cordially, really one in Christ, her living, ruling Head. “Clothed with the sun," what will be her influence upon a dark and sterile world? Comprehending within herself, by virtue of her union with her Lord, all the elements of moral might; "endued, as of old, with power from on high;' how rapidly will her conquests be achieved, and the seventh angel be permitted to sound, and great voices be heard on high, proclaiming that "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever!"

10

III.

SOME METHODS BY WHICH OUR OWN DENOMINATION MAY PROBABLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROMOTION OF CHRISTIAN FRATERNITY.

I COME now, dear brother, to the consideration of a branch of my subject that is chiefly practical. Let us again bow together before "the Father of lights," and beseech him, for the Saviour's sake, to bestow upon us liberally that illuminating and sanctifying Influence which alone can lead us into a thorough knowledge of his perfect will, and incline our hearts to do whatsoever may appear to be duty. "The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way."

I suppose that we, as a denomination, may not take it for granted that we are wholly free from responsibility touching the prevalent disunion of Christians, or that we have nothing to do towards the healing of the breaches that have so long and so injuriously divided the people of God. We may not be wrong to an extent that will require a general or even a partial recession from the trusted platform on which our ecclesiastical organizations have so long immovably reposed. As I have not

intermeddled with the fundamental principles of other denominations, so I shall leave ours untouched; and, in pursuing this course, I am influenced, not only by an unwillingness to bring constitutional questions into the discussion, but also by the clear conviction, that, until some previous matters shall have received careful attention, not one of the denominations will be prepared even to examine specific plans of union. Such plans have already been proposed; but, as they have generally commenced with the assumption that the proposing party is right and the others are wrong, they have necessarily failed to win general favor; and this uniform failure, together with some acquaintance with human nature, has led me to the conclusion, that nothing so radical can be accomplished until hearts shall be made better, and tongues more regulated by the law of love, and pens dipped more exclusively in the spirit of Calvary.

By commencing at once those preliminary improvements that shall clear the way to the fundamental elements of a scriptural union, and thus prepare the whole body of believers to perceive the true basis on which Christ would have us harmoniously unite and affectionately coöperate, we may render to ourselves, and, by the force of example, to our brethren of every name, a valuable

service. To this end, we should endeavor to obtain distinct and correct views of the deplorable effects of schism, as exhibited in the history of the past, as daily developed in our own times, and as likely to become apparent in the disclosures of the future. Let us conceal nothing from ourselves; let us open our minds to the full impression which the facts will assuredly make upon the considerate and candid. Let us also anticipate, as we certainly may, without any improper license of the imagination, the delightful influence upon the Church and the world of that cordial union which all agree to be desirable. More than all, let us take a midnight walk with Jesus from the table of the Eucharist to the Garden of Sorrows, and, as we passover "the brook in the way," hear him plead for the oneness of his disciples in all lands, all ages of the world. Our minds may thus be made tender and susceptible, and ready to welcome suggestions of a still more definite and practical character.

1. WE MAY ENDEAVOR, CAREFULLY, TO DISPOSSESS OURSELVES OF THE SPIRIT OF SECT.

This spirit I have shown to be the fruitful source of innumerable evils; and, however difficult it may be, so long as Christians retain their sectarian organizations, to dislodge it effectually from their

bosoms, yet I know not how, until this be done, they can rationally hope for any thorough, satisfactory reform. Let these organizations be broken up to-day, and, if the spirit that has so long maintained them be not also destroyed, the mass would separate again to-morrow and crystallize afresh around their old centres, as indisposed as ever to a general consolidation. These special affinities, constituting no essential part of Christian character, must yield to the paramount law of cohesion, the great law of love, including supreme love to Christ, reverent love to his truth, unreserved love to one another; and then combination will be easy, for it will be natural. The spirit of sect is the principal antagonist to Christian fraternity; for while, by a process all its own, it unites a certain portion, it as surely, by the same process, repels all the remainder. So long, therefore, as it exists in a single mind, there cannot be entire Christian union.

That this spirit has its home among us to a greater extent than in other denominations, I have no reason to believe; but that it exists and operates among us, my observation will not allow me to question. The number who are entirely free from it are, I fear, not a large majority. It crops out at innumerable points, indicating that more is beneath. On almost all occasions, private and public, it is