, that union is not to be purchased at the expense of important truths, great caution and candor are necessary in its application. Truth is one thing, and general statements in language quite another, the practice of any given church or denomination may, or it may not agree with the records of primitive christianity. All christians, therefore, should prayerfully examine whether the truth, which they feel that it would be wrong to

sacrifice to the purposes of union and brotherly love, is an abstraction from inspired documents; or the identical thoughts expressed by the words of the Holy Ghost; or whether, if it be an abstraction, it fairly and fully give the scope of the divine teaching on the subject to which it relates.

Now, the settlement of such questions as these, to which no protestant denomination can object, would make an appeal to the sources of truth continually necessary. In this way the thoughts of "the words which the Holy Ghost teacheth," instead of being hid behind general statements, would crowd themselves into the front rank, and so would ultimately become, with all parties except those who should array themselves against God and his word, the sole object of their anxious concern and zealous pleading. Hence, the only war that would remain would be between faith and infidelity, the advocates and the impugners of divine revelation. And the sooner our religious wars come to this result, the better. What tremendous power would the spiritual kingdom be able to bring into the field, provided all its resources were turned upon the single point of vindicating that system of faith, which was recorded at the dictation of the Spirit, against those who oppose it? What facilities would it enjoy for a universal triumph over the kingdoms of this world! Creeds, if we must have them, should be frequently resolved into their primitive elements; lest those elements should evaporate and we be found guilty of sacrificing brotherly love to a mere form of words. So far as our knowledge extends, (perhaps it may be different beyond our circle of acquaintance,) there are ninety nine dissensions on account of tenets, that either have no basis in the inspired text, or none of which their advocates have a definite perception; where there is one for positions, either in the language of Scripture, or that contain a perfect reflection of the meaning which that language

conveys. Those who embark in them, seize upon little more than the broad fact that such and such are the lines of our denomination, and these and those positions do not fall within those lines: and of course they feel it to be their indispensable duty to sound the tocsin of dissent, at every expense of brotherly affection.

And, we fear that the feeling by which too many are impelled to this measure, is that of apprehension, that the popular current will set in a direction to leave the ponderous ship, in which their sect has so long sailed, on dry ground. Hence, they rear their dikes and barriers, to make the flow of public sentiment favor their cause. If such be not the influence under which a vast proportion of our dissensions are perpetuated, we utterly mistake the secret springs of human action.

While we say these things, however, we wish it understood, that it is not because we suppose any thing would be gained, by the abandonment of our denominations. What would be accomplished by changing the symptoms of a disease, so long as its predisposing causes remained in full force? While the feelings and sentiments which dispose us to strife, continue, we might change our denomination, or throw ourselves into the ranks of the disaffected, who are alike abhorent to all parties, and yet, not a fraction be gained to the cause of union. There are a number of clans of religionists, now before the public, who are distinguished for nothing, but a most unchristian and audacious assault upon every organization in the world. These characters have but one principle, as the basis of their aggregation; and that, like the disgusting appetite which assembles vultures in the same locality of carrion and filth, is a mutual love of preying upon the imperfections, real or pretended, of their fellow men. The secession of masses of christians from former sects, for any cause except that of a corruption so

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