promise to the Church1 and the world, is countenanced and cherished by the present generation of believers, concurs with other facts to distinguish the nineteenth century from a long series of its predecessors. I concede that in every period since the first schism in the Church of Christ, there have been good men of various communions who have deplored the evils of division, and lifted up a voice of strength in earnest rebuke of the spirit of sectarianism, and fervently implored the great Founder to re-melt, and re-unite, and re-mould the alienated fragments. But, in our day, this interest is not confined to a few; it is felt, deeply and solemnly, by the great majority of the truly spiritual, the working class of every evangelical denomination.

The causes which have contributed especially to awaken such attention to this important subject, may doubtless be found in certain great facts which happily distinguish our times from all that have preceded them since the martyrdom of the Apostles;-such as the enlarged effusion of the Holy Spirit, who is preeminently the "Repairer of the breach, the Restorer of paths to dwell in;" the prevalence of religious revivals,

1 I shall often use the term Church in its broad acceptation, as denoting the whole body of professed believers, irrespective of their distinctive names.

which are always, so far as they are genuine, conducive to Christian affection and concord; the efforts of all evangelical denominations to convert the heathen to Christ a service in which they practically ascertain the importance of agreement and coöperation; and the increased acquaintance of different sects with one another, resulting from their frequent assemblage and familiar intercourse in voluntary associations, where they have learned to hold in courteous abeyance their distinctive peculiarities, and, taking their high position, side by side, on the broad maximum of agreement, to be fraternal co-workers in a common enterprise. The practical tendencies of the age have given to the question a practical form; and, while thousands have concurred in both feeling and opinion that something ought to be done to restore union, - that union which the Saviour commanded, and for which he prayed,

the general inquiry has been,

and still is, what? What should be done? What can be done? The object is good; is it attainable? Much has been said and much written,not all, perhaps, the wisest, or the best adapted to accomplish the cherished purpose, yet, all indicative of a painful conviction that somewhere there is flagrant wrong, and that it is high time the wrong should be sought out, and, like the

dross that hinders fused metal from welding, be put forever away.

It is no part of my design to examine the theories which have been advanced upon this subject, or to propose any specific plan of my own for the reunion of the dismembered body of Christ. My object is rather to explain what I suppose to be the union at which all Christians should aim; to point out some of the evil effects of disunion; to suggest reasons why we should do all we can, consistently with faithful allegiance to Christ, to promote the union of all his disciples; and to indicate methods by which we may aid in the production of so important a result. I shall not intermeddle with the cherished principles or the polity of any denomination of Christians, but shall endeavor to confine myself to matters which are extraneous to whatever any sect may regard as fundamental to its own ecclesiastical organization. My present concern is more with the spirit of sect, than with its constitution, or creed, or discipline.

And may the Holy Spirit, "from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed," so inspire and direct as that there shall be no violation of that great melting, combining principle, the charity which "rejoiceth in the truth," and is "the bond of perfectness."

I.

THE UNION THAT IS DESIRABLE.

THE Saviour required his disciples to be united, and for their oneness he prayed. Can there be any diversity of opinion as to the extent of his meaning, when he said, "One is your Master, even Christ, and ALL YE are brethren?" Or, when he said, "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be ONE FOLD, and one shepherd?" Or, when he said, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another," and enforced the requirement by proposing his own example as the model for our imitation,-"As I have loved you, that ye also love one another?" Or, when he prayed with touching earnestness, "That they may be one, even as we are; I in thee, and thou in me, that they may be made PERFECT IN ONE: neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on me through their word; that they ALL may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be ONE IN US?" The idea of union which dwelt in his

mind, while uttering such language, is unquestionably the idea which ought to exist, unmodified, in our minds, and in accordance with which we should faithfully shape our whole spirit and conduct. The Saviour foresaw and appreciated the mischiefs that would result from the divisions and alienations and strifes of his professed followers; and he as perfectly understood the benefits which would accrue, both to themselves and to a perishing world, provided they would affectionately coöperate in their Master's service. Hence the frequency and the earnestness with which he referred to this point, and the diversified methods which he adopted to impress upon his people the importance of remaining undivided.

The kind of union that is to be desired and sought, may be seen in the primitive Churches, not, indeed, in absolute perfection, but in the best form that has ever been exhibited. After the number of disciples had greatly increased, so as to be counted by thousands, it is testified of them, and much to their credit, as well as to the honor of Christianity, that "The whole multitude of them that believed were of ONE HEART, and ONE SOUL." No one doubts that they kept "the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace;" that they had "one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism; that they were to a degree never since surpassed,